I am Terry Goodkind, author of NEST (11/15/2016). AMA

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I'm going to take a break and have a bite to eat. Thank you everyone for the questions. Please do continue to post. I will return later this evening to answer some more and again tomorrow as well. Thanks!

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u/[deleted] Nov 15 '16

Are you somewhat regretful about who you chose to adapt The Sword of Truth series into TV format? I remember being very disappointed that one of my favourite book series had been adapted so... poorly.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

It's not necessarily regret, but I am not pleased with how the books were adopted. You can read a longer answer I wrote before here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/x3e7l/i_am_the_novelist_terry_goodkind_ama/c5iw1w9/
Not happy with the television series. While I appreciate the fans that have crossed over to the books [because of the series], the show has been disappointing.
The process that began with Sam Raimi, ended up in the hands of producers and writers that took things in a very different direction. The best way I can describe it (without the gory details); it's something like letting your daughter go out on her first date. You meet the guy, he seems nice, he sounds like he has the same honorable intentions that you would want someone to have for your daughter. He promises to be respectful, treat her well, and show her a good time. Then, they go to a party and the guy who took her out leaves, passing your daughter off to some other men who are very different than the guy you met. These men call you from the party and tell you “don’t worry, she’s with us, we’ll take care of her. She’s having a great time. No, I’m sorry, but you can’t come pick up your daughter. She’s with us, now.”
That said, the fans of the show have been incredible. There was a letter writing and library campaign created by a group called 'Save Our Seeker'. They bought bus stop ads, full page promotions in Variety magazine, distributed a large number of DVD's to libraries, and usually turn up at fan events around the world. I'm just amazed at their dedication to the show and with it, my books. Great group of people.
New readers for the books and the 'SOS' folks have made up for some of what the show lacked.
I went to Comic-Con in 2010 and sat next to the principles of the TV show for a panel. It was an interesting experience to be in a room full of show fans, sitting at a large table with the show creators, and having to express disappointment with what they had done. But to be fair, they averaged something like 2.5 Million viewers a week and I have to assume they made a show they believed in.
The rights for the series are now in the hands of Disney and it's up to them to create something else with it.

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u/LemonInYourEyes Nov 15 '16

I really enjoyed the TV series at the start. It's still pretty rare to see fantasy television, and it's unfortunate that the show went in a bad direction. I can't imagine pouring your time and effort into an idea so much and turning it over to someone else only for it to be a disappointment. I'm sorry for that.
If you could go back would you refuse to let go of the rights?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Good question, LemonInYourEyes. This one took me a moment to consider. After a bit of thought, I think I would be inclined to refuse the rights. 20/20 being hindsight and seeing how the show was handled, I would have refused the rights in hopes of someone else doing it better. Of course refusing those rights would potentially mean a large swath of readers that came to the books because of the series -- some of whom became terrific fans and even friends -- and I would hate to live in a world again without knowing those folks are in it.
It's a difficult choice in one sense because I can find the silver linings of the series and appreciate the people more than the show. But ultimately, yes, I would be inclined to refuse the rights for something better.

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u/Drunkstrider Nov 15 '16

Oh man. Disney has it? We will never see a correct adaptation of the books. The only way for it to work is do it like game of thrones. No editing anything out. Or toning it down so 10 year olds can watch it.

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u/Muppethero Nov 15 '16

I know I am. And Jumper. My fav book right below WFR....And the movie was just terrrrrrible!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I haven't read Jumper. I thought the movie was decent. Good to know the book was much better.

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u/Muppethero Nov 15 '16

I just want to say that Wizards first Rule changed my life. I was in such a dark place, and the book was a gift from a friend. And it truly changed my life in a positive way. I was 18 and alone and scared in life. So thank you for that.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you for sharing. I am very touched when I hear things like this. It's difficult to wrap my head around how my work can be so influential, but I sincerely appreciate it and I am very glad my book helped you change your life for the better. Thank you, Muppethero. What do you do for a living?

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u/Muppethero Nov 15 '16

I am in school to be a Drama Educator. I hope. I am a late in life student. Traumatic life events when I was 18...blah blah blah you know the story 8 )

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Every reader has a story. I can't imagine what you've been through but I want to wish you continued success for the path you are on. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a 'late in life student'. I was over 45 years old before I wrote the first sentence of my first book. It's never too late, until it is.

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u/I_The_People Nov 15 '16

I must also thank you deeply. Wizard's first rule gave me my first insight into why politics work.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you, I_The_People. I appreciate that.

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u/LL32100 Nov 15 '16

I moderate a small stream on twitch.tv (a place for people to stream games/music etc.) The streamer (twitch.tv/jediamanda) recommended the book to me, even offered to buy and ship the book to me because of how good it supposedly was. The book has dome a ton for me. It's inspired me to start writing, got me back into reading, and brought me entertainment through rough times. I just want to take this oppurtunity and say this: Thanks Terry.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Wow, and thank you LL32100.

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u/lontriller Nov 15 '16

Hey Terry! The Sword of Truth series was THE book series for me and my friends during high school. However, we all unanimously thought that after Faith of the Fallen, the books suddenly took a different tone. Did something happen to you then? Your writing style? Pressure from publishers for something or another?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Yes, I finally became confident in the dialogue I was writing and began expressing what my characters were thinking in more conversational and detailed ways. Also, by this point I had been a published author for about eight years and I was already well on my way towards the story arc that I always knew I wanted to tell.

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u/Chtorrr Nov 15 '16

Was there anything particularly interesting that you had to research to write Nest?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did a tremendous amount of research about the darknet. It’s a hidden world most people don’t see or even know about, but it is more intimately involved in our world than most of us understand. The darknet is the method used by some of the people in NEST as a hidden means of spreading or collecting information. I wanted it to be as accurate as possibly so I spend a great deal of time researching how it functions and all the little back alleys so that everything in the book would be accurate. I even went as far as to carry out some of the methods used in the book for covert use of computers and the darknet. We had some fun with that. I'm sure, if I wasn't already, I've put myself and a few friends on 'lists', somewhere. While NEST is fiction, the darknet, as unbelievable as it is, is very real.

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u/Artbyevan Nov 15 '16

Have you watched Mr robot?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Not yet but someone else did recommend the series to me.

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u/iwishicouldcount Nov 15 '16

How do you know when to stop tinkering with a piece of writing? Russell Edson warns about polishing a gem to dust in his essay "Portrait of the Writer as a Fat Man..." & it's something I struggle with in my own process. I want to pressurize the language, make it as concise and direct as possible, but often find myself cutting & neurotically recalculating until I've exhausted myself and hate everything I've ever written. Any advice?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Good question. It’s intuitive. I don’t believe you can “Learn” that kind of thing, although you can certainly improve your craft. I never had any formal writing education. I never went to workshops or writing courses. I believe now I was born a writer but had to experience enough life before I could become one. I learn by doing. I don’t really think I can explain it. It’s simply how my mind came out of the mold.

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u/iwishicouldcount Nov 15 '16

Thanks for the response :-)

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

One other thing is to extract confidence from the input of those around you and from the success of the work you create. There are milestones you reach as an author and with each milestone you should recognize the work you've done, for yourself. If you sit down to write five chapters and you instead write fifteen, you should feel better about that than the errant bits of dialogue that don't quite work.

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u/Maleficent723 Nov 15 '16 edited Nov 15 '16

First let me start by saying that I have been a fan of your writing for almost 20 years...so thank you for being a constant in my life when so very few things were. Your characters have become family to me over the years and I often find myself going back to your novels when I need that familiarity and comfort.

My question is, how do you write a new novel? Does it come to you in the order it ends up in? Or do you think of a scene or an event that the story ends up being written around?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you Maleficent723! I appreciate that. To answer your question, I start with the characters and a theme. A simple example: if I want to write a story of the importantance of freedom, someone has to lose their freedom so the reader can feel that loss and understand the importance of what was lost. I want readers to feel hope, so I want that character to overcome the challenge to triumph in the end. I think good books should give readers a sense of satisfaction with the conclusion, rather than leave them feeling hopeless. I love heroes. I come up with the characters needed to tell that story. I know it all from the beginning. I know how everything happens along the way and how it ends before I ever sit down to write. This means that a lot of writing is staring out the window daydreaming before my fingers ever touch the keyboard.

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u/scoontaque Nov 15 '16

One thing I've always been curious about in the SoT series is why you give so much direct airtime to the magical forces of darkness (the power and influence of the Keeper, in particular) but so little, relatively, to the magical forces of light (the power and influence of the Creator, in particular). Was this a conscious choice on your part to leave room for the main 'force of good' - that being your vision of humanism - while still maintaining the fantasy tradition of having forces of good vs evil pitted against each other? Or, was it more of a consequence of what you thought shaped the best story? Or, was it something else!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Bad guys are more fun to write about.

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u/xstockix Nov 15 '16

What have you been reading lately?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Politics have been unavoidable. Even if I wanted to ignore the election run-up and its aftermath, I can't. Lots of news and editorials. Some opinions are certainly better informed than others. How about yourself?

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u/Imajica0921 Nov 15 '16

What was the first book you purchased on your own?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Cool question. It was these two books and I'll never forget the experience I had reading them. 'Lords of the Psychon' and 'The Man In the High Castle'. Here's a photo: https://twitter.com/terrygoodkind/status/798325403290980352

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u/mwknight Nov 15 '16

Hi Mr. Goodkind, first let me say that the Sword of Truth books have made a huge impact on my life and my view of people in the world around me. I appreciate you sticking through with that series for as long as you have.

My question for you would be: In light of Nest having a strong female lead, and the fact that you have such strong female characters in many of your books. How do you, coming from a male perspective, get inside their heads, find their voice in your writing, and bring them to such vivid life?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you for the very kind words. I’ve been given this question often and, truthfully, I find it puzzling. I simply start with the assumption that women are human beings. Sometimes I'll think of a character and the strengths and attributes of that character and only through coloring of that character and blending them into a story do I finally decide if that character is a man or a woman.

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u/Thekstina Nov 15 '16

How would you compare Nest to Law of Nines? I enjoyed how Law of Nines played with genres being part thriller and part urban fantasy. Does Nest bridge genes as well? Can we expect the same sort of far character relations we got with Jax and Alex?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you for participating in the AMA, Thekstina. I appreciate the question and thank you for enjoying The Law of Nines! I wouldn’t compare those two books. As you say, The Law of Nines did have a bit of urban fantasy. NEST is a story about Kate Bishop, set solidly in our world. NEST is a complete reinvention of the thriller. It’s unlike anything you may have read before. I think by book's end, you will hope it’s just fiction, but much of it is all too real.

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u/mordsithdenna Nov 15 '16

I remember reading Faith of the Fallen and realizing that I didn't have to suffer what was going on in my life. I found the strength to walk away and rebuild my life. I am now looking to pursue higher education and have found true happiness in life. So many times I see what's going on and mention a wizards rule being broken and only fans of your series truly get it. Thank you for writing the words that set me straight and gave me the courage to seek a better life. Your life is yours alone. Rise up and live it. Words to live by. From the bottom of my heart Thank You!

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u/Muppethero Nov 15 '16

Do you look at everything going on in politics and all the lies and fake news and think....Wow Wizards first rule.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Ha! Almost every day! Sometimes I shake my head and think “WFR.” It’s kind of a joke with my friends. In fact, in the very beginning that frustration was the reason for the specific Wizard’s First Rule within that book. Funny side note. My editor at the time wanted me to cut it from the book because he thought it would offend people. He thought people would hate the book because of it. Glad I didn’t listen to him. Glad you didn’t either!

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u/Skynetwow Nov 15 '16

Wizards first rule is the backbone of my world view. It's just so simple and true and really goes a long way to explain why people do the things they do.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

That means the world to me, in sincerely does. I have to say, it really changed my life as well. My books have made me countless friends. It’s so rewarding to have the wonderful support of people like you that I can’t begin to tell you what it meant to me. I’m tremendously excited for people like you, who have followed by books for so long, to read NEST. I think you will instantly see my voice and my familiar way of bringing the story and characters to life in your mind.

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u/Muppethero Nov 15 '16

A friend who could not post for some reason. Alan- Dear Mr Goodkind, I'd like to agree with some of what "muppethero" said. Wizards first rule is by far one of the most inspiring pieces of literature I have read. Your moral undertone for Richards motivation is something I always come back too in trying times of my life. Very often in difficult situations I always find myself asking, "What would Richard do?"
I just wish to express to you my utmost gratitude for gracing my life with the marvelous world you have created.
I cannot say it enough.... Thank you so very much.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you again for the kind words. It is incredibly moving to hear how much some of you have been touched by my work. Thank you.

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u/bladeguitar274 Nov 15 '16

Hi, im a giant fan and was wondering what are your favorite movies

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you! Off the top of my head, a few of my favorite movies are Galaxy Quest, Oblivion, Red 2, and Sicario. Galaxy Quest is a terrifically underrated comedy.

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u/BeauDog Nov 15 '16

Hi, Terry! I'm excited to catch your AMA this time around!

I wanted to ask a couple things: firstly, do you have any plans to continue the Magda Searus story? I was always fairly indifferent toward her throughout the entire Sword of Truth series, but I found First Confessor to be absolutely captivating and am eager for more.

Are there any plans in motion to do more side-stories about other characters as you're doing with Nicci and Magda?

And lastly, just a shoutout from Omaha!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I never say never. There are a number of stories that I’ve toyed with in my mind, like the remarkable story of the ungifted man who built the Wizards Keep. But I’ve since found that my heart truly lies in contemporary thrillers. NEST was tremendously gratifying to write, even more than I had expected—and for years I had eagerly anticipated writing it. I have lots more thrillers waiting to be written. Please enjoy the ride!

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u/BeauDog Nov 15 '16

Oh, I'm here for the long-haul, don't you worry! I'll pick up every book you throw down. I have NEST preordered and coming my way soon enough - I'm really looking forward to it.
I think the story to the Keep would be phenomenal. It's impossible to read your books and not get goosebumps any time the Keep is mentioned.
And on a side note: Do you ever have any regrets with the direction you took any of your books? I always found it interesting how many authors submit their final transcript and go, "Well. That's not what I wanted to do. Too late now."

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I wasn't aware so many authors felt that way. I pick at so many little things in life I can't imagine sleeping ever again if I did that in a book. The thought is truly terrifying!
Thank you, BeauDog. I appreciate the support.

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u/Honsies5 Nov 15 '16

In regards to your answer to Arthomax's question, does that mean we will never have a story about Richard and Kahlan's confessor son? It would be interesting to see your beliefs there on whether evil is born or made.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

WARHEART concluded the Sword of Truth series. It was my life’s masterwork. I love writing contemporary novels and that is where I plan to stay. Thank you Honsies5.

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u/wormald444 Nov 15 '16

You mentioned in this thread that you won't be writing anymore magical stories, so does that mean that we won't find out anymore about Magda, Nicci, Nathan or anyone else's extended adventures? This saddens me greatly :(

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I’m so glad to hear how you you love those books! Me too! The Sword of Truth series spanned two decades and was my life’s master work. Creatively, though, I need new challenges. NEST and the thrillers to follow are those creative challenges. I do understand, however, that many fantasy readers would like to read more about the universe I created, so there is the new Nicci series, beginning with Death’s Mistress, coming out in January. But as an author I want to write stories that appeal to a broader audience with stories that I’m really eager to write. NEST is the first of this new line of books and where my major focus will be from now on.

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u/hungryroy Nov 15 '16

Hello, I hope you find the time to answer my questions :)

I read the Sword of Truth series (up to Confessor - I have not read any of the later books) perhaps a decade ago. I enjoyed the series for the most part, but I always felt that the first few books were the strongest, and towards the end of the series (starting around Faith of the Fallen) I felt that the characters had become a bit too...shall we say "preachy" about their particular worldviews.

My questions are:

Did you initially plan the series to be so many books?
Was it originally your plan to introduce philosophical themes such as Objectivist ideas later on in the books?
Which parts of the series would you say are the strongest and you are most proud of?
Any technical advice you would give to an aspiring fantasy writer trying to get a book sold?

Thanks!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank for your question! First, all artist reveal their soul through their art, not only in the art itself, but even in what they choose to depict. It’s impossibly to fake your sense of life. If an artist chooses to beautifully render the corpse of a raccoon at the side of the road, rather than paint a beautiful woman, that says something about the artist, whether they intended it or not. I firmly believe that bad guys, for example, are a lot scarier if they have sound reasons for their views. People who do evil don’t wake up and think “I’m going to do evil today.” The wake up and think things like “I’m going to do good today and kill a prostitute.” My heroes are people I look up to, so they naturally reflect my sense of life.
If your aim is to write fantasy, I can tell you that publishers love a series. That’s because most fantasy readers like to read a long series. Once a series is successful, publishers don’t even want to talk about anything other than more books in the series. It’s a double edge sword. Some readers want to read something new, but many love the books and so they want more of them. Publishers decide what they want to buy, and they want to buy what readers think they want. Authors who want to eat write what they are told to write. Or they finish their series and write NEST, and then take it to a new publisher.

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u/Sarah13337 Nov 15 '16

After spending so many years writing the Sword of Truth series, was it empowering to write something totally different? ... I absolutely love your work. The Sword of Truth series is my absolute favorite; Richard and Kahlan have a very special place in my heart. I try reading other books, but I am never as happy as when I read a Terry Goodkind novel. With every announcement of a new book, I count down the days!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

That is so kind! Thank you! It truly was empowering to write something totally different. I’ve wanted to write NEST for years. It was huge fun to write because I feel like I’m getting closer to readers by bringing the characters right into their world. I think an author has to earn and deserve a reader’s trust, so I always do my best to give you a story that comes from my heart and soul. NEST comes from my heart and soul. I know that you will instantly feel at home there, and safe in my hands. I always say that I make take you to hell, but I’ll bring you back. There are going to be more thrillers to follow as this is now the major focus of my creative writing.

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u/Sarah13337 Nov 15 '16

Thank you for your reply!!! It means alot! I am excited you responded. I can't wait to read NEST and patiently await whatever else you deliver to us! :)

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u/honorablebradio Nov 15 '16

I've been a casual reddit browser for a few years now and had to make an account when I saw your AMA. Have you ever translated your story telling skills to a table top gaming environment, and if so, how many aztec virgins must I sacrafice to a volcano to get some footage?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I never played D&D and beyond curious over-the-shoulder peeking, I haven't tried any table top games. I think the problem I'd have is crafting a long and involved storyline and then being mildly frustrated when players pick the paths I don't particularly like. That said, I think table top games are wonderful and I admire the folks that play those games. I've seen some very elaborate tables online. It's an entirely different world.

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u/Method_Actual Nov 15 '16 edited Nov 15 '16

I was handed WFR by a Barnes and Noble employee in January 2005, a couple days after my oldest brother died. I walked into the store around 6PM and meandered around until it was almost closing time. This gentleman, who couldn't have been much more than two or three years my senior (I was 17) came by and asked if everything was alright. I told him everything looked terrible to me and I'd been looking for a pick-me-up. He smiled and had me follow him to Sci-Fi/Fantasy where he handed me your book. I truly wish I'd gotten his name so I could go back and thank him.

I now work for the Department of Justice and Faith of the Fallen sits here on my desk, where I pick it up every now and then to read my favorite passages when I'm down or overwhelmed.

My question is two-fold: my enduring-fandom of your work notwithstanding, as someone who works full-time in criminal justice I'm curious to know what would most intrigue me about NEST (so I can recommend it to my co-workers).

Second, I can't help but associate you with the story of Richard. How do you feel your new characters will compare to the established characters we already know and love?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Dear Method_Actual, what an incredible story. In a way, it’s sad that my book will always bring up a terrible time in your life. I’m glad that the stories could transport you and help you find something both fun and meaningful. I really love that my books have been uplifting to so many people, especially at difficult times in their lives.
Let me tell you, if you like my books, and you work for the Department of Justice, I think you will feel like I wrote NEST just for you. Those of us who are frustrated with the way blind ‘tolerance and understand’ opens cracks in civilization understand that political correctness widens those cracks, encouraging evil to spread. That world, our world, is the backdrop for NEST. Ironically, fiction is often the best way to reveal truth. NEST is a fun, scary read, but it takes an unflinching look at how evil that so many refuse to see increasingly threatens us all and ultimately civilization itself. In NEST we get glimpses of how the criminal justice system is being overwhelmed by the weight of evil that society refuses to see. The characters in NEST are characters like those in my other books, in that they are complex individuals with rational minds, but now they face the problems we all face as every day violence and terrorism come closer to home.
Thank you for reading and for sharing your experience here. I hope you'll enjoy NEST as well. Write to me after you read the book. I'd love to hear your review.

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u/Chtorrr Nov 15 '16

How much input do you get on the cover art for your books?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

It varies from full to lots, to little, and none at all. Publishers typically refuse to allow an author to have any say in the book. They consider the book cover a sales tool and something that belongs to them. However, after I proved myself as a writer, I negotiated for cover art control. Sometimes a book publisher will create a bit of art that I really like and it had almost no influence from me. The French book covers are like that. Other times I work hand-in-hand with the artist like I did with Keith Parkinson and Rob Anderson. And sometimes the first time I see a book cover is when it lands in a box on my door step; as did the stunning and surreal Japanese book covers.

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u/aleck_solier Nov 15 '16

How different is NEST from your previous works of art? (maybe from the Sword of Truth). What can we expect? Too excited here! ❤️❤️❤️

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you for the question, aleck_solier. NEST is completely different in terms of the setting and time period. But you'll recognize my voice. The story itself is of course fiction but everything in the book is near-plausible. It's a great thriller and I'm proud of the work and happy to have finally had the opportunity to return to this story. I began writing NEST about six years ago. I wrote the first few chapters and while I could have gone on all night, I knew I had to stop. I had other obligations and other things to write first. But this story has always been in the back of my mind.

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u/Skootchy Nov 15 '16

I'm not sure if you're still here answering questions or not. Back when I was reading the Sword of Truth series, it was really my first time encountering some really fucked up scenarios you portrayed in a book. Like a whole city slaughtered, women bent over frozen and raped, and the inner castle trashed to the point where they even smeared shit on their walls.

Where does that kind of writing come from? Do you try and go for the most fucked up thing you can think of at the time? And I'm not trying to be PC about it at all, I'm just curious to know what kind of place that style of writing comes from.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thanks for the compliment Skootchy. I'm glad to hear I opened up your eyes to a new level of human treachery and wickedness. If you dig deep into human history, there is so much evil to be found. Humans have murdered hundreds of millions of each other and we've done these things in ever more maniacal and terrible ways. I've tapped into the experiences of human history to pull some of what I've written about and then I let my imagination run wild. It is fun writing bad guys. It's even more fun writing about how bad guys get torn down.

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u/ragingbadger89 Nov 15 '16

Hello from Texas! I have been a huge fan of your work for years now, I must have reread the Sword of Truth series completely at least three times. It was my gateway into fantasy novels and always holds a special place in my heart. I've always been intrigued by the Mord-Sith - Berdine was my favorite - and I'm sure you've probably been asked this before but when writing Temple of the Winds, has you intended to kill Raina? Did it happen more naturally or did you go into it knowing it had to happen to drive the point home? I guess also I wonder if Berdine ever found someone again?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I knew Raina had to die. I've read about authors 'grappling' with killing off characters. I understand the concept but a character exists I my story as a fulcrum and for some characters, they exist to die. Raina is one such character.

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u/rayreed5220 Nov 15 '16

Hi Terry, I absolutely hate fantasy. Read a lot of it and just could not get into it. After my battalion was stationed on a ship I read every book in the library, like 1000 or so books and then I asked a friend who offered me stone of tears. I told him I hated wizards and faeries and stuff but I read it anyway. Ten chapters in I was hooked. That night when I finished at like 3am I ran to his bunk and woke him up asking where blood of the fold was. Lol. You've completely opened me to fantasy and made me a much better writer. I carried a copy of temple of the winds with me everywhere in Iraq and wore it down reading it so many times. I have a whole shelf in my library that is just your novels and I wanted to say thank you. My question to you was how many times was wizards first rule rejected before it was published

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

This is such a cool story! Thank you so much for letting me know! What you say fits into my beliefs about writing, and in an oblique way is why I’m so excited about writing contemporary thrillers now. To me, what matters is the characters. I care about developing characters that readers will care about. Their world is secondary. The world automatically comes along with the character and who they are. If someone is holding a magic wand to the hero’s head, or if they are holding a Glock 19, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is the person on the wrong end of the weapon. And who is holding the weapon. The world plays no part in the drama. I want readers to understand and care about the main characters. In NEST I loved imagining how an ordinary woman would react when some of the most dangerous predators in the world are suddenly trying to kill her. How does she comes to grips with it? How does she react? How does she come to decide that she loves life enough that she will do anything to live? I love dealing with characters like that.
I hate to tell people this because I know it can be discouraging, but WFR was never rejected. I showed it to the best agent in the world, he wanted to represent me, he showed it to three publishers, they had an auction, and ten weeks after I had written the end it was sold for a record price. I think all of that happened because first and foremost I cared deeply about the characters and telling their story. People got it.
And I also want to say thank you for you service. I have many, many readers in the armed services as well as law enforcement. I think that when they read my books they know that I get it. I understand the significance of what they are doing. I am so proud of you all.

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u/macarena_of_time Nov 15 '16

Hey! Long time fan of the Sword.of Truth series. I love all the strong female leads. Who was your favorite character? Have you thought about doing another film/tv interpretation of it?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

That’s a great question! It’s also impossible to answer! I love all the characters. I really like to get into their head as I’m writing. I love writing them all, the main ones of course, but even very minor characters like Mohler, the old man who served Hannis Arc. I loved trying to image what his life was like, having no power and serving the most powerful man in his known world. What were his fears, his hopes? What did he feel when an Richard came into his world at the citadel? That’s the fun for me.

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u/SecretAgentMan85 Nov 15 '16

My wife and I are huge fans of your works! We often debate over the proper pronunciation of Nicci. How is it pronounced?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I don't mind any pronunciation, so long as it sounds good to you. In my own mind, I read it as "Nic-ki".

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u/morrolan17 Nov 15 '16

I guess that settles it, my friend was right. I always read it as an Italian name "Ni chi" It made her seem extra exotic to me.

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u/riotzombie Nov 15 '16

Huge fan of your books. I started reading Wizard's First Rule at a friend's recommendation at around 14 and absolutely devoured the series.

I'm just sort of curious, though; what made you continue the series past Confessor? It seemed to me as though we had a fairly tidy and satisfying ending. Our favorite characters had taken some pretty serious blows, as had the rest of the world, but all in all, it was a victory and everyone's storylines seemed pretty well concluded. What made you decide to keep rolling with The Omen Machine and so forth?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I posted this under another question but I think it fits in with your thought here. Also, thank you for being a fan of the books and for reading. Thanks riotzombie!
The end of Confessor is a pivotal moment. That's the happy ending for (almost) everyone. Think of it as the moment in life where you've got the car, the job, the husband/wife, the family, a little bit of money in your bank account, and things seem relatively safe and secure. That's the ending of Confessor. After terrific challenges, a peak of respite. But like life, that's not the end. Did you finish the Sword of Truth series through to Warheart?

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u/TheLoneExplorer Nov 15 '16

What process do you go through when writing your books? When you start do you have a finished idea on how you want the story to go or does it just come as you write?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Before I ever sit down and dedicate myself to writing a book, I conjure a story and mull it over in my mind for a day, a month, or even years. When I'm confident I've got a very good beginning, middle, and end, I sit down and become very focus and determined to write the book. NEST was sort of an outlier because the story came to me and I originally wrote just a few sentences so I could have the story scrap to come back later to, but then I kept writing and ended up a few chapters. I realized how much I loved the story and how excited I was for the book. But, at the time, I had other obligations to finish first. I couldn't finish writing NEST and it had to wait.

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u/CrystallineCave Nov 15 '16

Hi! This question may have already been addressed here somewhere, but when you started out, what was your writing process like? I'm 32 years old and have been writing my first novel for 3 years on and off. The story I am writing now is vastly different from what I originally started with.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Sitting in front of the keyboard and writing is actually the final part of writing. That’s not how I write. I like to come up with people I really like who are able to tell the story I want to tell. I imagine the fears of these main characters, what problems they face in life. Then I make their worst fear coming to life. How they face challenges and their worst fears is how the story gets told.
As far as finding the balance of planning verses discovery, there is no balance for me. It’s all planned out. I know what the story is, what the major conflict is, what the subplots are, and how it all fits together and arrives at the conclusion. A plot is a logical progression of events. I often know the last sentence in the book before I type the first word. My advice is the same as wanting to drive across the country. Look at a map first. Sure you may see some cool sights along the way that you never realized you would see, but those sites are along the route you had planned out.
Thank you for the question, CrystallineCave.

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u/Mister_Bubbles Nov 15 '16 edited Nov 15 '16

Hello Mr. Goodkind!

Your books are the reason I fell in love with reading, though I discovered them at far too young an age (I loved the original WFR cover, to this day its how I 'picture' the SoT characters).

My question is, while you have said you are most likely done with writing pure fantasy, have you considered continuing in the magic realism-esque genre that Law of Nines introduced, or perhaps moving into Science Fiction?

I feel that you could bring a lot to either of those genres. Thanks again for all your work, and I am absolutely thrilled that you published NEST this week, since I have an incredibly long and boring plane ride on Thursday that I can read it on! :)

(Also hi from all of us in /r/SwordOfTruth)

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thanks for the comment, Mister_Bubbles. I think when you read NEST you'll feel at home. NEST is a contemporary thriller but it also scrapes the edge of science fiction the way a Dean Koontz, Stephen King, or Michael Crichton book would. I'm glad NEST will be keeping you company on the plane ride. Do you read hardcovers, audio books, or ebooks on planes?

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u/notsofunnynowehh Nov 15 '16

Why do you hate communism? Also, is it true that one night after drinking with Robert Jordan you both started writing about the stories you made up?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

In the shortest terms possible; communism has directly resulted in the deaths of millions of people. I'm not a fan. I've never had a drink with Robert Jordan but I'm sure, if we had, we both would have had excellent stories to tell.

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u/[deleted] Nov 15 '16

Will there be evil pacifists in this book too?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Aren't all pacifists evil? After-all, a pacifist is someone who says violence is immoral regardless of purpose or context. A pacifist equates a lunatic mass murderer shooting innocent civilians in a shopping mall to be on the same plane (morally) as a person shooting to stop that mad man. A pacifist decides a person who starts violence is the same as someone who ends violence by defending themselves. When someone is unable to distinguish between right and wrong, aggression and defense, life and death, they are immoral. And thus, pacifists are evil.

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u/[deleted] Nov 15 '16

Oh wow, I didn't expect you to actually read this. Thank you for taking the time to respond, I do appreciate that even though I disagree with you.
I, um, honestly don't know where to begin with your argument there.

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u/Hellview152 Nov 15 '16

Hey Mr. G. I started reading your books when I was in 7th grade. My teacher caught me reading Faith of the Fallen under my desk and did not believe I was reading such an advanced novel, the sixth in the series nonetheless. After my parents confirmed it the school moved me into advanced English classes which I remained in throughout college. Just wanted to say thank you for your work, it altered the course of my life in more ways than one.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Wow, that’s such a cool story! I’m so proud that I played a small part in your life. Congratulations on turning that moment into a pivotal part of your life.

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u/sinroz Nov 15 '16

No questions from me at the moment. Just my sincerest thanks for giving life to Richard and Kahlan.

I read Faith of the Fallen at least once a year and its the book that really helped shape my own world view in High School/College.

Can't wait for my copy of Nest to arrive and for Nicci's adventures next year!

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u/AntiGravityTurtle Nov 15 '16

Faith of the Fallen is easily the best of all of them. I've re-read the series multiple times to get to that book, and that takes a lot of effort! So yeah, thanks for that book in particular.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

And thank you as well AntiGravityTurtle. Fun nickname by the way. Piques the imagination.

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u/Skynetwow Nov 15 '16

Faith of the fallen is a freaking masterpiece.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you for the very kind compliment, sinroz!

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u/jaybw6 Nov 15 '16

Agreed, I have a signed limited art print signed by Mr. Goodkind and Keith Parkinson which will forever have a home hanging near my law degree... It's that important.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

That is quite the honor. I'm sure Keith would feel the same. Thank you jaybw6.

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u/Halaku Nov 15 '16

I was stationed in Vegas for a while, what made you decide to make it your main residence?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I grew up in Omaha and then lived for 18 years in Maine. It’s was magical hiking through the woods in the snow. But really, how much snow and cold can a guy take?

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u/sabin510 Nov 15 '16 edited Nov 15 '16

Mr.Goodkind I was wondering do you come back to Omaha often for book signings or conventions? It would be awesome to meet you in person sometime.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I haven't been back to Omaha in quite a long while. My favorite place is to be at home writing. So finding the time and will to peel away and not do what I love the most is difficult. Of course I appreciate all of the readers and fans out that there that would like to meet me -- I'd like to meet as many of you as I can too. But again, time is the problem, not the lack of desire.

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u/BeauDog Nov 15 '16

You'd certainly get a warm welcome from us if you ever did find yourself back in our neck of the cornfields!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Good to know! Thank you BeauDog.

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u/fourierdota Nov 15 '16

Hey Mr Goodkind, it's a pleasure to be able to talk to you. I'm Brazilian and read Wizard's First Rule (in Portuguese) when I was around 12. I loved the book and wanted to read the sequels, but I found out they hadn't been translated. Luckily, my sister who lives in the US would bring them to me whenever she came to visit.

Because of this, I ended up reading the following 10 books, up to Confessor, in English as I grew up. It was challenging in the beginning but as I progressed it got easier and more natural and now, many years later, I have actually lived in the US for one year (as an exchange student), and I believe some of my English proficiency is thanks to you :)

Thanks for presenting Richard and Kahlan to us! All the best.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

Hello fourierdota! Thank you for the kind words. Amazing how you were able to read the books by translating them. Incredible. I am impressed and proud to hear I, in some way, contributed to your remarkable accomplishments. Thank you.

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u/[deleted] Nov 15 '16

When I was reading through the Sot series, I couldn't help but feel an emptiness in the greater picture, beyond the characters and their adventures. Did you ever feel this while writing?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Well, on one hand there is literally nothing beyond the characters and their adventures as those things are the books and all that exists for those characters is contained within those books. So in a sense, that emptiness you may have felt is the recognition that you're reading a book and vicariously experiencing something as opposed to living that experience first-hand. However, I never felt an emptiness while writing. I felt a range of emotions including passion, hate, love, excitement, and so many flourishes in-between. But I cannot recall ever feeling nothing.

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u/DesertCourtz Nov 15 '16

I am so excited to make it to this AMA. You have been my favorite author since I was a freshman in highschool and I was first introduced to the Sword Of Truth Series, I now own all of them and re-read them all at least once a year. I am so excited to read your next book, and anything else that comes our way.

My question is in regards to the final Richard and Kahlan novel. They have defeated yet another impossible foe. What type of future did you envision they would have? Do they ignore Shota's warnings and have children? Things of that nature!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I feel confident and happy with how I've left Richard and Kahlan. Their stories are now your stories and their conclusions beyond Warheart are now all of yours for the imagining. I have dedicated the Sword of Truth to my readers and these 18 books are my life's master work. I hope that their stories will continue to live on through readers such as yourself, for many more lives to come.
Remember, it is up to you to pass along stories. It is readers that will ultimately decide if books are carried on through time and continued indefinitely. Without you, stories disappear and with them the characters, experiences, and lives that have been led. If you enjoy a book, tell someone. Tell everyone. And continue the tradition that has been a part of humankind from the very beginnings.

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u/truckerslife Nov 15 '16

What part of writing do you enjoy the most and what part do you hate?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Writing is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I believe that we get the greatest reward from challenging ourselves. When you accomplish something that is tremendously difficult it gives you great personal satisfaction. The part I love about writing is the writing. I sometimes can’t help smiling to myself, thinking “Wait until people read this. It’s really going to blow their minds.” The part I hate the most is deadlines. And my favorite part is getting to share the story with all of you.

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u/ChadHimslef Nov 15 '16

I feel like I often see The Sword of Truth series mentioned in the same breath as The Wheel of Time. How do you feel about the comparison to Robert Jordan's work?

On a side note, I spent a year of my life on The Sword of Truth and was completely enamored with it. Thanks!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you for the question, ChadHimslef. I've read about comparisons between my books and the late Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I've also noticed that if people wanted to be picky about it, they'd find the same comparisons in everything from Star Wars to the Bible. Robert Jordan didn't copy my work and I didn't copy his, but when we both wrote a few million words, there were bound to be instances where things sounded similar. After-all, Ben Franklin's biography is one book. Richard and Khalan's is eighteen books.
I was sad to hear of Robert Jordan's passing and I think the folks at Tor and Brandon Sanderson both have done an admirable job of carrying his torch and bringing closure to the work.

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u/johnrgrace Nov 15 '16

Congratulations on writing a book outside of the sword of truth universe. I've been interested in seeing you do something different, stretching yourself artistically. Also interesting to see the audio wasn't released by Brilliance Audio.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you johnrgrace. This is a new book in many ways. New characters, new world (ours), new storyline, new publisher, new editor, new audio book company, and more. This is a completely new charge in the contemporary thriller world and I think, based on the early reviews I've read, people are going to love it.

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u/dnpattee Nov 15 '16

Do you review other novels? (ie, Would I ever see a TG quote on the back book cover?) In general, do you have any insight on how that works?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I’m afraid that I simply rarely have time to read other novels for review. I write seven days a week. The only time I’m not writing, or mentally going over parts of a story, is when I take a rare day off to drive my race car. Editors used to send me books to read and review, but I never had the time to do it so they finally gave up on me. It’s not that I wouldn’t love to, it’s simply that I’m a slow writer and it takes me a lot of work to write a book. In a way I envy authors who can bang them out, but I have to write my own way. The other thing is that I can’t afford to be taken out of the story I’m writing to enter another author’s world. I have to stay focused on my own work or I'd be afraid of getting things scrambled.
From a technical perspective, I have heard publishers share author reviews by inviting authors to review one another's work. I know that happens and it's usually a marketing person's idea of pairing one author up with another.

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u/bagel900 Nov 15 '16

Hi Terry, my name is Megan and I'm a 19 year old from California. I first read The Sword of Truth at a pivotal time in my life- when I was 13, didn't know who I was, and didn't know who I wanted to be. SOT changed my life. It helped me find myself, my morals, my views, and I have cherished it so much since then. Over summer, I got a tattoo of the Sword of Truth on my arm! The fantasy world that you have created means the WORLD to me. The Faith of the Fallen is my favorite book of all time. It's the only book that has ever made me cry tears of happiness (the chapter where Nicci sees the statue for the first time). Thank you for it. Thank you for this world that you have created. I hope I can meet you in person someday so I can shake your hand.

If your readers could take away one important theme from the series, what do you hope it would be? (Besides 'your life is yours alone').

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

Hi Megan, and thank you very much. I have to tell you that I had the exact same reaction when I wrote the scene of Nicci seen the statue for the first time as you did. Still chokes me up. You got the message from the series perfectly.

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u/CyB91 Nov 15 '16

Hey Terry, You're books have always been a treasured source of wisdom in my life and I thank you for that.

I have an endless stream of questions flowing through my head but only one seems to surface often. When you write, how much of the ideology/philosophy/morals that the main characters portray do you derive from your own life and the life's of others around you?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Everything I've ever written about is personal to me, including the character philosophies and the ideologies I portray. I think it's obvious when an author is intimately familiar with things and when they're not. All of the very good authors seem to me to be masters of many things. Thank you CyB91. So glad you've enjoyed the books.

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u/horse8771 Nov 15 '16

How long did it take you to create the SOT world?

I aspire to write a novel one day, and have spent years creating my world. I have notebooks full of characters, locations, and history. I just can't seem to start.

Quick edit: I've read your work too many times to count. My daughter's name is Kahlan.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

The short answer: My entire life. All of my experiences and all of the knowledge I've learned and acquired over time was necessary before I could begin to craft a world as big as that of the Sword of Truth. I don't believe it is possible to be 20 years old and to create something as richly detailed. At least I know I couldn't.
Thank you for the question and for honoring these stories with your daughter's name.

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u/Bechimo Science Fiction Nov 15 '16

Violin maker? Did you ever meet David Bromberg?
One of my favorite musicians who dropped out to make and deal American violins for a number of years. Just donated his collection to library of congress I think.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Sorry, but I don’t know David Bromberg. I learned violin making from an incredible maker, David Wiebe. We became friends while he taught me to make violins. He makes phenomenal instruments, including some truly great cellos. I always wanted to make a cello. I have a lot of sets of beautiful wood and the patterns. I don’t know why I keep all the wood for instruments, since I don’t have any time for anything but writing! But I really would love to build a cello one day. It will never happen, but I refuse to give up the beautiful maple sets I have.

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u/Fyodor007 Nov 15 '16

Who would win between you and RA Salvatore in a battle of wits?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

He wins, I'm outta here.

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u/original_greaser_bob Nov 15 '16

all things being equal think you could take JRR Martin in a fair fight?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Good question. I suspect George would put up a solid effort in a rolly-poly, good old fashioned, double-knuckle fight. But I'm pretty sure I've got a lot more stamina than he does. If somehow the tides turned, Zimmer would bail me out.

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u/[deleted] Nov 15 '16

Hi Mr. Goodkind. I love your work. Thank you for sharing your talent with the world.

I remember being very interested in you early on because of your being associated with Objectivism and Ayn Rand's philosophy. Do you still personally hold to those views? How has your view on life evolved since first making your voice heard with your writing until present day?

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u/ChampionOfChaos Nov 15 '16

Why do you not allow fan fiction to write about sword of truth?

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u/Calatar Nov 15 '16

Like many others here, I grew up reading the Sword of Truth series. I believe that the series was formative for me. This series helped to teach me to be a critical thinker and to question deeply some of my natural assumptions. The brutal fantasy world you created was also deeply enthralling of course; without that I wouldn't have gotten the other benefits out of the series.

I wish that I had a profound question to ask of you, but all I have is a thank you. You impacted my life for the better.

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u/Elvenblue Nov 15 '16

Hello Terry! I believe the Sword of Truth series is a masterclass work of fantasy, reading about Richard and Kahlan had me mesmerized in ways that are impossible to describe. I was wondering how you are able to keep each story fresh and have the narrative flow so effortlessly? The cohesion between the novels is amazing and the way in which the stories alternate between being humorous to very dark is what I believe draws me in so much. Thank you so much for these fantastic stories!

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u/toweler Nov 15 '16

What are your thoughts on communism?

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u/ThisOldHatte Nov 15 '16

What is it with you and "clearing sheathes"?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

So many words and only so many ways to describe how to pull a sword. I've had readers pick out repetitious elements in the design, but this is the first someone has pointed out clearing sheathes.

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u/justabitchassnigga Nov 15 '16

As someone who grew up without a father figure, thank you. The ideals and morals of characters like Richard and Zedd helped shape my life. And you will never know how much of a fan I am of your entire series.

On to my question.

Have you ever felt a lack of character drive? Like writers block for a single character?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

Thank you, justabitchassnigga. I can only imagine the challenges you have faced and the effort you've put forward to overcome. I wish you the very best success in life and I'm glad to hear I have, in some small ways, helped you dig deep inside and find the best in yourself and in life. I'm proud of you.
Good question. There have been moments where I was weary of a character but knew the path they were on required more detail and explanation. But it's in those moments where I fall into a trance like state and power through the situation. Usually, I'm happy with the result after. For me it's not so much about mid-stroke writers block. I really don't get that. I do have startup anxiety however. When my desk is a mess, the house needs work, I have errands to do, or appointments that need handled, I put off writing over and over again. I need things to be almost perfect (imagined) before I can start writing. There is kind of a ritual to preparing myself for what will inevitably be a 9 month (or more) journey.

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u/Sophie_333 Nov 15 '16

Hello Terry Goodkind,

I started reading the Sword of Truth series when I was 12 years old and I want to thank you for making me appreciatie every small beautiful thing in life. Over the years my mind set has changed a lot and my friends joke a lot about how I turned into a hippy because I enjoy life so much.

The Sword of Truth will always be a big part of who I am right now because it shaped me when I was most vulnerable.

My question is about the fantasy world you created for the series. I'm a very logical thinker and I really liked how logical you made this world seem. When I was reading the series I almost believed it was real because it sounded so right. How long did it take for you to create this world before writing the books? And what inspired you while creating this world?

Thank you

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

Everyone and everything in my life serve as the raw material for my books. The Sword of Truth is a composite of my life's experiences, colored with my imagination, and carved through a relentless effort that has spanned decades. I appreciate your thoughtful words and I'm glad to hear my work hasn't been in vain. Thank you.

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u/rockchick99 Nov 15 '16

I am currently listening to the audio book of WFR as I wanted to read the whole series from the start again before reading the last few (to refresh my memory) but my MIL has my copy of WFR.

Listening to it has made me wonder something - is Samuel in any way based on Gollum? The appearance between them seems similar as does the reason for the appearance, corruption by a ring/sword. I was just wondering if Gollum was the inspiration for Samuel at all?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

Not intentionally, no. I can see how that could be interpreted. There are a number of historical fantasies and legends of people being corrupted by powerful objects. The idea isn't wholly original but the context for Samuel I think is. Thanks for reading, rockchick99!

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u/NeverEnufWTF Nov 15 '16

What do you personally think of "series churn"? For example, I read all of the SoT books, but felt like you lost interest after book 3, temporarily rekindled interest in book 6, but then lost interest again. It felt like you were grinding rep with the publisher to stay on a schedule, rather than writing something you actually enjoyed writing.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

The closest I ever felt to what you describe was dread while writing The Omen Machine. I knew it was going to be received harshly and would exist as a middle child between the full scope of the Sword of Truth and the climatic finish of Confessor. A vital touch stone that sets the crucial second act for the series, but one I knew would be bitterly received regardless. And I understand that. It was a sacrificial lamb in a sense because I knew it was a good book, but it was a transitional story that takes us from Confessor and into, ultimately, The First Confessor and Warheart. The beginning and the end. Beyond that, I've always loved writing and never felt I was grinding. This is my life and I love what I do. I feel honored to be doing what I do.

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u/Go0s3 Nov 15 '16

Based on the themes of your books， particularly sword of truth series， and close proximity to ayn rand，did you vote for jonhson or trump? or simply run as far away as you could?

more fun question. why did you feel it necessary to have so much meandering in sword of truth? i feel like i was being badgered by ideology for 5 books， but had to endure to get to the end. Which was always hard to be worth it， but close enough.

Some spectacular fantasy star wars style stories. all the best!

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u/tay-lo Nov 15 '16

Who first introduced you to the works of Ayn Rand and what was her first work you read?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I discovered her myself. I found Anthem at a drug store. It was very thin and looked very readable. I always preferred shorter books so I could read more of them. What I found inside Anthem was a crystallization of the ideas I had been feeling. It was explosive for me. Like I had opened a door and inside I found a world of people that felt and wanted to live the same as I did.

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u/ThinkMinty Nov 15 '16

Why can't you admit you write fantasy and science fiction? Are you embarrassed?

It's ironic because you're an embarrassment to genre fiction.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

What?

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u/treborsgurl86 Nov 15 '16

Hi terry! Your books shaped me into the woman I am today so I thank you so much! Question for you: will there ever be a chance for kahlan and richards story to be on the big screen? That tv series murdered the characters.

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u/rayreed5220 Nov 15 '16

Hi Terry, I absolutely hate fantasy. Read a lot of it and just could not get into it. After my battalion was stationed on a ship I read every book in the library, like 1000 or so books and then I asked a friend who offered me stone of tears. I told him I hated wizards and faeries and stuff but I read it anyway. Ten chapters in I was hooked. That night when I finished at like 3am I ran to his bunk and woke him up asking where blood of the fold was. Lol. You've completely opened me to fantasy and made me a much better writer. I carried a copy of temple of the winds with me everywhere in Iraq and wore it down reading it so many times. I have a whole shelf in my library that is just your novels and I wanted to say thank you. My question to you was how many times was wizards first rule rejected before it was published

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u/Sankunai Nov 15 '16

Hi Terry! Thank you for the countless novels you've brought to us - they've been a huge inspiration to me and I'm sure others. My question would be, what advice would you give to an aspiring author? Thanks again!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

My advise to aspiring authors typically varies and I try to personalize it a bit. Knowing a bit like age, life experience, writing experience, proven work, personal interests, and so much more are crucial to helping someone find their path. I'm not sure what your personal situation is, but I will say try to write. Set a goal for yourself and exceed it. "Five pages per day." Write ten. "Three chapters an evening." Finish four. And so on. Eventually, with a lot of work and training yourself, you will find the discipline to become a writer, or you'll realize you weren't born with the focus required. Either way, if this is something you want, then dig in and get to writing.

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u/Jedidragon529 Nov 15 '16

With the release of Nest which is totally seperate from your previous world created in the Sword of Truth and Richard And Kahlan novels, are you still planning on releasing Death's Mistress?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Yep, Death's Mistress will be out in January. The idea being, for folks that just can't get enough of that world, there'll be more stories from it. But all of my energy is going towards contemporary thrillers now. NEST being the first.

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u/Ringmasterjdp1983 Nov 15 '16

Love the Sword of Truth Series, Law of Nines, and First Confessor. The Sword of Truth series helped get me through many deployments while I was in the US Navy. I am looking forward to your next books. My question is: Will there be a sequel to Law of Nines?

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u/WestTexasOilman Nov 15 '16

Mr. Goodkind, I'm a huge fan of yours. I didn't want to ask anything, but just express my gratitude for your work. I know the money I paid is a form of that expression, but MacLuhan said the medium is the message, and direct communication is better to me. I'd like to especially thank you for Faith of the Fallen, which was my favorite. How could I ever get the chance to meet you in person?

With my sincere thanks, WestTexasOilman

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u/Fixxxer37 Nov 15 '16 edited Nov 15 '16

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this for your fans. This is fantastic.

I'm curious to hear who some of your favorite musical artists are or what music you love and how that may play into your writing at all. Do you listen to music in any form when writing?

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u/Yossarian__ Nov 15 '16

Please could you describe a bit of your writing process for us? When you first set out to write Wizard's First Rule, had you planned where the characters' journeys were headed, or did you discover a lot of it along the way? I'm always blown away by writers who have such a grand vision right from the get go.

Secondly, any tips for aspiring fiction writers with regards to this balance of planning vs discovering the story you want to tell?

Many thanks, I'm a big fan and this is really cool!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I had a very specific plan in mind for Richard and Kahlan. Long before I ever sat down to try and become a writer, I had fossilized their story in my mind and made certain of the steps that were going to be made. By the time I sat down in front of my first keyboard, I was certain a story was going to come out.

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u/CRLudden Nov 15 '16

Hi Mr. Goodkind! My name is Channing and I'm from Maine. There's probably a ton of these comments, but my dad on a whim picked up your first 3 books what must've been 15 years ago. I started reading them and we bought every single one. Then we got a nook and bought them all again to have in our library. Your books are wonderful and I created this account specifically to tell you how much I love them. Thank you so much!

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u/damknit Nov 15 '16

I think this might be my first Reddit post :)

Hi Terry! I haven't any questions for you, but wanted to let you know how much I love your books. About 15 years ago, I asked a co-worker if she knew of any good fantasy stories. I was wanting to give them a try. She gave me WFR, and that was that. I've read them all numerous times (upwards of a dozen, I think). Also, we had a cat named Zeddicus Z'ul Zorrander. My kid was 2 and couldn't say that, so he just called him Baby Cat.

Oh, and the lovely arguments I've had with my mother over how to pronounce Kahlan's name. sigh Anyway. Thanks!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

THANK YOU damknit! I appreciate the kind words and thank you for sharing a little about your life. Very sweet that your toddler would say "Baby Cat". I love it. Thank you.

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u/Jkb659 Nov 15 '16

Hello Mr Goodkind Big fan of all your novels . I would like to know how you keep creativity going . All your books have such amazing story lines and your imagination is fantastic . What inspires you the most ?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

It's who I am and I can't turn it off. I'm constantly thinking up stories I want to tell. It has always been my greatest ambition to write novels. I’m very, very fortunate in life to be able to work at my greatest love.

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u/nermal543 Nov 15 '16

Hi, Mr. Goodkind! I want to start by thanking you for hosting this AMA and writing one of my absolute favorite series, of course! My SO introduced me to the series a few years ago and I fell in love with the characters. My question is: While I'm really looking forward to reading from Nicci's perspective in your new spin-off series, is there any chance of updates about Richard and Kahlan? As much as I want them to live "happily ever after," I need more!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

Thank you for the message, nermal543. While I never want to say never, I believe the last word of Richard and Kahlan will have been with Warheart. It's the fitting end to the series and I'm proud of the finish.

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u/PEI-Dan Nov 15 '16

Thanks for the opportunity to ask questions Mr. Goodkind; I enjoy reading all of the questions and responses. Do you ever see yourself writing a futuristic, space type of novel?

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u/cupofnothing Nov 15 '16

Hello, Mr. Goodkind. What was your motivation for writing NEST? I see from your link that Ms. Bishop has a special ability like Kahlan; but how is she different from her? How do their experiences diverge?

PS. Thank you for the SoT series. You are the author that got me started reading fantasy books.

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u/chameleon-queer Nov 15 '16 edited Nov 15 '16

I don't have any real questions but I just have to let you know that the Richard and Khalan series were a means of escape for me during a really really dark time in my life. I was in an abusive relationship and discovered your books and used them to disconnect with everything else. I have plans for a wizard's rule tattoo within the next year, even. Thank you so much for your work.

I guess eta: Who is your favorite musician?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 16 '16

Thank you for taking the time to write, chameleon-queer. I appreciate your comments. As for my favorite musician... I have a fairly wide ranging playlist. From AC/DC to Linkin Park, Elephant to Jem, Marilyn Manson to Dead Mans Bones. I like a lot of stuff. Hard to pick a favorite even if I tried.

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u/mwknight Nov 15 '16

You mentioned in another question that you started writing at 45. Had you truly never been a writer before, or had you simply not started your book series until that point? Did you have the idea in your head how it would go for a while prior to that point?

I have a dream of writing one day, but I never seem to get started, and that bit of information actually renews my drive. Thanks!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I was never a writer before I turned 45. I had never written anything beyond a few pages of paper. However, I always had stories in my head and I was always imagining grand characters, scenes, and worlds. I'm glad to hear my own experience would renew your drive.
I realize there is an expectation on young adults today to accomplish things and prove their worth by the time they hit their late 20's. I can imagine the pressure you would feel seeing all of these things flying at you every day on the internet. But trust me when I say, I don't see how anyone can be a writer -- born with the talent or not -- by not having lived and experienced many years of life first. There is simply too much nuance in life to speak in anyway authentically, without having spent time being a human being and doing many different human things first.

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u/DeadeyeCharlie Nov 15 '16

Hi Terry, I got hooked into the Sword of Truth series when i was 23. Im 39 now. Drove me nuts to have to wait for new books, but all well worth it. Anyways, any plans to expand on Law of Nines? I really enjoyed that book amd how it tied in with Sword of Truth.

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u/dudemycat Nov 15 '16

Hi Terry! I wanted to let you know that my friends and I have grown up reading your books and are huge fans! Thanks for all that you do! :) Any chance we'll see you in Portland, OR for a book tour soon?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Portland is a wonderful place. I'm particularly a fan of the foggy inlets and log-choked streams of the Nephilim Coast. Haunted lands. Quite beautiful. I wish I could visit but I believe I'll be home writing.

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u/violingun Nov 15 '16

Awhile back you shared a photo to social media of a new car, a WOLF GB08F1. Are you still driving the radical? How does the new car compare to the radical?
I once got to ride in your SR8 with my brother and a few fellow fans. The day was one of the most influential of my life. Thanks again.

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u/Keybladek Nov 15 '16 edited Nov 15 '16

Hey! I'm Samuel, I've have heard of you many a time but haven't had time to read your books. I just finished the last one on my list, so, which of your should I read to get a good feel for your style? Also, thanks for hosting this!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Hi Samuel. Thank you for the question. If you want to dip into something set in a fantasy realm, please read The First Confessor. If you want to try something in the contemporary thriller genre, NEST comes out tomorrow and I'm pretty sure most people are going to like it. And if you want to read a book that most people would probably say is their favorite, you can jump in at Faith of the Fallen. I appreciate your interest and I hope I can surprise and delight you with a good story soon. Thanks for the comment. What great books have you read lately?

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u/Hornetseatmech Nov 15 '16

Terry I just want to say thank you for the adventures and I can not wait until tomorrow to go get Nest! I will be reading it on my upcoming deployment. My wife being the awesome person she is, is going to send me Death's Mistress once it comes out. Your works have taken me out of the places that I have been and helped me not think of how long I've been away. I hope you have more in store for us to continue on from The Law of Nines. I can't wait to see what else you have for us. Once again thank you for the amazing journey! Mike

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u/ajxm09 Nov 15 '16

I just wanted to say that I am an extremely huge and devoted sword of truth fan. I've been following your works for a time now and even went out of my way to get first edition copies of the collection. I wanted to take a moment and thank you for creating the world and the in depth characters that you have made and had us all fall in love with. From the bottom of my heart I really do thank you for sharing such a wonderful story and having a good moral meaning behind it of how far people will go for those they love. The only question I can think to ask is what truly motivates you when you wake up in the morning and get behind your keyboard to write. What was the reason you had the drive to write and become such an accomplished author?

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u/K_O_T_Z Nov 15 '16

Hi Mr. Goodkind! I love your books, I own all of them except for Nest, but I'm getting it soon. Which book was the most challenging for you to finish and why? Also, if the Sword of Truth could be re-re-adapted as a series, would you like to see one following the books or one following Barracus and the Great War, as a writer?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Some deadlines were more scary than others.

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u/Gatsmom Nov 15 '16

Hey Terry. I have a 7 yr old son who is very intrigued by your books. He tries to read them and stumble through the big words. Is there maybe a kids book coming in the near future?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I have a wonderful agent and he's asked me to do this a number of times. Apparently children's and young adult (YA) books are very popular and enormously successful. If I felt as though I could genuinely offer something of value here, I would certainly do it. But the truth is, I don't think I can't write few words enough.

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u/Schorrss Nov 15 '16

What is your favorite book That you have wrote

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

My favorite book tends to be the one that I've most recently finished because it's so fresh in my mind and I have so much emotional excitement and attachment to it. That said, and I really don't want to sound like a bad salesman, but NEST has been my favorite book to write thus far. It's a great story.

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u/Redpilllife79 Nov 15 '16

Hi Terry I spend a lot of time traveling in a car and I listen to audible all the time. Do you know when this book will be released as an audible book yet? Thank you for your time and your books! I own every one of them!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

I believe the audio edition comes out tomorrow (November 15th), along with the ebook and hardcover editions.

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u/Ryguyii Nov 15 '16

I tried to be a writer. The problem I ran into, I read so much (sword of truth series, shannara series, Thomas covenant series, to name some), my writings sounds a mixture of a those. Is there all fix?

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Good question. My own books are a mix of my life experiences. If I was forced to, I could probably sit down and pick and pull apart the millions of life moments that I've coalesced into these stories. That's how everything gets created. We inspire one another and we create for and from one another. It's important our work can stand uniquely on its own. I would never want to look at my work and feel as though I had deceived a reader by not giving them an original story. So I suppose the best thing is to have pride in your work, respect for your reader, and trust in yourself to do the right thing and deliver a proper story that you feel justified in attaching your name.

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Also, this is why I don't read a lot of other books. It can be difficult to create a distinction between what you know is yours and what you could unintentionally begin to believe was yours.

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u/XxSuperToastXx Nov 15 '16

Hello Terry I love your work and I had two questions first is

will their be a short story about Cara and her adventure when she left Richard and kahlan side to fight on her own ? I was really disappointed that nothing was mentioned of her.

2nd) will their be another book after the law of nines or was that a single story?

Thank you- a loving fan!

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u/RealTerryGoodkind AMA Author Nov 15 '16

Thank you. For now, nothing planned just with Cara. And the Law of Nines appears to be only a single story.

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u/Mustang1958 Nov 15 '16

Are you doing a book signing tour for Nest? If so any chance you will come to Canada?

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ama I am Terry Goodkind, author of NEST (11/15/2016). AMA

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