Interview with Scott Appleton

Scott will be joining me at the Library on Saturday May 16th from 1-2:30 for an author event! Before the event, he's agreed to chat with us!

Hi Scott thanks for joining us. Let's get started

1. What made you choose to write?

About five years ago I was a student missionary in Thailand. While there I wrote down the first ideas for a fantasy story (though at the time I'd never read fantasy) and when I returned to the States I started expanding that story. I worked various jobs, but disliked working for companies and doing tasks that took no imagination. During this time I expended my frustrations and joys into my developing storyline. From that point on the stories grew in my head and I couldn't help but write; I loved it.

2. Where do you write best?

Definitely at home sitting down listening to movie soundtracks, but location is dependant on the time of day. I find if difficult to write when a lot of activity is going on around me. Most of my writing for the first The Sword of the Dragon novel was typed into my laptop between 10 o'clock at night and 3 o'clock in the morning.

3. Is there a topic you've always wanted to write about?

Yes. I want to delve into the life of Moses through extra-biblical writings and create—what I know could be—a galvanizing novel. It will take years to accomplish, in part because I want to visit Egypt as part of my research.

4. What was the last book you've read that you've been recommending to everyone?

I'm currently reading The Bones of Makaidos which concludes Bryan Davis's Dragons in Our Midst series. It is great reading.

I didn't know about this series, but it looks good.

5. How do you get your ideas? Do you use real events in your novels and if so, can you describe one?

I don't use real events in my novels, though my books do (sometimes) mirror my life-experiences. I have to sit and ponder for a while before the stories come to me. Then I ask myself a series of 'What if' questions to determine how far my imagination can take the plot. So, in a way, I guess you could say the ideas just come to me.

Sounds like a unique approach, asking the "What if" questions.

6. How many Swords of the Six novels will there be?

The series is titled The Sword of the Dragon and I am hoping to fit all the material I've created over the past few years into seven novels. The first four titles are Swords of the Six, Offspring, The Key of Living Fire, and In Search of Dragons.

Great Titles!

7. How do you come up with your titles?

That's a tricky question because I don't really know. Most of the time I write down a couple ideas, then play around with the words and change them using a thesaurus until I am satisfied with one.

Well, it's working. I think titles plus the cover art attracts readers!

8. How can a dragon hatch human children?

The great white dragon has the power of life in his blood. By imparting his blood to six eggs he gives them life. But without the Creator's blessing he would not have been able to make them human. My thought process was that a dragon might be able to reproduce asexually.

Here's art work that accompanies the scene in the book with the daughters of the dragon just before they hatch.

9. Are all the books written? If not, do you know plot points for all of them?

The books are not all completed, however, I have a manuscript from which I am working and it tells the entire story from novel one Swords of the Six to the final one, Sword & Savior. I have a couple thousand pages of material for this series and some for a series that I will do afterward called The Death Knight Chronicles. It will take a lifetime to finish them all.

10. Are there any authors you'd love to meet?

I have become good friends with Bryan Davis after I hunted him down at a signing in New York. I'd love to meet Tony Diterlizzi.

11. Listing of your favorites:

Books: The 1611 KJV Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, The Iliad …I love old English literature.

I also really enjoyed The Spiderwick Chronicles, Dragons In Our Midst, DragonSpell

Restaurant: Olive Garden

Movies: The Black Hole, Star Wars, and Stargate

TV shows: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stargate, and The Andy Griffith Show

Check out Scott's website and blog for more info.
Also listen to the library's podcast where we interview Scott

I'm currently reading the book, but check back for a a review coming soon...