Ask the Author: Brett Salter
Answered Questions (11)
Brett Salter
Hey there, Haylee. I most definitely prefer to be self-published. There are no deadlines, and I have complete artistic freedom. If you've read any of my books, you'll notice almost immediately, that I am not a professional writer. And this is because my entire series is really just a labor of love and a passion project that I take on by myself. Now, I would LOVE to be traditionally published to take some of the stuff off my plate like editing, promoting, etc, but for now, I like the self-published schtick!
Brett Salter
Hey Haylee. My apologies for taking so long to get back to you. I was not notified of a new question. I know it’s cliché, but I would say I am a strong proponent of using your influences. That way what you love will come out in your writing. If you like stories about ghosts, write stories about ghosts. If you watch TV shows about unsolved crimes, make your series about unsolved mysteries. If the coolest thing you can imagine is a boy that can secretly transform into a dragon and go on quests with a knight-in-training…..um. Read my books!!! And THEN go write about them. The point is that writing can be daunting. And if you want to make the challenge more enjoyable, then you should dabble into what you like. It makes the climb much more agreeable and all the more rewarding once you get to the top.
Brett Salter
Hmmm. Honestly, I am not sure. When you clicked LIKE or COMMENT, did you get an error?
Brett Salter
Sure thing. So, when I moved into my igloo, my friends threw me a house-warming party. And now, I'm homeless.
Brett Salter
My first series (The Talisman Series) is not Christian/faith-based, but I am a believer and we pray in my house. =-)
Brett Salter
Oh my. How come I never saw this? I am sooo sorry. I was never alerted to this. My apologies. I like to look into mythology and legend to find inspiration for new characters. With the elements being a major part of my series, I usually try to include one or more elements in each new character too. Both in their names and their entire aesthetic. But I also pull from plenty of other sources including video games, anime, and historical events and people. Inspiration is key, but I try to do original things as much as possible with my stories and characters.
Brett Salter
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Brett Salter
Thank you Maura! Another fantastic inquiry! As you've proposed, I HAVE read many books in my life, for sure. And though I have many favorite authors, I would say the one that inspired/molded my writing the most would be Piers Anthony.
I think he was the first author I read that included humor in his fantasy novels. I really took a lot away from that. And although my Middle Grade, Talisman Series is (for the most part) on the serious side, I DO try to implement moments of lightheartedness in my stories to keep the mood from being too dour all the time.
I fell in love with his character creation too! I try to incorporate his wackiness in my characters but still base them in reality. I really want to someday write a serious as zany and off-the-wall as The Xanth Series with characters like Mr. Anthony's. I think that would be a blast!
I think he was the first author I read that included humor in his fantasy novels. I really took a lot away from that. And although my Middle Grade, Talisman Series is (for the most part) on the serious side, I DO try to implement moments of lightheartedness in my stories to keep the mood from being too dour all the time.
I fell in love with his character creation too! I try to incorporate his wackiness in my characters but still base them in reality. I really want to someday write a serious as zany and off-the-wall as The Xanth Series with characters like Mr. Anthony's. I think that would be a blast!
Brett Salter
Great question, Maura! So, I have a character in book 3 and beyond named Jericho, and he is easily my favorite character. He's ripped straight out of a shounen anime being the silent, mysterious type with blue/blonde chunked hair. He wears a hoodie and is usually meditating or just being aloof from the rest of the group. When it's time for battle though, he's the fiercest and bravest, never backing down from a fight. He's basically a ninja on steroids. And he ALWAYS puts in his earbuds and blasts some abrasive, punk-rock music while cutting down Darkbrands! Plus, his magic spell, Chaos Eater, is pretty original for the fantasy genre. I've never read anything like it before. Thank you, Maura!
Brett Salter
That's a great question. I would have to say that one time, in college, I woke up and my entire ear was black and blue. Like it was bruised, but it did not hurt at all. It was the strangest thing. After about a day or two, the coloring went away, but I never figured out what happened. Of course, I never went to the doctor because I didn't have any money, so I always wondered what happened to my ear that night. It could have been an alien abduction that resulted in a genetic experiment, or a violent episode of sleepwalking, or even a practical joke by a roommate. The point is, I will NEVER know.
Brett Salter
For sure, I would go to the planet of Remnant from the RWBY series. The first thing I would do is figure out my semblance so I don't get killed by an Grimm. Then, I would make my weapon (which is also a gun, duh!) and start training at one of the four kingdom's Huntsman Academies. Probably Haven, since it seems like the chillest!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more