  Fantasy
This week: Edited by: Feywriter  
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The world needs fantasy. It can be an escape from daily life, a means for finding the hero within, a landscape to inspire the imagination. Enter the world of Fantasy. In my newsletters you can expect thorough looks at different aspects of fantasy writing.
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David Keck, author of In the Eye of Heaven, has graciously answered my questions on writing and publishing. I enjoyed his responses very much. David is a Canadian, currently residing in New York, where he teaches at a Junior High. In the Eye of Heaven was published by Tor Books on April 4, 2006, and is available in paperback as of March 6, 2007. Check out what others have had to say at http://www.keckbooks.com/KindWords.html
On Writing
Mary: What is your writing background, and when did you first consider yourself a writer?
David: I’ve wanted to be a writer for a very long time. When I was a kid, I used to fill newsprint pads with cartoons and drawings – always telling one story or another. When I went to university, I chose my courses based on what I really wanted to do someday. I took courses in anthropology, psychology, philosophy, pre-history, history and writing. I was even fortunate enough to take a creative writing course from a woman who went on to win a Pulitzer Prize a year or two later.
Now, as for when I first considered myself a writer, that’s a longer story. I have been writing with an eye to getting myself into print since I was teenager and, when I began, I had very little luck. In fact, I am among those who managed to pile up mountains of rejections early on. And we are living in a time when even excellent writers are often working other jobs during the day. All of which has meant that I’m very reluctant to run around calling myself a writer even now.
Mary: Who or what has influenced your writing, and how?
David: Like a lot of people, I had an obsessive passion for science fiction in television and the movies as a child. I saw Star Wars in the same theater that my piano teacher once played along to silent movies. I watched Star Trek in the afternoon when I got home from school (often wincing through my fingers at the scary bits).
Eventually, I read what everyone reads. I gobbled up Tolkien in one long weekend (ruining a perfectly good family camping expedition by suddenly refusing to put my book down). I’ve enjoyed Patrick O’Brian and Graham Joyce and Douglas Adams and Elmore Leonard. And I’ve a great love of good lyrics as well. Maybe all of that shows.
Mary: Has your environment and/or upbringing impacted your writing?
David: I grew up in prairie Canada: a funny part of the world. We cut bows and arrows in the park and swore oaths to the Queen in Boy Scouts. (I remember being very careful not to play war on Sundays). Among my friends, we played with our imaginations more than we played with bats and balls. We told stories and cobbled together toy guns from hockey sticks while the Americans were fighting in Vietnam. Maybe it’s not surprising that people like Steven Erikson and Guy Gavriel Kay grew up in my home town.
Mary: Do you use an outline?
David: Outlines are a very useful thing and I fill notebooks with sketches, back stories and brainstorms. The word “outline” conjures images of tidiness and organization – which certainly doesn’t fit my process. In any case, I can’t imagine writing without a pretty solid plan (and a few hundred pages of scribbles for good measure).
Mary: What conditions do you need to write?
David: I’ve written under quite a variety of conditions over the years, but I find that there is one ingredient that I can’t do without: sustained time. I usually talk about needing to have ideas percolating in the back of my mind. If I take a week away from writing, I need a long time to get back. Ideas that should be simmering on the back burner go cold, and writing becomes a halting process. A person simply must find time to write.
Mary: I know you are currently writing "In a Time of Treason", the second book of the Eye of Heaven trilogy. Do you have any other projects you are working on?
David: I don’t imagine that may writers work on only one idea at a time. Friends of mine and I have been collaborating on an idea for television. Some film has actually been shot (although the product is in the very most preliminary stages right now). The process has been fascinating. Although I haven’t been around to see the filming, watching friends tackle the nearly impossible project of getting ideas from paper to the screen has really shown me a few things about what people can do when they’re stubborn.
Mary: What are your thoughts on "writer's block"?
David: When people say “writer’s block” I think they imagine an absolute condition. The creative juices have dried up and the author has nothing left to put on paper. I’ve found that the writing life is made up of easy and hard days. Some scenes flash onto the page in moments. Others require a real effort.
About "In The Eye of Heaven"
Mary: What is the target audience for your book?
David: Like most writers, I can only write what I like. I’m a reader who has a terrible sweet tooth for traditional fantasy, but whose patience for paint-by-numbers characters and settings is just plain worn out. I want stories that feel real to me. I want to be surprised. I want to be challenged. I want the language to have a little life in it. If I succeed, I’m giving the readers what I want.
Mary: What makes your story unique?
David: A lot of reviewers have talked about the grittiness of the setting. (And it is faintly odd to think of realism in a land of fiends and sorcerers). But that’s what I want to do. The world needs fleas and omens if it’s to feel real. Maybe we’re not in the real world, but we might be in world as people imagined it to be.
Mary: What was the hardest part of world creation?
David: World creation is a pure joy. I’ve spent years and thousands on it. I’ve spent vacations climbing castles and hunting for henges. When I was poorer, I spent days in libraries. Now that I’ve got a day job, I keep the booksellers in business. In my work, the only difficult area is making sure not to lose the reader. I often mention Patrick O’Brian’s nautical fiction when I talk about world building. The man filled his pages with impenetrable jargon, but, somehow, managed to haul his readers in. As a reader, I never doubted his world for an instant.
Now, fantasy readers would likely be less patient with a real barrage of historical accurate terminology. Still, I want the readers to know that the world around the characters isn’t full of borrowed backdrops and worn props. It needs to feel real.
Mary: Does the protagonist, Durand, share any characteristics with you?
David: I suppose Durand does share a thing or two with me. When I first began the book, we were both at the beginnings of our careers and very uncertain about whether we’d ever be able to find our feet. It might also be said that my Durand is a person very concerned about ethics, and such issues must be in my thoughts as well (or I would hardly have built a novel on a character like Durand). Sadly, however, I don’t think I would have gone very far in the world of professional thugs and honorable killers.
Mary: Is there a message in your novel?
David: I haven’t thought much about whether there might be a message in my writing. I think that novel-length work can deal with various themes and issues, but that it’s hard for a satisfying work of that scale to send a single message. A reader could probably see evidence of my thinking about a great many of life’s issues if that reader cared to look.
Mary: I notice you have sketches of your main characters on your website. Do you draw the picture and then use it to create a character, or is the sketch done after a character is developed?
David: Drawing is something I’ve been doing since before I can remember, and it’s a big part of my thinking process. I often begin with an image and try to capture it on paper (just as I’ll later try to wrestle the image onto paper). You will have no idea how long I will have obsessed over some detail of a character’s appearance. The trouble with writing, of course, is that you can only gesture toward such details. I think that a writer has to be careful to choose only the most telling details rather than stopping the narrative to provide an exhaustive portrait.
On Publishing
Mary: Why did you choose a traditional publisher for your book?
David: I was immensely pleased when Tor offered to publish my book (and the two books that complete the story). I know quite well that most editors see an enormous number of manuscripts – and that they are sometimes unable to buy even the books that they love. It’s quite easy for good books to end up without a publisher. Only if a writer is very fortunate will his book land in right lap at the right moment.
Mary: What was the publishing process like? Was it what you expected? Did you use an agent?
David: I began my search for a publisher by hunting for an agent (although even the search for an agent was more an ending than a beginning).
Years and years before my book reached a publisher, I took classes, joined the local writer’s guild, and took part in writer’s groups. People from those groups have gone on to win awards and even to make a living at writing (an amazing feat). I have attended conventions and been personable around the right people.
In the end, several agents agreed that they might take a look at my work (they hate to agree to such things). The first agent who saw In the Eye of Heaven happened to be the right man.
Mary: Would you recommend the same method for other writers?
David: There is no magic formula for getting a book published. The road I took helped me learn the nuts and bolts of putting words on paper, helped me to develop an understanding of the profession, and got me to meet some people who were in a position to give me the chance I needed. It’s a very practical strategy, but it took a long time.
Mary: How long did it take to get your book published?
David: I wrote a short story in 1996 about a knight who felt that he was in the wrong story. My first novel is the prequel to that story. I finished the earliest draft of In the Eye of Heaven (a ghastly thing called Childe) in 1997. Tor bought the book in 2003 or 2004. It came out in 2006. (I remember shaking my head when a couple of readers supposed that I’d been influenced by Gene Wolfe’s recent Wizard/Knight books. My life would have been a good deal easier if the whole process had taken so little time).
Mary: Will your second book be published with Tor as well?
David: Tor is publishing three books, all in a series. I’ve got plots and titles for the whole set, so they shouldn’t run away from me. In essence, my friend Durand, has to get back to that old short story!
Mary: What steps have you taken to publicize your book?
David: I’m not a publicity powerhouse, but I’ve managed to get myself a reading or two, and I’ve been on a few very big panels at the largest conventions. (In one case, sitting next to George Martin). You will find a web page or two with me behind it. There has been a TV interview. My book managed to top the bestseller list back home in Winnipeg after a little blitz back there. And, of course, I’ve worked hard to be personable.
Conclusion
Mary: What advice do you have for other writers?
David: Writing isn’t an easy career to get into. The apprenticeship can be very long – and there may never be a big payday in the end. You must know that editors look at the heaps of manuscripts sent to their office as something they need to get rid of. So. You must love what you’re doing. You must write (and not pretend). You must not settle: not line by line, idea by idea, or anywhere else. You will have to work hard (and it may not be enough). You will certainly learn how to take a punch (as very few writers succeed without failing). And, if you are very lucky, you might get your chance.
** Image ID #1092573 Unavailable **
 Publisher Spotlight
Publisher: Tor SF & Fantasy
Location: USA
Website: http://www.tor.com/tor.html
As listed in Duotrope's Digest: "Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, is a New York-based publisher of hardcover and softcover books, founded in 1980 and committed (although not limited) to SF and fantasy literature. Between our extensive hardcover and trade-softcover line, our Orb backlist program, and our stronghold in mass-market paperback, we annually publish what is arguably the largest and most diverse line of SF and fantasy ever produced by a single English-language publisher. Books from Tor have won every major award in the SF and fantasy fields, and for the last fifteen years in a row we have been named Best Publisher in the Locus Poll, the largest consumer poll in SF."
Guidelines:
 Mail submissions to Tor Books, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010.
 Address unsolicited science fiction and fantasy submissions to Patrick Nielsen Hayden.
 No query letter. Submit only the first three chapters of your book, and a synopsis of the entire book.
 Cover letter should state the genre of the submission, and previous sales or publications if relevant.
 For additional details on manuscript guidelines, see the FAQ on their website.
Length: 80,000+ words
Payscale: professional advance plus royalties
A few of their authors:
Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time)
Isaac Asimov
Terry Goodkind (The Sword of Truth)
Jane Yolen
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For your reading enjoyment:
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An action fantasy that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end!
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Rough excerpt from a children's fantasy I've been working on.
#1227412 by Shannan Leigh |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Reader Question
From Desii :
Is there a place to find past newsletters? For instance, one of the comments in the current newsletter talks about the hero's journey. I think I missed that issue. Thanks – Desii
Here's the link to the newsletter archives, where you can look at previous issues. http://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives
You can also view a particular editor's newsletters by clicking on the link under their name at the top of one of their issues.
Reader Comments
From dnukem:
From Strange Wulf
Well, this NL did ask one question I hadn't thought of! Time measurements for underground societies. Since I have a story that takes place in one, I'd best think about their calendar.
Any suggestions would be helpful, though I'm sure a water clock would be the first thing they think of. =P Pretty obvious, eh? Now, as for months and years... that's a bit more tricky...
I have a suggestion for him. The drow in the Drizzt books have mages that control the faerie fire on a pillar in the center of town.
I'm sure Strange Wulf will appreciate the suggestion. Other books are a great way to spark ideas and solutions for your own writing. 
From daydreamer13:
I just received my first Fantasy newsletter and I found it really interesting and helpful. I especially like Tips from the Pros and The Writing Life. It was great to get tips from someone who has experience.
I'm glad you enjoyed the newsletter and the editor's picks. We all learn from each other.
From StephBee  :
I'm a various stages, does that count? Fantasy writing is not my first genre, so I wrote a couple of short stories to warm up the muse. I find writing short stories kind of helps me tune up for fantasy writing. I'm also trying to publish some of these short stories to build a writer credits. I'm also working on a fantasy novel, I've got the characters, but I need to find tune the plot. That said, I need more time in the day to write. Haha! Who doesn't, right? I hope this helps.
There are never enough hours in the day… Short stories are a great way to build writer credits. Good luck in your endeavors!
From Jay is studying :
I'm looking forward the discussions on world building as it is the aspect of writing that I get most excited about. Creating your own fantasy world, and getting it in black and white - what could be better?
I hope my newsletters don't disappoint. 
The following comments are all in response to the question asked by appolloslady . Thanks for all the suggestions!
I have read all of the Harry Potter Books (that are out) and I have gotten into the 'Eragon' or 'Inheritance' Series. I have also read all of the Dragonriders of Pern series...
My question to you is, do you know of any other authors or books that are along these lines, maybe for adults as opposed to young adult????
Thanks!
Cassandra
From Jimmie :
In comment to the question on a good series of books I thoroughly enjoyed the Dragonlance series called the Meetings sextet. Especially Wanderlust which is the story of Tasselhoff Burrfoot. It's got magic, dragons, elves, kender, dwarves and a bracelet. Excellent story.
From KC under the midnight sun  :
For books on dragons, check out the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. There are currently 3 in print right now; the first is called "His Majesty's Dragon." Dragons and Napoleon!
There's one by Mercedes Lackey, called the Dragon Jousters. There are currently 4 of those, starting with "Joust." The first book is about raising/training dragons.
Another by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory, the Obsidian Trilogy, of which the 3rd book just came out. The first one is "The Outstretched Shadow." Dragons really only come into the series in the second book, when the elves re-discover the power of the dragonriders.
And a 4th series isn't technically about dragons, but they play a heavy role, is the Seven Brothers trilogy by Curt Benjamin. This is a series based on Eastern myths and legends. The first book is "The Prince of Shadow."
From PenName :
Apolloslady could also look up the "Shannara" series by Terry Brooks, or the Magic Kingdom of Landover For Sale (Sold)! series by the same author.
There is the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, which he finished now.
Also, the books set in Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance worlds, by R. A. Salvatore, and a whole mess of other authors.
They are all great Fantasy Reads.
Write On!
From Colin Back on the Ghost Roads :
As to other novels along somewhat similar lines to Potter and Eragon, I'd recommend the two Abarat books by Clive Barker. It's intended for young adults, but it has a lot for more mature readers too. I've read the first two books (slated as a four book series) several times already.
From bazilbob:
How about Lord of the Rings? epic but awesome. Better than the films!
Thank you for all the comments. Remember to leave feedback or ideas for future newsletters.
We editors love to hear from you!
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Fantasy: March 07, 2007 Issue [#1580]
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