Bloodfire Quest
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Live Video Chat with Terry Brooks
I started reading your books when I was twelve, and you were my inspiration to white my epic fantasy series, Truth Teller. But who inspired you to write fantasy?
How many drafts do you write for one book and how do you feel about editors' comments.
I am 12 years old and I just wrote my first book, Daughter of Power, you're one of my inspirations. How do you get your ideas?
q. Looking at the tremendous success of The Lord of the Rings in movie format, have you explored doing the same for your Shannara series. I keep hoping...
Your Shannara books have exponentially revealed far more about the fantasy world with each new series. I have been working for many years to create a similar type of mythos with both my own original created characters and those of friends who also have been my cowriters and rpers online. My question is what can one do to keep going on as a potential published writer when sometimes the ideas they create have resulted in having to restart from scratch entirely as a result of peers often suggesting it would be better to start over and shelve ideas permanently?
What type of lawyer were you in your early career?
What do you think of eBooks & Self-Publishing?
Is there ever gonna be a book about Galiphile and Brona?
Um,m when will the recorded live video chat be available to view? I am ashamed deeply I missed it all today because of unexpected guests and not able to have my computer on during the time they were at my residence.
I've been an avid rerader sinnce i 1st read Sword of shannara when i was a teenager. Unfortunately i won't be able to attend as it will be 3am here when its on.
Why isn't Walker' Shade the one that appears at the HadesHorn??? When might we expect to see another Druid of Bremen, Allanon or Walker's character and calibur appear and stick around for more than two or three novels?
What is the thing that you feel has improved the most in your writing over the years?
If you are planning to end the series, having made enough money, perhaps you'd be williing to write the Interlude stories or trilogy between First King Of Shannara and The Sword Of Shannara??
Who is one of your favorite character creations?
Terry, you are the definitive model for epic writers in the current era. The interwoven message relayed via the years and generations chronicled in your stories is paramount and relevant for human future or the 'Next Generation' -- and the work is timeless! I miss meeting up with you annually at Tattered Cover in Denver, but you remain for the most part the only fiction I give time and attention to these days and have remained at the top of my list of favorite writers since I discovered your work in 1995. May life find you blessed.
What advice would you give to an independent author just starting out?
how much planning goes into your books and exactly what is it that you do I always was curious about how authors did this. thanks.
mr. brooks: why hasnt word/void series been put on film yet...please let it happen soon
q When will the books be adapted into a movie/series?
q. How do yoi finds so many stories within Shannara
q. How do you find so many different characters and stories within the Shannara world
Terry, I have been a huge fan since my father handed me a copy of "Sword of Shannarah" more than 30 years ago. I would like to know how you keep yourself inspired and how you have been able to keep this series going so strong for such a long time and large number of books.
Hello Terry! I am really disapointed that I have to work when this gig is happening, but I just wanted to say that I have been with you since the '70's with the 'The Sword of Shannara', and enjoyed your work ever since. Thank you for your hard work!
Hi Terry, I'm looking forward to your visit in Mass in July! I was wondering, I know that you are an avid reader as well as a writer. Do you ever find your writing being influenced by what you are reading?
Terry, Do you wver have to go back and rewrite the first chapter because it isn't as exciting as you thought when you first wrote it?
When was your first book published and how long did it take to complete?
I know a lot of people would like/are asking if you would think about turning the Shannara books into movies/TV. Are you worried that if you did allow this that the result wouldn't be up to standard with the book? It's a big risk to take with something so beloved when others have tired with other series and failed. IF you ever did allow it what would be the conditions? How would you ensure that it didn't get mess up? <3<3<3
Personally I perfer your Landover series, I found them more interesting to me. I do wonder though how do you come up with all the names? They're so out of this world that it's perfect.
Writing question: I've seen many authors break paragraphs at odd times. I understand the general rules (new speaker, topic, time, place). And I understand that a brief, one-liner can be used for emphasis. But when do you (personally) break into a new paragraph during dialogue? You must have some formula.
Beginning with my own first novel, I found one or two of my characters started slipping outside my control and asserting themselves in ways that changed both relationships and elements of the story arc.Also, my stories often take on a life of their own as I'm writing and I end up feeling as if I'm reporting on a story unfolding before me rather than creating it in my mind.
My question: Have you experienced similar surprises in the creation of your stories and characters? If so, any examples?
Congrats on this trilogy Terry and thank you for all of the amazing stories you continue to share with us. The Elf Queen of Shannara has been my favorite book since 8th grade :) As a fellow writer speaking to a mentor, I want to ask what aspect of writing has most kept you motivated to continue through the years? Authors sometimes endure extensive criticism or writers block, is it the creativity, therapy, communication, connection to fans or something else that keeps you motivated?
I've not only read the first Shannara books as a young adult but also read them to my kids when they were young. If I could write like any writer you would be my first choice. q Like everyone else I want to know when you will have the Shannara series out in video.
You have a lot of young protagonists in your books, yet your books are marketed as fantasy and not as young adult. Is this because the young adult genre did not exist when you started writing? I am writing a novel with a teenage protagonist, but I'd prefer to market it as fantasy, not as a young adult novel (and if it crosses over into the young adult market that's fine). I want it to be shelved in the fantasy section of the book store, not the YA/teen section. I'm told that if my protagonist is a teenage, then I'm writing YA, but I want to write fantasy, not YA. Is the categorization of your book something you have any control over as a writer? I've read a couple of books recently that I'd categorize as fantasy, but I had to go to the YA section to find them. Also, I am fasinated by the character of the King of the Silver River and would love to know more about his story. :)
I saw that you're considering releasing a very high quality leather-bound set of Shannara books. Do you think this is likely to become a new model for genre greats, providing this sort of volume for beloved classics? It certainly seems like a product that can't be pirated - which is definitely something the modern author needs!
q. Mr. Brooks, is there any advice you could briefly share with fellow authors, please?
Did you know all along that word and the void was the precursor of shannara or did you decide to merge the story arcs later on? Did you have a master story arc, or do you keep adding on to the mythos series by series on purpose so you can explore more themes?
q ok so first let me just say omgomgomgomgomgomg! ur my freakin hero Terry! My best friend is lettin me attend instead of her because i've been raised on your books. alright, so first of all; Obviously we don't have Witch Wraith yet, but with High Druid's Blade set to come out as a one shot, I have to wonder what the future of the four lands holds....are you getting ready to draw the books to a close? Third, do you ever let people reference characters or events from your books in theirs? and fourth, I have always wondered....did you base the king of the silver river off of yourself, or at least give him traits and thoughts that you share? He has been the one constant of the whole universe you have built, since the beginning and you often describe him as mainly a watcher, able to somewhat influence the entire world around him....kind of seems like the 3rd person POV quite a bit ;)
q How did you know it was time to give up being an attorney in order to focus all of your energy on writing?
How much time to you spend developing the names and personalities for each character, and what goes into that development?
q What advice can you give an author who has trouble getting up the gumption to sit down and actually edit?
I am a fan of all of your works. Will you ever have a novel about the "Gray Lady" Or of the time between Gypsy Morph series and the new ones? I am interested in the Gypsy Morph.
q is Shawn Speakman taking over the Shannara series?
q 1 minute ago I am a fan of all of your works. Will you ever have a novel about the "Gray Lady" Or of the time between Gypsy Morph series and the new ones? I am interested in the Gypsy Morph.
Hi Mr Brooks, With out a doubt my favorite author. What advice do you have for a first time author to publish. You are one of the most influential authors in my writing style. I just published my first book "Child Of Promise"
Do you envision all of Shanara as taking place in a post-apocalyptic world? That really threw me for a loop in the Voyage of Jerle Shanara books. (And also, I first read you at 12 years old and have been hooked on Fantasy ever since -- THANK YOU for the memories I have of your books!!)
Q names - so many names, and places and events - how do you keep track of your timeline?
There's a lot of drivel that gets published, compared with how few Tolkiens, LeGuins, and so on appear. Did you ever worry that your first Shannara book was drivel, too, not worthy to stand with Tolkien? If so, how did you deal with it and move forward?
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