Ask the Author: Jodi Taylor
Answered Questions (261)
Jodi Taylor
Another tricky question! I'm not sure. They all seem more together than I was at a younger age. I think I must have been a rebel without a clue, whereas most of my characters do seem to know what they're doing - even when they're doing wrong. Yes, I sloped off lessons, but that was usually to go and read in the library rather than rob a bank.
Jodi Taylor
Hello. Kudos on getting your sun into classic sci-fi. And The Twilight Zone as well! No, the jumpsuit wasn't inspired by Where is Everybody. When I was putting together my thoughts for St Mary's, I spent some time thinking about what they would wear - what was practical - and so forth. Jump suits seemed ideal - especially as techies often wear orange. I chose blue for historians because it was my favourite colour.
Jodi Taylor
Sorry - author brain! No, I didn't know anyone like that - and still don't. I think somewhere Max says the best thing about Leon is that he knows when she should be allowed to get on with things and when she needs to be talked out of something for her own good. And he knows these things WITHOUT BEING TOLD. On the other hand, she does say the most important thing a husband brings to the partnership is absence. But no - Leon isn't based on anyone I've ever known.
Jodi Taylor
Great question! Leon was actually quite difficult to write. He had to be quiet and unassuming but still make an impact on the reader. He had to understand Max and let her have her head most of the time, but not be a wuss. And if he ever said to Max, 'No, I'd rather you didn't do this,' then she probably wouldn't because she trusts his judgement. He had to be flawed but have a good reason for those flaws. All that while still being good at his job, respected by everyone and sexy without being in your face about it. It's not always easy being a writer, you know!!
Jodi Taylor
I was living and working in Turkey and I got the chance to retire. A chance to lie around in the sun and do nothing. Which was wonderful for three weeks and then I was bored so I thought I'd see if I could write a book. There was no intention to publish - I just wanted to see if I had the mental discipline. And then some friends took me to lunch in the fish market and there was wine and they persuaded me to self publish Just One Damned Thing After Another on Amazon. I didn't have a clue what I was doing but the gods of publishing must have been smiling on me because it did rather well. No one tells you how addictive writing is - and forty novels and short stories later I'm coming to the conclusion I can't stop. I shall probably still be banging away on my laptop as they lower me into my grave!
Jodi Taylor
What an interesting question. Yes to both of your suggestions - although that's work-related, isn't it? Perhaps their personal preference would be something completely different. For instance, Guthrie's last jump took him to Bannockburn. Would it be easier to look at what they definitely didn't want to do? Max has already stated that she and Kalinda would not want to watch the murder of Hypatia, and Tim Peterson would refuse to witness the execution of Charles I. Thanks for a great question.
Jodi Taylor
Hi Lesley. Interesting question. Dr Stone was always bad. He was deliberately placed at St Mary's as a sleeper until required. One of Dr Bairstow's rare mistakes. He was an excellent doctor, doing an excellent job until he was unmasked by Max and Markham before he could be activated. His purpose was neve revealed.
Jodi Taylor
Thank you, Anita, for publicly highlighting my pain. No - I can't cook. Not even a little bit. And a complete lack of interest doesn't help. Over the years I have exploded a pan full of jam - that was very painful, nearly killed myself in a chip pan fire, blown up a steak and kidney pudding which nearly took out the kitchen window and the dog, and melted a plastic mat with which I unsuccessfully tried to put out a small fire under the grill. The mat melted and made everything considerably worse. People have refused to live next to me. Max's cooking disaster in The Good the Bad and the History did actually happen to me. Hot cheese between your toes really, really hurts. These days I shove a ready meal in the microwave and even that doesn't always go well.
Jodi Taylor
H there. Can I get back to you on this. I believe there are some plans to produce hardbacks but the person responsible is currently on holiday. I'll let you know. Jodi.
Jodi Taylor
Hi Ara. Well, you've opened a whole can of worms, haven't you? Staff in the Wardrobe Department wear green smocks, at least three tape measures and their own bodyweight in pins. There are two main areas - the working area where costumes are designed and made - and the storage area where everything is kept afterwards. Nothing is ever thrown away. There are generic costumes - I believe Max has a favourite 'maid's outfit' of some brown material with shiny patches over her knees where she's knelt down in it. The addition of a bum roll or collar or surcoat or shawl renders it suitable for many time periods. Then there are specific costumes designed for major events - eg Mrs Green's Waterloo dress. Which she never got to wear. Even these can be adapted and altered as required. A further component is researching costumes for TV and film dramas. These are designed and made on site and then shipped off to their ultimate destinations. Wardrobe is the only department to pull its own weight financially. It's a nice place to work. Very quiet - no food or drink, obviously and sprawls over two floors. How's that?
Jodi Taylor
Hi Tina, thanks for your question. I suspect the real reason why Clerk and Prentiss couldn't be rescued just before they were arrested is that if that had actually happened then they wouldn't have been arrested and if they weren't arrested then no one would need to got back and save them. As Max would say - it's the P word. No - not that P word - Paradox! From an author's point of view it's a bit of a cop-out. If anything goes wrong you just get to have another go. And on and on until you get it right. Except if you watch that brilliant movie - The Hot Tub Time Machine I think it's called - every time they try to go back and try to fix things they make everything just that little bit worse. I think Farscape did something similar in one of their episodes and nearly destroyed everything. Having said all that I have just written a scene where Smallhope and Pennyroyal attempt to do something very similar. I'm not telling you how that turns out! Bet you're sorry you asked now! Never ask an author a question unless you're willing to suffer bleeding ears and lose the will to live!
Jodi Taylor
Hi there. Actually I haven't really decided. Yes, there are similarities and I suppose it would make sense for one to morph into the other. Sometimes I think yes and sometimes no. Sorry there's no proper answer for you.
Jodi Taylor
Hi Mami - good question! Casting my mind back many years - not so easy at my age - didn't Izzie try to kill the original Max with a gas fire? Funny story about that - remind me to tell you one day. And then she shot our Max at the St Mary's Fete. It's these little clues that give away her true nature, don't you think? And thank you for enjoying St Mary's and the Time Police. It's always good to know people enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. Best wishes.
Jodi Taylor
Hi Jenn - Two questions for the price of one. Clever! I'm not sure about a story re Max's family. We had her father in When Did You Last See Your Father? However, I never say never because no sooner do I say I have no plans than an idea pops into my head, so I will just say I have no plans at the moment. Ditto with another short story from another POV other than Max, Markham or Leon. It's a thought, though. Goes away to think ...
Jodi Taylor
Hi Pilar, thank you for your question. The three titles you mention are very short and never appeared formally in print. We do issue collections of short stories when we have enough to make a book. There are usually seven or eight shorts in each book so I'd better get writing.
Jodi Taylor
Yes, highlight my pain, why don't you?!! I was staying in a strange flat and I wanted to go out but couldn't work out how to lock the door. I was certain that with my luck the place would be burgled in my absence and I'd have some awkward explaining to do so I stayed in. All the remotes on the coffee table were a mystery to me and I worried using the wrong one might cause aircraft to drop from the sky so I stayed in and wrote a short story.
Jodi Taylor
Good question. They'be been to China, Kush (Sudan) America, Iceland, Jordan, Scandinavia, Turkey, and so on. Max is currently in Volubilis, Morocco, and I have plans for the Great Castles of Zimbabwe. The Americas are currently off limits, as are any special religious sites. Max is mostly interested in ancient history so I tend to focus on the Fertile Crescent. You're right - there's an enormous amount of history to explore but I never set out to write a whole series so I started with the bits I knew best.
Jodi Taylor
Hi Kelsey, thanks for your question. I'm doing fine, thank you - hope you are too. There's a new Elizabeth Cage story out this May - Bad Moon - in which Iblis figures prominently.
Jodi Taylor
Hi. Sorry for the delay - I was checking with my agent and supplier. Not at the moment, I'm afraid, but never say never. It might happen.
Jodi Taylor
I'd really love to be able to say, 'Yes, I foresaw all this.' but I didn't. Initially I just wanted to show that Max's world was not quite here and not quite now, so I sat down and thought about three of the most unlikely events ever to occur. A global pandemic, Britain leaving the EU - in fact, the actual break-up of the EU, and America retreating behind walls and closing its borders. I'm stricken with guilt over the whole thing and seriously considering writing about a period of unprecedented world peace. Just to see what happens.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more