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 May 2019 and Terry’s answers! Enjoy!
Note: This section may contain spoilers!
MAY 2019 ASK TERRY Q&A
Hi Everyone,
Back for yet another session of Ask Terry. I sense a disturbance in the Force, so I may have to put a little more effort into this one . . .
Caty writes: I just finished The Stiehl Assassin which is probably one of the most page turning, imaginative, and thrilling books I have read in a long time. I’d like to know is can you give readers any hints of what’s to come for book 4 of The Fall of Shannara series- Will we find out the significance why Shea shares the same name as the orginal Shea Ohmsford? I am an avid reader of fantasy novels and read many of your series and a somewhat new to your books needless to say once you pick up one of your novels you want to read more and even reread them from time to time. I’m looking forward to the final book/end of series but not the end of Shannara.
Terry Brooks replies: Thanks for your praise for my work, Caty. My nefarious plan is for all readers to become addicted to my books and give up every other form of entertainment until they have read them all! So far, it isn’t working, but I haven’t given up. I would like to tell you specifics about the last Shannara book, but you would hate me if I did. I can’t even tell you who makes it to the last page. All I can say is I hope to answer most of your questions by the time that last page is turned.
Damon writes: Your Word and Void Series is my favorite series of books you’ve written, and I’m wondering, will we ever see another story that continues Nest’s and Little John’s stories Before Genesis Of Shannara?
Terry Brooks replies: Probably not. I think the Word & Void trilogy is perfect as it is and I don’t want to risk ruining things by writing something else with those characters. Nevertheless, there is a book of my short fiction coming out in October 2020 and there will be a novella in that collection dealing with the events of Word & Void in general. I think it will provide some sort of satisfaction for your wish to have more of that series.
Matthew Heiser writes: How do you develop a character such as Tavo? How do you weave a story like his into the fabric of such an enormous tapestry as Shannara? I admire your ability to continuously produce unique individuals and play out their various perplexing paradigms.
Terry Brooks replies: Magic! Or, perhaps, a lifetime of telling and writing stories. In short – practice, practice, practice. I just king of know how to do all these tricks by now, almost 55 years of writing later.
John Whitehead writes: Now being in my 68th year and hoping I am still here for book 4, I was wondering if this is really the end of Shannara as they have been a big part of my reading history?
Terry Brooks replies: Don’t die on me, John! Book 4 will be here next June. It marks the end of any forward progress in the history of the Four Lands, but not necessarily the end of any further books. There is still a lot of space to fill in all the time gaps, including the prehistory. So I expect you will a few more before I give it up. Thanks for being such a good and constant fan.
Jordan James writes: On your latest tour, I heard you read from a new epic fantasy series. The book sounded amazing, and it was an outstanding hook to pull readers in! Questions: is it refreshing to begin something new after concluding your Shannara series? Have your feelings on writing changed since you first began your career?
Terry Brooks replies: I hope all the rest of you are paying attention to Jordan’s comments about the new series. I am heavily invested in it at this point and have very high hopes. It is indeed energizing to begin something new and exciting. It is like starting over every time out – like being given yet another chance to top what you’ve already done. It is a journey that you begin without knowing exactly where you are going or where you will end up. I would say that my feelings about writing have not changed since i began. I still love the process, the storytelling, the puzzle solving, the creativity and the expectation of achieving something special. I doubt that will ever change.
And on that note, good night and good luck. I am off to bed and a good book!
Ask Terry
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