LAST UPDATED: 24 October 2000

VZSciFi Live Creator Event: Author Yvonne Navarro
Thursday 15June, 1.00pm VZT (PST) Space City Conference Centre
Event Transcript Part Three

Competition Winners Here

HereÕs the third part of our transcript of the Yvonne Navarro event, held on 15 June 2000. This has been edited slightly for spelling, with repetitions removed, and to add additional information where appropriate. Special thanks to Steve for going over it again for us! The event was moderated by Mr. Templeton (John Freeman).

Mr. Templeton: How did your writing for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels come about?
Yvonne Navarro: I met the editor at a convention a couple of years ago. Then when she was looking for established authors to write in the Buffy line, a couple of the authors already writing there (Nancy Holder and Christopher Golden) recommended me.
She asked for work samples and my agent sent them, and that's how it all started. I'm working on another Buffy novelization now, due in a little under a month.
Mr. Templeton: This is the dinosaur story?
Yvonne Navarro: No... That's Paleo, which is an original Buffy novel, not a novelisation. Paleo comes out in September.
Mr. Templeton: I gather from recent interviews that you are eminently qualified to know about Buffy's fighting skills…?
Yvonne Navarro: Ah, you're talking about my martial arts? :) Well, I don't know how I'd do against a vampire, but I've been studying martial arts for about a year and a half. Which means I'm still a baby at it.
Mr. Templeton: Are there particular disciplines you are studying?
Yvonne Navarro: It's great exercise, and it's always good to know self-defence. At my Academy we study what they called the Degerberg Blend, which is of course, a blend of a number of them. Judo, kickboxing, Kali, ju jitsu, jun fan, etc. It's a good mix, because, for instance, if you're ever attacked and all you know how to do is punch, what do you do if someone pins you on the ground? Here they teach you that, so you can escape.
Mr. Templeton: Whew, that's quite a list!
Yvonne Navarro: I also take separate training classes in Jun Fan and Kali. I'm especially fond of Kali.
Mr. Templeton: Sorry, I'm not familiar with that?
Yvonne Navarro: Kali is an Indonesian martial art, someone similar to Escrima and Jun Fan. Empty hand fighting techniques, and also weapons.
I'm especially fond of stickfighting. :)
Mr. Templeton: Yvonne, What was the hardest part in writing your first Buffy novel, Willow?
Yvonne Navarro: Actually, I didn't find the Willow novel difficult at all-- because it was a novelization, for the most part I just followed the scripts. Also, because it was geared toward YA (young adult) I couldn't get too crazy about elaboration -- there was a word limit. It's much more difficult to write a Buffy original novel.
Stig Redfin of the Ukrann: You're allowed to diverge a little though? In some media novels?
Yvonne Navarro: That depends on the novel. Buffy is really tight -- they like to stick close, and because it's an ongoing series, they're pretty particular. They watch what the characters say in every respect, what they wear, how they act. I had more freedom with the Species novels, and especially with the Aliens novel because it was based on a comic book series.
Following comments on Yvonne’s web site…
Mr. Templeton: You created your whole web site, by the way?
Yvonne Navarro: Yes, I did. It's been a four-year learning experience. In fact, I'd warn any writer against getting too hooked on the Internet and html coding. It's deadly.
Mr. Templeton: Do you find it has helped you promote your work?
Yvonne Navarro: Yes, that it has. A good thing because otherwise it would be like a little time vampire/parasite!
Archivist Shiren of the T'Chell: Like washing the car used to be for some writers?
Yvonne Navarro: Well, it's not an excuse really, just sometimes a really evil distraction.
Dark Valkyrie: Do authors have the same problem as musicians. does the publisher tell you what to put on your website?
Yvonne Navarro: Nope -- they have no control over me. muhahahahhahaha!!!!
Dark Valkyrie: lol
Yvonne Navarro: I suppose if they sponsored the web site, or they did the coding, they could try, but Darke Palace is mine – mine, mine, mine, mine!
Quinn: lol
Mr. Templeton: It's a great platform for your work especially for those of us outside the US
Yvonne Navarro: I would like to reach more people overseas. Unfortunately, my agent hasn't had a lot of success in getting overseas countries interested in my novels. But maybe in the future (she said, thinking positively!).
Mr. Templeton: That's a shame. What would you say makes a good horror novel?
Yvonne Navarro: A good horror novel needs, to me anyway, good people in it. If you don't like the characters, who cares if they live or die, or if the monsters get them?
And actually, I think that goes for almost any novel. You can have the best plot in the world, the best mystery or whatever, but if the character has no spirit, whether good or bad, you can't hold the reader's interest.
Mr. Templeton: Do you have particular favourites among the characters you have created?
Yvonne Navarro: Oh yes. First and foremost the one who comes to mind is Lily. I created her in Final Impact just so I could kill her off and at the end of Red Shadows, the follow-up to Final Impact, she was still very much alive and kicking. Lily has generated more fan mail, I think, than any other character in any of my books.
Mr. Templeton: Any plans to feature her again?
Yvonne Navarro: Well, a lot of people have asked for a third book to that sort of unintentional series. I have a title and a vague idea for what it would be about. If I ever wrote it though, it would have to be for a different publisher.
Mr. Templeton: Why is that? (If you can say)
Yvonne Navarro: Well, unfortunately Bantam isn't interested in making it a trilogy anymore. Which is a shame, because there were quite a number of requests. Still, because I'm only ten years old (:: ahem ::) , I have plenty of time left to write it.
Quinn: lol
Stig Redfin of the Ukrann: Could Final Impact ever be a film? Or is it something that would be too expensive to film?
Yvonne Navarro: Oh, I think it would be a great film (who's biased?). Besides, with today's special effects, it wouldn't be any more expensive than anything else wouldn’t. Unfortunately the book came out at about the same time as Deep Impact, which sort of overshadowed it. The timing on that pretty much killed any interest that might have been generated.
Mr. Templeton: Do you think the attitudes to horror fiction from the general public have changed in recent years?
Yvonne Navarro: I don't know. I see some lightening up, but I also see others getting really crazed about trying to find a scapegoat for the problems in today's society.
Dark Valkyrie: What actress could you see playing Lily?
Yvonne Navarro: Oooh, now there's a question. Let me think on that a moment. It would have to be someone tall and thin... hmmm. Any suggestions?
Mr. Templeton: Who is the actress in Maybe Baby?
Dark Valkyrie: I'm curious that you hadn't thought of it before.
Yvonne Navarro: Of course, we could cut Sigourney Weaver's hair and dye it white, then streak it with orange and green, and there you go. Heroine. <g>
Dark Valkyrie: lol
Yvonne Navarro: Ripped leggings and army boots would complete the picture.
Mr. Templeton: So you're working on a Buffy novel now, what is next in the works?
Yvonne Navarro: Well, when I finish this one, which is Willow Files Vol. II, I'd like to get back to work on a novel I started a couple of months ago called Mirror Me. I had actually told myself I would have that completed by July 1st. ::thump:: Hey, I've got 15 days. No problem.
Mr. Templeton: Can you tell us a little of what that is about?
Yvonne Navarro: Sure. And here's an example of the what-if. Mirror Me was inspired by a Suzanne Vega song, the one... where the lyrics talk about If you were to kill me now, I'd make you wear me like a scar.
I wondered what if you had someone who did just that-- took on the scars of injuries to other people? So you start with that what if question, and then you make up the answers. Mirror Me is about a woman who takes on the scars of murder victims in Chicago.
The biggest question, of course, becomes, 'Why?' and that's the one I have to answer in this novel. It's about (trying to remember) 50 pages long so far, but it's fully outlined.
Mr. Templeton: Is there anything you would really like to write, but haven't found the 'hook' yet?
Yvonne Navarro: Yes! Dozens of things! <g> A sequel to AfterAge, a sequel to Deadrush, that third book to go with Final Impact and Red Shadows. I've also got a full outline for a novel called Die With Me. [That’s] purely suspense, no supernatural. Mirror Me is really a horror novel. I've also got a great idea for a vampire novel. And ideas for a couple of others. If I could just make my days 36 hours long...
Mr. Templeton: If That's Not My Name is a big success, would you see yourself moving into police procedurals?
Yvonne Navarro: No, not really. That's Not My Name has police procedure in it, but... it's more about the woman who's kidnapped and the human side of the cop who's hunting for her rather than the procedural part. really intend that the next solo novel I write is going to be Mirror Me, which -- ta-da -- has lots of cops in it. But again, even though people will be hunting around to find out about these murders, the focus is on the main character, not the procedural part.
Mr. Templeton: Ha ha
Stig Redfin of the Ukrann: LOL
Mr. Templeton: If you weren't a writer, what do you think you would you be doing?
Yvonne Navarro: Probably still working in a law firm. Save me. ::thump::
Mr. Templeton: I hope we can!
Mr. Templeton: Yvonne, thank you very much for giving up your time to speak with us here at VZSciFi, I'm sure everyone here wishes you every success with your work, and the new book, which is on sale now in the US, and via the web link behind me!
Yvonne Navarro: You're welcome. Does anyone else have any more questions?
Dark Valkyrie: thank you so much for coming
Yvonne Navarro: Thanks. :)
Mr. Templeton: The ghosts are shy tonight
Quinn: Oh, how do you like our little world?
Yvonne Navarro: It's lots of fun. :)
Archivist Shiren of the T'Chell: Thank you Yvonne, that was really interesting.
Yvonne Navarro: You're welcome. Feel free to ask, still, if you have something you want to know about.
Stig Redfin of the Ukrann: Thanks Yvonne. It's a shame I can't get you to sign a book here!
Yvonne Navarro: But folks can send stuff to the P.O. box on my site and I'll sign it and send it back.
Stig Redfin of the Ukrann: Great! Thanks!
Mr. Templeton: Any more questions, folks?
Dark Valkyrie: Good luck with That's Not My Name, maybe it will be the first movie
Yvonne Navarro: Oh, that would be excellent! . Thanks very much.
Yvonne Navarro: Okay, if no one else has anymore questions, I'm going to go on and pop off since I have training tonight and need to get ready.
Mr. Templeton: Let's hope so! Thank you then, Yvonne
Yvonne Navarro: Last chance for questions. You know what they say when you get married... Speak now or forever hold something or the other. ha ha
Mr. Templeton: ha ha!

Competition Winners !

The following people won copies of Yvonne's new novel, That's Not My Name, to give a way thanks to those great folks at Bantam Books!

We asked, "What is the name of Yvonne Navarro's romantic ghost story?" The answer was, of course, Of My Own Making.

The winners were:
Bren, Dr. Telemus, Dwayne Ryan (from Canada), J.Storey (East Olympia), Joyce Kaplan (Pensacola, Florida), Linsue, Raven's Claw, Sephera Giron (Ontario, Canada), Natalie Connor (Leeds, England) and Sly StarDust!

We'll be having more competitions in future, check out the VZSciFi Main Page or Space City News page for the latest information!

If you didn't win, you can still buy That's Not My Name from Amazon.co.uk: Go

Part One of Transcript | Part Two of Event Transcript | External Links: Yvonne Navarro's web site