Q&A with Michael Sullivan

[Michael]

Thanks for the questions - feel free to drop by and ask more anytime.

[Helen]

So, I'm on the bus home from work reading my kindle, person next to me is reading but I'm not taking any notice as Mistborn 2 has got quite gripping. She suddenly says to me, 'I never realised it would look so like paper'. So starts a conversation.

I then discover that she is reading Theft of Swords. Naturally I said, 'Oh, I know the author!' I managed to avoid saying that it was via a social network but did recommend the next two books. She said it was very exciting.

[Isaac]

HAHAHAHAHA small world! WTH! what are the chances? seriously!

[Michael]

Helen wrote: "I then discover that she is reading Theft of Swords. Naturally I said, 'Oh, I know the author!' I managed to avoid saying that it was via a social network but did recommend the next two books. She said it was very exciting."

OMG! I would kill...well maybe not kill...or just kill a fictional character to have this experience. This is my one and only dream to "see" someone reading my book that I don't know on a train, plane, etc.

The depressing thing is this weekend I was at Balticon and met Peter V. Brett who has sold MANY more copies then I ever expect to, and we were talking about exactly this thing. Even with all his copies in print...he's never had it happen!

[Michael]

Isaac wrote: "HAHAHAHAHA small world! WTH! what are the chances? seriously!"

.00000001% - probably which is just too sad for words.

[Helen]

It was very strange, I always try to see what people are reading and usually can't even spot that.

[Michael]

I got a tweet today from a women in Vienna Austria who is reading NR and a co-worker saw her and said - do you have the other books - I'd love to borrow them from you! She says she's now the "cool kid" of her law firm because she "knows" the author. I guess word is starting to get out there.

[Helen]

I love the way we all claim you!

[Margot]

Haha! It is pretty awesome having you so involved with this book group and with the discussion of your series, Michael.

[Michael]

It's totally a pleasure. How can you not like hearing what people are saying about your books?

[Kim]

Michael, can I ask you if there was a specific purpose for titling the second book "Rise of Empire" rather than "Rise of the Empire". I find myself inserting "the" whenever I talk about your book.

[Helen]

I did that too!

[April]

Michael, this is a really odd question pertaining to yourself, but have you by chance seen the film War Horse based off of Michael Morpurgo's book of the same name? I had noticed your quite trendy mustache and was wondering if you had seen the one Major Stewart sports which is quite similar! Anyway, sorry for such an odd question, lol!

[Michael]

Hey Kim...Yes there was. When the books went from six to three I wanted to do some "branding" on the series. When I looked at what was common across each of the two book sets I came up with

* Book 1 & 2 - both involve stealing swords
* Book 3 & 4 - both revolve around the forming of the Empire
* book 5 & 6 - both relate to the return or the Heir of Novron

To "tie the books" together I decided to have each have a 3 word title and as I started to develop the theme I found that "of" as the middle word worked nicely. Hence...

* Theft OF Swords
* Rise OF Empire
* Heir OF Novron.

Thanks for asking!

[Michael]

So I did see War Horse recently (when it came on pay-per-view) I don't recall any particular character's facial hair making an impression on me - but then again I wasn't looking for any.

Because I so rarely see myself (as I don't spend hours mirror gazing) I keep the moustache more because of my wife and children who are very used to it. In fact in 33 years I've had it I shaved it just once and everyone in the household "freaked" and so I immediately grew it back.

[Jon]

Michael wrote: "In fact in 33 years I've had it I shaved it just once and everyone in the household "freaked" and so I immediately grew it back. "

My husband does (and did) the same thing. One night, I was sound asleep in bed. He shook me awake (it must have been 2 or 3 in the morning), I opened my eyes and screamed. I didn't recognize him without his facial hair (at least with sleep blurred eyes and dream fogged brains).

He grew it back as quickly as he could. I can count on one hand the number of times in 26 years he's been without it. :)

I definitely freaked (as did our younger children) the first time he shaved it off. :)

[Helen]

My dad moved out when I was 6 years old. One of my few memories of him living with us involve me entering the kitchen through the back door just as mum finished cutting/shaving off his moustache. I screamed and sprinted around the block, beating him back home. He was so scary. He shaved it off some years back (I don't scream now) and he has no upper lip, he looked quite odd!

[Michael]

@Jon - that's a great story. My family just thought it was way to "odd" but it was daylight and they were awake for their exposure.

@Helen - I had no idea this was such a common experience - sorry for the traumatic event in your own childhood.

[April]

I'm sorry to have started one of the strangest discussions of all time! Please, do continue, if you find it enjoyable, to discuss traumatic mustache events. :D
But I do know that feeling when someone you know has changed their mustache! My father has always kept a bushy mustache, and when he does shave it, the whole family objects. I do appreciate your answer though, Michael (I meant to say that awhile ago...) The time you spend answering (weird) questions means a lot to us fans!

[Michael]

I love talking to people...about any topic...writing can be very solitary sometimes.

[Jon]

Michael wrote: "I love talking to people...about any topic...writing can be very solitary sometimes."

But you've been quiet on your blog lately. I really enjoyed your series on writing earlier this year.

[Michael]

Yeah I pretty much have run out of ideas for new posts on the "writing" tips section. If I can start coming up with some new ones I certainly will start again.