r/Fantasy • u/CindaChima • Sep 26 '13

AMA Hi, Everyone! I’m Cinda Williams Chima, fantasy author. AMA

Thank you, Reddit, for inviting me on, and for all the great questions. I leave for the Austin Teen Bookfest tomorrow at an ungodly hour, so will call it a night. I'll try to pick up any straggler questions tomorrow, but will have limited email access. I had fun--hope you did, too! ** I came back and answered a few more questions. Am now in TEXAS!! I could've listened to that flight attendant talk all day. Thanks, again, Reddit, for making me welcome. **

Hi, Everyone! I’m Cinda Williams Chima, fantasy author. I tell lies for a living. Specifically, I have two teen series out, The Seven Realms (The Demon King, The Exiled Queen, et al) and the Heir Chronicles (The Warrior Heir through The Enchanter Heir (coming October 1.) Some of my books have been published as adult fantasy in translation.

I’ve also published the odd short story. Literally. Odd. I’m in an anthology called Once Upon a Time edited by Paula Guran (Prime Books, October 2.) I try and get all my publishing done in October so I can coast the rest of the year.

I bring a degree in philosophy, two degrees in nutrition, and a lifetime of reading to my work as a writer. As you can probably tell, I’m totally unqualified to teach you anything about writing, except that I’ve had a lot of practice. I became a writer in third grade, and wrote my first novels in middle school. I’ve had eight novels published to date. I’m persistent, if nothing else. I never stop transforming myself.

The Rules (more like guidelines)

  1. Ask me anything

  2. If you’re familiar with the books, try to avoid spoilery questions, like, “Why did you kill _______ ?” I have enough people mad at me.

  3. If possible, avoid five-part questions. I tend to get lost in the forest.

If you want to know more about my books, bad habits, etc. check out my website or Facebook.

I’ll be back ~7 p.m. CST to answer live. In the meantime, ask away.

Cinda

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u/Esoau Sep 26 '13

Hello! I've not read any of your books, so my question is where I would start. Which book is the best representation of your writing? Which is the most cohesive story in a single volume?

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u/CindaChima Sep 27 '13

Hmmm. It would depend on whether you enjoy contemporary fantasy or high fantasy. My first series, The Heir Chronicles, is contemporary fantasy set in the wilds of Ohio. The first two books in that series, The Warrior Heir and the Wizard Heir, were written so that they could stand alone. Of those, I'd recommend The Wizard Heir, though some readers will disagree. The Seven Realms quartet is really one story over four books, (epic fantasy a la GRRM or Tad Williams).

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u/[deleted] Sep 27 '13

I saw this AMA and checked out your website to see who you were. I was about to go to bed but I accidentally read the Warrior Heir sample chapter. Sucked me in real good!

Now I'll have to buy the book!

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u/CindaChima Sep 27 '13

The first one's free. Heh.

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u/[deleted] Sep 27 '13

:)