The following was submitted by Todd McCaffrey on his experiences creating Dragonheart, his latest novel chronicling the land of Pern:
I started writing Dragonheart on the heels of Dragonharper. I wanted to continue the story of Kindan and Lorana, which had begun in Dragonsblood. But as I progressed, I realized that I wasn’t ready to tell that story and that, in fact, I had to lay some groundwork. A lot of this is because I realized that the story of Lorana and Kindan was a bigger story and needed more characters for the telling. Six months into the novel, I decided to scrap most of what I’d written—it just wasn’t working.Having made that painful decision, I found that the book moved forward again, although it was much different from what I’d originally envisioned. For one, it was better. For two, it was bigger. And as I moved on with Dragonheart I realized that I didn’t have just one but three novels in a tight-knit arc. I was wrong. As it turns out, I’ve got four.
Dragonheart tells the story of Fiona, Lord Holder Bemin’s only surviving child, starting when she is almost fourteen, nearly twelve Turns (Pernese years) after the Plague. Of all the characters I’ve written so far, Fiona amazes me the most. She does things that I wouldn’t have imagined, and makes them work in ways that has my head shaking in surprise and admiration.
Dragonheart is the longest book I’ve written to date. It needed the length to get Fiona’s story told right. By the end of the book, I hope you’ll find that Fiona has found a place in your heart, perhaps even as dear a one as Lessa’s. And now that I’m nearly finished with the next book, I can tell you that Fiona’s story will continue even as we reunite with Kindan and Lorana and the three of them grope for solutions to the huge problem facing all Pern—too much Thread and too few dragons to fight it!
Todd McCaffrey appears courtesy of Del Rey’s DRIN newsletter. Read the current issue here.
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For Todd McCaffrey’s Del Rey page click here.
Dragonheart tells the story of Fiona, Lord Holder Bemin's only surviving child, starting when she is almost fourteen, nearly twelve Turns (Pernese years) after the Plague. Of all the characters I've written so far, Fiona amazes me the most. She does things that I wouldn't have imagined, and makes them work in ways that has my head shaking in surprise and admiration.Dragonheart is the longest book I've written to date. It needed the length to get Fiona's story told right. By the end of the book, I hope you'll find that Fiona has found a place in your heart, perhaps even as dear a one as Lessa's. And now that I'm nearly finished with the next book, I can tell you that Fiona's story will continue even as we reunite with Kindan and Lorana and the three of them grope for solutions to the huge problem facing all Pern--too much Thread and too few dragons to fight it!
For Todd McCaffrey's Del Rey page click here.
To sign up for Del Rey's DRIN newsletter where you will be updated on the latest Del Rey news and releases click here.
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