Gillian Flynn
Appearances
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
I never, ever begin with an ending. I never know what the ending is going to be. And personally, I think that's the best way to write. So I think he's on to something right there. I think you start with who your character is. Like, you know, I write character based books that happen to be mysteries. But I think the initial conflict is beautiful. And it's there, which is Bella and Umbrella.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
obviously needs to get outside. I mean, that's only to her nature. It's almost cruel to keep an umbrella inside for too long.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
It is dark. It's like, you know, telling a captain he can't go to sea. Yeah. I'm sorry. I get seasick. You've got to stay home. But I'm a captain. But no, stay here.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
Maybe, might be.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
I think I would, you know, go with your idea of she's being sort of kept prisoner. And here's this family resisting and actually rejecting who she is innately. I mean, that's a horrifying thing that you're trapped with people who really dislike who you are inherently as a person. Umbrella. Sorry, I'm from Kansas City. I say umbrella. Umbrella.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
Umbrellas. And, you know, does Bella, you know, what do you think? Does Bella start getting a little angry as she's got that pointy end that most umbrellas do? I mean, I don't want to end with something too dark, but... She could really hold them by umbrella point and force them to take her outside.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
Oh, they have a series of really unlucky and unfortunate events, and they can't figure out why it is. And then suddenly they realize they see this umbrella that they've previously neglected in the corner mysteriously opened. I love that.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
Not entirely holiday spirit. Yeah.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
I mean, I really do like the idea of her hopping up the stairs one night, her unsuspecting family, flapping umbrella arms. She's like a furious bat. And she just takes them by points them, you know, at right at the throat, her little pointed umbrella and says, take me out of here. You're getting me out of here. And, and out they go.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
And then, you know, then maybe they get outside in there, you know, they sort of see the rain. And if you want a hopeful moment, there's kind of like, well, thank you, Bella. You know, you did use force, but ultimately I'm less scared of rain. So I learned my lesson.
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
HTDE: The Perfect Christmas Present with James Patterson and Gillian Flynn
They've never gone out. I do like that. I do like that. And she's like, you know, that goes maybe back if we want them agoraphobic again. I think umbrellas are like women in erotic thrillers. They're both beautiful and scary at the same time. Remember that, Charlie.