Author Peter V. Brett - AMA

[u/Pvbrett]

Hi, I'm Peter V. Brett, internationally bestselling author of the Demon Cycle series from Del Rey Books and Subterranean Press (The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War, The Great Bazaar and Brayan's Gold, Messenger's Legacy, The Skull Throne) as well as the writer of Red Sonja: Blue and Red Sonja: Unchained from Dynamite Comics.

A native New Yorker, I live in Manhattan with my girlfriend, a huge collection of novels, comics and action figures, and a real life red-headed princess. I'm happy to gossip about my books, talk about writing, life, the publishing industry, marketing, or whatever. I'll be taking questions all day, and will start answering live this afternoon (June 11, 2015) at 4PM EST. Ask Me Anything, and I will answer with Honest word.

Visit [www.petervbrett.com](www.petervbrett.com) to see fan art, maps, deleted scenes, reader forums, and more. Follow me on twitter @PVBrett. Lots more fun on my facebook page! Thanks!

[u/Terr1ble]

Mr. Brett, How hard is it switching from radical viewpoints mid-story? The more European traditional story line interrupted by mid-Eastern value influenced characters and vise-versa adds interesting depth as a reader. I find myself not wanting to wait to get back to the Warded Man and crew, but then I don't want to leave the Shar’Dama Ka's entourage. How do you lay out the timelines and mesh them together to create the books? Thank you for the AMA and the wonderful world.

[u/[deleted]]

Hi Peter! Just wanted to thank you for doing this ama and for introducing me to the world of fantasy. The warded man is one of the first fantasy books that really intrigued me and kept me going. My question is, what books do you find yourself to be reading nowadays?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/[deleted]]

Just wanted to let you know, I hated Jardir in "The Warded Man". With a passion. Then, I loved him in "The Desert Spear". I don't know what to believe anymore. Stop making me attached to characters that I hated. Also, if you had to choose which demon to be, which would you want to be?

[u/soulryder]

Mr. Brett - I met you briefly at a signing at PAX South, and shared with you the story about a Boy Scout in my troop that loved your books. At the time, he had 4 merit badges and one project to complete to get his Eagle rank.

You wrote a short inspirational inscription for him in the book with your autograph. When I got home and gave it too him he was ecstatic! His mom said he talked for days about it!

I just wanted to give you an update and tell you he is now 1 merit badge and a project away from earning his Eagle. I'd like to think that your inscription has helped motivated this recent push!

Thank you for helping me help him along. Good Luck with your future books!

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Antihealth]

Wow! This is very coincidental. I remember years ago sitting in a Barnes and Noble, picking up The Warded Man off the new releases bookshelf, and suddenly realizing it was closing time and I had less than 100 pages left in the book; so I bought it. I finished it that night and was desperate for more. You were the first author I actively sought online and imagine my dismay to learn that the follow-up book, The Desert Spear, wouldn't come out for another year at that point! Unfortunately in that waiting period my copy of The Warded Man went missing in a move and I forgot about the tale; at least until I was in a Barnes and Noble again last month and saw The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, and the Daylight War on the shelf. I instantly picked up all three and I'm working my way back through the story, currently breaking into The Desert Spear. I love the visceral writing and the characters. I guess I don't really have a question, just wanted to thank you for your work and say that I look forward to finish the rest of what you have written. Thanks!

[u/dudeimadaddy]

Good morning Peter! Never thought i'd see an AMA with your name on it. After reading the warded man for the first time i couldnt help but think it would be such an awesome movie. Any plans/talks about a movie adaptation? Thanks for everything!

[u/RabidNewz]

Who is your favorite supporting (non-POV) character in the Demon Cycle series? And why?

[u/mindonahamsterwheel]

Love your work Mr Brett, I picked up The Painted Man one day a few weeks ago on a friend's recommendation, and it was so good I'd finished The Skull Throne by the end of the week. Can't wait for the big finale

Oh, right, questions...

1. What's your personal favourite book? (Besides your own)

2. What book have you read the most times? (Besides your own)

3. Favourite author? (Besides yourself)

4. Is there a plan for once the series is done? (Please never stop writing)

[u/lagdog]

Hi Peter, I wanted to ask how you are going to avoid letting arlen become insignificant power wise? I got the feeling through the last 2 books that his tattoos were becoming more and more pointless as he could have achieved a similar effect with paint, and now every other char seems to be able to achieve his power or similar through various methods. It got to the point where I felt bad for his mistake in doing tattoos all over his face unnecessarily.

[u/Novotus]

Hello Pete,

We have met several times since 2010 at various book signing events throughout the USA. I fell in love with the demon cycle series and have been an avid reader since. I have re-read the books 5+ times each and continue to find new reasons to love them each and every time!

My Questions;

-Do you plan on coming to Boston or Florida in 2015 or 2016 for any signing events?

-How is the movie rights coming along? I know Wes Paul Anderson had possibly optioned it? I would also love a Netflix exclusive OR HBO! Any progress here? What can I do to help!?

-Also lastly - In miles, about how far is the city of Desert Spear from Tibbet's Brook? I am so bad with distances and I would love to know once and for all!

Also just wanted to say thank you for being so close to your fans, being very involved with the fan group and consistently writing awesome and kickass books!

PS: You the man!!!

[u/[deleted]]

[u/MarkLawrence]

I get the impression from your intro that whatever I ask you'll answer with "Honest word." But I'll give it a shot anyhow:

Which of these mediums (pick one and imagine money wasn't a factor) would you most like your work to move into:

Action Figures

Comics

Film

TV

Stage Play

Musical

Interpretive dance?

.

Love you, Peter V Brett

[u/sadhiaqua]

what is your favorite plot twist in your own works/someone else's work?

[u/qoou]

It seemed to me that Arlen's story arc and character suddenly changed mid-way through the series - as if you had been planning on one direction and then changed your mind and went a completely different way. For example, it seemed pretty obvious that Arlen and Leesha were meant to be romantically involved, then suddenly Renna. As another example was that Arlen was a scholar and world traveller. He was an educated man with no accent. Then suddenly he is a country bumpkin again speaking with a back woods accent.

My question is this : did you change your mind about this character and give him a new arc mid-way through this series?

[u/elquesogrande]

Hey Peat!

For those who have yet to read your books, how would you describe your writing style and the reader experience?

Do you see yourself shifting to writing another SFF series set in another world some time in the future? If so, what might that be like?

Suppose a red-headed princess asked you to cosplay for a con. Who would you go as and why?

[u/HockeyandMath]

• Do you think it's fair for authors to speak about what symbols in their books mean, or should they stand on their own?

• Do you feel telling readers what things should mean or why characters did things (barring obvious cause and effect scenarios) spoils the unique personal relationship between the reader and a work of art?

While I think people discussing books are free to give their views on things in order to help me understand the book better, but when the author does it I feel cheated in some way.

• Do you feel protective of your books in that you want people to feel a certain way about them, or are they like birds leaving the nest, and they are free to fly on their own?

[u/Robenstein]

Hi Peter,

loved the demon cycle series so far, it's the only series I've gone out and bought the new additions of whilst at University rather than waiting to use the library when I got home at the end of terms. Keep up the good work, can't wait to see it finished off.

My question is: If someone is thinking about writing a fantasy book/series, what tips would you give to them to help them make a unique and immersive world as you have in the demon cycle?

[u/[deleted]]

What are some of your favorite fantasy characters?

Love your books!

[u/GlorNarzig]

Hey Peter. Thanks for doing another AMA, it's great to have authors doing these more often. It's great that fans can connect with their favourite world builders. How do you think social media has best helped authors interact with fans and establish a really awesome fanbase? Do you feel that it sometimes takes too much out of your day to be constantly updating things once you start?

I love your books and I can't wait to see how everything turns out in the end.

Oh, one last thing. I haven't yet read your novellas, I plan to but I wanted to know if there's some really interesting things I'm missing out on. Thanks again.

[u/ThisbigBLACK]

Hey Peter, what are your thoughts on u/MarkLawrence sniping your AMA session?

Jk, I've loved your books. As soon as I have 25 hours and 14 min free, I'll marathon the Skull Throne (I've learned this is the only way to listen to your books). Please keep writing awesome awesome stuff.

Also, thanks for the side stories. They've been a nice teaser to get me wanting the novels.

[u/reubenb87]

Holy moly just saw that the skull throne is out already! Guess what I'm doing this weekend :). The painted man is one of the most interesting characters in any fantasy book I've read, where did you come up with the inspiration for him?

[u/TheLastPanicMoon]

Will the fifth book in the Demon Cycle be the last? Any chance you can give us a hint as to when to expect it?

[u/[deleted]]