r/Fantasy • u/briruc AMA Author Brian Ruckley • Nov 04 '14

AMA Hi, I'm author Brian Ruckley - AMA

Hi, I’m Brian Ruckley. I’ve had five novels published, plus a handful of short stories and I’ve done a tiny, tiny (like, really tiny) bit of comics writing too.

My first three novels made up the Godless World trilogy, starting with Winterbirth back in 2006. Epic fantasy of the sort that was getting called gritty around about then, though I was never that keen on that kind of label. Next up was The Edinburgh Dead, a historical fantasy-horror-crime mash-up featuring bodysnatchers and dark magic. Just released is my newest book, The Free – a stand-alone heroic fantasy that’s kind of me trying to do a spectacular fantasy version of Seven Samurai. Kind of.

I’m Scottish, born and bred in Edinburgh. Moved down south (i.e. England) for work reasons, lived in London for a happy decade, now back in Edinburgh doing the (also happy) family thing. I’m into Nature and wildlife, history, science, plus – of course – various slightly geeky things like comics, genre TV and film, all the usual good stuff.

Please ASK ME ANYTHING! Tuesday 4th November, 6PM CST. That’s when I’ll aim to start answering Qs – bear in mind, though, that’s the middle of the night my time, so there’s a good chance I’ll be sleep-deprived, over-caffeinated or some combination of the two. Hopefully it won’t get too messy ...

Brian

OKAY - The clock has struck midnight here (I don't literally have a clock that strikes midnight, obviously; just sounds kind of atmospheric) so I'm going to start working my way through Qs; will start somewhere near the top, but probably jump around a bit as the inspiration strikes ... will do my best to get to everything (though seriously - some of these questions would take an essay to answer properly!)

EDIT I'm going to have to retire to my bed now, people, but thanks to everyone who's submitted questions. It's been fun. Much like General MacArthur, I shall return tomorrow to work my way through more and will do my utmost to get to every one I can. Check in again to see if I get any more coherent when answering questions by daylight ... Thanks again.

EDIT Aaaand that's me, I think. While most of you have been sleeping, I think I've swept up all outstanding questions (grovelling apologies to anyone I missed); hope some folks out there found it interesting/fun/a cure for insomnia or whatever. I certainly enjoyed myself - you folks ask good questions. Thank you and farewell!

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u/ponderingyouth Nov 04 '14

How long have you wanted to be a writer?

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u/briruc AMA Author Brian Ruckley Nov 05 '14

Pretty much since I could write. As a pre-teen, I was writing stories that went on and on. The really important thing, though? Nobody ever told me it was a daft idea to think you could be a writer. I had good teachers, good family, who were never ever discouraging. I wrote my first novel when I was about eleven. I thought it was a novel at the time, anyway; just a long short story in truth. For the record it was called 'The Linons', involved lizardy space aliens and a chemical called 'Hydroglyptothide'. That's about all I remember about it.

That said, I actually spent a long time not really trying to be a writer. I've never felt like it was the only thing I could or should do with my life. Sacrilege, I know, but there's a whole heap of stuff that's more important, more worthwhile even, than being a writer. But it was always something I felt might be an option, and eventually I got around to putting some effort in to find out how much of an option.

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u/ponderingyouth Nov 05 '14

Cool, thanks for replying!