Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: hopeful
  • Music: Katie Tinney, "Dear Gina."

Birthday giveaway #2: The FAQ Challenge.

So as you may have noticed, I love FAQs. I love writing them, I love updating them, and I love pointing people to them. With that in mind, we come to our second giveaway for the day:

Here is the current October Daye FAQ. You may notice that it's pretty sparse. That's why I'm turning to you, my best-beloved people who live free things, to ask for more questions. Be creative, be specific, be general, be pedantic, be whatever makes you happy, but ask questions.

I will be adding the best questions to the FAQ. I will also be selecting two winners from out those questions. One will receive a signed copy of Rosemary and Rue (and if you already have one, I can send a copy to your local high school or library).

One will receive a signed ARC of A Local Habitation.

I'll take entries until tomorrow morning. Now please, please, question me! Get rewarded! Flesh out my website! I'll be your bestest blonde if you will...
Tags: a local habitation, common questions, giving stuff away, rosemary and rue, shameless plea, toby daye
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sheistheweather

January 5 2010, 22:56:49 UTC 7 years ago

Why does fae magic disperse and then remain weak while the sun is up?
Why, in Changling's choice, do they have to die if they choose "human"?

sheistheweather

January 5 2010, 23:05:05 UTC 7 years ago

What happened to the young Miss Torquil? Why is she so screwed up?
How did Rose-Goblins come to be?
How do you pronounce "knowe"?

sheistheweather

7 years ago

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rollick

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

January 5 2010, 23:03:13 UTC 7 years ago

And also, why is it pronounced "kitsoon"?

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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ladyqkat

January 5 2010, 23:07:35 UTC 7 years ago

Contemplating that San Francisco and environs are a gateway to the Pacific and all cultures therein, are there any Menehune in the local fairie population? Or other Pacific Island sprites? Asking simply because of the crossover of other Fae-folk into the area.

seanan_mcguire

January 5 2010, 23:25:45 UTC 7 years ago

There are definitely Menehune, Aswangs, and Diwata among the local population, along with other types of fae folk. A lot of it has to do with who moved into an area first, along with a dose of "how well does this mythology adopt to fit the fae 'reality'?" There are some types of folklore and spiritual concepts that just don't bend that way.

rollick

January 5 2010, 23:07:46 UTC 7 years ago

Huh. There's very little dealing with Changelings at all, and they could practically get their own section, but I'd start with:

What is the social and political significance of being a Changeling in Toby's world?

What sorts of abilites do Changelings have?

rollick

January 5 2010, 23:11:30 UTC 7 years ago

For that matter, you should probably get "What is the Changeling's Choice?" in there, since you talk about it without defining it. At least if this is meant to be a FAQ for prospective readers rather than people who haven't read any of the books yet and are just curious.

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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rollick

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sylk

January 5 2010, 23:08:56 UTC 7 years ago

It's less a general question but while I have some background in the fairy types, there are definitely others that I didn't recognize (lamia, hobgoblins, etc.). Having some description of the common 'types' (for lack of a better term) as you use them in Toby's world might be helpful.

I just read Rosemary and Rue last night and really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the next one and learning more about the world in general.

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 04:43:10 UTC 7 years ago

The concept of an "encyclopedia" has been brought up a few times. I think I'm going to wait until I have a few more books out in the series, and then just go a little nuts.

canadianevil

January 5 2010, 23:15:15 UTC 7 years ago

What is so wrong about saying 'thank you'? Why does it imply fealty/I can't think of the word right now on the part of the person being thanked?

wendyzski

January 6 2010, 01:17:55 UTC 7 years ago

i'm not seanan, but - "Tradition"

You can't ever thank a fae/brownie/shoemaking elf/Dobby/etc in a fairy tale, though it's never explained why - it just IS. Seanan's explanation as to why that is makes as much sense as any.

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

January 5 2010, 23:19:09 UTC 7 years ago Edited:  January 5 2010, 23:25:47 UTC

What kind of fae are originally native to the Bay Area?

Also, have you thought of science behind iron being bad for fae folk?

seanan_mcguire

January 5 2010, 23:27:09 UTC 7 years ago

Native American myths and spirits don't adapt well to the Toby-universe fae. I've tried to find a way to do it respectfully, and haven't found an entrance yet. I figure it'll come when it comes, and for right now, I don't know.

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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fireriven

January 5 2010, 23:27:24 UTC 7 years ago Edited:  January 5 2010, 23:28:23 UTC

What were some of your most useful sources for the Faerie worldbuilding? The folklorically-obsessed are keen to know!

Could you give a brief explanation regarding magic burn? How much magic (and I know this is also dependent on complexity) can a halfblood perform before they're incapacitated? What forms can that incapacitation take?

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 04:54:17 UTC 7 years ago

I will have to ponder the worldbuilding sources.

The problem with the question of "how much magic" is that it depends on how much power the individual changeling has. So if changelings (and fae) are on a scale of one to one hundred, assume that anyone who uses half their potential power pool is at risk of burn. If Toby starts as 30/100, she only needs to use 15 points to go into burn. Sylvester, on the other hand, is 80/100, and can use more magic than Toby has before he's at risk.

Magic burn usually manifests as headaches, although some fae will get joint or even muscle pains instead.

FAQ

v_pham88

January 5 2010, 23:42:14 UTC 7 years ago

How many Knowes are located in the San Francisco area and how did they come to be (ex. Evening had her own, how did she go about to get the land and claim it for her own)

Re: FAQ

vixyish

January 5 2010, 23:52:28 UTC 7 years ago

Oo ooh. A map of the fiefdoms would be keen.

Re: FAQ

v_pham88

7 years ago

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Re: FAQ

amazon_syren

7 years ago

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another question!

v_pham88

7 years ago

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Re: another question!

judifilksign

7 years ago

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Re: another question!

v_pham88

7 years ago

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Re: another question!

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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Re: FAQ

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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Re: FAQ

v_pham88

7 years ago

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amazon_syren

January 5 2010, 23:45:01 UTC 7 years ago

Why is Fae blood red if iron is poison?
Related: How can Fae DNA survive being mixed with Human DNA, when Human DNA makes its own iron?

v_pham88

January 6 2010, 01:49:26 UTC 7 years ago

Good question!! makes me wonder too! haha

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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amazon_syren

7 years ago

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docpockets

January 5 2010, 23:51:05 UTC 7 years ago

Does "reading the blood" require practice to master, or practice to maintain?

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 05:07:12 UTC 7 years ago

Practice to master and maintain. It's a lousy discipline.

arielstarshadow

January 6 2010, 00:08:29 UTC 7 years ago Edited:  January 6 2010, 00:11:07 UTC

Questions!

1) How long have you been working on the series - meaning, from the point of "Hey, I have this idea" to where you are now?

2) How much of the events of each book do you already have plotted out?

3. How did you come up with the titles for each of the books (which amazes me, that you have titles for the books you haven't even started writing). I should add that I saw that they all came from Shakespeare - I'm more looking for what led you to those particular phrases.

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 16:50:56 UTC 7 years ago

1) Since 1994, roughly.

2) A disturbing amount. I have full outlines through book twelve.

3) I read a lot of Shakespeare, and I collect snippets that seem like they could be good book titles. From there, it's mix-and-match.

arielstarshadow

7 years ago

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vixyish

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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arielstarshadow

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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maniakes

January 6 2010, 00:22:50 UTC 7 years ago

Are all myths true in Toby's world, or just the Fae, or just the Fae and a select few others?

To what extent are Fae dependant on or influenced by humans and human culture?

Do changelings have the same natural lifespans as humans?

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 16:53:06 UTC 7 years ago

1) Just the fae. If the other myths and spirits exist, they're generally avoiding the fae, because dude, the fae are batshit crazy by even the most generous of standards. So I suppose the answer is actually "I don't know; it's possible that everything's true, but only the fae intersect with my story."

2) Originally, not at all, and we were very influenced by them. Now, very much so. They've lost access to the deeper realms, and humans outnumber them hundreds to one. They're very dependent, very influenced.

3) No. A halfblood may live for hundreds of years. A quarter-blood will live a long time, and stay young-looking longer than the norm. So Stacy is in her fifties, but still passes for thirty.

sheistheweather

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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Two serious, one silly

snowcoma

January 6 2010, 00:22:51 UTC 7 years ago

Are Faerie names cultural* or simply old-fashioned?

Would glamour be affected if a human desperately wanted to see past it and excerted a great force of will to do so?

And most importantly, if Toby and Verity were to arm-wrestle, who would win?


* Like how a Native American might have the name Running Bear.


And another!

snowcoma

January 6 2010, 00:33:57 UTC 7 years ago

Are there certain types of magic that a Changeling simply cannot do, or can they perform all magic within their personal limits?

Re: And another!

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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Re: Two serious, one silly

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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vincentursus

January 6 2010, 00:47:47 UTC 7 years ago

When does the RPG come out?

v_pham88

January 6 2010, 01:48:29 UTC 7 years ago

what's a RPG?

jadis17

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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sheistheweather

7 years ago

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judifilksign

January 6 2010, 02:14:40 UTC 7 years ago

Does the "taste" of magic (like Toby's cut grass and copper) give clues to the abilities the magician has?

Can another Fae imitate the flavor of another's magic to frame him or her?

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:00:17 UTC 7 years ago

1) No, but it can give clues as to their lineage.

2) Not that anyone has ever proven.

sheistheweather

7 years ago

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iwishthat

January 6 2010, 02:36:41 UTC 7 years ago

Happy Birthday Seanan!

Has a Changeling ever used one of the hope chests?

Does the Human DNA in Changelings make them more or less susceptible to iron?

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:00:29 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you!

1) Unknown.

2) Less.

iwishthat

7 years ago

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twfarlan

January 6 2010, 02:54:44 UTC 7 years ago

What responsibilities and privileges are conveyed by knighthood in Faerie?

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:32:47 UTC 7 years ago

It depends on who knights you. As a rule, it means whatever your liege says it means, and also doing whatever your liege tells you to do.

aedifica

January 6 2010, 03:01:32 UTC 7 years ago

Is "Gilly" pronounced with a hard or a soft G? (I have to stop and hash that one out every time I come to the name, and it breaks the flow of my reading.)

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:33:05 UTC 7 years ago

Soft. "Jill-E."

aedifica

7 years ago

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tigertoy

January 6 2010, 03:55:21 UTC 7 years ago

I've never really studied the folklore that Faerie is drawn from, but I know that you have. How many of the creatures we see in Toby's world do you trace back to folklore, and how many are your own inventions? I know kelpies are from folklore. I'm guessing you invented rose goblins. But I'm just not sure about Cait Sidhe.

On a sort of related note, not something you'd likely put in the FAQ but something I'm curious about, and I imagine you (the folklore expert) know -- how much of A Midsummer Night's Dream did Shakespeare draw from existing folklore, and how much did he make up?

Can you talk more about why the fae guard the secret of their existence so closely? Do they make a habit of killing humans who see or know too much other than the ones who breed changelings? If they do, doesn't that tend to leave enough bodies to start to make more humans curious? Also, given that we have these legends and folk tales, it seems like humans were once allowed to know that the fae and magic existed. How did it change?

I want to know more about hope chests and Oberon's feelings about changelings, but I have a sneaking suspicion I have to wait for more books for that.

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:42:24 UTC 7 years ago

Almost all of them trace to folklore, with some small modifications. Most of the Firstborn are all mine, for example. The only races encountered in book one that aren't directly drawn from folklore are the rose goblins and the night-haunts.

Quite a bit of it was drawn from the existing, although he added a lot of flourishes, and prior to him, Puck wasn't that much of a big-deal individual.

The fae guard their existence because we spent a long time killing them. The rise of iron and organized men with swords made going underground a very good idea. Remember, in the oldest myths, the fae are pretty clearly predators of humans. As that changed, and as humans became more powerful, hiding became essential. There aren't enough fae to be fully known, not with examples like the Djinni and the Selkies to show what happens when the worlds intersect.

asthecrowfly

January 6 2010, 04:23:38 UTC 7 years ago

Can you tell us more about the King Of Cats, and his court?

Will there ever be neat swag officially sanctioned that's tied to the series (I've seen the gorgeous pendants a few times, but I'd about give my eye-teeth for a Toby shirt to hold over my sisters!)

Winter's death curse does some pretty serious Toby-ass-kicking in R&R: can you go over some of the physics of fairy death curses, and some of the factors that make them worse than they might be in some cases? (ie Toby tasting Winter's blood made it worse, being a Changeling causes it to kick her ass harder) and--oo! Can Changelings death curse? Or even close?

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:45:10 UTC 7 years ago

1) Not at this time.

2) I hope so!

3) The old bindings are available to anyone, but how well you can use them is a function of strength. Toby might be able to give someone a really bad headache, but that's about it. Willingly taking someone's fealty, inviting the curse, or tasting their blood (or magic) will make a curse stronger. If you read the wording, it's not actually a death curse per se; Evening says "the ones who did this," not "the ones who killed me."

maverick_weirdo

January 6 2010, 05:18:06 UTC 7 years ago

What percentage of the SF Fae Court died in "the big quake"?

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:45:19 UTC 7 years ago

Lots.

vixyish

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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kittikins

January 6 2010, 05:28:21 UTC 7 years ago

Is there more than meets the eye with Toby's cats? Are they just cats (like any cat could be *just* a cat), or are they something a touch more?

Also, happy birthday! At least by West Coast reckoning anyway. :)

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:45:43 UTC 7 years ago

I cannot answer that question at this time. :)

Thank you!

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seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:46:24 UTC 7 years ago

Have a ball. :)

(And you're not a dork, are you kidding? I'm in a Firefly tabletop game, and I used to play the CineUni Buffy setting a disturbingly lot.)

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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jadis17

January 6 2010, 06:40:53 UTC 7 years ago

Happy birthday!

How long does it take to recover from magic burn?
Is the hope chest a one use only item or is it multi-use? is there a cost to recharge the chest? why isn't it used more often?
Which book will explain why/how Toby was knighted?
Why was the Luidaeg shopping where Toby worked?
Why was the Luidaeg expecting Toby?
What is the importance of roses in fairie/ to the fae?
What is the tie between the Luidaeg and Amandine's line?
How many imitation hope chests have there been? Do any of the upcoming books deal with imitation hope chests? What would a imitation hope chest do?
Are we allowed to discuss fantasy tv/movie casting of the characters with you?
perhaps a brief mention of things we should not speak of to you the author? since I know plot suggestions are a hideous tangle of copyright horrors.

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2010, 17:53:07 UTC 7 years ago

1) Depends on how bad the burn is, and whether you go home and rest or, like Toby, try to push through it.

2) There are multiple hope chests. They're multi-use, and don't have a recharge. They aren't really used because they're all pretty much missing, and no one really seems to know how they work.

3) Strangers in the Court, a prequel that I hope to put out between books six and seven (Ashes of Honor and Tributes in the Dust).

4) Good question.

5) Again, good question.

6) There are several races of fae directly tied to them, and the breaking of a rose is seen as offering a pledge.

7) Good question.

8) Probably a lot; not as yet; no idea.

9) Yup!

10) Good suggestion. Plot ideas are a big no-no; with fanfic, always assume I can't see it unless it's shoved in my face, and try to avoid shoving for the sake of everyone's sanity.
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