Q&A with: Diana Botsford

Diana Botsford, author of STARGATE SG-1: Four Dragons, talks about the mythology around the series and why she loves writing.

1) How and when did you become a fan of Stargate?

2008! I'm an admittedly late bloomer when it comes to the Stargate Franchise, but the upside is that I got to watch all the episodes on DVD which was a great deal of fun!

2) What’s your all time favourite Stargate episode and why?

Not an easy question! If I was stranded on a desert island, I suppose I'd have to pick LOST CITY (pts 1 & 2 - yes, I realize I'm cheating!). Besides being such a fantastic culmination of so many threads within the Stargate mythology, the "what's at stake" for each character is significant...and poignant!

Of course, as soon as I list one episode, there's more that pop-up in my head: Beneath the Surface, Full Circle, Unnatural Selection, Tin Man, Solitudes, Shades of Grey...

For Stargate Atlantis, I'd have to say Sunday is my favorite - I'm a huge fan of alternate structure storylines. Mind you, I could make an equally long list for Stargate Atlantis, but we'll save that for another time!

3) What made you want to write a Stargate novel?

One of my biggest influences as a science fiction writer/aficionado was Isaac Asimov's FOUNDATION. What struck me about the book was how someone could build an entire civilization with new societal conventions, new money, new religion, everything about it.

There was an entire mythology wrapped up in that series...just as Brad Wright & company have done with Stargate. The collective franchise has made for such a rich tapestry of possibilities, in large part because no episode of SG-1, SGA, or even the new SGU, is self-contained. Every action has consequences and can come back and bite our teams in the proverbial ass. The possibilities for story are endless and I wanted the opportunity to contribute to that. Fandemonium could issue a new Stargate novel every month and each one would be new and exciting… and connect in such a way that brings even more meaning to the overall franchise.

4) What’s the hardest thing about writing in the Stargate universe?

And what’s the best thing about writing in the Stargate universe?
The hardest thing? Staying true to the characters and their world.
The best thing? Staying true to the characters and their world.

5) Tell me about your favourite scene in your novel.

Oh boy... there's quite a few, but here's two choices:

There's a scene with Jack broken up throughout the novel - they're referred to as interludes, brief moments of reflection on his part. Memories are a theme in the book—what they mean to us, getting back lost memories, exploring the past. A recurring memory throughout the book is Jack’s. I establish at the top that when Skaara died/ascended in the Season six episode “Full Circle,” Jack acted on impulse and retrieved his old Zippo. For whatever reason, he’s still not sure, and an underlying subplot of the book is Jack trying to figure out why the heck he did that.

He’s always been the first to admit he’s not a sentimental guy, yet here he’s holding on to an old, beat up Zippo like it’s a lifeline.

My favorite action scene has to do with a battle between SG-1 and Lord Yu's Jaffa, just outside the Goa'uld's fortress. I'm a big believer in using action scenes to forward character and plot. This particular scene has high drama, humor, and intrigue, thanks to several POV switches - including an off-world observer. There's a variety of technologies used during the battle, and naturally they don't work the way we'd expect. Hence, the team has to keep adjusting during the battle, from plan B to plan C to plan D...

6) What do you hope readers enjoy most about your novel?

A sense of wonder... about the characters and about Earth's history and mythology as it relates to the Goa'uld... or at least, one Goa'uld in particular! I also hope readers feel like they've experienced a new episode of the series with all the drama, action, and humor fans have come to love about SG-1. Having had past experience writing for television and film, I paid close attention to the pacing in the story to give it a feel similar to the series.

7) How did you become a professional writer? And do you have any tips for budding authors?

My first professional sale was to Star Trek: Next Generation. I had a great agent and timing really was everything. That and tenacity. No one's going to buy your work if you don't get it out there. Also, pay attention to pacing and structure. A great story is like a roller coaster - it should have ups and downs. Loud and quiet moments. And NEVER forget the humor!

8) What’s your opinion of fanfiction? And have you ever read or written any?

Ah! Caught red-handed! I actually enjoy quite a bit of fanfic. It's like comfort food for me. No cost, so no loss if it's subpar...and oddly enough, this particular franchise tends to inspire some terrific fan fic. Again, the franchise has so much depth, that I believe there's a place for both fanfic and professional media tie-in novels.

A fanfic piece can explore a minute moment in time - or go AU - whereas a licensed media tie-in novel stays within the canon of the franchise...and yet can open up story possibilities which never could have happened on a television series budget.