For many years the only chance a fan had of speaking to Terry was to meet him at tour events or conventions.
With the establishment of this website in 2000, Terry began accepting two questions from each fan per month. On the last day of the month, five questions are randomly drawn. Terry answers these five questions and they are posted monthly for your enjoyment.
Below are the questions selected last month and Terry’s answers! Enjoy!
Note: This section may contain spoilers!
Dear Readers,
You see what I have to put up with. My faithful Web Druid feels it necessary to test me every now and then to make certain I shouldn’t retire. So he withholds questions for three months and then dumps them on me all at once. Can the author handle 15 questions from Ask Terry all at once? While working scripts for the TV show? While editing Book 3 of the latest batch? While giving his all to make certain the Seahawks win the Super Bowl?
You bet your sweet patootie, he does.
So lets begin:
Preston Hurst writes: Have you ever thought about doing a book in first person perspective?
Terry Brooks replies: I have, Preston. I have even written one in first person just to see how it sounds and looks. What I decided was that it was a lot of work and it didn’t feel like me. Actually, I have some help on this from Judine and my agent. This was with the latest non-Shannara book I have been working on for some time now. An experiment with first person felt a little too stiff. I think for an entire book, third person is better for me. But I am not ruling out something in first down the road. I think I just need the right project.
Scott Gibbens writes: Is there any more news on this non-Shannara book Terry was writing?
Terry Brooks replies: See above. This is the same book. I finished it, but I wasn’t happy with it. So I am in rewrites. I expect to complete these by Spring in spite of everything else going on. When I do, I will have to decide what to do with it. I should add that I am still excited about it and still think it will turn out to be special.
Calum Hill writes: I know writing short stories is a wrench but any chance of that Shannara short story collected book soon? Maybe in a nice binding? Love your stories.
Terry Brooks replies: Sorry to have to tell you this, Calum, but I think we are a few years away from that happening. I need to write a few more before we can bind them up in book edition, and I just don’t have a lot of time for that at the moment. I do have some ideas, and I will be trying to slot one of two stories in yet this year.
Jennifer Miller writes: How will the Shannara TV series continue after the first season? Will it be a new book each season?
Terry Brooks replies: This matter is under debate. It is a difficult decision because if we do a new book with new characters each year, we have to get a new cast each year, and no one is very fond of that idea. So various choices are being tossed about at present with no clear winner as yet. Maybe we should wait and see if the first season results in a second. All of us involved in the series feel pretty sure it will, but you never know. Feel free to write in your thoughts on this and I will see that Shawn passes them along.
Tosh Keller-Stewart writes: In every Shannara book, there are about a hundred taverns referenced in every book, and the characters consuming copious amounts of “ale.” Any thought of teaming up with a microbrewery in the Pac-NW into making a special Shannara-themed beverage? Amberle’s Amber or Isle Witch Pale Ale?
Terry Brooks replies: Judine says I can never do a Shannara cookbook with recipes because everyone survives on nuts, berries, bread and ale. Which is pretty much true, I guess. I don’t spend a lot of time on food and drink. They either eat something or they don’t in my books. But your idea is intriguing. Seems like there is a real opportunity for a tie-in with an ale of some sort. I drink Widmer’s, so they would be my first choice. Maybe someone will make an offer to do this. In any case, I will look into it at some point. Thanks, Tosh.
November Ask Terry coming next week! More answers to more questions!
Yours,
Please completely fill in the form below and send the two questions you want to ask Terry this month.
10 responses to “October ASK TERRY Posted”
I have been and avid reader of fantasy and sci/fi my whole life. I would like to start writing. Do you have any tips for getting started?
Terry does have tips. Read Sometimes the Magic Works. It is Terry’s writing guide for new writers. Happy reading!
Great taste in brew Terry! As a beer connoisseur myself, I’d love to support any projects for Shannara potables and ales!
I definitely think each season should be comprised of one book. How would you stretch Elfstones beyond 8-10 (or whatever it’s going to be) 1-hour episodes, then come back for a second season with the same characters continuing the Elfstones story? I sure hope not. Season 2 should be Wishsong. You can still bring some characters back in smaller supporting roles. Allanon would be the grounded, recurring element. Similar to Game of Thrones; each season was approximately one book. (Until they ran out of books to adapt!)
Ale is one of those plot devices that forces readers to imagine what it is like. If there were an official Shannara-branded ale, it would take away some of the effort required of readers and make the books more ordinary. Leave the definition of ale, like the Word and the Void, up to each reader.
I don’t think that the question was about changing the ‘ale’ in the books with more descriptive words or actual names for the ale. It was more about a possibility in real life having an ale with a Shannara-themed name, or at least that’s the impression I keep getting from reading the question. If I am misreading then please feel free to correct me. Personally the Idea seems great to me, but I feel that Terry can’t actively seek this out and that someone must come to him and make the offer. Just my two cents.
The TV season could be done, as American Horror Story is doing it, same cast they just play a new character for the new story/season/book……..any way can’t wait for the show to begin.
My opinion would be to move on to Wishsong for season 2. I really don’t see any other way of doing it, short of ending season 1 somewhere in the middle of Elfstones, or somehow ignoring the books and making the characters in Elfstones go on the Wishsong adventure… neither of which I see being as good of an option as just moving on and retaining the few characters that are in both books (i.e. Allanon, King of the Silver River) Eretria and Wil would have to be played by older actors, I guess, to keep the continuity of the years between books. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes!!
Also, A ‘Four Lands Stout’ sounds like a great idea!
I would think that if the cast really hits it off, you could do another book for the next season and keep as much of the same cast as possible in different roles, ala American Horror Story. After all, the story follows bloodlines like the Ohmsfords and Elessedils, some of the younger actors might be able to come back as their previous character’s descendants. Of course, it all depends on how things go. The show hasn’t even started yet and I’m already campaigning for season 2!
Oh and even if it’s not exactly ale, you gotta go with “Redden Rum”!
I think if you start with all the allanon books that would be awesome, do wishsong (for season 2) then you cold do first king then sword. I feel first king and sword fit together better should help with some recasting but not a ton.