[alison]

It all sounds so hard. When did you start consciously studying technique? And when did you find your own voice, so to speak (your writing voice that isn't an echo of another writer)?

Hi whitesilkbreeze - the thing about "voice" puzzled me considerably as a young poet. People were always talking about when I would "find" it, and I sort of had this vision of my Voice descending from on high, with choirs of angels maybe, and suddenly I would know what I was doing...ha, it took me a while to find out that it didn't work like that. As I've got older and more cunning, I've found that I don't really believe in this idea of voice, or at least find it a bit misleading. As far as "voice" goes, insofar as it exists, it's what you're born with - even on this forum people have different styles of address. The rest, as they say, is graft. (Sorry!)

I've always been interested in how things are put together. I was the sort of child who was always dismantling her clock or sewing machine to see how it worked...and I guess I tend to look at books in the same way.

Fortunately, I have a talent for forgetting things that inhibit me. This is good, as I seriously can't imagine studying anything other than English. On a side note, what did you study?

I didn't go to uni, unless you count the diploma in journalism that I failed to complete - like a lot of writers I'm an autodidact (meaning I taught myself, more or less). Whether you go to uni or not, the main thing is to keep - and to keep enjoying - reading, and to read as widely as you can.

I wanted to ask who drew those fab maps in The Gift and The Riddle, I love tracing the paths they go along, it makes it that much more believeable and also offers some clues of where they're going to go next (like at the end of The Gift, I predicted they would go to Thorold).

Hi Jennistar - welcome! The gorgeous maps in the UK and US editions are by an artist called Niroot Puttapipat. I have my own, more detailed maps at home, which are not nearly as beautiful. I was so delighted when I saw Niroot's, they were the kind of maps I had dreamed of! (I am a bit of a map fetishist...)

Ooooh, any hints?? [on Sharma's voice]

OK, Becks - one teeny tiny hint - Sharma has the most beautiful voice... ;) - and Suzie, if you look on the first page of this thread, you will see what it is.

[alison]

Oops, Tari - almost missed your questions there!

Will we ever hear of Dernhil again? bcoz i think there is something in both Maerad and Cadvan that is yet to come to grips with his death, or mayb thats just me.

Despite Dernhil dying so early, he just keeps turning up - he really haunts the books, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, I do think there's something important and unresolved about him in the books.

How did you decide on the length of your novels? i mean did u plan to write it with four books or even a novel length at all?

I didn't really decide - I just wrote The Gift until I finished it. But around 500 pages seemed about the right length for this kind of novel, so I've tried to keep the rest at that length...originally it was going (of course) to be a trilogy, but the middle part turned out to be a lot longer than I expected. And I rather like the symmetry of four books, each in four parts...

How much planning do u put into your books? or do u prefer to let the characters take you on the journey so to speak? like i write without planning and my friend plans every detail b4 shes starts?

It's a bit of both - for The Gift I didn't plan at all: everything - including the world - just evolved as I went along. I remember finishing one day's work in a foul mood because Maerad and Cadvan had ended up on top of a cliff, and I had no idea how they were going to get down...for the next two, I was very anxious not to paint myself into a corner, so I did do some planning. But the thing that makes writing exciting for me is how things happen that you simply do not expect, and the books both developed way past the original synopsis.

[whitesilkbreeze]

I sort of had this vision of my Voice descending from on high, with choirs of angels maybe, and suddenly I would know what I was doing...

Wouldn't it be lovely if it worked like that? It would make things so much easier. :rolleyes: Or perhaps 'finding a voice' is more a situation of realising that it's something you've had all along?

The rest, as they say, is graft. (Sorry!)

Graft? o_0

From dictionary.com:

graft:

1 a. To unite (a shoot or bud) with a growing plant by insertion or by placing in close contact.
b. To join (a plant or plants) by such union.

2. To transplant or implant (living tissue, for example) surgically into a bodily part to replace a damaged part or compensate for a defect.

Sounds violent! :p

[Tari]

Oops, Tari - almost missed your questions there!

well well well . . . .kididng luv. thanks for taking da time out to answer all our poky annoying little questions but it is quite enlightening.

so forth i have re-emerged from my hole to ask a few more. :D **innocent Grin**

Despite Dernhil dying so early, he just keeps turning up - he really haunts the books, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, I do think there's something important and unresolved about him in the books.

So it isn't just me. :) i was wondering if you could giv me a lil insight to Dernhil's past. only briefly of course or is more to be revealed or hav u know idea yet?

I remember finishing one day's work in foul mood because Maerad and Cadvan had ended up on top of a cliff, and I had no idea how they were going to get down...

somehow i can just picture your frustration. or more Maerad and Cadvan's frustration for they were forced to be stuck on a cliff top and you had no way of getting them down. lol. funny images. :D :rolleyes:

~ Tari

[Worstnightmare]

hey becks im bak can u pleez fill me in on this thread

He he, YEY, youre back!!!!!!


Ooooh, any hints?? [on Sharma's voice]

OK, Becks - one teeny tiny hint - Sharma has the most beautiful voice... - and Suzie, if you look on the first page of this thread, you will see what it is.

YEY!!!
I got a hint!!!!

Thanks..... :D :D

By the way, this is Becks using worsts account....

[owleye]

lol poor u becks...... will the winter king be in the other books?

[Suzie]

y have u got a different name becks???

and alison you no how ur on about ur "voice" thing. did you think about it when u were writing the books cause

when maerad went to Zmarken her aunt(cant remember her name) she, maerads aunt said "i have the voice and the sight" or something like that and the old woman that took care of mearad said something about it as well (i think)

oh and wats this thing about sharmas voice??? :confused: :confused:

[alison]

Hi whitesilkbreeze - - graft has several meanings (including "illicit profit or gain" :D ) but the sense I meant was "the action of digging"...

Guys, just tidied up the thread a bit - trying to keep this one fairly trim and to the point.

i was wondering if you could giv me a lil insight to Dernhil's past. only briefly of course or is more to be revealed or hav u know idea yet?

Hi Tari - I think Dernhil has had a rather less adventurous life than Cadvan's - I don't know much more than is in the books: that he is a Bard of Gent, that he is a famous Annaren poet, though clearly has had something to do with the Light's struggle against the Dark, and that for a time he lived in Innail - but perhaps more will be revealed as the translation continues - ;)

will the winter king be in the other books?

Hi Owleye - I really think that he hasn't disappeared from the story yet...

alison you no how ur on about ur "voice" thing. did you think about it when u were writing the books cause when maerad went to Zmarken her aunt(cant remember her name) she, maerads aunt said "i have the voice and the sight" or something like that and the old woman that took care of mearad said something about it as well (i think)

Hi Suzie - yes, the voice is a very important idea through the books, because Bardic magery is based on language. The Pilanel use the term "the Voice" to describe the Gift, and "the Sight" means someone who can see the future... and there are probably lots of other usages and references scattered through the books as well. Probably something to do with my writing poetry, I expect!

[goose-girl]

hey just a couple of questions to start.

When maerad thinks cadvan is dead she says that she realises she loves him and he loves her. is this a platonic love or will they become more intimate in the next books?

when will the third book be coming out in England?? i cant wait!! your first two books i read within about 3 days...both not each.

Final Q, does/will the winterking love maerad??

[Becks]

Are Maerad and Cadvan real names or did you make them up?