Ask Terry Brooks: October Post

Every month for more than ten years, bestselling author Terry Brooks has accepted questions from his fans via his website and answered five of them.

In that spirit, I thought it would be fun to post his questions and answers here, broadening the scope of questions that come into his website. Below you will find his answers from questions sent into the website in September 2011, but if you have any questions for him—about his work or craft of writing—visit his website HERE and Ask Terry Brooks!

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Dear Readers,

Looks like a little summer is still hanging in around here. Today is sunny, bright and 65 degrees. What else can you ask for? Certainly not a batch of Ask Terry. But it comes with the territory, I suppose.

So onward and upward with hopefully cogent answers:

Cody writes: In each book, the Elves, Dwarves, Man and recently Trolls have been focused on. Are we ever going to learn more or have a story that revolves around the Gnomes? They seem to be the outcast race. All we really know of them is that they are tribal and the only character we know from them is Slanter. Any chance they will ever catch a break?

Terry Brooks replies: Well, I don’t have a story in mind that revolves primarily around the Gnomes, but I’ll give it some thought. Mostly, the stories revolve around established families in the Men and Elves camps. The Trolls and Dwarfs don’t really have a major roles in my stories, either. They tend to be important, but are supporting characters. I can tell you that in the new set of books coming out next August there will be a major Gnome character who will appear in all three books and play an important part in the storyline.

Joshua writes: I just finish reading Indomitable and Dark Wraith of Shannara. In the stories it looks like Kimber Boh and Jair Ohmsford may have a relationship. Can we assume that Kimber and Jair are the ancestors of Walker Boh?

Terry Brooks replies: You can assume that but you would be wrong. Jair is the son of Wil Ohmsford who is the grandson of Shea Ohmsford. Check it out. We don’t know about Kimber’s origins; the author never tells us. What’s his problem, anyway?

Alec Anonymous writes: Dear Terry, I have just finished reading The Measure of the Magic, and as an avid follower of your books, I would like to know if you plan on following up with any novels that take place after The Measure of the Magic but before The Sword of Shannara series? My mind would be more at peace if those gaps between those books were filled.

Terry Brooks replies: Yes, Alec, I do intend to follow up with 4 or 5 more books in the Shannara prehistory that will fall directly between the close of Measure and the formation of the First Council of Druids at Paranor. So rest easy. Doing 9 or 10 books in that series has always been the plan. I just have to take breaks every so often to tend to other series and stories. Right now, I am finishing up a 3 book set that takes place in the future of Shannara following the close of the books in the High Druid series. Shortly after that, but not right after, I will probably do another set of books following Measure.

Stig writes: Will we bee seeing any more heroic people from Leah soon? Its been awhile since there has been any main characters from that area. If I remember correctly, you haven`t used a female character from that area yet. Is this something you are considering for the future?

Terry Brooks replies: Gosh, Stig, what are you doing? Reading my mind? Are there cameras somewhere in my office? Just so happens that there is a major character in the new series from the Leah family and the last I checked she was a girl. She is the object of affection of twin Ohmsford boys, each of whom is convinced she is the one for him and likes him much better than his brother. She is also the only one who can tell them apart – even their mother isn’t always sure. But she will figure prominently in the entire series, so your unspoken wish is granted.

Bryan writes: Would it be possible to audio record all the names of people and places in your books starting with The Sword of Shannara that are out of the ordinary and make it available for download. The reason I ask is because until Dragon Con at your interview I along with all the other people where mispronouncing “Shannara”? It would be nice to know the characters by there spoken name.

Terry Brooks replies: Here’s the thing, Bryan. I have deliberately avoided doing exactly what you are asking. Not that I haven’t been asked to do it over and over and not that I haven’t thought about it from time to time. But I adopted a hands-off policy early on in my writing career when it came to Shannara. I didn’t what a definitive vocabulary to facilitate pronunciation. I wanted readers to adopt their own way of saying names, which I think makes a book more personal to each reader. That’s why you never get a comprehensive description of characters and creatures. I want you to imagine them. I want you to be part of the process. If I put out a guide, it removes that element of the reading of the books.

Admittedly, in retrospect, I probably should have done something about “Shannara”, which no one has pronounced the way I do since the very beginning. I just thought everyone would say it like I do – SHAN-NA-RA. Isn’t it obvious?

Guess not. My mistake, but I still think I will leave the creation of a comprehensive vocabulary for another time and place.

There you go for this month’s Ask Terry. I think the uptick in questions will be noticeable as we get into next year and the 3 books in 12 months program for August 2012 to August 2013. Right now, I’ve got to get back to work on Book 3 so I can make deadline.