You know what, if Oprah invited me to talk about my books and then said she was going to ask me what colour my cat was, I would still be buying a ticket to Chicago…because the bookstores would be stocking up on everything I had ever written the moment my appearance was announced, even if they had never heard of me. Now that’s publicity.

What interests me is why did McCarthy agree to be interviewed by Oprah, rather than by someone else? (apart from the obvious lures of money and publicity)

I’d like to know what part of the process of creating/writing/editing/publishing/promoting a book you find the most satisfying?

Also, which book that has been published do you wish you did write, and why?

re Oprah, I guess that’s one way of looking at the Oprah interview, Karen. The irony then becomes that this particular interview generated such anticipation because of McCormac’s stature and reclusivity that it had a huge audience outside her normal one.

A new question for Glenda:

What’s the most powerful thing about the fantasy genre?

glenda i don’t know if you’ve read this book yet, but i was thinking of you all the way through it. it will break your heart. that last lost flock of birds … that’s the image that burns me. not the baby on a spit even.

and for all those sniffy about genre fiction – this is speculative fiction aka (sometimes) scifi.

And I have to say, I don’t think Oprah’s questions were unfair. She’s playing the role of the average reader, and it’s something non-writers always want to know.