[Sammie]

Hey Gary - congrats on your shiny new forum!

Love the funky cover-art on the first three Gemquest books.....am looking forward to reading 'The Twins', just as soon as Jacquin gets his grubby mits off of it! :D

[Gary Wassner]

Thanks. I am anxious to hear how both of you feel about the series. It starts to ship to the stores in three weeks.

[Jacquin]

Love the funky cover-art on the first three Gemquest books.....am looking forward to reading 'The Twins', just as soon as Jacquin gets his grubby mits off of it! :D

Mwahahahahahaaa! Mine all mine! :D

:p

I've just started The Twins, seems pretty good so far.

J

[Gary Wassner]

The beginning of any series requires more descriptive prose and world building than the later books do. For some readers, that is tedious. It usually is for me, so I was particularly sensitive about that when I wrote The Twins, and I am pleased with the result.

I was thrilled that my publisher believed in the series, and desired to release the first three books all at the same time. It gave me an unusual and relatively unique opportunity. If readers do like the first one, and they fortunately seem to, then the second and third are on the shelves already. They don't need to wait a year. I completed the fourth, The Revenge of the Elves, last april and the fifth, When Monsters Call Out The Names Of Men, is progressing quickly now.

[juzzza]

I have read and enjoyed The Twins and did not find it heavy on world-building prose at all. In fact, the magical world of Lalas trees and the introduction to the creatures and races of your universe set the scene perfectly for the rest of the series.

The first book is also a great intro to the characters, and I love that:

One of the main characters is unconscious for the entire book, and yet you almost build his personality through the eyes or rather perceptions of the other characters, was this intentional Gary, do you throw in a curve ball and turn him into a horrid little person when he wakes? I know, I know, I will have to find out!

[Gary Wassner]

There is something even magical now for me when I stand in a forest surrounded by majestic, massive trees. They have such strength and such endurance. I lived on a farm in upstate New York many years ago, and I would wander through the woods in the winter, when the snow was five feet deep and the tree brances were laden with heavy flakes. There was a stream that wound its way down one of the hills and never fully froze up for some reason. I remember watching the water run beneath the surface ice, and there were always small spout-like projections that I could suck the pure water through, like natural straws. The pine trees that surrounded this sheltered stream always seemed more than just alive to me. I found comfort amongst them and their presence was inspirational. But there were also some enormous Elm trees, before Dutch Elm disease killed them all. I could put my arms around the trunks and they would barely touch each other. Those I was certain were aware of me beside them. I felt safe there, and I will remember it forever.

Nature has always been a refuge for me. The noises of the woods are so beautiful, and the smell is awesome, even in the depths of winter.

[juzzza]

That explains a lot Gary, and your love of trees certainly comes through in the majesty and grace of the Lalas.

Did you see my question in the spoiler box above?

[Gary Wassner]

Believe it or not, I didn't realize until now how to read the contents of a spoiler box! So I did not see your question originally.

I also don't know how to put my answer inside of a spoiler box, so I will keep it simple and vague.

No, he does not turn into a monster. He is what they believe him to be. But that does not necessarily mean that he will be conscious anytime soon.

[Erebus]

Hi Gary,

I too have just received my copies of the first three books. They look really good and I'm sure you must be very proud of them. I'm looking forward to finding enough time to read them again in book form rather than off the screen.

Thanks again for producing such a wonderful collection for my book shelf.

Cheers,

Neil

[Gary Wassner]

My pleasure Neil. i am glad that you did get them. And thanks for the support. I truly appreciate it. You know how hard it can be sometimes.