We Need a Hero! We Don’t Need Another Hero.

/ 23 Comments / Thinkythoughts / By

There was an interesting convo in the comments of the last post about how a writer’s background impacts writing — specifically re epic fantasy, but by extension pretty much everything. Foz Meadows summed it up best, I think: Prior to doing this, I might never have stopped to consider whether a white author’s race were impacting their storytelling, but the more I read, the more relevant a question it becomes: not because there’s some obvious stylistic contrast between white and POC authors or anything like that, but because there’s something meaningful in asking why we authors choose to tell the […]

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If Tolkien Were…

/ 37 Comments / Interview, The Industry, Thinkythoughts / By

Didn’t mention this here ’til now because I wanted to think about it a bit, though those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook probably saw it already. But anyway, last week I had an interview with columnist/critic Laura Miller from Salon, who talked with me and David Anthony Durham on the recent incursions of people of color into epic fantasy — which as she noted is a traditionally very Eurocentric sort of bastion. The interview was a lot of fun and the resulting article is phenomenal; she made me sound much more coherent than I actually am

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Quick Question: What constitutes “hype”?

/ 16 Comments / Quick Question / By

See the subject line. I ask because I’m genuinely curious: what’s hype? What’s “too much hype”? At what point is there so much hype that you’ll refuse to read something (“overhype”)? When The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms first came out, I remember that the third review I saw complained about how much hype the book had received. I know this is a matter of perception and relativism. It’s entirely possible that the reviewer had been running in circles where everyone was talking about the book… but in my circles, no one was (at that time). And where did this hype come

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The Two Shahars

/ 4 Comments / 100K / By

It might seem a bit unfair to put both Shahar the Matriarch (whom I’m going to call Shahar1) and Shahar the — whoops, spoiler — — Last Arameri Ruler — — in the same Character Study. But since I deliberately constructed the younger Shahar’s life as a “what-if” reflection of her ancestor’s, I thought this might be the best way to do it. I’ll call the younger Shahar “Shahar2” for lack of a better description. And as you noted above, this one’s full of spoilers; if you haven’t read The Kingdom of Gods and you care, stop now. OK, don’t

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Thinking Out Loud

/ 6 Comments / Natter, On Writing / By

In honor of The Kingdom of Gods finally being out in all markets, I decided to share this: an old post from my other blog, which was originally friendslocked because it contained early thoughts on the latter books of the Inheritance Trilogy. Thought it might be fun to share because it’s a look inside my head during the earliest development phase of the book you can now hold in your hand and read, and because it contains one of my “eureka” moments — the kind of thing that led me to name this blog “Epiphany”. The “we” that I’m referring

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Drinks from SLEEPOVER OF THE GODS

/ 3 Comments / Natter / By

Belated — I got a request for this while at WFC, since we had the menu and ingredients available at the party but no one had pen/paper handy to jot them down. These were the drinks created and served by the incomparable Michael S (the guy behind the makeshift “bar”): Peanut Butter & Jelly: Cachaca, Castries Peanut Creme, Welch’s Grape Juice Rummy Bear: White rum, blue Curacao, lemon juice, simple syrup, with gummy bear garnish Lollypop: Gin, Framboise, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup S’More: Pinnacle whipped-cream flavoured vodka, creme de cacao Some notes: Frangelico can substitute for

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Recovery

/ 4 Comments / Conventions and Workshops, silliness / By

So, last week was Launch Week, culminating in the World Fantasy Convention in San Diego. I flew out there on Thursday, came back yesterday on a redeye, and will probably be feeling the aftereffects for many, many days. Because I had a little party, while I was there: The SLEEPOVER OF THE GODS (it’s supposed to be capitalized; imagine it in a Movie Announcer Voice) party was a hit and a blast. In keeping with its theme of slightly warped childhood (to honor our God of Childhood Sieh, protag of The Kingdom of Gods), guests were invited to wear pajamas

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Character Study: Sieh

/ 9 Comments / On Writing, Squeeage / By

Been holding off on this one for quite awhile, because I couldn’t think of a way to discuss it and avoid spoilers for The Kingdom of Gods. But now that KoG is finally out everywhere (!!!) I can tackle my favorite character in the whole Inheritance Trilogy. Spoilers, tho’. Seriously. If you haven’t read KoG, might want to skip this one ’til later.

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World Fantasy 2011

/ 2 Comments / Appearances, Awards, Conventions and Workshops / By

Heading off tomorrow, on Launch Day — I’m launching from the ground and flying to San Diego! GET IT? Launching — um, yeah, OK. Anyway, while I’m there I’ll be doing a little of this and a little of that. Friday: 8:00 PM: I’ll be at the mass autographing. Saturday, 11:30 AM: Reading from The Kingdom of Gods or maybe The Killing Moon, I can’t decide Saturday, 9:00 PM: SLEEPOVER OF THE GODS, the KoG launch party! Special prizes for people in pajamas. Sunday, 1:00 PM: World Fantasy Awards banquet, at which I find out whether The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

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Wait a minute Mr. Postman…

/ Natter / By

You brought me some cool stuff, and I’d like to thank you! First interesting mailbag item this week was from the folks at French fan site Elbakin, who gave me an award a few months back for best fantasy translation (for The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, or, Les Cent Mille Royaumes). I just received the actual prize, and it’s a gorgeous hand-tooled leather book cover — …Niiiiiice. It’s absolutely beautiful. Now that’s a prize. Next up is something I ordered from Etsy: a cover for my new 11-inch MacBook Air. I wanted something more interesting than the usual stuff, and most

Wait a minute Mr. Postman… KEEP READING

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