Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Becoming Captain Jack Sparrow

posted by Nancy
I'm delighted to have bestselling author A. C. (Ann) Crispin return to the Lair today. Ann is not only a science fiction and fantasy author but a co-founder of Writer Beware. She has written numerous science fiction tie-in novels for series like Star Trek and V as well as a wonderful trilogy exploring Han Solo's early life. Yesterday marked the launch of Ann's latest project, a Pirates of the Caribbean prequel that shows us the young Jack Sparrow.

Welcome, Ann! You may be the only woman to have delved so deeply into Jack Sparrow's psyche.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom obviously ties into the Disney movie franchise, but this book has a somewhat different spin. Please tell us about the story.


This book is a prequel to Pirates of the Caribbean and takes place when Jack Sparrow was 25 years old and sailing for the East India Trading Company (EITC) as an honest merchant sailor. His boss is Cutler Beckett, and we find out in the book that it was Cutler Beckett who branded him with the P for Pirate. They left their mark on each other, as Beckett says.

There are also flashbacks to when Jack Sparrow is living the pirate life in Shipwreck Cove, and he’s twenty. His idea of rebellion against Captain Teague (the character played by Keith Richards in the third film) is to go straight. Actually, he doesn’t have much choice because he broke the Code and faced exile from his pirate brethren.

What draws you to the character of Jack Sparrow?

He’s a complex character. He’s a challenge to write dialogue for because Jack often speaks in a very obfuscating way, deliberately so, and it’s hard to get those speech patterns down. It’s a challenge because he doesn’t talk like anybody else. His ways of expressing himself and his manners are as much of a weapon, frequently, in getting him out of scrapes as his pistol and his sword. For example, he just unnerves straight men by coming over swishing at them and talking extravagantly. They don’t know what to do. Their brains stop working, and then Jack gets one over on them.

How do you envision Jack in this book?

Jack in the book is Jack becoming. He is not the Jack that we see in the movies, but the seeds are there. The seeds have been planted, and by the end of the book, you can see the shoots growing for the man we see at forty. Jack in my book is more trusting. He is not as devious, but he’s learning. Many of his characteristics are the same, but he’s trying to make it in the straight world of being a merchant sailor. So he’s sort of playing a role.

I think he’s kidding himself, and I think the reader will understand that he’s kind of kidding himself, but he really thinks he can put his pirate nature behind him. I think we all know Jack has got to embrace his inner pirate.


How did you approach creating the character and tying him into the film franchise?

I was given a lot of material by Disney. They have an extensive volume called The Pirates Mythology that’s four or five hundred pages long. It’s everything about the Pirates universe and some extrapoloations, but not too many. It talks about all the members of Hector Barbossa’s undead crew, for example, and gives all their names and a line or two about each of them, who they were.

It gives the names of minor characters that you would not know otherwise, the names and types of all the ships, the maps, material about the East India Trading Company in the Pirates of the Caribbean universe.

The important thing to understand is that this is not our world. It’s an alternate universe. It’s not quite our world because magic works. In addition to undead pirates and Aztec curses, there are historical events that don’t add up. For example, in our world, Port Royal, Jamaica, was destroyed in 1692 by an earthquake, but it exists in the Pirates of the Caribbean universe.

I made changes when necessary. For example, I created the island of Kerma with this beautiful, shining city of Zerzura. I also created New Avalon, another island settled by the English. It’s not quite the same universe, but it’s based on our universe.

My instructions were to be historically and nautically accurate where it didn’t conflict with the Pirates of the Caribbean canon. There’s a lot of nautical and historical detail, and it’s all real unless it comes directly from Pirates of the Caribbean, like mentioning Port Royal. If I talk about how they raised the sails or took the sails down in a storm, that’s very accurate. I was lucky to have a very good nautical advisor and an advisor on pirates who was also a swordmaster. So these two resources, Steve and Ben, were just invaluable. I couldn’t have written the book without them.

This book starts on an island with Egyptian cultural influences. Can you give us a hint as to how that fits into the story?

Lower Egypt was called Kush, and the pharaoh was lord of both Kush and Egypt during certain historical periods. The capital of Kush was called Kerma. It has been partially excavated, but it’s now in the Sudan, and the area is very unstable.

The island in the prologue is a off the west coast of Africa. For a while there were dynasties from Egypt and some from Kush. There is a legend of a place called Zerzura, where the children of Kush, as quoted in the prologue, were told to go west. In The Last Camel Died at Noon, one of the Amelia Peabody mysteries, Elizabeth Peters wrote about her version of the sons and daughters of Kush founding a secret oasis in the mountains.

My book is dedicated to Barbara Michaels, who is Elizabeth Peters. My island is between the Canaries and the Cape Verde, shrouded in illusion and secrecy. In The Last Camel Died at Noon, Radcliffe Emerson, Amelia Peabody’s husband, says Zerzura is "from the Arabic zarzar, meaning sparrow," and that linked in my mind with Jack Sparrow, and it all came together. Many things fell into place in this book because of that.

I thought this would be so much fun. I was given parameters for this assignment. One of the things we learned from Jack’s history was that Jack had to call on Davy Jones to save his ship and make him a captain.

Without giving away the crucial plot development, the island plays a role.

What’s your favorite Pirates of the Caribbean moment?

I believe my favorite moment was from the first movie, The Curse of the Black Pearl, when they throw Jack Sparrow a line and they winch him up onto the ship in this big rush of water, and AnaMaria hands him his coat and his hat, and she says, “The ship is yours, captain."

He takes the wheel and runs his hands over the spokes with such love, and gives his orders and says, “Bring me that Horizon, and I really loved that whole little moment, when he gave his orders, said, “Bring me that horizon,” and began to sing quietly the song Elizabeth had taught him, “drink up, me hearties, yo-ho, it’s a pirate’s life for me.”

That’s a great moment. And Johnny Depp actually wrote the line “Now bring me that horizon.” They couldn’t think of a last line for the movie, and they were discussing what nautical instructions they should give, and there’s this anecdote in the Making of the Pirates of the Caribbean book Disney did. Johnny Depp came running out of his trailer and ran, bouncing, up the gangplank ontpo the ship where they were all standing around wondering what the last line should be. He had this Post-It note in his hand, and he wrote “bring me that horizon.”

I liked that. I thought it was good. From that moment when he touches the wheel, you know that’s what he really loves, the ship and the sea.

Will Jack have a love interest?

Yes, he has two love interests, though, his true love is the sea and his ship, like any good captain. He has an African princess and a Spanish pirate queen as his love interests. Esmeralda, in the book, is nothing like Angelica in the movie. Esmeralda is the pirate lord of the Caribbean.

What’s next for you?

I’m going back to science fiction, which is my first love, and I’m going to write a YA science fiction novel. I’ve made kind of a slow start because of all the book promotion I’m doing. I have a cool add on my blog, which is reproduced here.

My appearances are kept updated on my website, and I’m hoping to meet people at my various signings. Tomorrow from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., I'll be at Stories Comics, 5067 Forest Hill Avenue, in Richmond, Virginia. I'm appearing at various science fiction conventions, with a big launch party at Balticon. As usual, I'm also teaching at DragonCon over Labor Day weekend.

There are excerpts from The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom on Ann's website, www.accrispin.com. Scroll down below the ad on the excerpt page (also the one reproduced at left) and click the links. You can also follow Ann on Facebook and Twitter.

Ann is giving away a copy of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom to one commenter chosen at random today. So tell us what your favorite Pirates of the Caribbean moment was. Or tell us about your favorite pirate book or movie or your favorite prequel.

86 comments:

Donna MacMeans said...

Argh...is the pretty bird comin' home with me?

Okay - so we've established I can't write pirate, but Ann can and that's the important part.

This book sounds like great fun! While I've watched all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, it's difficult to think of a favorite moment. I do recall a photo of Captain Jack standing on the spars of the foremast. The wind ripples his clothes and he looks quite dashing - enough to be voted one of the sexiest men in one of those Entertainment editions. Johnny Depp was such perfect casting for that role.

Fedora said...

Ooh, favorite pirate story? Hmm... Jennifer Ashley has some I've enjoyed... I'm blanking on others! Lovely to see you again, AC!

Nancy said...

Donna, congrats on the chook!

I can't write pirate either, but I enjoy reading stories by those who can.

Nancy said...

Fedora, let us know which Jennifer Ashley when it comes to you. :-)

Christine Wells said...

Hi A.C.! Welcome to the lair. Nancy, thank you for having A.C. in the lair today.

This prequel sounds fabulous. A daunting task to write about such a well-loved character. My question--do you get to meet the man himself??

I am shamefacedly admitting I've never seen the movies. I must be the only one in the world. I must say the blurb of your book makes me want to give the series a try.

Favourite pirate moment--I think maybe the opening scene in Jewel of the Nile, where the hero saves Angelina from the lusty pirates. Arr.

Donna, you and the GR will have to stop meeting like this!

A. C. Crispin said...

Hi, Christine!

Unfortunately, it's not considered necessary for the writer in a media tie-in novel to meet the actor who portrays the characters. So I wrote about Han Solo, but never got to meet Harrison Ford. And now I've written about Jack Sparrow, but have never met Mr. Depp.

I did, however, know Marc Lenard who portrayed the character of Sarek quite well before I wrote the Star Trek novel SAREK. Mr. Lenard was actually very supportive of the idea of me writing a novel featuring the character he portrayed: Spock's Father.

Best,

-Ann C. Crispin

Mary Preston said...

I love me some Captain Jack & I am looking forward to #4. In the first movie as we first met Jack it appears he is on the deck of a vast ship & then we see it is a dinky sail boat. Love that moment. I will be chasing up your books in the not too distant future.

marypres@gmail.com

Helen said...

Well done Donna what are your plans for him today? enjoy

Hi Ann and Nancy

Loved the post
I really enjoyed the first Pirates movie there was so much happening you gotta love a good pirate with a great sense of humour. Not sure if I have a favourite part though and I am looking forward to the new one

have Fun
Helen

A. C. Crispin said...

Thanks, Marybelle! The book is priced very reasonably online, at Amazon.com or B&N.com. Only 13.08 for the hardcover and 9.99 for the Kindle edition.

If anyone has any questions for me about writing the book, or the subject of writing tie-in fiction in general, I'd be happy to respond.

Best,

-Ann C. Crispin

Tami Brothers said...

I LOVE this idea! Capt Jack is one of my favorite characters. Johnny Depp does an AMAZING job. I can't wait to read about a "younger" Jack.

Thanks for posting this interview. I never would have known about the book without it.

Tami

Cheryl Ann Smith said...

I liked when Jack saved Elizabeth from drowning in the first movie. He looked like he'd rather be doing anything else. And yet, he stepped up like a true hero.

Donna MacMeans said...

Helen - I'm off on another speaking gig this morning so I guess the GR is going to get a tour of the flatter side of Ohio - the interstate!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Donna! You got the chook! Give him an eye-patch and a scarf! Grins.

WElcome AC! I'm a huge fan! I'm thrilled for you that this book is coming out, and I can't wait for the new movie, either. Grins.

Nancy, thanks for having AC on today!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

AC said: If anyone has any questions for me about writing the book, or the subject of writing tie-in fiction in general, I'd be happy to respond.

AC, I have a question! You said the "book" on Capt. Jack was 400 pages long. What about the tie ins for the Star Trek books. Sarek is such a fabulous character, but there was already so much in the TV shows and movies either overt or covertly mentioned. How did you keep track of all that? How big was THAT bible? Grins.

Hellie Sinclair said...

I've loved all the movies of POTC! In the first movie, my favorite moment was when Will Turner said, "They're coming." and Jack Sparrow turns to look over his shoulder and smiles. *sighs*

But if I had to pick a moment from all three movies I loved best, it'd be in the third movie when Will and Elizabeth get married and kiss. I love the fighting, the rain, the swell of the orchestra when Barbossa yells, "Just kiss!" and they do. The composer for POTC did a fantastic job for these movies. I love-love-loved the music.

I have the first book (of the stories of the first three movies) of POTC. I thought that was a great idea and I had to buy the book. I'll have to get this one as well! Thanks for visiting the lair today! Great interview!

Nancy said...

Christine, I saw Pirates movies 1 and 2, but not three. What I'd heard about the ending of 3 deterred me. One of my favorite things about the first movie was the music. Gerri Russell recommended it for writing, and I tried it. It does seem to work well with sweeping adventurre mss.

Nancy said...

Ann, I didn't realize you actually knew Marc Lenard. How cool!

Sarek is a terrific book.

Nancy said...

Marybelle, tricky shots like that can be fun! It says a lot about Jack's self-image that he made it believable.

Nancy said...

Hi, Helen. Glad you liked the post.

Have a great day,

Nancy said...

Hi, Tami--Glad you liked the interview. Don't forget the excerpts on Ann's website. I think she also posted them on Facebook.

I love your photo.

Nancy said...

Just FYI for those who want to read this on iPads--You can get it from iBooks, but you have to search for it under The Price of Freedom. Three books come up, including this one, which shows the Disney Book Group as the author instead of Ann. You can't find it under her name, under Pirates of the Caribbean, or under the full title.

Apple and Disney are usually so good at marketing, but they botched this venue, imho.

Nancy said...

Cheryl, what a beautiful cover!

That was a great moment, wasn't it? That's what heroes do, they step up even when they'd rather not.

Nancy said...

Donna, good luck with the trip and the presentation!

Nancy said...

Jeanne, I want to know the answer to that question, too.

Nancy said...

MsHellion, glad you enjoyed the interview! I love the music, too. I may have to watch that third movie, despite the ending, if it has moments like that in it.

Maureen said...

I like the first movie where you first see Jack coming into the harbor on a sinking ship.

A. C. Crispin said...

Hi Jeanne:

There isn't actually one "bible" for Star Trek or Star Wars, or at least there wasn't when I wrote my novels in those universes. There were different books on different aspects of the show, many of them aimed at the gamers who played the Star Wars and Star Trek games.

Disney did things differently, gathering all the lore into one big book they call the "Pirates Mythology."

-Ann C. Crispin

Nancy said...

Maureen, I liked the first Pirates movie the best.

Nancy said...

Speaking of pirates, does anyone else love The Pirates of Penzance? i saw it on Broadway years ago and thought it was wonderful. It was my introduction to Gilbert and Sullivan.

catslady said...

This is going back a ways but Treasure Island made a big impact on me when I was young. I think Johnny Depp will forever be remembered for this role and hearing about his early days sounds fascinating.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Ann! Glad to have you the Bandit Lair...Imagine a large castle with an underground writer's cave...on an island...and there you have our Lair, not to be confused with a Pirate Lair! :)

Can't wait to read The Price of Freedom! I love the Pirate movies and will be catching the new one on one of my days off next week.

As to my favorite (non-Johnny Depp) Pirate movie? Cutthroat Island. It's a romping good time and you have to love all the swashbuckleing and the strong, but sometimes vulnerable woman captain played by Gina Davis!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Christine: I am shamefacedly admitting I've never seen the movies. I must be the only one in the world. I must say the blurb of your book makes me want to give the series a try.

Girl, you don't know what you're missing. They really are a great escapist diversion. You and the boys should have a pirate marathon!

Nancy said...

Catslady, Treasure Island is one of the dh's favorite books. It also must be one of the most famous pirate tales of all.

Nancy said...

Suz, I missed Cutthroat Island. Tell us a bit more about it?

Nancy said...

Christine, I second what Suz said. These movies are great escapist romps.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Nancy said: Speaking of pirates, does anyone else love The Pirates of Penzance?

I love the pirates of Penzance! One of my all-time G*S favs.

"With cat-like tread...BAM!...upon our prey we steal...BAM!..."

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

AC Crispin said: There were different books on different aspects of the show, many of them aimed at the gamers who played the Star Wars and Star Trek games.

Interesting! Did this make it easier to write in these universes? i.e. did it give you more creative leeway, or was it about the same as with all the Disney lore?

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Nancy, it's from the late 80's I believe.

Geena Davis is the female pirate captain whose family is full of pirates, her father, and three uncles and her grandfather.

The premise of the story is that her grandfather hid a huge treasure on Cutthroat Island, which isn't on any map. He divided the map into three parts, leaving out her really evil uncle, (played by Frank Langella), who is determined to get the map parts even if he has to kill his brothers to do so. Geena is going to get the treasure and stop him.

Now add to this mix Matthew Modine's character, an educated conman whom she buys as a slave. Their attraction grows as they romp their way through the caribbean looking for the island and treasure.

Maureen said...

Oh, my fav moment was when Will and Elizabeth asked Hector to make them man and wife, in the midst of the battle...and he did!

I love me some Hector!

The book sounds wonderful and I must have it for my very own! Soon!

Minna said...

Favorite pirate book or movie? Well, there is that one with Errol Flynn in it. And Finnish one, Rosvo-Roope, literally "Robber Roope".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVzxw22bFkg

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Maureen said: The book sounds wonderful and I must have it for my very own! Soon!

Maureen I knew you'd be with me at the head of the "buy" line for this one!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Minna, I think you're referring to Errol Flynn in Captain Blood which is one of my all-time fabs. Wonderful movie!

There's another sort of tongue-in-cheek movie from the mid 70's called Swashbuckler. It has this massively all-star cast - Robert Shaw, James Earl Jones, Genvieve Bujold, Beau Bridges, Geoffrey Holden and even Tom Clancy. It's a whale of a tale and very colorful. grins. I saw it on late night TV one time and just adored it. Very B-Movie, but fabulous fun

Maureen said...

I LOVED Swashbuckler and always wondered about the backstories hinted at... Who was the young fellow with the add-on-nails? The mysterious woman who never said anything?

I OWN that movie!

Beth Andrews said...

Welcome back to the lair, Ann! I remember you discussing this project a bit when you visited with us before *g* It sounds like a great book and the whole process of it is fascinating!

I loved the first Pirates movie and can't think of a favorite moment - too many to choose from :-)

Thanks for being with us today!

Pat Cochran said...

Yo-Ho-H0, everyone! My sibs and I saw
every pirate film ever shown at the
Union Theatre back in the late 1940s
and 1950s. In those days in Houston,
admission was ten cents and another
ten cents got you popcorn & a soda.
Our fave pirates included Errol Flynn, John Payne (I still shiver thinking of
the octopus he fought in one of his
films!), Robert Newton, and Jon Hall.
Even Gene Kelly and Bob Hope did
pirate films! Our family today (all
three generations of us) has an all-
time favorite which just happens to be a pirate film. Our favorite pirate is
Cary Elwes in Princess Bride. (Sorry,
Captain Jack!!) The children and grandchildren can all quote the lines
(dialogue) in the film!

Pat Cochran

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Welcome back to the Lair, Ann!

Can't wait to get my hands on this book! ARRRGH! Me Hearties! Where are my bucket boots?

There are so many great moments from the POTC movies -- when Elizabeth first sees the crew in their skeletal forms, the crew walking underwater, Jack looking at his hand in the moonlight and mumbling, "Interesting." And that's just the first movie!

Cabana boys! Swash your buckles and bring Aunty some grog!

AC
(the one who is NOT Ann)

Minna said...

Yes, Errol Flynn in Captain Blood.

traveler said...

From the olden days, - Mutiny on the Bounty is unforgettable, story and acting. Treasure Island as well. Loved them both.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Maureen said: I LOVED Swashbuckler and always wondered about the backstories hinted at... Who was the young fellow with the add-on-nails? The mysterious woman who never said anything?

I OWN that movie!


Maureen! My Sistah! I had to LOL that you to had seen this and loved it. I wish I owned it. :>

Maureen said...

Jeanne, love...I even had the novelization of it. Which hinted at the backstory...enough for me to realize press on nails boy started out innocent and had some connection to the heroine...

I come be me pirate writing credentials naturally!

Another movie pirate I loved was Burt Lancaster in the Scarlet Pirate!

Nancy said...

Jeanne, I LOVE that song!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Maureen said: Jeanne, love...I even had the novelization of it. Which hinted at the backstory...enough for me to realize press on nails boy started out innocent and had some connection to the heroine...

Grins. I used to own it too, but I can no longer find it...

Nancy said...

Suz, that does sound like a lot of fun. Thanks,

Nancy said...

Maureen, I love weddings! Mine was very conventional, but I can appreciate other styles, and the one you mentioned was great.

Nancy said...

Minna and Jeanne, I love Captain Blood! It was Flynn's debut and marked not only the first of many pairings with Olivia de Havilland but the first of several magnificent on-screen duels with the marvelous actor and former Olympic fencer, Basil Rathbone.

Nancy said...

Maureen and Jeanne, Swashbuckler sound great!

Nancy said...

Pat, I loved John Payne in Miracle on 34th Street, but I didn't realize he had done a pirate film.

How could I have forgotten Cary Elwes as the Dread Pirate Roberts?!

Nancy said...

Hi, Aunty Cindy--thanks for giving us today. looking forward to your blog tomorrow.

And YAY for bucket boots! *g*

Nancy said...

Traveler, was that Mutiny on the Bounty the one with Charles Laughton and Clark Gable? Or Brando?

Trish Milburn said...

This sounds awesome, Ann. Will definitely have to read this as I'm a big Pirates fan.

MsHellion, that Will and Elizabeth moment is my favorite too! I'm going to miss them in the new movie, though it looks good.

I'm curious how you came to write this book. Did you propose it to Disney? Did they come to you? Do you think writing in established universes easier or harder than writing your own original material from scratch?

petite said...

What a great and unique book. I would enjoy it greatly. Any pirate movie is a winner for me. Men were men and thrills up my spine.

Jenn3128 said...

I love all 3 of these movies and I can't stop at watching just 1. The kids and I end up having a POTC marathon on rainy weekends.

My fav part is when Capt. Barbosa cuts Elisabeth's hand and she looks up at him and says "that's it"? It always cracks me up!

This book sounds great.

Nancy said...

Petite, glad you could stop by!

Nancy said...

Jenn3128, I love DVD marathons. i tend to hqve them more often with TV aeries, but movies are fun, too.

Nancy said...

Uh, that's TV SERIES, not "aeries."

*sigh*

Nancy said...

Ann will be back in a bit. She had a couple of things that couldn't be postponed today, but she's returning, so please check back if you're waiting for a response.

Louise Herring-Jones said...

Second try, geesh.

Thanks, Ann, for your discussion. Can't wait to get the book.

Oddly enough, my favorite Pirates moment is the corset swoon in the first movie!

Amy Herring

jo robertson said...

What a fascinating post, Ann and Nancy! A.C., thanks for visiting!

Like all of the Banditas I love Jack! I can't remember my fave moment or scene -- too many -- but I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Nancy said...

Louise/Amy, you surprise me! I would've expected you to pick something with more action.

Nancy said...

Jo, will you be in the theater this weekend?

A. C. Crispin said...

Jeanne, writing The Price of Freedom was far more difficult than writing for any other media tie-in universe I ever wrote for. That's because, in addition to have to learn about the Disney POTC universe, I had to do the historical and nautical research.

In order to write about the Starship Enterprise, I didn't have to learn how to actually pilot it, if see what I mean.

Of course what I learned was mostly "book learning," but I did go out on cruises aboard several antique tall ships, and helped the crew do some of the work, such as hauling on the lines to raise sail, etc.

In the entire book, there was only one scene I wrote that didn't require me to look something up. That was a scene involving horses. I've had horses all my life.

-Ann C. Crispin

A. C. Crispin said...

Trish, the way I got the gig was that my Disney editor told the powers that be that she thought a book aimed at the adult POTC audience would sell. Eventually, they told her okay, commission one.

My editor then thought to herself (or so she told me) "Okay, Captain Jack. Rogue, scoundrel, outside the law, but with a heart of gold. Lots of humor. What other character in what other universe is like that?" And the answer she came up with was Han Solo.

So my editor dug up all the Bantam and Del Rey Star Wars books focusing on Han Solo, and read them. She decided that my portrayal of the young Han Solo in the HS trilogy was her favorite.

So then she called my agent and asked whether I was available to write the first full-length POTC novel.

Obviously, I made myself available!

As to whether I think writing in established universes is more difficult than writing in my own...the answer is...sometimes. I think The Price of Freedom was as difficult a book to write as any original novel I've ever written. Part of that was the complexity of the plot, and the length. (Book is 670+ printed pages and about 240,000 words.) It took me about 15 or 16 months to write it, once the Disney powers that be agreed on when in Jack's history the book should be set.

-Ann C. Crispin

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Ann said: So my editor dug up all the Bantam and Del Rey Star Wars books focusing on Han Solo, and read them. She decided that my portrayal of the young Han Solo in the HS trilogy was her favorite.

So then she called my agent and asked whether I was available to write the first full-length POTC novel.

Obviously, I made myself available!


Sigh, this is almost as good as a call story!

Ann I had to LOL about "didn't have to learn to pilot" the Enterprise. I guess having to write from Jack's POV, you'd have to KNOW that rigging the way a captain would.

Picture me *bowing in your general direction* for having made that Herculean effort! Wow! I'm just thrilled for you - and for us! - that you got to do this book!

A. C. Crispin said...

Hi Jeanne:

What is a "call story?" Don't recognize that term.

-Ann C. Crispin

jo robertson said...

LOL, Nancy, if I can manage this week. If not, soon!

Nancy said...

Jo, I hope you get to the movie this week!

Nancy

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Ann! We love "call stories" around here, and I'll bet you'll recognize the term once I explain...

It's when you first get that first "I want to buy your book" call from your very first editor. Grins.

So, I'm loving your "call story" about getting the Jack book, even though it wasn't your first book because, well, it's just COOL! :>

A. C. Crispin said...

Thanks for explaining, Jeanne. Yeah, I've had a few of those stories.

:-)

-Ann

Louisa Cornell said...

Late to the party! Where's my ship? And why is the rum always gone??? AHA !!! That Boid has it and he's taken it to Donna's!



This is the coolest idea I have ever heard! A prequel to Pirates of the Caribbean??? A copy for me, a copy for my niece who is the BIGGEST Johnny Depp and Captain Jack fan on the planet! I am forever her favorite aunt as I nabbed a lifesized standup cardboard cutout of Captain Jack Sparrow that was used to advertise the DVD's and gave it to her as a gift. Captain Jack stands in her bedroom and is sighed over by half a dozen teenaged girls on a weekly basis.

My favorite moments? (I can't pick just one!)

IN the third movie when he and Barbosa are talking about life and death while they look at the dead Kraken.

Barbosa - The world's gotten smaller.

Captain Jack - The world's not smaller, mate. There's just less in it.

In the first film when he and Will manage to steal the ship and the disable the ship that tries to pursue them and the first officer says "That has to be the best pirate I've ever seen."



"In a fair fight I'd have beaten you."

"Then that's not much incentive for me to fight fair now, is it."

Can you tell I watch these films A LOT??

And the music is fabulous! I often write to it as well, Nancy.

LilMissMolly said...

My family is obsessed with the Pirates movies. Can't wait to read your book!

Nancy said...

Louisa, better late than never!

What a great story about the Capt. Jack standup. Isn't your niece lucky you were on-site at the right time?!

Nancy said...

LilMissMolly, glad you made it by. We've had many pirate-obsessed today. :-)

Debbie Yutko said...

Ann,

Thanks for spending the time to discuss your new book. I can't wait to read it, and I'm looking forward to getting you to sign my copy at Dragon*Con!

Nancy said...

Debbie, thanks for stopping by!

A. C. Crispin said...

Thanks for inviting me over, Nancy! I had a good time, and I appreciate hearing from "the bandits" that they like the idea of my book.

Debbie, see you at Dragon*con!

I'm heading off to Richmond for a signing.

Bye, all!

-Ann

Kim in Baltimore said...

Aloha! I just love the backdrop! And the new movie was filmed on Oahu and Kauai, so it will be fun to see my backyard on the big screen!