Ask the Author

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Balinor

Hi Mark.

Just wanted to say if your ever in need of a proof reader I have a lot of spare time and not much to do. Let me know if you would like me to help whenever and I can send you my e-mail address (that is, if it's not on chronicles somewhere).

Also, are you planning on any signings to Slough/Windsor/Salisbury in the near future?

If I'm honest, Balinor, I have a rather large number of volunteers to be proof readers right now, but send me your email address and I'll be sure to send you something to scan for me.

No plans at the moment to come to your area for a signing. I'm in Rickmansworth tomorrow for an event ... signing in Chorleywood bookshop on Saturday, which is not that far away as well, but nothing planned in Slough, Windsor, or Salisbury in the diary.

[Jordan Kirk]

Hi Mark

I just wanted to ask how you come up with the names for your characters. Sorry if this has already been asked in some other post, but I haven't been browsing the forum a lot recently so I wouldn't know if it has. I think it would be a great help to me and other aspiring authors to know how to come up with a good fantasy sounding name. You seem to do it so well so I thought you would be the best person to ask.

Two more things, if you would be so kind. Firstly will you be doing any signings anywhere near great yarmouth or norwich? And secondly could you possiby try and persuade your publishers to release Imperial Traitor earlier because I think I speak for all of your fans when I say, I can't wait til september.

Many thanks in advance

Jordan

[Mark Robson]

Jordan, I get names from all over the place -people I meet at booksignings, a big book of 80 000 baby names, (!) maps, even really odd places eg. Akhdar sounds like a magician to me - I actually saw the name in Oman where it is a brand name for bottled water!

Signings near Norwich - none planned at the moment, but I may look to rectify that before the end of the year.

As for Imperial Traitor, I suspect you will see it on the shelves in the latter half of August, rather than September. It will certainly be released to the bookshops then.

[Nesacat]

I asked this in the Book Hauls thread and Allegra suggested I ask it here. Today I found Imperial Assassin in the book store.

This is the first time I've seen any of your books here and this was the only copy of the only title they had.

I know it is part of a set of books and it's not the first. Could I read it and not be totally lost, even if I don't have the first book?

I don't know if I'll be able to find the others until I get to the UK for Eastercon next year.

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Nesacat

I asked this in the Book Hauls thread and Allegra suggested I ask it here. Today I found Imperial Assassin in the book store.

This is the first time I've seen any of your books here and this was the only copy of the only title they had.

I know it is part of a set of books and it's not the first. Could I read it and not be totally lost, even if I don't have the first book?

I don't know if I'll be able to find the others until I get to the UK for Eastercon next year.

Yes, Nesa, you can read it out of sequence. I deliberately wrote it such that you could pick up the story at that point. If you subsequently manage to find a copy of Imperial Spy, you can treat it like a prequel.

[Nesacat]

Thanks Mark. I'll read Imperial Assassin then and pick up the rest in the UK. Was glad to find this given all the reviews here and having wanted to read the books for a while.

[Mithridelle]

Hey Mark,
I just wanted to know - what was your origanal name for Femke's master? In Imperial Spy his name was Ferrand, but in Imperial Assassin his name was changed to Ferdand... was the name Ferrand just a big mistake or was the mistake Ferdand? Sorry for such a lame question, but I just wanted to know...

Mithridelle

[Mark Robson]

Mithridelle, that was a rather embarrassing mistake that slipped past all the proof readers, the editor and myself. Ferdand was actually a typo in the first mention of his name in book 2 that got perpetuated throughout the book. As soon as I realised his name had been corrupted from Ferrand in Book 1 to Ferdand in Book 2, I contacted the publishers and asked them to change one of them - they've still not got around to it. It would make sense financially to change Ferrand to Ferdand, as his name is only mentioned 3 times in the first book, but lots in the second. Whether they will ever do it is another question entirely.

[Mithridelle]

Poor corrupted Ferrand...Well, thanks for explaning that to me! Sure helped sort out a part of my overly cluttered brain.

Mithridelle

[chipo_x]

i met you once wth my friends and you signed a bookmark!i think it was whSmith in brent cross it was really cool to meet you
i just joined about 10 minutes ago....

[SPKuja]

Originally Posted by Mark Robson

Mithridelle, that was a rather embarrassing mistake that slipped past all the proof readers, the editor and myself. Ferdand was actually a typo in the first mention of his name in book 2 that got perpetuated throughout the book. As soon as I realised his name had been corrupted from Ferrand in Book 1 to Ferdand in Book 2, I contacted the publishers and asked them to change one of them - they've still not got around to it. It would make sense financially to change Ferrand to Ferdand, as his name is only mentioned 3 times in the first book, but lots in the second. Whether they will ever do it is another question entirely.

I think that goes and answers my question, as I was going to ask if Captain Ferdand of the Wavedancer was in any way linked to Lord Ferdand, Guildmaster of the Guild of Assasins.

I have to admit, I didn't notice the name difference... And I have to admit, I have read the Imperial series a few times over now

[Mark Robson]

That's where I got Ferdand from! I thought it was strange that I should make an error like that - I had used the name before. Thank you, SPKuja. You've just restored my sense of sanity! It's been a long while since I read First Sword, so Captain Ferdand had slipped my memory.

[SPKuja]

Always glad to be a help ^_^ Though I won't mention the few spelling errors in The Forging of the Sword

Another question that has been on my mind though, is do you re-read your own work? I personally find if ever I read any of the stuff I write, I find it boring, but then again, I know whats going to happen each time, as it is my own creation, is this the same for you, or do you some times forget certain aspects of the book?

[GOLLUM]

HMMM...well I've been through all the questions on this thread and I couldn't find the one I wanted to know. It may be on your website and it's not specifically about your current series. In fact it's a pretty standard query and fairly broad and you've probably answered it elsewhere but for the record "What are your major literary influences?" I'm always interested in trying to spot what influences a writer has in their work..

[Mark Robson]

In my first series it was all the usual suspects: Tolkien, Gemmell, Feist, Eddings, but more than any of them - Elizabeth Moon. I loved her Deed of Paksenarrion series and read it several times.

In the Imperial books, I would say that Gemmell was more the major influence, though I would have to add Robin Hobb to the list.

I couldn't realistically state the Dragon Orb books were not influenced by McCaffrey - anyone writing about dragons would be lying if they said otherwise. In this series, however, I also draw on Capt WE Johns (Biggles) and Sqn Ldr Duncan Grinnell Milne (Wind in the Wires) as I mix up the fantasy with the pilots of World War I.

People reading my work will probably see other influences that are more sub-conscious, (I've read a lot over the years) but I'd say that the list above nails the major ones.