Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Off the Page -- Video interview with Mary Stewart

Myrna-nora left a comment on the blog ages ago directing us to a YouTube video of Mary Stewart! It's a great interview from a TV program called Off the Page, which apparently featured a different Scottish writer every week. It's about a half hour long and so lovely! It was filmed in 1992, just after the release of The Stormy Petrel.

One tidbit that I thought was interesting -- Mary Stewart says that when she was writing the scene in The Moon-Spinners where Nicola swims in the Bay of Dolphins, she decided that her next book would feature a dolphin as a sort of hero. Of course, This Rough Magic was next (and is my absolute favorite Mary Stewart book).

I really hope that the interview was set at Mary Stewart's house in Scotland. Because I like to think of her enjoying her retirement in such a beautiful place!

6 comments:

Danielle said...

Delurking to thank you for posting about this link. I immediately had to click over and watch the interview. What a treat to listen to Stewart's voice and watch her expressions as she reminisced about her books: the bit about her friend's experience with the dancing horse, the creative connection between The Moon Spinners and This Rough Magic, her enjoyment of Dorothy Sayers, her firm stance on film adaptations... I only wish the interviewer had asked less generic questions and mined Stewart's knowledgeability and intellect more!

AllisMcD said...

Thank you so much for posting the link to this wonderful interview: what a find! Lovely to hear Mary Stewart for the first time when I have read her books for so many years. Thanks!

kathy said...

I have not watched the link yet but I wanted to comment that This Rough Magic is my favorite also ( although it is difficult to choose!) I hve fantasies of becoming very rich and making that into a movie! And I have just finished reading Moon Spinners ( again). Hers are always the books I go back to for sheer enjoyable escape. I never tire of them and I have never come across another author I enjoy as much!

Bella said...

I do so agree with previous comments - just wonderful to hear her! I have read and re-read all of Mary Stewart's books, except "Rose Cottage" which I have only just discovered; she is one of the few authors one can go back to again and again. Desert Island Disc choice? The Merlin Trilogy and Airs above the Ground. Thank you Miss Stewart for bringing such pleasure to so many people.

Abby said...

At last I have discovered a "blog" worth enjoining. Should have known such a worthwhile forum exists on behalf of the truly fresh and unique artists who paint in vivid words from their storehouses. Thank you all for your Pursuit after the really wholesome and delightful in authors. My own "discovery" of Mary Stewart began with the Merlin trilogy. Her approach is, in my opinion, the best road taken into the Authurian world. I am in my "60's", retired, and have more time to devote to my beloved reads. So it's likely no surprise that having just finished "Touch Not the Cat", I am now reading "Madam, Will You Talk", her first novel published in UK© @ 1955. Thank you, too, for a place to come and share our communal love of of great writers. PS: my second enjoyable "read" with regard to Authurian legend is late 20th century writer Steven Lawhead and his "Pendragon Cycle". ..... I would be pleased to be directed towards similar quality writers. Have seen a good starter list here, including Jane Eyre, long a standout favorite. Thanks, again.

Gina House said...

I'm so sad that this video is now set to private, so I wasn't able to watch it. Does anyone have any other Mary Stewart interview video links? Thank you for the amazing content on your blog. I just found it! :D