A couple months ago, my publisher told me that I should write a Blog.
Now, I have a confession to make; to the best of my knowledge, I have never read a Blog. I don’t even know what they are. I just figured that they were like an on-line diary that anyone could read. But rather than show my lack of knowledge, I just replied, “Why?”
“Because it will help sales,” he said.
“Why?” (When I find something that works, I stick with it.)
“Because your fans will want to read about… unintelligible.”
Focusing on the only word that I understood, I asked, “I have fans?”
“You will if we do this right. Now what you need to do is… unintelligible.”
“Why would anyone want to read “the nonsensical ravings of a lunatic mind?” [And if you don’t know what movie that is a quote from then get out of here because, You ain’t never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine.]
“Eric. Just write the expletive deleted Blog. Send it to me and we’ll fix it up so that you sound like you know what you’re doing. Okay?”
So, here I am two months later (my motto IS “never put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after.”) writing about… something that has something to, vaguely, do with my novel Bloodstone Redemption. Namely my favorite authors and what, if any, effect they had on my writing.
Roger Zelazny: Best known for his Amber series. Starting with “Nine Princes in Amber” it tells a truly epic tale. You can pick up a cheap used copy on line. But be forewarned, you WILL be immediately hooked on it and there are a totally of 10 (count ‘em ten) books. Plus a couple VERY hard to find short stories. (If you are NOT hooked… see the boxed comment above.)
However, his character that had the most direct effect on “Master” is (was since Mr Zelazny passed away 30 years ago) Dilvish the Damned. Books about Dilvish are harder to find, but well worth the effort. There is a short quote in Bloodstone Redemption. Master recognizes a kindred soul.
Rex Stout: Stout’s most famous character is Nero Wolfe, an overweight, epicurean of gourmet foods, books, and orchids. Who is also a genius detective who never leaves his home. His dogsbody, Archie Goodwin, (no relation to the comic book author) a fine detective in his own right, does all the footwork and often accomplishes the impossible.
The stories are told in the first person, by Archie. I considered having Malodorous tell the Bloodstone Redemption story, but rejected it because it would mean that Master had to relate what he was thinking, and why. The book is long enough as is.
The Murder Mysteries are wonderfully written and full of fascinating characters, some recurring and some just for the story at hand. They never fail to entertain. I have read all 50 some books at least 5 times each.
Bernard Cornwell: Mr. Cornwell is a writer of Historical Fiction. His best known series are the Richard Sharpe books. About an English Soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. The details about the battles, weapons, lands, and people are meticulously researched and as accurate as possible while inserting Sharpe into the stories to act as hero and occasionally to bring about an event which occurred in reality, but no one knows why. One thing that I especially enjoy is the “Historical Note” he includes at the end of each book. He gives references and explains any minor deviations from historical fact.
However, my favorite series of his are the Saxon Novels, also known as The Last Kingdom series. (There have been TV series made out of both the above book series.) This tells of the unification of the English speaking countries by King Alfred, the Great and his progeny. Accurate historical detail is sketchy here but the battle details are as realistic as possible. The protagonist, Uhtred son of Uhtred tells his own tale of victories and defeat, of joys and anguish. Life in the mid-ninth century is depicted as accurately as possible. And one thing about “the Brits” they keep daRn good records.
These two series didn’t really influence Bloodstone Redemption, but they did the prequel Bloodstone Genesis which will probably be out sometime next year.
C.J. Cherryh: Ms. Cherryh is an extremely prolific writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy. I can’t even begin to list all the books and series she has written. But, my favorite is the Foreigner Series. They are told from a semi-first person/semi-third person perspective. Told in the third person, but only from the viewpoint of one of two characters. If they don’t know something, you don’t know it either.
These books didn’t really have much direct effect on my writing, but there IS a little of the Matriarchal Character, Illsidi, in Dr. Howard.
That’s it. There are other authors and books that I have enjoyed over the years, but those are the four who have made the greatest impression.
(Boy, I hope this is acceptable. I’d hate to have to write another.)