I've been going through and reading all the Dark Hunter books by Sherrilyn Kenyon for the second (okay some third, fourth or...you get the idea) time and again I'm amazed at her incredible ability to world-build. Its fascinating. I admire her and so many other authors for their ability to create a whole world where everything matches up book after book after book. How she can add one tiny detail in that you don't realize could even be important and then books later its actual a major detail in the series and you get that AH HA moment of clarity. Love that. When I look at how something seemingly so small can turn out to be something so much bigger five books later or how an author can know an entire series before hand, know exactly what to do in each book to get the series where it needs to go I'm enamored. Its a special talent and one that keeps me coming back again and again, rushing to the bookstore each time a new book is released.
Who are some of the author that amaze you with their ability to world-build book after book?
12 comments:
This is a great topic and worldbuilding is something I'd like to get better at. Sherrilyn Kenyon does a terrific worldbuilding job and so does Anny Cook. Her Mystic Valley and Flowers of Camelot series are so intricate and involved. The books beautifully written. I know she has maps and bibles but I'm not certain about other tools she might use. She researches like crazy. Amazing. Doubt I'd have the patience.
I'd like to get better at it too, Regina.
I think one author who's good at this is Lori Foster. A few of her connecting series are still favorites of mine. Another is Christine Feehan, and she has several different worlds going at once. The Ghostwalkers, Drake Sisters and Carpathians. Amazing woman! Also, some of Nora Roberts earlier series like the MacGregors was really good. I soaked each of those books up. I have the whole series and I've read them more than once.
Fun topic, Kelley. Now I feel like doing a re-read. :)
Anny Cook's Mystic Valley is very well thought out. She even has MAPS on her website of this fictional place! Anyone who can think up such details, including policies, customs, language, etc.., deserves a round of applause.
Katie McAlister, J.R. Ward, J.K. Rowling and Deb Cooke.
Yes Regina, I think you hit the nail on the head, it takes a lot of patience. I'd like to get better at it too.
Anne, Yes love Lori's connecting series. Visitation is one of my fav.
Molly, Wow, the maps sound really neat.
Amy, JK Rowling is another good one. Love Harry, LOL.
So far my absolute, must have favorite is Erin McCarthys Seven Deadly Sins series......I could reread those 100 times each!!
S. Kenyon is right up there too....her worlds come to life and for someone that never thought I would enjoy a book like that....she has enthralled me!!!
Fun topic today!!! It's always fun to hear who everyone else enjoys reading so I can add a few more names to my wish list!! =)
I ADORE Sherrilyn...and Christine Feehan and Robin Owens and Rowena Cherry and Tee Morris and Piers Anthony and...well, do you want the full list or just the top ten?
Now, one thing I should note... Sherrilyn is a pantser. In Boston a few weeks back she said that, like many pantsers, she has a whole arc in the back of her head, fiddling at her subconscious, but she doesn't see it all when she's writing a scene. So, even she doesn't know that seemingly insignificant detail will turn into a big deal later. Cool, huh? I know it's that way for me, but it's always fun to hear other authors say it.
Regina and Molly--thank you for those lovely words. Brenna, I'm a pantser, too. I keep series bibles to keep track of the details that I've written, but I don't really know the up-coming details until I get to them. I do have a broad idea of where the series in general are going. That's about it.
And I do hours of research. Probably still get something wrong, but my aim is to get as many details correct that I can.
And yes, Kelley, the maps and family trees for the series are on my website. The maps are the most fun!
Tonya, speaking of Kenyon....how far are you??? LOL.
Brenna, Wow! Neat deatail about Kenyon. That amazes me. You know, I tried one Feehan book, the first in the Carpathia series and I couldn't get into it. I've heard such great things about her books though. I might have to try again.
Anny, I haven't had to do tons of research yet. I've talked with a few people about books. On The ARt of Love I did a good amount of research on the Maori culture and art.
Nodding to Kelley. Christine's Carpathians are very different than Sherrilyn's Hunters. It's amazing to me to see people who like one or the other but don't like both, though. It's amazing, because you get to see just how varied the readers are, in likes and dislikes...in personal nits... It's like I've always said. No book is universally loved or universally hated. Can't happen.
Anny, many pantsers don't realize what their subconscious is setting up, until it appears on the page. Wondering? Does your mind ever throw you a Crazy Ivan that makes you stop and say, "When did that happen? Oh, I wrote it way back then and didn't realize I'd been working toward this."? That is such a cool feeling.
B
Yep, Brenna--that happens all the time. I just roll with it.
Kelley, by far the most research has been for my current wip--a time travel set in 500 BC North America. Yeah....lots of research!
Anne McCaffrey, Jayne Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz), Nalini Singh, Mercedes Lackey and Yasmine Galenorn. All of these authors immerse you in their worlds and make you feel like the characters are old friends you'd like to hang out with.
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