Bio

erry Brooks was born in Illinois in 1944. He spent a great deal of his childhood and early adulthood dreaming up stories in and around Sinnissippi Park, the very same park that would eventually become the setting for his bestselling Word & Void trilogy. He received his undergraduate degree from Hamilton College, where he majored in English Literature, and went on to earn his graduate degree from the School of Law at Washington & Lee University.

A writer since high school, he wrote many stories within the genres of science fiction, western, and fiction but was unable to finish any project. Then one fateful semester early in college he was given The Lord of the Rings to read. That moment changed Terry’s life forever. In Tolkien’s great work he found all the elements needed to fully explore his writing combined in one genre.

He then wrote The Sword of Shannara. It took him seven years to finish it. It became the first work of fiction ever to appear on the New York Times trade paperback bestseller list, where it remained for over five months.

Learn how Terry became published here.

During the spare time he could afford from his law practice, Terry wrote The Elfstones of Shannara, which followed in 1982 and once again brought the literary world an epic novel of wonder and adventure in the eagerly awaited sequel to The Sword of Shannara. The Wishsong of Shannara, published in 1985, finished the remarkable trilogy.

After publishing his first three Shannara novels, even though he was hesitant, Terry quit his practice of law to pursue a full-time writing career. He began writing Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold!, which began a bestselling new series for him in 1986. After moving to Seattle where he wrote two more Landover novels—The Black Unicorn and Wizard At Large—he wrote The Heritage of Shannara, a four-book series returning to the very heart that had made him such a success.

The publication of The Talismans of Shannara in 1993 concluded that storyline.

Terry is unable to write in one series for long. He needs, as a creative writer, to take time off from a project which inevitably allows him to recharge. Rather than start a new Shannara novel after he finished The Heritage of Shannara series, he wrote two more Landover books—The Tangle Box & Witches’ Brew.

Once done with the Landover books and another foray into Shannara with the release of First King of Shannara, Terry decided to create something new. Since the beginning of The Heritage of Shannara series in 1990, Terry had been thinking of a new series—a dark, contemporary fantasy set in a town similar to the Illinois hometown he grew up in. The idea for this new series grew, expanded, and grew some more over the next several years and, in September 1997, Terry released Running With the Demon, his darkest most complex masterwork yet.

The story of Nest Freemark and John Ross continued in A Knight of the Word and Angel Fire East in what has been tentatively titled the Word & Void trilogy.

In the midst of writing the Word & Void trilogy, George Lucas—the esteemed creator of Star Wars—personally asked Terry if he would write the novelization to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Being a Star Wars fan Terry agreed easily and soon found himself travelling to Skywalker Ranch to discuss the project with Lucas. A month before the theatrical release of the movie the book was published with #1 bestselling success.

It was during this time that Terry decided to have an official website, one that a dedicated fan would devote time towards to ensure that the latest news, touring information, and book summaries could be available to his fans. Terry found his fan.

Read that history here.

During the six years that followed the website’s inception, Terry wrote two Shannara trilogies: The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara and High Druid of Shannara. The six books take place 130 years and 150 years respectively after the events of The Talismans of Shannara, where Walker Boh is still a Druid and is still trying to form a new Druid Council.

Taking a bold new direction, Terry wrote the Genesis of Shannara series, which begins with Armageddon’s Children. Set 80 years after the Word & Void trilogy, it undeniably answers a long-standing fan question and connects that series with the Shannara series.

In 2009, Landover fans rejoiced. Terry published A Princess of Landover, returning to the Landover series after a 14 years hiatus. It features Ben and Holiday’s willful daughter Mistaya in an adventure of her own.

This year’s release of Bearers of the Black Staff, Book I of the Legends of Shannara series, marks the thirty-third year Terry has been a published author. It begins a two-book series set 500 years after the events of The Gypsy Morph.

The Measure of the Magic, the second book in the series, is finished and will publish in August 2011.

What more does Terry have in store for us in the future? Visit the What’s Next? page of the website for the most updated magic only Terry can bring us!

Terry Brooks lives with his wife Judine in the Pacific Northwest and on the road meeting his fans.

To read a more comprehensive biography of Terry Brooks, read his memoir/writing book titled Sometimes the Magic Works.