Ask the Author: Edward W. Robertson
Answered Questions (22)
Edward W. Robertson
Goodreads asked me to spend time on a goofy writing prompt. I did so...and it made my next book late.
Edward W. Robertson
Jona, especially in TLOL, is one of those things I never planned to happen. Same with Gladdic's turn, actually. Seems like that's where the most fun is.
Edward W. Robertson
To simply be honest, I don't have time given my other commitments. I won't say never, but if it does happen, it'll be a while.
Edward W. Robertson
Thank you! The character development in Light of Life was one of the most fun things I've written in a while now.
Edward W. Robertson
If you're talking about the ebook, it's already out! It's called THE LIGHT OF LIFE.
If you're talking about the audio, it'll be out in July or August.
If you're talking about the audio, it'll be out in July or August.
Edward W. Robertson
July or August, should know very soon now.
Edward W. Robertson
Tragic news: it's been pushed all the way back to June 1.
Edward W. Robertson
Podium's planning to release it on April 25. That date should be locked down within the next few days, so I'd expect the preorder to show up in mid-April.
Edward W. Robertson
Which one?
Goodreads is making me add more text to this so here are some worthless words, good work Goodreads
Goodreads is making me add more text to this so here are some worthless words, good work Goodreads
Edward W. Robertson
Good question. Why AM I so great? ;)
First of all, I'm five years older than when I took that picture, making me five years less great. I should probably update it. I just turned 35, in fact.
This is a challenging question to answer without sounding like a douche! Prolificness-wise, I just try to write every day, 4-6 pages. Even with time for revisions etc, it results in about three books per year. Doing something every day adds up over time.
Quality-wise... man, this is *ultra*-douche territory. I dunno, I read a lot when I was younger, then wrote a lot as I got older, then tried to write a variety of characters in situations that challenged them morally without imposing too much of my own judgment on them. Also, I spend SO MUCH TIME ON JOKES! That's the majority of my revisions, reworking dialogue.
In conclusion, I was raised by The Simpsons. Been trying to live up to their standard ever since.
First of all, I'm five years older than when I took that picture, making me five years less great. I should probably update it. I just turned 35, in fact.
This is a challenging question to answer without sounding like a douche! Prolificness-wise, I just try to write every day, 4-6 pages. Even with time for revisions etc, it results in about three books per year. Doing something every day adds up over time.
Quality-wise... man, this is *ultra*-douche territory. I dunno, I read a lot when I was younger, then wrote a lot as I got older, then tried to write a variety of characters in situations that challenged them morally without imposing too much of my own judgment on them. Also, I spend SO MUCH TIME ON JOKES! That's the majority of my revisions, reworking dialogue.
In conclusion, I was raised by The Simpsons. Been trying to live up to their standard ever since.
Edward W. Robertson
Good news! That answer was from last year, regarding The Silver Thief. The third book will actually be out late this month (Oct 2016), and it will be called The Wound of the World.
Edward W. Robertson
Yep, third one will be out this fall. I think there will be five books in this series, and who knows after that. :)
Edward W. Robertson
If I took as long as some series do, *I* would get frustrated at not getting to see where the story's headed!
Great to have such a dedicated reader/listener. The third book should be out this fall, and I'm hoping to follow right afterward with the fourth early next year.
Great to have such a dedicated reader/listener. The third book should be out this fall, and I'm hoping to follow right afterward with the fourth early next year.
Edward W. Robertson
Awesome to hear you're digging the series! I still haven't heard a specific release date for Silver Thief, but it went into production a couple months back, so I'm still expecting it in the first half of this year. Hope I'm right. :)
Edward W. Robertson
Thank you! It's really hard to capture the feel of a place unless you've been there in person, so I try to draw on places I've been to. I've lived in a few of the major settings in the series (NYC, LA, Eastern WA/Moscow ID) and have visited several others, like Sydney, Redding, the Adirondacks, inland agricultural CA, Maui, and the Yucatan.
I've never been to some of the places they go, like Macau, San Francisco, San Diego, New Zealand, and northern Mexico. Fortunately, my editor had been to most of those places and was able to provide me some details about them.
I also spent the entire series with Google Maps and image search open. Often, the geography of the place influenced the way the story went next. Since parts of the story were so far out there, I thought it was important to keep the settings as realistic and grounded as possible.
I've never been to some of the places they go, like Macau, San Francisco, San Diego, New Zealand, and northern Mexico. Fortunately, my editor had been to most of those places and was able to provide me some details about them.
I also spent the entire series with Google Maps and image search open. Often, the geography of the place influenced the way the story went next. Since parts of the story were so far out there, I thought it was important to keep the settings as realistic and grounded as possible.
Edward W. Robertson
I'm going to try to have it out by November 5th. If that's too ambitious, though, it might take me a few more weeks.
Edward W. Robertson
I go running, and it's so boring I have no choice but to figure out what happens next.
I try to come up with 2-3 major turning points before starting any project. When I know what I'm writing toward, that helps me determine the steps necessary to reach that point.
When I'm stuck at a specific place, three steps help:
1) A, B, and C have already happened. Given that, what logically follows as D?
2) What turn of the plot will lead to the richest drama? Often, what do the characters *not* want to happen most?
3) Given the current circumstances, how would my characters respond?
The best approach is to involve all three. Pursue each line, and the answer will usually pop right out.
I try to come up with 2-3 major turning points before starting any project. When I know what I'm writing toward, that helps me determine the steps necessary to reach that point.
When I'm stuck at a specific place, three steps help:
1) A, B, and C have already happened. Given that, what logically follows as D?
2) What turn of the plot will lead to the richest drama? Often, what do the characters *not* want to happen most?
3) Given the current circumstances, how would my characters respond?
The best approach is to involve all three. Pursue each line, and the answer will usually pop right out.
Edward W. Robertson
Two keys:
a) Write a lot. At least every other day.
b) Finish what you start. Even if you hate it.
Reading as much as possible can help, and so can taking classes or participating in critique groups. But writing constantly and finishing what you start will teach you how to tell stories and how you function as a writer. And that's the foundation of a career.
a) Write a lot. At least every other day.
b) Finish what you start. Even if you hate it.
Reading as much as possible can help, and so can taking classes or participating in critique groups. But writing constantly and finishing what you start will teach you how to tell stories and how you function as a writer. And that's the foundation of a career.
Edward W. Robertson
This is a complicated question. In general, the nether is more chaotic, so it's better at destroying things, while the ether is more orderly, so it's better at building or restoring. The two systems have a lot of overlap, too—but the practitioners of each tend to look down on the other side. In practice, then, they're often limited more by their imagination ("the ether couldn't be used to do that!") than by the actual physical limitations of their source.
As to the origin source, the ether came first—it could be seen as the firmament of the cosmos. But the nether's what makes life tick. The ether's explored a bit more in The Red Sea, and I intend the later volumes of The Cycle of Arawn to delve into it further.
As to the origin source, the ether came first—it could be seen as the firmament of the cosmos. But the nether's what makes life tick. The ether's explored a bit more in The Red Sea, and I intend the later volumes of The Cycle of Arawn to delve into it further.
Edward W. Robertson
I wish I could be more concrete, but since most of my audiobooks are through a publisher, I don't always know until a release is imminent. I'm hoping the success of the original Arawn trilogy and the end of the Breakers series will soon lead to audiobooks for The Red Sea and books 6-8 in Breakers. And I might put out Traitor (Rebel Stars #2) out later this year myself.
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