Ask the Author: Vanessa Ricci-Thode
Answered Questions (9)
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
Mostly I wish the hidden fictional worlds of urban fantasy were real, like from Shadowshaper/Bone Street Rumba or Lost Coast. But if I went to a totally different world, it would absolutely be the giant forests of Thoraiya Dyer's Crossroads of Canopy. I would totally live in Canopy and probably be some kind of farmer or artist (or artist farmer).
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
I'm most looking forward to The Stone Sky, the final installment of NK Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy. And I plan to finally get to Chuck Wendig's Star Wars Aftermath trilogy. Otherwise, it will depend on my mood. But my TBR pile is huge, no shortage of books to choose from.
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
Whoa, this is tougher than it should have been. I just spent 5 minutes staring at my shelves, trying to remember couples that really stood out. I'm going with romantic couples on this one, and there aren't that many in the books I've read that stand out (and also have happy-ish endings). Lots of dysfunctional couples that could be awesome if they'd get their shit together. I do really enjoy Death and Isis together in the short story series I'm putting out (available under the kind of pen name VR Thode), they're Jack & Sally inspired! :)
So to answer this properly, I had to go way back to one of the first fantasy novels I read, The Raven Ring by Patricia C Wrede. I absolutely love the dynamic between Eleret, Daner and Karvonen. It's one of my favourite things about the book. The banter is perfect.
Okay, this part's a spoiler (avert your eyes if you haven't read it!): Eleret and Karvonen are perfect together. I love how they come together at the end and wish I could see just a bit more of them together. The banter is still there, and the beginnings of their relationship are built solidly on a foundation of trust and respect.
So to answer this properly, I had to go way back to one of the first fantasy novels I read, The Raven Ring by Patricia C Wrede. I absolutely love the dynamic between Eleret, Daner and Karvonen. It's one of my favourite things about the book. The banter is perfect.
Okay, this part's a spoiler (avert your eyes if you haven't read it!): Eleret and Karvonen are perfect together. I love how they come together at the end and wish I could see just a bit more of them together. The banter is still there, and the beginnings of their relationship are built solidly on a foundation of trust and respect.
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
This question is kind of hilarious because it presumes there is only one idea in a book, or that there is only one source of ideas. There is no Idea Fairy, though I do occasionally joke about getting ideas from the What-If Fairy. For me, ideas come from everywhere and anywhere by asking "what if...?" of any situation.
All of my books come from many different sources, some ideas are big (What if my MC is immune to fire?) and some are small (What if I make this secondary character really good with knives?).
For my most recently published novel, After the Dragon Raid, part of the idea came from pulling weeds one day. I love gardening and wanted to incorporate that into a story. And the opening scene is basically a lucid dream I had that I madly transcribed before breakfast. Even the characters' names came from the dream. From there, I just started asking myself questions. What if Sam has a deep secret? What if Tassia finally gets in trouble for insubordination? What if Sam's infatuation turns into more? Then I have fun with it.
All of my books come from many different sources, some ideas are big (What if my MC is immune to fire?) and some are small (What if I make this secondary character really good with knives?).
For my most recently published novel, After the Dragon Raid, part of the idea came from pulling weeds one day. I love gardening and wanted to incorporate that into a story. And the opening scene is basically a lucid dream I had that I madly transcribed before breakfast. Even the characters' names came from the dream. From there, I just started asking myself questions. What if Sam has a deep secret? What if Tassia finally gets in trouble for insubordination? What if Sam's infatuation turns into more? Then I have fun with it.
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
This is difficult to answer because I'm either always inspired or never inspired, if that makes sense. I've been writing for so long that I can't envision my life without writing. Asking me how I get inspired to write is like asking how I get inspired to breathe. The challenge isn't inspiration, it's time. Right now, I'm running Anti-Social to keep me off Twitter and give me more time for writing. I've also (mostly) given up watching TV shows in order to free up more time for writing.
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
There's the never-ending battle of self-promotion for my two published books, but I try to keep that to a minimum these days because it eats my soul and I'd rather be writing.
Right now, I'm working on a YA sequel series to Dragon Whisperer. I've got the overall series plot sketched out and the first draft done for the first book. I'm slowly fleshing out more detailed outlines for the second and third book, and working on more ideas for possible future books in the series.
I'm also working on an urban fantasy series, tentatively called Blueshift. I currently have 5 books set in that world, including a trilogy. At least the first draft of all 5 books is complete and I'm working on polishing the first book of the trilogy.
Right now, I'm working on a YA sequel series to Dragon Whisperer. I've got the overall series plot sketched out and the first draft done for the first book. I'm slowly fleshing out more detailed outlines for the second and third book, and working on more ideas for possible future books in the series.
I'm also working on an urban fantasy series, tentatively called Blueshift. I currently have 5 books set in that world, including a trilogy. At least the first draft of all 5 books is complete and I'm working on polishing the first book of the trilogy.
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
"Aspiring"? Pfft. You're either a writer or you're not. If you put words on a page, you're a writer. Keep putting words to page. If you're not a writer, start putting the words on the page. Stop aspiring and just get to it. It's easy to make excuses on why you don't have time, or enough ideas, or you're just not good enough. Don't listen to that noise. Making time to write requires sacrifice, but if you want to do it, you'll find a way.
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
I love everything about being a writer! I love the process of taking an idea, developing it, building words, helping characters grow, putting it all on the page/screen and then rewriting and revising. I'm less crazy about all the stuff that comes afterward, and promotion work is probably my kryptonite, but I love being a writer.
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
I keep writing. This is a bit of a non-answer, since I don't actually get writer's block. There are days when I just don't want to write, but I rarely sit down to write and not have the words arrive on the page. Usually, whining publicly about being stuck seems to get me unstuck.
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