April Ask Terry Q&A

Terry Brooks

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 from April 2019 and Terry’s answers! Enjoy!

Note: This section may contain spoilers!

APRIL 2019 ASK TERRY Q&A

Hi Everyone,

Time to finish off all these back issues of Ask Terry and try to move forward once more.  Heads up, I just sent the new book off to the publisher and my agent.  So that’s all done, and I can start looking ahead again.  Kind of exciting, starting a new series, thinking about a few others, embracing a new set of challenges.  That’s what makes writing so much fun!

But to the matter at hand:


Justin Kenyon writes: I’ve always been a huge fan of yours and I’ve always loved the Landover series. I would love to know if this could be made into a TV show? With the huge success of other fantasy adaptations right now — namely Game of Thrones — I feel Landover checks all the boxes to make great TV hopefully. Would you consider producing or find a show runner for this amazing fantasy?

Terry Brooks replies: As it happens, we are working at making Magic Kingdom into a movie, so for the moment that is where all the focus is.  There was discussion about a TV show at one time, but mostly all the attention given was on doing a movie.  I can probably live with either.


Rob McLear writes: Other than yourself of course, are there any authors you would recommend to read their stuff between the publishing of your books? I’ve poked around a bit, but am curious who you would suggest. Thank you!

Terry Brooks replies:  No, there’s no one.  Charlatans and weasels, all of them.  Just read me!  Make America Great Again!!!

Okay, joking aside, there are a whole bunch of other writers.  I will stick to fantasy and science fiction or the list will run on forever.  To name a few:

In science fiction, Pierce Brown, Paolo Bacigalupi and Jeff VanderMeer.

In epic fantasy, Philip Pullman, Mark Lawrence, Robin Hobb, Brent Weeks, Lev Grossman, Bob Salvatore, Peter Brett.

New (relatively speaking) and exciting, Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden.

YA Fantasy, Maggie Steifvator, Marie Lu, Laini Taylor, Rachel Caine, Sarah Beth Durst.

There are the ones that come to mind immediately, and I am sure I am leaving off others who are equally compelling.


Matt Muller writes: Has your work on the Shannara Chronicles TV series affected your writing style?

Terry Brooks replies: No.  As I keep saying, the TV show is the TV show – the books are the books.  Peaceful co-existence without invasion or takeover is possible.


Frank Conlon writes: I know you have probably been asked this several times. I am reading the Word and the Void series for a third time. It strikes me as an amazing work for a movie. Has there ever been any interest in making the series into a movie series of mini series? I enthusiastically look forward to each new book. Thanks for bringing amazing entertainment to my life for almost 40 years!

Terry Brooks replies: I have come to the conclusion that it will happen about 30 years after my death.  I am going the Tolkien path on this one.  Great if it would happen now, but I won’t hold my breath.


Jack Succi writes: You toured for The Stiehl Assassin. Do you pick where you go? Or does the publisher?

Terry Brooks replies: We work together on the tours.  Who asks is likely to be considered first – the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  We consider where I have been and where I might need to go.  We consider weather and throw dice.  A whole lot goes into picking and choosing and we never get it quite right and always leave someone pissed off.  But we do try hard to make as many stops as possible.  One harsh truth is that I am no longer a spring chicken and touring gets harder with every passing year. But I will be on the road a lot in 2020 for The Last Druid. Tour details will be posted sometime in April 2020 probably.


Magic Always,

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