Ask the Author: L. James Rice
Answered Questions (15)
L. James Rice
Done and done, obviously since you are now a friend, but I wanted this marked as answered, LOL.
L. James Rice
LOL. I hadn't even thought of people in Nigeria reading that end note! Awesome. People who know me will see a lot more humor in Sundering the Gods, I know an old buddy of mine laughs out loud when reading it and he has to explain it to his wife. There are allusions ranging from The Muppets to Monty Python scattered throughout. The Contessa might be a better balance of heavy & dark with adventure, mystery, and humor.
One of the fun things I did with The Touched is to scatter in hints as to who the actor I would want to play him would be, and sadly, said actor died about the time I was writing The Touched's scenes, but it also inspired me to put in those clues. He was more famous as a singer but also did movies. Those hints are in the first chapter where you meet him in Eve of Snows, I won't spoil it if you want to give it a shot.
One of the fun things I did with The Touched is to scatter in hints as to who the actor I would want to play him would be, and sadly, said actor died about the time I was writing The Touched's scenes, but it also inspired me to put in those clues. He was more famous as a singer but also did movies. Those hints are in the first chapter where you meet him in Eve of Snows, I won't spoil it if you want to give it a shot.
L. James Rice
I'll get it out to you later today. The release is May 25th, although I think I pushed the wrong button late last night and the paperback will probably launch in a couple of days, LMAO.
Thank you for taking on the Contessa!
Thank you for taking on the Contessa!
L. James Rice
This took a little time to consider before answering for fear of saying too much. When writing Whispers I considered leaving the battle out one of the great risks in the story-telling, and I think it lends to some people's perception of the ending being "rushed." The gist of the situation is that if I portrayed the Battle of Fôlgumhîêr the events would be concrete and real. As it stands, you only have tidbits as given to you in a brief description from Ivin's POV, but there are hints that a little something is amiss from the moods of others.
The only other thing I will say is that you will see the battle, but when you do, I want you to question its reality. You'll have to wait until book one of Sundering the Crowns to be its witness.
The only other thing I will say is that you will see the battle, but when you do, I want you to question its reality. You'll have to wait until book one of Sundering the Crowns to be its witness.
L. James Rice
When my father married my mother she thought is scandalous that he was 10 years older than her. However, it turned out that he was 20 years older. His drivers license and other documents were all 10 years off of reality. His two brothers and sister also claimed to be 10 years younger than they were. Why? No one knows. The only hint was that Aunt Irma said, “It was something stupid.” Everyone who knows the answer has passed away.
L. James Rice
Hi Abby,
The books are not themed toward a young audience, but of course this will vary by person. Sex and nudity... Overall, the series would probably be rated PG to PG13 (Eve of Snows would be G) for Sex and Language but R for Violence. I don’t go into detail on any descriptions of nudity, but it does exist. Pillow talk and flirting... All and all, pretty tame in this modern world. More than Lord of the Rings, and way less than Game of Thrones.
I hope that helps!
L. James Rice
The books are not themed toward a young audience, but of course this will vary by person. Sex and nudity... Overall, the series would probably be rated PG to PG13 (Eve of Snows would be G) for Sex and Language but R for Violence. I don’t go into detail on any descriptions of nudity, but it does exist. Pillow talk and flirting... All and all, pretty tame in this modern world. More than Lord of the Rings, and way less than Game of Thrones.
I hope that helps!
L. James Rice
L. James Rice
Hi Abby,
The books are not themed toward a young audience, but of course this will vary by person. Sex and nudity... Overall, the series would probably be rated PG to PG13 (Eve of Snows would be G) for Sex and Language but R for Violence. I don’t go into detail on any descriptions of nudity, but it does exist. Pillow talk and flirting... All and all, pretty tame in this modern world. More than Lord of the Rings, and way less than Game of Thrones.
I hope that helps!
L. James Rice
The books are not themed toward a young audience, but of course this will vary by person. Sex and nudity... Overall, the series would probably be rated PG to PG13 (Eve of Snows would be G) for Sex and Language but R for Violence. I don’t go into detail on any descriptions of nudity, but it does exist. Pillow talk and flirting... All and all, pretty tame in this modern world. More than Lord of the Rings, and way less than Game of Thrones.
I hope that helps!
L. James Rice
L. James Rice
I can do it one:
Caffeine is outlawed.
Caffeine is outlawed.
L. James Rice
Middle Earth... I guess I would have to take up smoking a pipe and drink beer at the Green Dragon.
L. James Rice
Ah, semantics.
I don't need inspiration to write, just some glue to stick my butt to the chair. Now, if asking what gets me excited to write, it's the "set piece" scenes. The big moments that the dramas been building toward. The big reveal. The big twist. Typing those words that will make the reader realize that an innocuous nothing from Chapter One pays off in Chapter Fourty-four... or maybe they won't catch that until Book Two, LOL.
In Eve of Snows, writing the end was knock out, but the best was the moment where my editor and readers noted versions of: "holy $#!@". Goosebumps writing it, goosebumps waiting for reader reactions. Writing the reveal can be sweeter than anything, and that drives me.
The ending to the trilogy could, should, will be so beautiful. It inspires me, no doubt. Impact.
I don't need inspiration to write, just some glue to stick my butt to the chair. Now, if asking what gets me excited to write, it's the "set piece" scenes. The big moments that the dramas been building toward. The big reveal. The big twist. Typing those words that will make the reader realize that an innocuous nothing from Chapter One pays off in Chapter Fourty-four... or maybe they won't catch that until Book Two, LOL.
In Eve of Snows, writing the end was knock out, but the best was the moment where my editor and readers noted versions of: "holy $#!@". Goosebumps writing it, goosebumps waiting for reader reactions. Writing the reveal can be sweeter than anything, and that drives me.
The ending to the trilogy could, should, will be so beautiful. It inspires me, no doubt. Impact.
L. James Rice
This would get into spoilers I won't touch, but the general answer is more basic. The Sundering the Gods trilogy is the product of figuring out backstory to the much larger story of the world. Something needed to happen, and I needed to know why. Once I had that figured out, I realized I had a helluva story on my hands. One of the first images I had is one of the ending to Eve of Snows, and it all caught fire from there... so to speak.
Fake-Spolier Alert! I know how the world ends. I won't say if it's with a bang or whimper.
Fake-Spolier Alert! I know how the world ends. I won't say if it's with a bang or whimper.
L. James Rice
Writing, editing, creation. Lots of folks gripe and moan about the process, whether it's the writing, editing, or both. I enjoy editing, honing, polishing, knocking out unnecessary words. This has a drawback in that even after I get a "final" from my editor I can't help but nudge stuff around. Thus, I have labeled myself the Constant Tinkerer.
L. James Rice
Sundering the Gods Book Two: Trail of Pyres.
I'm in the neighborhood of 50% done, but also in the middle of having a major structural rethink. Hoping for a Christmas release, or early 2019 at the latest.
I'm in the neighborhood of 50% done, but also in the middle of having a major structural rethink. Hoping for a Christmas release, or early 2019 at the latest.
L. James Rice
I have much advice, none of which may be valuable. None of it is groundbreaking. But there are three pieces of advice that are difficult to go wrong with: Study your craft. Write. Be a brutal editor.
Here's a #4 for good measure: If you think something you've written might be confusing, there's a 90% chance a reader will be totally lost. I don't know how many times I've sent off a chapter to a beta reader to see how they react to a paragraph I'm questioning, only to get that paragraph hammered.
Here's a #4 for good measure: If you think something you've written might be confusing, there's a 90% chance a reader will be totally lost. I don't know how many times I've sent off a chapter to a beta reader to see how they react to a paragraph I'm questioning, only to get that paragraph hammered.
L. James Rice
Staring at the white page style writer's block is something I don't suffer. It's getting me in front of the white page that's the trouble. Distraction, life, family, pets, etc. For me, writing is all about rhythm. If I'm in a day to day groove (usually takes a week of solid writing) then I can put down quality words in the middle of anything that isn't life-altering bad. It isn't about any set schedule for me, just a matter of getting a couple of hours in per day.
Oh, I do have one block: Someone standing over my shoulder watching me. Done! Can't type. Forget it.
Oh, I do have one block: Someone standing over my shoulder watching me. Done! Can't type. Forget it.
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