Ask the Author: Allan Joyal
Answered Questions (12)
Allan Joyal
I have already nearly completed the next Living Dungeon book. It's called A Living Dungeon's Madness and hopefully will be completed sometime in December for publication in early January.
Allan Joyal
That is not me.
Allan Joyal
It was written based on a stand alone idea I had, but I did leave the ending open. I am currently working on a sequel that expands the world and provides more detail into how dungeons work and their usual relationship to the adventurers who delve the caverns they create.
Allan Joyal
I have considered it, but I'll be honest. I know very little about how I would go about creating an audiobook from my manuscript. It's something i need to investigate.
Allan Joyal
When I wrote "A Living Dungeon" I was not thinking about a definite sequel. I did get a few ideas based on some of the characters and the universe itself, but at this time I am not actively working on a sequel. I have a couple of other tales that I want to work on first.
Allan Joyal
I went through a period of about three months where I just stopped writing, but it now looks like I've managed to turn things around so I am hoping to get back to work on it. I'm probably about two months away from finishing the draft and then it takes a few weeks for editing and getting a cover. I do plan on getting Seafaring out before the end of the year.
Allan Joyal
When I originally came up with the idea for the Lost on Jord series, the main story arc was going to run from when Ron and his friend were pulled to Jord ending when they successfully fought off the orcs and were going to settle in their quiet valley. I did have a few thoughts of sequels, but they weren't completely formed.
That said, I do see a need for sequels and I have started working on a tale that takes place after the end of Homesteading, but before my originally planned "sequel" which was going to occur more than a dozen years after the end of Homesteading. However, progress is slow as I have another story that I want to finish first and then I have to get busy working on the sequel I'm calling "Seafaring on Jord." Right now I don't expect to publish until sometime in early 2016.
That said, I do see a need for sequels and I have started working on a tale that takes place after the end of Homesteading, but before my originally planned "sequel" which was going to occur more than a dozen years after the end of Homesteading. However, progress is slow as I have another story that I want to finish first and then I have to get busy working on the sequel I'm calling "Seafaring on Jord." Right now I don't expect to publish until sometime in early 2016.
Allan Joyal
Being able to think of adventures and then to put characters into worlds where they can have those adventures. In a book there are no limits to the imagination so I can explore all the possibilities life has to offer.
Allan Joyal
Write. That is the best advice I can give. There are plenty of sites on the internet that accept story submissions and many post them for free. Find one you like and write for that site. Don't try to write perfect stories. Write stories that readers find interesting. Create a fanbase as well as find your voice. What do you enjoy writing about and how. Do you want to write action? Or are you more into plot driven stories? The best way to hone your craft is well known. Practice.
That's the only real advice I can give. The rest is just being determined to finish the stories you work on and having the passion to publish. But nothing can be accomplished if you don't write.
That's the only real advice I can give. The rest is just being determined to finish the stories you work on and having the passion to publish. But nothing can be accomplished if you don't write.
Allan Joyal
The funny thing is I rarely have moments where I can't think of what to write next which is to my the classic "writer's block". My problem has always been more I'll sit down to write and think. "I'd rather play a computer game, or read something or.... [fill in the blank]" And end up not putting any time into writing no matter how much I want to. I find that the only way around that is to concentrate on my writing. When I put my mind to writing, I get work done.
Allan Joyal
For Lost on Jord? I guess I had been running into a number of tales where a man from our time ended up transported into America's past. I thought the stories were interesting, but wanted to take it a bit further and years ago I had thought about putting a modern man into a fantasy world. I can't explain why I set it up the way I did, but when I started plotting it out the initial scenes just seemed to fit and after that I allowed the hero and the other characters to push the story forward.
Allan Joyal
Right now I'm completing the last part of the main Lost on Jord storyline. Book 2 is already in final editing, but there is more to the story. My goal is to finish the first draft before mid-February so I can move on to some other ideas that have been clamoring for a bit of attention.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more