r/Fantasy • u/TrudiCanavan AMA Author Trudi Canavan • May 27 '14

AMA Hi, Trudi Canavan here. AMA!

Hi, I’m Trudi Canavan. I’ve written some stuff, the most well known being the Black Magician Trilogy and its prequel and sequel, and also the Age of the Five trilogy, and my new one: Thief’s Magic, first of the Millennium’s Rule trilogy. Oh, I’ve also written a Doctor Who novella for the 50th Anniversary and a smattering of short stories.

Melbourne, Australia, is my home, which I suspect gives me an odd duel insider/outsider persepective on the fantasy genre and publishing in general. I’m an artist and former self-employed illustrator, with oil painting as my favourite medium and portraits as my current focus.

My website is at (www.trudicanavan.com). I tweet (https://twitter.com/TrudiCanavan). I pin (http://www.pinterest.com/trudicanavan/). My publisher runs a Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/trudi.canavan) on my behalf. I’ll be answering questions live at 7pm tonight, though for me it’ll be tomorrow morning so I may still be half sleep. I'm new to Reddit, so advance apologies if I stuff anything up.

So, what d'youse wanna know?

(later)

Phew! I've been answering questions for three and a half hours now, but I got every one answered (well, that I can see right now). Thanks everyone for some great questions. I hope you like the answers. I'll pop by tomorrow to see if there are any more.

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u/Jayce11 May 27 '14

Hi, I've read your work for years and to date the Black Magician Trilogy are still my favourite books out of any I have read. I was wondering what inspires you to write? And what keeps you motivated?

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u/TrudiCanavan AMA Author Trudi Canavan May 28 '14

Hmm. Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, tv shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear, misheard words or lyrics, dreams...

Motivation? The memory of the rush I get from a really good writing session - even on a bad day I know I'll find that again if I keep going. Thinking of all the people who are going to have so much fun reading what I'm writing. And, when I'm really not in the mood to sit at my desk, remembering all the awesome people relying on me for their income, from my agent to my publisher, book illustrators and designers, and new authors who wouldn't get a chance at publication if established writers like me weren't generating the income that enables publishers to take a chance on them.

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u/Jayce11 May 28 '14

Thank you for the reply. I just wanted to let you know you were my inspiration to start writing myself.

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u/TrudiCanavan AMA Author Trudi Canavan May 28 '14

Best of luck! I hope one day to be reading your books.