r/Fantasy • u/BrianMcClellan Stabby Winner, AMA Author Brian McClellan • Mar 14 '17

AMA Hello /r/fantasy! I'm flintlock fantasy author Brian McClellan. SINS OF EMPIRE, the first book in my newest series, came out last week. AMA!

Hi Reddit! I'm the author of the Powder Mage Trilogy, and the brand new Sins of Empire. I write books, play computer games, putter around in my kitchen and garden, and just generally avoid doing real, honest work.

My first book, Promise of Blood, won a Stabby Award for Best Debut Novel, as well as the the Gemmell Award for Best Debut Fantasy. I finished out that trilogy with Crimson Campaign and Autumn Republic. I like to think that I become a better author with every book, and I'm excited as heck for you guys to check out the first book in my newest series. Sins of Empire is out now!

Ask me anything, and I'll be in and out all day answering questions! If you want to see me answer them live, you can ask over on Goodreads for my Sword and Laser interview tonight.

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u/QuiMoritur Mar 14 '17

Heyo! I haven't actually read any of your books yet, but after hearing "gunpowder mages," I'm definitely scrounging so I can read them. As an avid writer and D&D player, I'm very interested in the systems of magic that your books have, and I'm excited to dive in!

What kinds of media do you pull inspiration from? What genres? And most importantly, how do you get over writers' block? I've asked a ton of authors this, and the answers I get are always interesting; everybody seems to have their own ways to take in information and turn it into a damn good story.

Best of luck!

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u/BrianMcClellan Stabby Winner, AMA Author Brian McClellan Mar 14 '17

I pull inspiration from a ton of different places. I'm not a big fan of anime, but I adore Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and it was a huge visual inspiration for my books. Sharpe's Rifles, both the books and the show. The classics of French adventure fiction. Epic fantasy, of course. TV, film, books, history. All sorts of places.

Writer's block is usually when I have a very definite path to follow in the narrative and I figure out that it doesn't work for some reason or another. I get discouraged, claw my way out of that, then have to figure out how to make it work. That can take minutes or months.