Lynn_Kurland — Wackycajun, I generally just do them when I have books out, but I'm looking into doing them more often. We'll see what the next couple of months brings.

Laurel — Welcome Lynn to The Mystic Castle, it's a pleasure to have you here.

Lynn_Kurland — Laurel, happy to be here.

Laurel — Can you tell us a little bit about Dreams of Stardust?

Lynn_Kurland — It's the story of Amanda of Artane (sister of Robin of If I had you) and the modern guy who winds up back in time, back in her castle, and way out of his element!

Linda_H — Lynn, I love the way you brought so many characters from other books into DOS, it was wonderful!

Lynn_Kurland — Linda, thanks! I love, personally, getting the chance to peek in on other characters and see how their lives are going.

Wackycajun — Lynn, I like how you put all of the characters in this book to give us a look at their lives now.

Lynn_Kurland — Wacky—thanks—it works for me as well. I'm a sucker for family sagas.

Wackycajun — Lynn, so what is on the agenda for next time?? LOL!

Lynn_Kurland — Wacky—I'm working on Connor & Victoria's story—characters from My Heart Stood Still.

Laurel — Lynn, one thing I wanted to ask you: a few years ago you put out a special novel with four of your anthology stories together, do you plan on doing that in the future with your other anthologies.

Lynn_Kurland — Laurel—that was a real bonus from my publisher—totally unexpected—I would like to do something like that again in the future and maybe include a new story or two to make it worth the money.

ditoma — Lynn, I was disappointed with Jason's story in Tapestry, I wanted MORE.

Lynn_Kurland — Ditoma—every time I reread that story with Jason, I feel the same way. I may have to revisit him at some point in the future . . .

mandolin — Lynn, how old are your children?

Lynn_Kurland — Mandolin—3 and not three—(I try to protect their privacy as I may, no offense).

Cathryn — Lynn, in your picture in the back of the books, are you in an MG—B?

Lynn_Kurland — Cathryn—you betcha baby! I had one in high school and wanted one ever since. I bought it with my first advance check. I sold mine for a Volvo—caved in to too many carseats!

mandolin — I was just thinking, I bet you tell them some wonderful made up fairy tales.

Lynn_Kurland — Mandolin—actually my older one is the fairy tale maker upper—maybe it's in the blood.

Laurel — Lynn, who is your favorite you have created?

Lynn_Kurland — Laurel—It just depends on what book I'm reading. But if I have to name a favorite character, I think it might be Patrick MacLeod.

icia — Are you going to revisit that family too?

Lynn_Kurland — icia—I try to sort of bounce between the MacLeods and the de Piagets—keeps things interesting——unless they're showing up in the same books, then it keeps me up at nights wondering about the details.

Linda_H — Lynn, I have a question about Jake and the portrait. I seem to be confused. A lot of people on your board say Jake knew he made it back when he put the portrait on the table and left. I think he put the BOX on the table, painted the portrait when he got back, and put it in the box, which ended up there in the future. Help!

Lynn_Kurland — Linda . . . this is how I see it: Jake went back and painted the portrait, but because he'd painted it in the past, it was there in the future for him to find before he went back the second time—which gave him the confidence to know that he was actually going to make it back the second time . . . I try not to get too involved in the whole space/time continuum thing, but I do like to contemplate the possibilities now and then. Call it "Back to the Future" Lite.

Linda_H — I get a little confused over who is a ghost, who was a ghost, who will be a ghost, who is in the past, who is in the future... ack.

Lynn_Kurland — Linda . . . join the club! ... Like I said somewhere else, I need a VERY long wall and a VERY big piece of paper to write all the details on so I can keep them straight.

Wackycajun — Lynn, which book do you think is your most emotional?

Lynn_Kurland — Wacky—This is All I Ask, just because of the characters' situations.

Mommykin — Lynn, is your work primarily paranormal, time travel?

Lynn_Kurland — Mommykin—I suppose it depends on your definition of paranormal. I write things with ghosts/time-travel/kindly witches and whatever else strikes me as good material.

Wackycajun — So, Lynn, who is your favorite author?

Lynn_Kurland — Wacky—Tolkien. CS Lewis has moved into second place. I also really like Dick Francis—great mysteries.

mariposa — Lynn, are you going to write a book about Montgomery? He really piqued my interest in Dreams of Stardust and I would really like to see him all grown up.

Lynn_Kurland — Mariposa, I think I will at some point. I really like him too...

icia — Lynn, do you do book signings at all?

Lynn_Kurland — Icia—I used to, but I got really tired of people asking me where the bathroom was/where Nora's backlist was so I stopped . . .

Dorie — Lynn, If you were given the chance to have one of your books made into a movie, which would it be and who would want in the starring roles?

Lynn_Kurland — Dorie, I just don't know . . . I think I would be really nervous about what would be left of the story after someone else got a hold of it (but don't tell that to Steven Spielberg—I might make an exception there). I think Stardust of Yesterday would make a good movie, but I couldn't begin to cast it. ... My problem is we either watch Little Bear or old movies—and Gene Kelly/Howard Keel are definitely out of the running now . . . Linda—now if Sean Connery were just several decades younger . . .

Laurel — Lynn, do you have a guideline you follow on what characters you are doing for your next novel?

Lynn_Kurland — Laurel, I have to plan a couple of years in advance, and I try to just write the book that appeals to me the most at the time—well, what I think will appeal a year or so later!

SandiCo — Lynn, do you have a favorite author you like to read?

Lynn_Kurland — Sandi—I read Tolkien once a year whether I need to or not, and I generally spend any reading time reading mysteries or digging into musty old research books.

Laurel — That is cool. What comes first, plot or characters, and how is the research for one of your novels?

Lynn_Kurland — Laurel—characters first, plot second. When I first started writing things set in the middle ages, I read tons. Now, I generally just read for obscure tidbits that might contribute to an interesting plot twist. I have also, ahem, been known to put the wrong French king on the throne at the wrong time, but that's where my husband comes in with his logical sword at the ready!

EBrookes — Lynn, how much time do you spend researching for your books?

Lynn_Kurland — Ebrookes—It used to be quite a lot—now it's digging up that odd fact that might make things interesting and trying to remember details from my own stuff so I don't make too many continuity errors.

Linda_H — Lynn, on your trips to castles, have you ever felt that you had "company", that you were being watched?

Lynn_Kurland — Linda—One time we were at Hermitage (near the Scottish border). Kids were asleep in the car with hubby and I went there on my own. Big mistake. I've never been so spooked in my life. Found out later that it's a favorite site for UK paranormal dudes—and there's a reason for that!

Tory — Where do you get the names I can't pronounce for your books? [But] Where did you get them from? Do you have a medieval name your baby book??

Lynn_Kurland — Tory—they're mostly medieval names (like Hugh de Burgh—William III's regent). I suppose you could just make it work in your own head or look it up on a website . . . I have a great book called Domesday Book—it's a record of a census taken I think in the 1100s—if you're really interested, email me and I'll get you the entire reference. You can also look up medieval english names online and find good lists there.

Wackycajun — Do you get up at an ungodly time in the morning? LOL

Lynn_Kurland — Wacky—if you could see the dark circles under my eyes, you'd understand! I think I've perfected the art of snatching 5 minutes here, 5 more there, then putting it together at the end of the day after the kids are asleep. I also never go anywhere without a notebook and a pen (that works . . . that's important). ... I stay up. I'm not a morning person.

Tory — How often do you do these chats?

Lynn_Kurland — Tory—generally just when I have a book coming out . . .

Cathryn — Lynn, Do you ever schedule a down time/time off for R&R between books? You know, to help the dark circles?

Lynn_Kurland — Cathryn—down time? Well, every time I take down time, I end up taking too much and then my writing style morphs into what my DH calls "procrastinate and panic" so I've stopped taking down times. When I finish a manuscript and send it off to the publisher, I will take a few days and shovel out my house, but then I get to work on something else right away.

Wackycajun — Lynn, the guy on the cover of Stardust of Yesterday is the same guy that plays in Highlander right?

Lynn_Kurland — Wacky—He looks like Adrian Paul, but he's not. Apparently, he's a Chippendale's dancer whose name escapes me at the moment . . .

Lynn_Kurland — Joc—well done . . .

Lynn_Kurland — Whoever he is, I owe him big time. It was my first book and he sold LOTS of them on his pretty face alone.

Lynn_Kurland — I think I need to get going here soon as well. My little one is starting to unravel . . . Thanks so much for a great chat! I hope we can do it again . . . . I'd love to do it again sometime. Happy reading everyone!

Laurel — You too, Lynn. Thank you.

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Nothing was changed except for a spellcheck. ;)