Q: Hello, if you don't mind, let's get right to the interview. First question, what idd you hope to accomplish by writing a DBZ book?
A: Danny & Lois: We wanted to write a fan book about Dragon Ball Z
that kids would enjoy reading. For kids who already
know a lot about DBZ, we wanted to explain some of the things that
we really like about the shows, comics, action figures, and other stuff.
For kids who haven't seen much of DBZ, we wanted to entice them
to watch the show so they could see how much fun it is.
Q: So far what have you thought of the feedback you have received about the book?
A: Lois: The response has been excellent. In three weeks, we've received
more than 125 letters from kids who love the book. We've also heard
from an actor who is actually ON the show, and he's really excited about
the book, too. So the feedback has been very positive.
Q: Do you ever visit DB sites on the net and if so what are some of your favorites?
A: Danny & Lois: We list a few sites in the book, such as http://www.dragonball.net,
which has lots of links to other DBZ sites. If you click on "Links" there,
you'll see an absolutely awesome list directly picked up from
http://www.comicity.com/directory/dragonball.htm. We've followed most of
the links on this page, and a lot of them are well worth seeing. Last week,
we saw this one for the first time: http://www.saiyanhw.com, and it was
excellent. Lots of great images of Buu, for example, with character summaries.
You should definitely check it out!
Q: For someone who wants to write a book, what are the steps that need to be taken? From getting it started, to getting in published?
A: Lois: First, you need a subject for your book. Choose a subject that you
like. The key to writing something decent is to have fun writing it.
Next: will it be fiction, or will it be nonfiction? If fiction, make up
at least one good character and one bad guy, and toss some other
characters in to make it all real. (Later, you can play with other
combinations, but this is a good way to start writing fiction.) If
nonfiction, figure out what main topics you want to discuss.
If you've never published a book before, then you should
write the entire book, read it, and clean it up a few times. When you're
convinced that it's as good as you can make it, then send a summary of
the book, along with your credentials and the first few chapters, to
an editor. Now cross your fingers, take a few weeks off from writing, and start
your second book. Whatever you do, just make sure you have fun doing it.
Q: How did you get into DBZ?
A: Danny & Lois: From watching the show on the cartoon network. From there,
we bought videos, comics, and action figures.
Q: Are you into any other Anime's?
A: Lois: I've seen some Ghost in the Shell and Ranama, among others.
Q: Any plans to write another DBZ book?
A: Lois: No plans, at present, to write another DBZ book, but you
never know what's going to happen!
Q: Have you written any other books? If so, what were some of the books you have written?
A: Lois: I'm also the author of two other books, The Termination Node and
The Computers of Star Trek, and I've published a pile of short stories.
Danny and I are writing a children's novel that will be available in
Spring of 2001. And alone, I'm writing another adult book, also available
in Spring of 2001. In addition, I'm teaming up with a friend to write a
book called The Science of Superheroes--about guys like Wolverine and
Spiderman!--and that one will be available in approximately one year. So
there are lots of books in the works, and all of them are about really fun subjects.
I try to keep http://www.sff.net/people/lgresh up to date with all of our
activities. I get behind, though, in updating the site because I'm so busy
writing the books! Danny's in charge of the Dragon Ball Z page.
Q: How successful has your book been so far, in your eyes? I mean successful in two different ways. One is in the sense of book sales and the other is in the sense of spreading the word on Dragonball Z?
A: Lois: We haven't a clue about book sales. As mentioned above, the book has been
available for only three weeks, and we've already received more than 125
extremely nice letters from people who have read it. About 40 kids wrote to
us that the book told them things about DBZ that they didn't know or that the
book has gotten them really interested in the show. So I think that the book
is definitely spreading the word about DBZ.
Q: Will you be appearing anywhere in the near future where people can meet you?
A: Danny: I will be returning to school (argh) in two weeks.
Lois: I will be at the Science Fiction World Convention in Chicago on
the weekend of Sept 1- 4. Danny and I will be at the Albacon Science Fiction Convention from October 7-8. We'll also be at Eeriecon, which is held
in November in Niagara Falls, and at Ad Astra in Toronto in February.
Q: Where are some of the places that people can find your book?
A: Danny & Lois: Barnes and Noble, Borders, amazon.com. Any big
(or good!) bookstore. This book should be in all libraries, including
the Library of Congress. Here's the amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312977573/o/qid=966998520/sr=2-1/103-8334676-0574251
Q: Who is your favorite DBZ character?
A: Danny: Goku, Vegeta. I also like Piccolo.
Lois: Buu in all his forms. Also Gohan.
Q: Was Dragon Ball Z: An Unauthorized Guide your first title for the book? If not, what were some of the other title's you thought of using?
A: Danny & Lois: St. Martin's Press selected the title.
Q: How long have you been into DBZ?
A: Danny & Lois: Several years.
Q: Does it bother you to read some of the more disturbing e-mails and letters that you receive?
A: Danny & Lois: Yes, of course, it does. However, 98% of the letters
we receive are from kids who like the book a lot.
Q: Did you ever think that you would receive negative feedback on the book?
A: Danny & Lois: We haven't received negative feedback about the book. We
have received some letters from hardcore fans who think that only the uncut
Japanese episodes are worth seeing.
Q: Not an important question, but what made you publish the book as a paper back and not a hard cover?
A: Lois: It was the publisher's decision.
Andy-Well, that is it. It has been a pleasure and I am glad that you were able to take your time to do the interview with me.
Danny & Lois- Thanks very much for asking us to participate! It's been fun!