Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi everyone! I’m Brian Rathbone, and I might be a tad eccentric. As a kid, I was taught the mystical ways of horse training by my father, uncle, grandfather, grandmother, great-grandfather and great grandmother. It was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. In my twenties, I left it all behind to find my own way. I found computer technology in 1991 and have seldom looked back. The Internet fascinated me, and I became a part of the dotcom revolution and later a part of a national effort to bring affordable high-speed Internet to everyone, especially rural areas.
During all that time and change, one thing remained constant: my love of fantasy fiction. For years I’d said I would one day write my own stories, I even told my wife of twenty-years that I would write fantasy novels on our first date. Finally the chance came in 2005 and I’ve written eight novels in the years since. The eighth book is in editing, and I’ve started writing my ninth.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is THE FIFTH MAGIC – Book One of the Artifacts of Power trilogy. This book is the seventh in the Godsland fantasy series, which consists of a series of trilogies, each with what I hope are satisfying endings.
I’ve wanted to write this book for some time. It is the culmination of much planning and building that took place in the first two trilogies. This new age of power that has engulfed Godsland is stretching toward its peak, and the stakes have never been higher. When I first envisioned this series, I was these parts I was most excited to write. You can imagine finally getting to write something that’s been in your head for fifteen plus years. It’s immensely gratifying.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write with wild abandon. When I first started writing, I would agonize over the right words or turn of phrase, and I would get stuck often. I later abandoned that approach and gave myself permission to write horrible first drafts. Now I don’t slow for much of anything. At the very most I’ll drop in a comment that I come back to later. I abbreviate long character names and do a mass replace when I’m done. The funny part is that I give myself permission to write terrible first drafts, and yet each successive one I write this way gets better and better. And it really doesn’t take all that long to clean things up.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
It’s a pretty long list, but I’ll give you the highlights of my early influences: David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Weiss and Hickman, Tolkien, Melanie Rawn, Piers Anthony (Incarnations of Immortality), Terry Goodkind, GRRM, Raymond Fiest.
Later in life I started exploring indie authors like M.R. Mathias, Scott Sigler, JC Hutchins, Collin Earl, Nicholas Taylor, Chris Snelgrove, Philippa Ballantine (now traditional), Michael J Sullivan (now traditional), and a host of others I probably should’ve mentioned here.
I try to keep my Goodreads shelf up to date, and that’s a great place to check out my other influences.
http://goodreads.com/brianrathbone
What are you working on now?
I’m currently editing THE FIFTH MAGIC and writing BLACK SPIKE. The premium audio read by Chris Snelgrove is due soon, and I’ll be proofing that. I’m also working on the video game I developed with my 10-year-old nephew. I’ve got most of the bugs worked out and will son begin testing on Android, iPhone and Windows Phone. You can check out the first version we created during a 9-day code-a-thon.
http://grumpydragons.com
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter. No contest.
When I first started using Twitter, I didn’t really get it. I stuck with it, though, and the longer I used it the more useful it became to me. And once I realized I needed to reach out to people and follow people rather than just waiting for them to follow me, things started happening. When I figured out that finding other fantasy authors on Twitter and looking at who they followed would allow me to find thousands of people who share my interests, it was all over. I’ve made lots of great friends and, without shouting ‘buy my books’, I’ve introduced myself to thousands of readers. Sometimes the best promotion is the non-promotion. Come on out and join me!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Cast aside fear, worry and doubt. Write as if no one will ever read it. Later you’ll have the chance to edit as if everyone will read it. When you’re done, write more. #repeat
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Hire an editor who loves the kind of books you write.
What are you reading now?
I recently finished Rule of Thumb by Scott Baughman. This science fiction story will make you stop and think about the direction technology is taking.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m just a little over halfway through the primary story arc in the Godsland series. My goal is to focus on the job I started eight years ago and see it through to its completion. Sometimes the hardest part about ideas is focusing on them for as long as it takes to reach fruition.
At the same time, I will be working on a non-fiction title focusing on the challenges and possible solutions to providing high-speed Internet access in rural areas. In general, it cost more to provide the service in these areas than can ever be made back. If we don’t change the economics of rural broadband, the digital divide will only widen.
What is your favorite book of all time?
A Wrinkle in Time. This was the book that introduced me to speculative fiction and I will be forever grateful.
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