Susan

Susan asked Michael J. Sullivan:

Hi Michael. My favorite part about your series were your vibrant female characters. They were strong, capable and kind and in the world of fantasy were female characters are sometimes misrepresented or neglected I particularly appreciate it. They felt like real people and this may be a silly question, but I wonder if any of them were inspired by women you know in real life?

Michael J. Sullivan Hey Susan, thanks so much for that. When I wrote Riyria Revelations, I really considered there to be four main characters: Royce, Hadrian, Arista, and Modina/Thrace. I once counted it up and the women save the men's butts just as often as the other way around. Didn't realize that until after I was done writing - but it was good to see.

Gwen and Arista each have portions of their personality taken from my own wife, Robin. Arista most of all. She tends to be a polarizing character, which I never quite understand because I've always loved her. Ironically, our daughter, Sarah, who adores her mother, didn't initially warm to Arista. As the series went along she came around - but I thought it was funny given how highly she regards Robin.

Thanks for asking.

More Answered Questions

Mike Taylor

Mike Taylor asked Michael J. Sullivan:

That is so insightful. Now for the hard ones....Dragonlance by Weis and Hickman? Influential or not? Now I have to know....is Beatrice, even remotely based upon anyone you know? (your wife?) Do you identify with any one of your characters over another (please don't say Nyphron!) Thank you for the replies and your stories. Love your wife's thoughts at the end. So, so cool! Hooked.

Beth

Beth asked Michael J. Sullivan:

I am currently reading Age of Empyre. I have read pretty much everything you have written. I have to say even without finishing it yet, you have out done yourself. You have moved my heart like no one since Tolkien. I devour books, looking for one that will make me think and feel something greater than myself. Brother, you HAVE DONE IT! Thank you and please will you Never stop writing? I couldn't bare it.

Tyler Lee

Tyler Lee asked Michael J. Sullivan:

Hello! I am Tyler, and you may or may not remember that I emailed you once before. I have a question on techniques to writing stories. I do write out an outline and I still get stuck. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!

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Michael J. Sullivan

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