Trudi Canavan - Bestselling Aussie Fantasy Author

[Mandapanda]

We have some amazing Fantasy authors in Australia and one of the best known is Trudi Canavan. The Boomerang Bookstore blog is doing a great interview with Trudi which I thought might interest some fantasy fans in this group:

The Fantasy Worlds of Trudi Canavan, part 1

"Trudi Canavan is a best-selling Australian fantasy author whose books include The Black Magician trilogy, the Age of the Five trilogy and the current Traitor Spy trilogy. And she’s here at Literary Clutter for a bit of a chat.

Q: Let’s start off with a fairly standard sort of question: When did you realise that you wanted to be an author and what was your road to publication?

A: Before I wanted to be a writer I wanted to make films, thanks to Star Wars. Helpful adults told me to write my ideas down, and the writing thing sprang from there. It was only when I read Lord of the Rings at 14 that I gained the ambition to write books.

I started out keeping a journal, but it wasn’t until I bought an Amiga computer in my late teens that my output began to grow. Finally it felt natural to write. I didn’t tend to write in a linear way, instead hopping back and forth to build a narrative.

At some point I promised myself I’d have a book written by 25, since that was sooo ooold. When I reached 25 and hadn’t yet finished a book, but had a fantastic idea for a story that actually had an ending, and hated my job, I decided it was time to give writing more time and dedication. Starting an illustration business with the intention of writing part time, I wrote the first draft of The Black Magician trilogy in a year and a half." Read more.

I'll post part 2 of the interview tomorrow.

[Mandapanda]

The Fantasy Worlds of Trudi Canavan, part 2

Trudi Canavan, best selling author of The Black Magician trilogy and numerous other books, is back to answer some more questions.

Q: What is it that attracts you to the fantasy genre as a writer? And are you a reader of that genre as well?

A: I have tended to read mainly fantasy, even before I wanted to be a writer. I’ve always loved the way fantasy constantly imagines new ways to explore the impossible. Every now and then I’ll read outside the genre, but I’m always amazed at how often fantasy elements turn up in, say, contemporary novels. Reading minds and seeing ghosts? Fantasy. I guess my definition of fantasy is quite broad.

Q: Have you tried out any other genres as a writer, or do you have any plans to do so?

Read more.