art by Jake Johnson
Theoryland Resources
WoT Interview Search
Search the most comprehensive database of interviews and book signings from Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson and the rest of Team Jordan.
Wheel of Time News
An Hour With Harriet
2012-04-30: I had the great pleasure of speaking with Harriet McDougal Rigney about her life. She's an amazing talent and person and it will take you less than an hour to agree.
The Bell Tolls
2012-04-24: Some thoughts I had during JordanCon4 and the upcoming conclusion of "The Wheel of Time."
Theoryland Community
Members: 7653
Logged In (0):
Newest Members:johnroserking, petermorris, johnadanbvv, AndrewHB, jofwu, Salemcat1, Dhakatimesnews, amazingz, Sasooner, Hasib123,
Theoryland Tweets
WoT Interview Database
Home | Interview Database
Interviews: Dragonmount Interview with Harriet McDougal
-
1
Dragonmount
After recently helping her husband, Robert Jordan, finish Crossroads of Twilight, Harriet McDougal was kind enough to answer some questions from Dragonmount and wotmania.com. Here they are the good ones, listed below:
We also interviewed Robert Jordan. Be sure to check out that interview, if you have not already done so.
-
2
Dragonmount
Do you often correct inconsistencies in the books? Or does Robert do it himself?Harriet McDougal Rigney
No, I don't correct inconsistencies. Robert has a wonderful assistant, Maria Simons, who helps enormously in this regard, together with her sidekick Alan Romanczuk. Robert writes long lists of questions for them, and they come up with the answers in time, so that inconsistencies mostly just don't happen. Maria also checks all proper nouns in the manuscript against our own super-glossary, and picks up the occasional glitch that way.Tags
, , , -
3
Dragonmount
Do you know what will happen in later books or do you have to "Read and Find out?"Harriet McDougal Rigney
I know a bit, but for the most part I have to RAFO, too.Tags
, -
4
Dragonmount
Do you ever find yourself reading to find out what happens next and forgetting about editing?Harriet McDougal Rigney
Yes! And so then I have to go back through it.Tags
-
5
Dragonmount
Who is your favorite character?Harriet McDougal Rigney
Bela, the stout, shaggy little mare.DRAGONMOUNT
Favorite book?HARRIET MCDOUGAL RIGNEY
I love them all.DRAGONMOUNT
Scene?HARRIET MCDOUGAL RIGNEY
Ditto.Tags
, -
6
Dragonmount
Your husband once commented that he could walk into the room and you would know who he was writing about. If this is true, do you ever make him wait outside until he can stop being someone, for example, Padan Fain?Harriet McDougal Rigney
Well, I don't know EXACTLY who he's been writing, but if he's been writing somebody awful, like Padan, yes, I do know it. I never make him wait outside. I just hug him and give him a kiss, and he generally shakes himself like a retriever and begins to come out of it.Tags
-
7
Dragonmount
How do you think his writing affects your relationship?Harriet McDougal Rigney
It gives our relationship a tremendous amount of fun.Tags
-
8
Dragonmount
What is your reaction to Robert telling people that all of the major female characters are partially based off of you? Doesn't that worry you a bit?Harriet McDougal Rigney
No, it doesn't worry me. I am immensely flattered by it. And a bit amused. The cross wife who says, "you forgot to take the garbage out again": Is this REALLY Moghedien? Goodness!Tags
, -
9
Dragonmount
We've heard that you enjoy reading and writing poetry. Is that just a hobby for yourself, or has your stuff been published? If so, where can we find it?Harriet McDougal Rigney
I have just begun (in January of this year) submitting stuff, and so far poems of mine have been accepted by Eureka Literary Magazine (ELM), Another Chicago Magazine, and Confrontation. I think Another Chicago Magazine will be out first, some time this winter, with a poem called "North Georgia Woods". Other poems are on submission all over the place. I'm having a wonderful time with this!Tags
-
10
Dragonmount
Who are some of your favorite poets?Harriet McDougal Rigney
Galway Kinnell!!!! And Sharon Olds, and Mary Oliver, and John M. Ford and John O'Donohue. I've just bought James Tate to read, because of a yummy poem called "Teaching the Ape to Write Poems". A friend has just given me Marina Tsvetaeva, but I haven't read her yet. I also want to read some more Billy Collins. Among the dead white males, I really like Tennyson and Hopkins. And of course Shakespeare.Tags
-
11
Dragonmount
From a professional point of view as RJ's editor, how many books do you think the series will end up running?Harriet McDougal Rigney
I think twelve.Tags
, -
12
Dragonmount
How much influence over that number do you have as an editor do you think?Harriet McDougal Rigney
Something approaching Zip. It will depend on how many it takes for him to tell the story as he wants/needs to tell it.Tags
-
13
Dragonmount
Do you ever call your husband Robert instead of his real name?Harriet McDougal Rigney
Only on book tour.DRAGONMOUNT
Even if you're mad at him?HARRIET MCDOUGAL RIGNEY
When I'm mad at him I call him a word that begins with A, with a lot of asterisks in it, or Warrior God, Perfect in Every Way. It is my contention that these mean the same thing....Tags
, -
14
Question
Do you know who killed Asmodean?Harriet McDougal Rigney
No.Tags
, -
15
Dragonmount
Thank you, Harriet!