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Years ago I read some advice by comic book writer and author Peter David to people who wanted to write. I don’t have the actual source of what he said anymore, but he said something like this: “So… you want to write? You’ve read a comic or a novel and said to yourself… ‘I can do better than that.’ Well it’s just that simple: If you want to become a writer, then just do better than that.”
Any story written seems to me to be an act of hubris. You are playing creator, with characters, setting, and story. And you have the nerve to write it down and give it to the world. You are saying, I can do better.
And that’s how this story started. We just sat down one day and said: ‘Hey, we can do better.”
But having the determination to do better is useless unless you have a story to tell, and thankfully the Universe delivered. I had a dream shortly thereafter wherein the entire story was downloaded into my head. I called Parker the next day, and he went to work outlining a very secret document called The Cult of Yex Bible, making sense of the often confusing dream.
All that was back in 2000.
Fast forward 15 years… and the dream has become a reality!
But where did all this inspiration start? I would have to say Tolkien started the whole thing for me. Other authors followed including the children’s author Paul R. Fisher’s Ash Staff Trilogy (an underrated series, highly recommended for younger kids), Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain Chronicles following the adventures of young Taran Wanderer. C.S. Lewis influenced me with the Chronicles of Narnia. Later more adult authors that influenced me include David Eddings (The Belgariad and Mallorean), Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis (Dragonlance), and Stephen R. Donaldson (Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever). Stephen King’s entire body of work became ever more influential, as he taught me about being fearless.
Modern TV (and we are living in a true golden age) that influenced me and deserves a nod of thanks include the shows: The Sopranos (which started it all), Sons of Anarchy, Lost, Battlestar Galactica, Breaking Bad, Justified, The Wire, and Mad Men. Some of these shows are not perfect, but I learned as much from their imperfections as from what they did well.
A special thanks to three authors who have helped me: First goes to Orson Scott Card with whom I corresponded for years on the subject of politics, religion, but mostly on writing. His advice has been instrumental in making me a better writer. David Farland (David Wolverton) also contributed through correspondence and a lunch, and he read earlier manuscripts and gave great encouragement. John D. Brown is a fellow author and good friend of mine. When we aren’t debating Cogito Ergo Sum we are talking writing, and how to give readers the best experience possible. John thinks totally differently from me, which is a great help in looking at things from different angles. If you get a chance, check out his novels.
Editor Sol Stein’s books were also influential.
A special thanks goes to my son Simon Asher who read much of what was written as it came off the presses and took long walks with me debating certain elements of the story. More than one solution to writing problems was offered by him.
And a most special thanks to my wife Jennie, co-conspirator aiding and abetting in all things magical.
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