Justin hight asked Michael J. Sullivan:

I read on an earlier post that you actually don't mind tropes. Maybe because I'm a little newer to fantasy I found that I'm not sick of them yet. Do you think other authors are trying way too hard to be different ? And dark ? I should worry about just writing a great story ? Now I really want to try your books . I still like an old fashioned fantasy story .

Michael J. Sullivan In general, I'm a pretty slow reader, so I don't go through as many books (fantasy or otherwise) as some people do. So, I don't think I have enough data to make any meaningful comment on them. I will say, that I think execution trumps originality. Look at Harry Potter, it used every trope in the book: an orphan destined for greatness, poverty-stricken best friend who is picked on. Know-it-all girl who is unlike by many. A wizened old mentor guiding his path. An ancient evil that is newly risen from the dead. I could go on and on. But Rowlings created characters you cared about and set the story in a place that would be fun to visit. These two things are what made those books so widely popular (imho).

As for fantasy being dark. There is no doubt this is the case. Why is it that way? I'm not sure. I think part of it has to do with the fact that writers who grew up on fantasy firmly rooted in what I'll call "traditional fantasy" were looking to do something different...so having anti-heroes and setting where filled with the worst aspects of human nature rather than the best, was a good way to write something different. Then, a funny thing happened, a grim dark did well, and then another, and soon a trend was going. Publishing is a business and the publishers want to buy what is selling - so guess what, more of the grimdark books were picked up. My books, which are more traditional fantasy fare, didn't get picked up when they first made their rounds. I think part of that may have been because it wasn't in vogue. But then I self-published and my sales proved there was still a market for such tales so picking me up as an author no longer was a risk. They were pretty sure that any investment would earn back, so it made it easier to publish something that isn't in the same line as the vast majority of the books being released.

When it comes to writing - always concentrate first and foremost on telling a great story. Like I said, execution will trump originality. And also write a story you want to see. That's what I did, and I suspect it's what other authors are doing. They got tired of seeing good triumph over evil again and again, so they started writing books they would prefer to see.

I do hope you give my books a try. The feedback I hear about them is that the characters are compelling, the stories are fun and have some good twists, and at the end of the day, they feel good after reading them. That's a good combination in my book. And I'm glad there are other readers who have the same taste in reading that I do.

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