OMC: What about Kevin? I think some may view him as weak because one gets the sense that he knows about his wife's infidelity and doesn't act the way we'd expect he would, if he has that knowledge. On the other hand, he appears quite smart and forward-thinking, allowing the affair to take its course and allowing his wife to work it out for herself. Do you think there are people out there that can relate to this unusual character?

JH: I don't know who can or can't relate to any of the characters. That's not my preoccupation when I'm writing the book and afterwards there's nothing I can do about it so it's a moot point. I think Kevin has a certain degree of selflessness as well as helplessness in the face of his wife's obsession. I wouldn't be surprised if there are people like him in this world, although I suspect they are rare.

OMC: How do you see Kevin? Caring? Weak? Stupid? Perhaps having an affair of his own, which might explain his actions? The only completely sane character? Completely insane?!

JH: I doubt he has an affair of his own. I think he's a good and noble person, and therefore a little boring when it comes to writing about him -- this, after all, is Henry's problem -- he admires his father but can't devote a book to him.

OMC: Were you pleased with the film version of "A Map of the World"? Do you feel it captured the mood of the book and told the story in a similarly moving, dynamic way?

JH: I had no expectations -- a movie is an entirely different medium, after all, and I was not expecting it to capture the mood because the mood in a book is set up by language. How can a movie do the same? As it turned out, the screen play was thoughtful and earnest and the writers incorporated a lot of my dialogue -- what a surprise, let me tell you, that was. I thought Sigorney W. was a terrific Alice, I loved the music, I was so pleased that the movie did not sugar coat the characters or the ending and I'm indebted to the Scott Elliott, the director, for his understanding and compassion for the characters.

OMC: Have the other books been optioned for films? Are any in pre-production or currently being made?

JH: No. The Book of Ruth option expired and I did not want the "Short History" to be optioned because In a film you'd get only a small part of the story.

OMC: Which do you think would make the best film? Why?

JH: I'm not the person to say. I have no idea. I don't write the books for films and in general I'm not a fan of movies that get made from novels.

OMC: Do you have an event planned in the Milwaukee area to coincide with the release of "Disobedience"?

JH: I'll be at Schwartz's on Monday Nov. 27 (at the Mequon location. She'll also visit Schwartz's new Racine shop on Wed., Nov. 1.