When and where was Brian Jacques born?
He was born (and still lives) in Liverpool, England on June
15th, 1939.
What is Jacques' favorite Redwall book?
He doesn't have one! Each book is like a child to him, and he
could never single one out as his favorite.
What is Jacques' favorite Redwall character?
Gonff the Mousethief! He says he based the character on
himself in his younger days on the docks of Liverpool.
What is his family like?
Brian Jacques has two grown sons, Marc and David. Marc is a
builder, carpenter, and bricklayer, and is the voice of Matthias in the Redwall Radio
Play. David, two years older, is an art professor and muralist. He has painted murals all
over the world, in Germany, Mexico and Chile. Mariel of Redwall was written to
honor Jacques' granddaughter, Jade, and The Great Redwall Feast is dedicated to
her.
(Special thanks to redwall.org for this info)
Does he have any pets?
Jacques has a dog named Teddy, with whom he spends long
writing sessions in the backyard, and shares walks in the park. Teddy is a white West
Highland Terrier.
(Special thanks to redwall.org for this info)
What other jobs has he had besides writing
Redwall?
Perhaps the FAQ should be "What jobs hasn't he
had?" Brian Jacques has worked in a lot of different jobs. He's worked as a
radio show host, a playwright, a longshoreman, a lorry (truck) driver, a comedian, and
other occupations.
Does he have any hobbies?
While Jacques often says writing leaves him no time for
hobbies, he does enjoy crossword puzzles.
Can I contact Brian Jacques by e-mail?
Sorry, but no. He has no publicly available e-mail address.
In fact, he isn't very fond of computers in general and writes on an old typewriter.
:-)
Can I contact Brian Jacques by "snail
mail"?
Absolutely! Just remember to be patient, because he is often
on tour and busy writing, so it may take awhile to get a reply. But he does answer all his
mail! The address is:
Mr. Brian Jacques
c/o REDWALL READERS CLUB
PO BOX 57
MOSSLEY HILL
L18 3NZ
U.K.
How do I know when Brian Jacques is on tour?
He usually tours the United States and Canada in the spring.
His most recent schedule should be posted at the official site, here.
Does he ever get writer's block?
Fortunately for the fans, no! :-)
How is "Jacques" pronounced?
"Jakes"
What kinds of books does he read?
Brian Jacques doesn't read other children's books because he
doesn't want his style to be influenced by other authors. Among the books he does like is Wind
in the Willows, which is also an anthropomorphic tale. He also very much likes Homer's
ancient Greek epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey. He also enjoys the works of
Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurtry and P.G. Wodehouse. As Redwall
fans know, he also has a knack for poetry.
(Special thanks to redwall.org for some of
this info)
Does he have an accent?
Yes. At least, from the point of view of a non-Briton! Don't
assume that because he's from Liverpool he sounds like Ringo Star, however. His accent
really sounds more Irish than Beatle-ish. (Which makes sense because his family history is
in County Cork, Ireland.) To hear his voice, check out one of the recent Redwall
audiobooks!
Has he written any books besides non-Redwall
ones?
Yes! Two rousing adventure tales, Castaways of the
Flying Dutchman and Angel's Command, are now available! He has also
published a book of short stores called Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales, and a
children's storybook called The Tale of Urso Brunov: Little Father of All Bears.
He has also written several plays: Brown Bitter, Wet Nellies, and Scouse,
which have been performed at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.
(Special thanks to redwall.org for some of
this info)