As many of you know, Terry was gone for more than a month, off in the sands of Dubai and the Middle East to take part in a great new literary festival.

I haven't seen him yet, but I bet he got one great tan!

Now that he has returned he is playing catch up with all of his email and today he sent me the answers to your February Ask Terry Questions!

Be sure to send in your March and April questions! We have some fun stuff coming up and good questions are always needed!

Labels: Ask Terry

One thing Terry is quite passionate about other than writing is the teaching of the craft of writing.

So whenever a good writers conference comes up, even if he isn't attending it, he likes to point to it and let others know about it.

On April 18th, Field's End will reconvene for its fourth year. It is a writers' conference set in Poulsbo, WA, offering aid to writers who are trying to hone their craft. A writers' conference can be worth its weight in gold and when an opportunity comes up for one the serious writer should take advantage!

Below is the Event Announcement!

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: The 4th Annual Field's End Writers' Conference, Poulsbo, WA; April 18, 2009. Reserve your spot now! Field's End's 4th annual writers' conference takes place at beautiful Kiana Lodge on the shores of Agate Passage, just north of Bainbridge Island. Enjoy a day of camaraderie, inspiration, and learning about the art and craft of writing. For more information about Field's End, please visit www.fieldsend.org. We're proud to announce that this year's conference is an especially great value; we're offering additional workshops and events while keeping registration at our 2008 rates. We've also included more offerings for poets and children's book writers. Keynote speaker: "Grammar Girl" Mignon Fogarty (as seen on Oprah in May 2007) is the creator of the popular podcast, Grammar Girl, and founder and managing director of Quick and Dirty Tips. A science writer by trade, her new book, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, reached The New York Times paperback nonfiction bestseller list in August 2008. The Washington Post says, "Creator Mignon Fogarty has an engaging style that doesn't make you feel bad about misusing the word 'badly.' " Opening speaker: A Seattle-area native, Jim Lynch pursued journalism after he graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in creative writing and journalism. Jim has served as a writer for The Seattle Times, the syndicated muckraker Jack Anderson, and Portland Oregonian's Puget Sound reporter. He is the author of the novel The Highest Tide, set in the Puget Sound waters on the outskirts of Olympia. Lynch's second novel, Border Songs, a story about marijuana smuggling, dairy farming, terrorism paranoia, and the wonder of birds along the Washington/British Columbia border, will be released by Knopf in June 2009. Workshop presenters: Kathleen Alcala, Elizabeth Austen, Lana Hechtman Ayers, Royce Buckingham, Carol Cassella, Jonathan Evison, Waverly Fitzgerald, Mary Guterson, Paul Hanson, Grace Jackson, Priscilla Long, George Shannon, Michael Dylan Welch. You can find the conference program schedule here [pdf] http://www.fieldsend.org/images/confprogramforweb.pdf NEW FOR 2009! "At Conference End: A Reading" featuring Jim Lynch, Mignon Fogarty and Michael Dylan Welch. We've scheduled this celebratory event in the Moose Room to cap off a long day of learning, inspiration, networking, and creativity. Jump Start moderated freewrite with author Mary Guterson. At the request of past conference attendees, we're offering writers a chance to start spinning out ideas culled throughout the day. Mary will get writers started with evocative prompts. Participant open mic moderated by poet Lana Ayers. Another popular request from participants who want an opportunity to share their own short work. There will be a sign-in sheet and Lana will gently enforce a 2-minute time limit per participant. Wind Down creativity workshop with creative coach Grace Jackson. For decompressing after a day of intensive learning, this craft project combines individual and group collage around a positive theme. Playtime for writers! The conference also includes its popular break-out sessions, hands-on workshops, a delicious salmon/vegetarian buffet lunch, and plenty of time to meet and discuss the writing life with fellow writers. Regular registration rate: $150. Group rate (5 or more): $130 per person. (Highly recommended for writing groups, but please sign up soon!) Please visit the Field's End conference page to sign up and to find all other particulars. http://www.fieldsend.org/Conference.html Registration questions? registrar@fieldsend.org Tamara Kaye Sellman • Conference Director, Field's End: A Writers' Community: www.fieldsend.org Check out our newly updated website and blog!

Labels: writers conferences

Here is the cover for the UK edition of A Princess of Landover.


The US cover will be released soon!

Labels: A Princess of Landover, Covers

The website receives a great deal of questions from fans wanting to know what new and exciting fantasy novels Terry recommends. Over the years Terry has mentioned many in Ask Terry, some of them being:

• The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
• The Briar King by Greg Keyes
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Today is the US release for a book Terry has added to that list!

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett!

Terry wrote this concerning his read of The Warded Man:

"I enjoyed The Warded Man immensely. There is much to admire in Peter Brett's writing, and his concept is brilliant. There's action and suspense all the way, plus he made me care about his characters and want to know what's going to happen next." — Terry Brooks

Peter V. Brett is also a huge fan of Terry Brooks! Last year, at the NY Comic Con, Peter introduced himself to Terry as a new Del Rey writer. Peter held in his hand a worn copy of The Elfstones of Shannara and, like many fans who meet Terry for the first time, Peter was flustered as he related what a large fan he is of Terry's work.

Below is a video of Peter talking about The Warded Man!


If you are at all interested in reading something that Terry recommends, go out and buy The Warded Man! And feel free to visit Peter at his website www.PeterVBrett.com!

Terry Brooks has long been one of the foundational authors of the fantasy genre.

With his 1977 bestselling The Sword of Shannara, he helped publishers realize there was a massive base of readers out there who craved fantasy. From that time, Terry has written numerous Shannara books, each exploring something different, each growing that foundation he helped originally to create.

But the Shannara series is not his only series, and many fantasy readers overlook Magic Kingdom of Landover!

Magic Kingdom For Sale—Sold! began a new bestselling series for Terry in 1986. The novel was a vast departure from the three sprawling epic fantasies he had written before it, the story of Chicago lawyer Ben Holiday and his purchasing of a real magic kingdom. Right from the start Terry told his readers Ben Holiday was an alter ego of sorts, as Terry used the fictional character to discuss his transition from lawyer to full-time writer. Terry wrote five volumes about Ben Holiday, his magic kingdom of Landover, and a whole cast of unique characters—the last novel, Witches' Brew, published in 1995.

After 14 years, Terry has returned to the Magic Kingdom of Landover series with the forthcoming novel, A Princess of Landover!

To celebrate Terry's August 2009 return to The Magic Kingdom of Landover, Del Rey Books asked artist Steve Stone to create two new pieces of artwork to be used on collected omnibuses of the first five books in the series. The first omnibus, The Magic Kingdom of Landover: Volume I, contains the three novels Magic Kingdom For Sale—Sold!, The Black Unicorn and Wizard At Large. Volume II contains the two novels The Tangle Box and Witches' Brew.

Today is March 1st. I decided to showcase the first cover:



On April 1st, Del Rey Books and I will send out the first of a new series of monthly Terry Brooks newsletters. The April newsletter will include the covers to Volume II and the new book, A Princess of Landover. Additional newsletters will contain more information, interviews with Terry, several fun contests, excerpts from all the books—and some other surprises!

Not signed up for Terry's newsletter? Visit www.TerryBrooks.net and use the sign-up form at the bottom of the front page or the one at the top of the News page here. It's that easy.

The return to Landover has begun!

Labels: A Princess of Landover, Landover