Ask the Author

Hey Mark,
I just wanted to know - what was your origanal name for Femke's master? In Imperial Spy his name was Ferrand, but in Imperial Assassin his name was changed to Ferdand... was the name Ferrand just a big mistake or was the mistake Ferdand? Sorry for such a lame question, but I just wanted to know...:p

Mithridelle
 
Mithridelle, that was a rather embarrassing mistake that slipped past all the proof readers, the editor and myself. Ferdand was actually a typo in the first mention of his name in book 2 that got perpetuated throughout the book. As soon as I realised his name had been corrupted from Ferrand in Book 1 to Ferdand in Book 2, I contacted the publishers and asked them to change one of them - they've still not got around to it. It would make sense financially to change Ferrand to Ferdand, as his name is only mentioned 3 times in the first book, but lots in the second. Whether they will ever do it is another question entirely.
 
Mark Robson said:
Mithridelle, that was a rather embarrassing mistake that slipped past all the proof readers, the editor and myself. Ferdand was actually a typo in the first mention of his name in book 2 that got perpetuated throughout the book. As soon as I realised his name had been corrupted from Ferrand in Book 1 to Ferdand in Book 2, I contacted the publishers and asked them to change one of them - they've still not got around to it. It would make sense financially to change Ferrand to Ferdand, as his name is only mentioned 3 times in the first book, but lots in the second. Whether they will ever do it is another question entirely.
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I think that goes and answers my question, as I was going to ask if Captain Ferdand of the Wavedancer was in any way linked to Lord Ferdand, Guildmaster of the Guild of Assasins.

I have to admit, I didn't notice the name difference... And I have to admit, I have read the Imperial series a few times over now :rolleyes:
 
That's where I got Ferdand from! I thought it was strange that I should make an error like that - I had used the name before. Thank you, SPKuja. You've just restored my sense of sanity! It's been a long while since I read First Sword, so Captain Ferdand had slipped my memory.
 
Always glad to be a help ^_^ Though I won't mention the few spelling errors in The Forging of the Sword ;)

Another question that has been on my mind though, is do you re-read your own work? I personally find if ever I read any of the stuff I write, I find it boring, but then again, I know whats going to happen each time, as it is my own creation, is this the same for you, or do you some times forget certain aspects of the book?
 
HMMM...well I've been through all the questions on this thread and I couldn't find the one I wanted to know. It may be on your website and it's not specifically about your current series. In fact it's a pretty standard query and fairly broad and you've probably answered it elsewhere but for the record "What are your major literary influences?" I'm always interested in trying to spot what influences a writer has in their work..
 
In my first series it was all the usual suspects: Tolkien, Gemmell, Feist, Eddings, but more than any of them - Elizabeth Moon. I loved her Deed of Paksenarrion series and read it several times.

In the Imperial books, I would say that Gemmell was more the major influence, though I would have to add Robin Hobb to the list.

I couldn't realistically state the Dragon Orb books were not influenced by McCaffrey - anyone writing about dragons would be lying if they said otherwise. In this series, however, I also draw on Capt WE Johns (Biggles) and Sqn Ldr Duncan Grinnell Milne (Wind in the Wires) as I mix up the fantasy with the pilots of World War I.

People reading my work will probably see other influences that are more sub-conscious, (I've read a lot over the years) but I'd say that the list above nails the major ones.
 
SPKuja said:
Always glad to be a help ^_^ Though I won't mention the few spelling errors in The Forging of the Sword ;)

Another question that has been on my mind though, is do you re-read your own work? I personally find if ever I read any of the stuff I write, I find it boring, but then again, I know whats going to happen each time, as it is my own creation, is this the same for you, or do you some times forget certain aspects of the book?
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Sorry to double post, but I've only just noticed that I missed this question. I must admit that I haven't re-read The Darkweaver Legacy in quite a few years. I think the problem is that when at the editing stage, I read the book so many times that it becomes ingrained into my brain so deeply that I don't feel I need to go back and read it. Similarly, I've not re-read the Imperial books since they were launched.

Are there still spelling mistakes in The Forging of the Sword? I thought I'd taken all those out on the third print run. What edition do you have?
 
I've heard alot of people asking if theres gonna be a film made out of these books. Imo they shouldnt be because the books are great and what helps that is your own imagaination of what the whole thing looks like...the places, people and actions. In most films alot of parts are normaly missed out and doesnt seem to give you as much satisfaction as reading the book.

Though if it was to be made into a film or a game for that matter im sure it would bring more readers, more people knowing mark and if successful probably alot more money aswell. Also if a film was made i would still watch it.

I dont know if anyone else thinks the same as me but it would be great to see what other ppl think of this.

And mark would any of this change your mind on a film being made or giving it some more consideration? (even if a film isnt going to be made just want to see the replys on what people think because ive heard this question quite alot of times ^^)
 
I tend to agree about the film.
If it was to be made, than I think a good director would be needed. You'ld need someone who didn't divert from the orginal story to much. Some books becomes good films, like LOTR or Harry potter, but for example, Eragon directed by Stephen Fangmeir diverted from the plot to much and the film wasn't good, which could discourage people from reading the books.
 
You have to go wisely about the film. JK Rowling refused anyone to make a film until they had a contract that no matter what happened in the books to come they would stick to her storry line. And it worked!

What about graphic novels, they are really cool and still allow the reader to imagine what is happening but kind of gives them what the author saw it as.
 
Well I don't really think the Eragon example is a good one. After all, I know enough people who think the books aren't all that good either... (but Eragon is a great example of the power of advertising)

JK Rowling has had enough influence in the movies, just because she has something to hit them with. As in: she didn't really need the money for the movie rights, so she could set up whatever she wanted and then wait until someone would agree.

I think the difference between all the examples here is:
LOTR/HP were written first, they were established and then after a while made into a movie. Eragon was written and while the advertising campaign for the novels was doing its work and they weren't established yet (some people liked them, some people didn't, they sold quite well overal) they started on the movie.

In general I think books are books and if movie producers want your book made into a movie; good just go for it. If they don't really want to, don't harrass them until they do...:p
 
All of you make good points.

Katie, for several years I would always answer "No" when people asked me if I would like my books made into films. The reason for this was that I'd never seen a fantasy film that I'd thought was any good. Then along came Lord of the Rings and I changed my mind. However, I think if the Darkweaver books were to be made into films they would need to be big budget affairs and (echoing Feordel) they would need a good director. Yes, getting a film deal would mean more money, and would inevitably win me a lot more readers and raise my profile ... all good things ... unless the film were a flop - then where would I be? It's a difficult one, really.

Matt has it right in that heading into the film business requires a bit of wisdom ... and a bit of luck to get noticed in the first place, a darned good agent who is able to spin the right deal with the right company, and a director who is not only talented, but who wants to make the film because he thinks it will be the best thing ever to hit the big screen.

Scalem said:
In general I think books are books and if movie producers want your book made into a movie; good just go for it. If they don't really want to, don't harrass them until they do...
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I couldn't agree more, Scalem.
 
Perhaps the best compromise is to have a book optioned for a film which is subsequently never made. I was chatting to Harry Harrison at Alt.fiction in Derby earlier this year (or last year, depending on when this is read), and he was telling me that the film rights for The Stainless Steel Rat have been renewed every year for the past 25 years, providing him with a not-insubstantial regular income throughout that time.

I'm sure you wouldn't object to a situation like that, Mark! :D
 
Yes exactly.
As Mark says, its not just about having a good director, but a committed director. A director who is fully behind the story, if he/she isn't, no matter how good he/she is, the film won't have a good standard.
 
M@.Price said:
What about graphic novels, they are really cool and still allow the reader to imagine what is happening but kind of gives them what the author saw it as.
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I've never read a graphic novel that flowed as well as a book. Maybe it's just that I'm not used to reading them, but they always seemed a bit like a film with a stutter.
 
Ian Whates said:
Perhaps the best compromise is to have a book optioned for a film which is subsequently never made. I was chatting to Harry Harrison at Alt.fiction in Derby earlier this year (or last year, depending on when this is read), and he was telling me that the film rights for The Stainless Steel Rat have been renewed every year for the past 25 years, providing him with a not-insubstantial regular income throughout that time.

I'm sure you wouldn't object to a situation like that, Mark! :D
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You're quite right, Ian. I'd be happy with that, but in truth I'd much rather someone did make a film - and did a good job of it.

I must admit that I've never got into graphic novels, but they do seem very popular at the moment. I think any visualisation of my work (assuming it was done well) would only serve to increase my fan base, so I'm open to ideas.
 
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