The Mac Weekly

Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: The Arts

When I found out I had a chance to interview the man I have been idolizing since I was fifteen, I nearly died. The fact that I was seeing Neil Gaiman was enough to turn me into a giddy fan girl. However, the reality that I was going to be talking to him one-on-one was both exhilarating and terrifying. What would I say to the writer that has been next to Tolkien and Lermontov in my literary pantheon for years? His reading took place Oct. 8 at the United Church of Christ.

After waiting in the lobby for a few minutes, I was taken into a back room where Gaiman was waiting for me. A squeaky "Hi" escaped my lips as I shook his hallowed hand. That was when I realized I was no longer breathing. Trying to buy myself some time to save face, I plugged in my rented 1980s tape recorder and ran into a beautiful White German Shepherd that I recognized as Gaiman's dog, Cabal. I learned that Cabal had been slightly tetchy since Gaiman had been gone on a months-long research trip to China for his newest book on travel. Gaiman's absolute graciousness and Cabal's warm eyes made my jitters melt away, and I jumped right in to one of the best experiences of my life.

Tatiana Craine: I've heard you feel that chapter four of "The Graveyard Book" is the best thing that you've written for both children and adults.

Neil Gaiman: I think it's probably "The Graveyard Book" is the best thing. Chapter 4 is probably, I don't know… I have different favorite chapters. They come and they go, and I'll read one and go, "Oh that was my favorite," but I think overall "The Graveyard Book" is simply my favorite thing that I've done so far. And that's probably to do with the fact that it's just better than the thing that I had in my head when I started.

TC: I read it, and it's wonderful. I loved it.

NG: I was signing down at Red Balloon [pre-signing books for the St. Paul event], and one of these ladies said I haven't read "The Graveyard Book," but one of my people who has-she said it's really heartwarming and nice and I said, "It really is; it's about family." And she said, "I thought it would be scary and spooky." And I said, "Well there's some of that, but basically it's about family."

TC: "The Graveyard Book" is based loosely off Kipling's "The Jungle Book," right?

NG: Yep.

TC: And the times when your son was riding his tricycle around graveyards, right?

NG: These things are true.

TC: So where do you get your inspiration for some of your other works like "The Sandman" or "American Gods?"

Continued...

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