Date: January 28, 2004

Author: Austin "flashback" Welch

Photography: Richard "evilchops" Chavez

For those of you who couldn't make it to the Carrie Fisher book signing at Brentano's in Century City, no worries, the IESB was there to cover it for you!

Representing the IESB, I was able secure a quick interview with Carrie Fisher during a booksigning for her newly released novel, 'The Best Awful'. The book is a semi-official sequel to her 1987 bestseller, 'Postcards From The Edge'. After the relatively quick signing/photography process, Ms. Fisher was very kind to allow us a few brief minutes of her time to ask a few burning questions.

The first thing we wanted to know was, why after fifteen-plus years, she has decided to revisit Suzanne Vale and her supporting cast of characters. Carrie explained that, just as virtually all of her novels are to some degree based on her personal experiences as a manic-depressive, recovering substance abuser, her latest book would be no exception. However, being that this latest outing's themes intertwined with that of 'Postcards', it made the most sense to come back to familiar territory rather than create an all-new backdrop.

Likewise - since her books are indeed semi-autobiographical - I inquired as to whether it was difficult to bare her soul, or if in fact exploring these themes via fictional characters made it any easier. "Revealing the truth is a stern task." was her response, claiming that she just "can't write in that (open) style.". And after being asked if an official Carrie Fisher autobiography would ever happen, she implied that it would be redundant in the face of her body of fictional work. Always one to invoke her unique sense of humor, Carrie was quick to add, "Besides, I just don't have that good of a memory."

Knowing much about her family's dirty laundry, and that her mother, entertainer Debbie Reynolds, has endured her share of hardship in life, I asked Carrie if she'd received any advice - either personal or professional - from her mother that she's taken to heart. After taking a kiddingly indignant stance against such a thought ("Can you imagine her giving someone personal advice?"), she revealed a deep love and respect for her mother, calling her "a great example" of how to carry one's self with dignity through adversity. Poigniantly, she added that her mom was opposed to the idea of her daughter going out into the cold, wet evening to do a book signing when she was clearly under the weather herself.

As a woman who has worn many hats in her career in the entertainment industry - actress, author, screenwriter, television personality - one wonders if there's anything left to do. "Retire!" was an emphatic Carrie's reply, bringing everyone in earshot to giggles. "Direct," she continued, citing a desire to boss men around as a motivator. As if failing to make up her mind, she interjected, "A one-woman show would be great. Not a one-man show, but a show in which I were the only woman."

As a writer for a predominantly sci-fi and pop-culture themed website, I was compelled to ask a seemingly obligatory Star Wars question. With the recent rumblings in and out of Lucasfilm about possible Star Wars pojects beyond Episode III including television, I put Carrie on the spot and asked whether she would be up for reprising her most famous of roles, if only in a guest-star context. "Only as a sitcom," she quipped, not missing a beat. "The Princess Leia Comedy Hour." Not even if it were a personal favor to George Lucas? "Well, George owns my likeness; every time I look in the mirror, I feel like I should send him a couple of bucks. Maybe if they airbrushed my neck." All kidding aside, she stated, "I just cannot imagine it." But then, she added with a twinkle in her eye, "Would it be with Harrison?"

Click here to visit Carrie's official website, and learn more about 'The Best Awful'. Here are some quick pics, click the thumbnail for the larger image.