INTRO: T.S. Robinson is the author of Battle-Chasers, and here you can read the interview we did with him for the October issue of thesffworld.com – Fantasy eZine.
Q: With degrees in Computer Science and an MBA, how did you get this fascination for the Fantasy genre?
A: I played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons as a teenager, and my interest for high fantasy stemmed from there. Gary Gygax, co-creator of D&D, wrote a series of novels in the 1980’s (Gord the Rogue series), and that’s what shifted my focus from RPG modules to high fantasy novels. I never really thought about writing for a living until recently, so I pursued an education in the business arena to make ends meet in the “real world.”
Q: How did you come up with the idea for Battle-Chasers?
A: I was watching the movie: BRAVEHEART, and there was a scene that pans out over a bloody countryside, where a recent hand-to-hand war had just been waged. They focused in on the aftermath of battle – all the horror and suffering. It was then I had the thought, “I’ve never read a fantasy book that focuses on the aftermath of war.” They all just lead up to it, and afterwards, quickly move beyond it to the next setting. That’s what gave me the idea to write a high fantasy book about what happens AFTER a war has been waged.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the experience, writing your first book?
A: People say the hardest part about writing a book is just that- actually writing it. But for me, that was the easiest part. I wrote BATTLE-CHASERS over the course of three months, writing1,000-2,000 words a day. To me, writing is like driving a carat night during the fog — you can only see as far as your headlights – but you can make the whole trip that way. :o) I had a story to tell and it just flowed onto the page everyday -I never had a block.
The hardest part was understanding the critical role that writing style plays in getting published. I hadn’t really studied style before I began writing – so I found out the hard way that publishers and editors want a great writing style over a great story. I ended up buying a shelf of books on writing style and taking some college classes to educate myself on an effective style, and armed with this knowledge, edited BATTLE-CHASERS accordingly. I had a lot of help from other writers, including Piers Anthony who has mentored me over the years.
One thing you have to be if you want to publish your work is patient. It’s a constant learning experience, but one that Ienjoy very much.
Q: Has it been an easy way getting published?
A: Not really. I’ve saved all the “nice” rejection letters from publishers, agents and editors over the years. I believe it’s a lot more difficult in this day and age to get published than it ever was before. Most publishing houses and agents don’t want to take a chance on an unknown author when they have a clientele that’s established and has a following. You just have to be patient and persistent. Don’t give up!
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Well, no matter how BATTLE-CHASERS fairs in the market place, I will continue to write high fantasy novels. I’m passionate about it, and see myself ending my corporate career if my writing career takes off. If not, I’ll continue writing in my spare time.
Q: What has the Internet meant for you as an author?
A: It has provided me with a wealth of opportunity, not only to market my book but also to learn and grow as a writer. Early on I joined a couple of writers groups and corresponded with a host of other writers daily, sending and critiquing each others’work. I learned so much! Now, through online publications like this, I’m able to reach a readership that was once impossible todo on my own, and give back a lot of what I’ve learned and crafted. I’m hopeful you find my efforts as exciting as I do, and I welcome your feedback. My email is [email protected] and the official BATTLE-CHASERS website is: http://www.angelfire.com/on2/tsrobinson
