Interviews With Famous Authors – 17 Questions Answered

We have interviewed many famous authors over the years. We began a series called 17 Questions for guest speakers in 2004 and we have carried on with it, making changes as we’ve gone along.

These are the original 17 questions authors answered:

1. Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
2. What is your most treasured possession?
3. Which living person do you most dislike?
4. What is your greatest fear?
5. Who or what has been the greatest love of your life?
6. What is your greatest regret?
7. If you could choose to be a character in a book, who would it be?
8. Which book have you read the most in your lifetime?
9. What is your favourite journey?
10. What do you most value in a friend? / What do you prefer, Dogs or Cats?
11. What quality do you most admire in a woman?
12. Which book that you’ve written is your favourite?
13. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
14. What are your favourite names?
15. What do you do as a hobby?
16. What are your top 3 books?
17. Where do you get your greatest ideas for writing?

Interviews With Famous Authors

Click on an author’s name to read their answers. (We are busy moving our older interviews to our new website. We apologise for the inconvenience.)

Before the 17 Questions: 

• Ian Rankin
• Jackie Collins

17 (Or So) Questions

Our earliest interviews feature 17 questions.

1. Adriana Trigiani
2. Alex Harris
3. Alexander McCall Smith
4. Alexandra Fuller
5. André Brink
6. Angela Makholwa
7. Anne Harries
8. Arthur Goldstuck
9. Barbara Nadel
10. Bongani Madondo
11. Bryce Courtenay
12. Darrel Bristow-Bovey
13. David Medallie
14. Dennis Beckett
15. Elma van Vliet
16. Ellen Banda-Aaku
17. Emma van der Vliet
18. Finuala Dowling
19. Gail Schimmel
20. George Bizos
21. Gwynne Conlyn
22. Hilary Claire
23. Jassy McKenzie
24. Jenny Crwys-Williams
25. Jill Mansell
26. Joanne Harris
27. Jodi Picoult
28. John Connolly
29. John van de Ruit
30. Jonathan Kaplan
31. Lauren Liebenberg
32. Lee van Loggerenberg
33. Lesley Pearse (2017)
34. Marcus Chown
35. Marian Keyes
36. Marina Lewycka
37. Marita van der Vyfer
38. Mavis Cheek
39. Melinda Ferguson
40. Michael Connelly
41. Nicholas Ashby
42. Pamela Jooste
43. Patricia Schonstein
44. Peter Godwin
45. Philippa Gregory
46. Prue Leith
47. Rachel Zadok
48. Richard Kunzmann
49. Robert Calderisi
50. Ryk Neethling
51. Sam Cowen
52. Santa Montefiore
53. Shaun Thomson
54. Stephen Leather
55. Susan Mann
56. Tertia Albertyn
57. Tim Plewman
58. Tom Eaton
59. Tracey Farren
60. Troy Blacklaws

1. Alan Hollinghurst
2. Alex van Tonder
3. Andrew Gross
4. Ann Cleeves
5. Barbara Kingsolver
6. Chris Ryan
7. Conn Iggulden
8. David Baldacci
9. Elizabeth Noble
10. James Hendry
11. Janet Fitch
12. Jassy McKenzie
13. Jeffrey Archer
14. Jeffery Deaver
15. Jodi Picoult (again)
16. John Connolly (again)
17. John van de Ruit (again)
18. Justin Bonello
19. Kate Sidley
20. Lauren Beukes
21. Lesley Pearse (2012)
22. Máire Fisher
23. Mandy Wiener
24. Mary Rolph Lamontagne
25. Michael Robotham
26. Peter James
27. Priscilla Holmes
28. Raymond E. Feist
29. Siphiwo Mahala
30. Sue Nyathi
31. Susan Lewis
32. Thando Mgqolozana
33. Tuelo Gabonewe