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[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 38 points39 points  (5 children)

Hi, this is Tammy's Spouse-Creature Tim. Looking forward to this! :)

In case anybody's curious about what Tammy's reading right now, it's Libba Bray's second Diviners book, Lair of Dreams....

[–]abookwitheyes 12 points13 points  (1 child)

I'm reading the same book as Tamora Pierce right now! This is awesome!

Edit: no questions, just wanted to thank you for being an amazing influence, and writing some of the best books to grow up with.

I also may or may not have named my family dog Domino- my parents think it's only because he's black and white, but I always giggle when they call him Dom, because they have no idea :p

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)


[–]SeazTheDay 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Hi Spouse-Creature! Do you have a character/s that are inspired by you or share some of your traits? Would you tell us about it if that were the case?

[–]TimELiebeAMA Author Tim Liebe[🍰] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Hi, SeaztheDay! Here's my own Reddit account which I just signed up for now, rather than using Tammy's....

She tells me Evin Larse in THE IMMORTALS Quartet is based on me some (though I can't juggle to save my life!), as is Owen of Jesslaw from PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL (though I'm a lot less phlegmatic than he is!).

The character I most explicitly resemble, though, is in the CIRCLE Universe's stand-alone Original Novel for Audio Melting Stones - Oswin Forest, the Mr. Fixit of Starns, who seems to collect orphaned children like Evvy used to collect stray cats. She wrote the character with me in mind, and I played the character in the Full Cast Audio version, available now on Audible.

[–]Jequila[🍰] 41 points42 points  (3 children)

Please, please, please let me put this one to rest. It's been bothering me forever! I just want to draw accurate fanart! Boys hair length. I remember that someone had "short hair like a commoner", does this mean that the sons of nobles have long hair? How long, jaw length? Every time I try to draw Jon, Raoul, Neal, Cleon, or any of the other boys I always get stuck!

[edit] I got so exited about asking a question that I forgot what else I wanted to say. I've been reading your books for about 13 years now, and I just want to thank you for giving us real female characters. Ones that have periods, and are less than pleased about growing breasts. Females that have sex, and it isn't seen as wicked. Women that throw up and that don't always look perfect. Women that work hard and become strong, but don't need to throw away or scorn femininity! Just, thank you for real women that I was always able to look up to :)

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 22 points23 points  (2 children)

Alanna wore her hair cut to jaw length for years; now she's let it grow and pins it up. All the squires and knights wear their hair earlobe length to chin length, or shaved to mid-ear and bowl-cut the rest of the way. They let their hair grow after they're no longer in active field service usually.

Thanks for the compliment--that's exactly what I try to do, and it's always good to hear that I succeed!

[–]katniqp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the same vein, I have also been wondering what period in Earth history is most similiar to Tortallan fashion? I've been trying to draw fanart but the dresses always seem too modern, and I could never figure out the difference between caps and veils?

[–]Jequila[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you!! I'm going to be doodling characters for ages now to get them right. I saw you mention in another reply that you wanted to get away from the cold. You are very welcome to visit us in Australia ;) Specifically Queensland, where it's never actually cold and all your fans want to meet you! We have beautiful scenery to inspire new lands in your books, too.

[–]PavvyPower 30 points31 points  (1 child)

Two Questions:

Any idea on when will the first book in the Numair series be coming out (The Gift of Power; Exile)? I know you've been working hard- but the anticipation has just been mounting for so long.

And: If you could write any "fanfiction" or cross over, between your works and another person's, what would you choose and why?

You are my number one personal hero. As a person on the autism spectrum, your books helped me to not only graduate from high school, but also inspired me to go on and achieve my masters and start working towards my doctorate.

The first time I picked up one of your books was after I had been expelled from yet another school for bad behavior and hanging out with the wrong crowd. I was attending a new special school for autistic individuals with severe behavioral issues. I was going down a really awful path, and it all changed when I found your universes. So, just. Thanks, I wouldn't be who I am, or even be close to where I am without you.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

It's a good thing I can type, because you've left me speechless. I'm so honored that my books helped you in such a hard time, and that as a result you've changed your life so powerfully!


As for fanfic/crossover, when I was a kid I wrote original Star Trek fanfic (s'truth), and in the `oos I wrote fanfic of a kind for Marvel Comics with my spouse-creature, a 6-book arc set in the Daredevil universe. These days I'm happier to read other people's universes and create in my own, conserving my creative energy as it were.

Again, thank you!

[–]KateSullen[🍰] 28 points29 points  (3 children)

Oh boy. Get ready for about fifteen years of agonising over odd details. I love your work, and go off in my head imagining a lot of this stuff. I'm a lover of unique universes, and I've always found Tortall compelling. I'd love answers to any of the following!

  1. What is in the Code of Ten?
  2. What led to the conquering of Barzun?
  3. How does the Tortallan Prime Minister get his position? Is it just a broship thing, or is there a process they have to go under to get the job?
  4. Is there a physical Conté fief? Is it Corus? I've always wondered what being a Conté means if you're not one of the royal ones.
  5. Is there a creation myth in this universe? There are so many different cultures sandwiched together, I always wondered how you saw them coming to be in this universe. (heh, religion student.)

Whew. I'll stop myself there!

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 21 points22 points  (1 child)

  1. I don't remember the Code of Ten. Sorry!

  2. The Old King, Jasson, got greedy, and saw an opportunity.

  3. Prime Minister is by appointment by the Crown, though it can be disputed by the Council of Lords.

  4. There is a physical Conté fief, near Cavall on the southern reach of the Royal Forest, as it happens. It's administered by a seneschal and held by any royal son without lands or unhanded duties (such as Lord Admiral or Prime Minister) of his own.

  5. There are multiple creation myths, one for each culture, and sometimes two, depending on whether a new religion took over a previously existing culture!

Good questions!

[–]KateSullen[🍰] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! I know they're weird questions, but you're talking to a girl who pretended to be Kel as a kid more than any other fictional character (I might have been a solid 3-4 inches taller than every kid I ever met lol). That being said, my weapon of choice ended up being a longbow...hm. Needless to say, I appreciate your willingness to chat with your fans and answer strange questions on your universe.


"Broship thing"

Hahaha that's amazing.


I love your books, and have for many years. My mom bought me Wild Magic because it has horses on the cover--I was hooked pretty fast. I'm really looking forward to Tris' Lightsbridge book whenever it comes out.

So, since I need to have a question: What is your typical (if there is such a thing) timeline for writing a book?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 19 points20 points  (1 child)

I don't really have a timeline--my publishers have a deadline, though in recent years I haven't exactly been making that, due to a longer book than expected or personal issues. When my books were shorter and my life was less complicated, I was able to write a 200-page book in six months, and re-write it in five, but obviously that has changed! Writing longer books, I want to do a good job by the story. With luck, though, now that this first Numair/Arram book is done, I'll be doing a book a year for a while!

[–]darkingsrock[🍰] 20 points21 points  (3 children)

Hey Tammy, you're my favorite author, and I can't wait for Numair's story.

Could you tell me the name (or make one up) of the Unmagic Mage in Magic Steps? His story just breaks my heart, and I feel like it'd be a tiny bit less painful if I could imagine him with a name.

And, if no one else has asked yet, I'd obviously love to hear anything you can share about the Tortall companion. Thanks for taking the time to answer questions!

(also, this has been my username all over the internet since I was 11 years old. Darkings rocked then, and they rock now, and no one else has ever claimed it before me on any site in all that time. So thanks for that too!)

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 20 points21 points  (2 children)

His name was Fareed. If he had a last name, he'd forgotten it, because he was sold to the crime family when his magic manifested itself.

The Companion is now THE SPY GUIDE. Alanna is about to present George with a little surprise. She claims she is going to stay home and raise this one, but just in case, George decides to clear out the room next to his office that he used as a nursery when Thom and the twins were small. In recent years he's been using it to store miscellaneous papers, and that's what we see in the GUIDE--the results as George goes through a particular box, including Daine's notes on immortals, reports from different parts of the realm on sightings of the immortals, an exchange of letters between Jon, Wyldon, and Gareth the Elder on whether Wyldon will accept the office of Training Master, John Juggler's handbook for the Nursemaids who will train beginning-level Sparrows (agents), Geeorge's own guide for a young spy (Aly), and all sorts of other goodies!

I'm also (very slowly) working on another collection, and I hope to include a second darking story in it. Did you see the one in TORTALL AND OTHER LANDS?

[–]Riodancer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I loved the Darking story! You should definitely include a second story. I feel like they have their own little agenda for the world, and only a few have any idea what they're capable of doing :)

[–]minnabird 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ahh! Is this where Falcon Treetop comes in? (You don't have to answer, just excitedly speculating.)

[–]flotiste 20 points21 points  (1 child)

I just wanted to tell you about my introduction to your books. I was about 10 years old, and the local librarian recommended your books to me as a book nerd who had run out of reading material (this is in the late 80s). I read the Song of the Lioness and was absolutely hooked. It was the first time in my life there was a female protagonist I could actually identify with, who wasn't girly, and didn't do any of the feminine stuff that everyone was telling me to do. It made a huge impact on my life, and gave me the courage to be myself, when everything around me was telling me not to. I just really wanted to thank you for that. I've since recommended you books to every girl I know that's been struggling to find a place, and they've all loved them!

My question is, what inspired you to write such great female characters?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

You see, this is the reason I write what I do. Your experience is just what I wanted of Alanna's story and of all of my books: what my reaction would have been at that age, if I had picked up a book or had a book recommended to me and it turned out to have a girl hero I could identify with. I found a few in historical novels--THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND; MARA, DAUGHTER OF THE NILE, and CADDIE WOODLAWN--but the ones in fantasy seemed flawed to me until I discovered Lessa of Pern in DRAGONFLIGHT. I wrote what I wanted to read, and when it came time to tackle my first book as an adult writer, I did the same thing. I wrote what I had wanted to read as a girl and about which I had written so much as a girl. I've been writing more of those books ever since, expanding my view of what makes a heroic girl, because I'm still writing what I want to read! Okay, I'm writing a trilogy with a boy hero now, but he has girls and women in his life, and when I'm done, I'll be back to the girls!

[–]WildbowStabby Winner, AMA Author Wildbow 16 points17 points  (1 child)

Hi Tamora, you're a source of inspiration. Your own experiences (outlined in your biography) mirror my own as I started writing at 13 as a form of escapism and venting in respect to bullying and my own parent's divorce. I now write fiction as a full time job.

I had a discussion earlier today (technically yesterday) with a group of other writers about community and fans. In the modern era, with the internet available, a lot of authors (and creators of all types) are maintaining closer relationships with their audience/fan communities, which is a positive thing. On the other hand, there's a negative flip side, where some creative types are cutting ties with their fanbases, because they find it too much or too negative.

  • How do you find the balance of positive comments vs. negative? Even though the positive commentary outweighs the negative, the negative can sometimes carry more weight and get to us. How do you find you handle each, personally?

  • Have you ever reached a point where the criticism was too much? Where negative feedback or the challenge of managing your audience reached a breaking point or where you had to step away or cut ties? I'm interested in your response as someone who got their start before the internet was in full swing.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I find the balance of comments overwhelmingly positive, though in recent years I have encountered negative areas, like everyone else. It's a hazard of the internet. I try to let the positives weigh more. I confess, I get defensive, and upset, when the criticism is of my work. Sometimes, I'm ashamed to say, I lose my temper. If it gets too bad, I bow out for a time and cool off. It's the only way I can survive on the internet.

As I said, I have stepped away. Usually I go back. I also got my start before the internet was in full swing, and sometimes I find it simply overwhelming. But I really don't want to let it stop me from interacting with fans!

[–]herberta2006 17 points18 points  (3 children)

I remember learning once, probably close to a decade ago at this point, that the original version had Alanna ending up with Jon instead of George (and I am sincerely glad you changed it!). If Alanna had stayed with Jon, how would that have impacted future Tortall books, particularly Kel and Alanna's own children?

I also just love your books. I've been a huge fan for about 15 years now. I've reread your Tortall books so many times at this point that I may need to consider replacing some of them with new copies. Thank you for your work!

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 19 points20 points  (2 children)

If you are considering replacing any of the Alannas or Daines }8-) , Simon & Schuster just did re-releases of both with new covers in trade paperback. Just saying'.

Alanna's children would have been far more stiff and formal, the watchful sort of kids produced by a conflict-filled marriage with distant parents (Alanna always in the field, not performing diplomatic duties well). Jon would spend as much time with them as he could, but he would be forever reminding them of their responsibilities. The case with Kel would be the same, though Alanna would have the added awesomeness of being queen, and Kel couldn't escape hearing that her majesty was avoiding the king and the palace over a fight about The Girl.

[–]OriginalStomper 17 points18 points  (1 child)

Hey, I'm the father of /u/herberta2006. I also enjoyed reading all the Tortall books while she was growing up.

Thank you for the inspiration you provided my daughter and the opportunity you provided me. While you were on a book tour through Houston (I forget which Tortall release), I scored major "Dad Points" by taking her out of school and driving her across town to see you at a different school -- all with permission from the various administrators, of course. Arranging for her to see her favorite author in person was a real coup for me, and it was a useful balance against the many times I embarrassed her during her teens.

[–]herberta2006 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Yes. The one and only time in 13 years I was allowed to skip school for something that was not an illness or funeral.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 18 points19 points  (1 child)

Folks, it is 9:30 Eastern at my house; I've been at this off and on all day, and I am retreating from the field of honor. But I will be back to Reddit in November! Keep checking my webpage: www.tamorapierce.com. As soon as we have a day and a subReddit we will post it. In the meantime, thank you Reddit staff and fans for a wonderful, warm welcome and a lot of great, interesting questions!

Your appreciative author, Tammy

[–]SeazTheDay 15 points16 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy! You often mention that the Trickster series was one of the harder ones to write as you usually write mages and knights, not spies - what made you want to branch out and write Aly? What kept you going, even at the most frustrating parts?

Will you ever go back to it and write more about Ochobai, Junim and Ulasu?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I wanted to write Aly because almost from the time LIONESS RAMPANT came out fans wanted to hear about Alanna's daughter. Most of them were positive that she would be a knight. Knowing something of mothers and daughters, I was sure she would be no such thing, but what else she was I didn't know. I mentioned it to my Random House editor while I was working on the Kel books, and she said, "I think she could be a spy."

Now, I'm a fan of John Le Carré's George Smiley books (re: the movie--NOT the Gary Oldman one, but the BBC series of "Tinker Tailor," please, with Alec Guiness!), so the idea of writing her as a spy seemed right and reasonable to me. And I wanted a change of scenery. It was right around the third chapter, when I was getting a little bored, that I realized I couldn't liven things up as I usually did, with a fight scene. A good spy doesn't get in fights. A good spy is quiet. A good spy isn't noticed. A good spy is all the things I hadn't written about! But there I was, I was stuck with her. And more than that--she is girly, flirty, casual, manipulative--all things I am not and seldom like. I created her that way because I try to make all of my girl heroes different, so many girls can identify with at least one of them, but in writing Aly I discovered I was more like her mother than I realized! What kept me going was the surrounding characters, and also the fact that I knew there was an idealist in there somewhere. I just had to keep writing until she popped out--and she did. Then I could do what I always do with my heroes, get her into more trouble than she could handle.

At the present my path takes me nowhere near the Copper Isles. Maybe in stories; I don't know. We'll have to see!


Hi Tamora! Thanks so much for doing this AMA! First, you are, hands down, my favorite YA fantasy author. I grew up reading your books and found your strong female characters deeply inspiring. I still reread your books at least once a year so thank you for creating worlds that are so engaging! I look forward to all your future projects :)

Second, talking about your future works, do you have any updates on your current and future projects? I know that you have stated that you were working on a story for Maura from the Tortall Universe and I've really been looking forward to that!

Third, do you have any plans to write a story set in the Copper Isles again? I know you probably have a million things on your plate, but I would so love to revisit Aly, Nawat, and Dove. Dove in particular was one of my favorite characters from all of your books combined.

Lastly, this isn't a question, but a very minor character from Mastiff has my very unique first name and I like to think that you remembered my name from a book signing and used it. You definitely won't remember but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy every time I see my name in one of your books!

Thank you again for being amazing!


Nuts! I hope it was a very good character, and thank you for the compliments!

Right now I'm working on what was supposed to be a two-book series about Numair when he was at the university at Carthak, and is now three books. The first is titled THE GIFT OF POWER and I'm handing in the first draft this week! There are rough drafts of the other two already, thank heavens. The first is slated for Spring 2017, I hope.

At the same time, friends and I are compiling what was formerly a Tortall Companion Book and is now A Spy's Guide to Tortall, an assembly of papers that George had in a box in his office. That's scheduled for next year.

After the Numair/Arram books I have Lightsbridge, a Circle of Magic book for Scholastic. And then I return to Tortall, but not to Maura or to the Copper Isles. On my editor's advice I'm going to take a new turn, and head back in time to 400 years in the past, around the fall of the empire that included all of the Eastern and Southern Lands, and the banishing of the immortals to the Realms of the Gods. Beyond that I don't know much--yet! I am working (slowly) on a book of short stories, though, and maybe Maura or the Kyprish folks will show up there!

[–]silverfin37 14 points15 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy! I first started reading your books when I was 10 years old and I still love them to this day (I'm 23 now). My questions are: What was Alanna and George's wedding day like? How did Alanna cope with having her first baby? Was she good at changing diapers haha :)

Alanna was my first Tortallan hero and is still my favourite! Though I have a special place in my heart for Daine and Kel too.


After an absolutely horrified attendance at the royal wedding, she let George talk her into getting married in the temple of the Great Mother, just them and their particular friends, with a nice dinner at Myles' house. It took him a while, because just saying "wedding" and "married" for a time made her teeth chatter.

The baby? She was fine with giving birth--she expected pain. Nursing was a little harder, but Mistress Cooper talked her through it. George changed diapers after the first really messy time. He didn't mind, and she did!

[–]forever_lona[🍰] 15 points16 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy!

Long time fan, I still remember having to fight amongst my classmates to borrow the Lioness quartet from our school library. I believe yours was the first series to ever really get me into reading, and I cant thank you enough for it!

I would love to know where you found the inspiration for the Alanna character. She is, by far, my favorite character of any series still (I'm 28 now and a fairly accomplished reader!), and someone I aspire to be like in many ways, insofar as you can aspire to be like a fictional character.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Alanna is my younger sister, Kim. She has always been the most stubborn person I know, and that includes me and my Spouse-Creature! She's a paramedic, a flight paramedic, and a nurse, so she is a genuine hero, just like her character, and she loves cats.

[–]SaltySeilde 14 points15 points  (6 children)

Hi Tammy! First, I love you so much!

Second, please put me out of my misery: What's going on with Kel and Dom? Can we look forward to anything between them ever or is it just a crush on Kel's end? Please, I need to know. This has haunted me, and others, for years.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 21 points22 points  (5 children)

::sigh:: Well, I'm not going to get to write about them anytime soon... It's just a crush, maybe on both sides, but it's over. They're both too busy, not together enough for anything to come of it. New Haven is just growing so fast, and there are Neal and Yuki's children to be aunt to, and squires to train!

[–]WendyP14 12 points13 points  (0 children)

This makes me rather inexplicably sad, but it makes sense. I hope we get to see Kel again someday, she's always been my favourite.

[–]sylvershade 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I like Dom but I'm glad it didn't end up with a definite "she ended up with so-and-so". There are way too many books for girls and young women that, despite having strong female characters, always have them living somewhat happily ever after with the right man. I think it's important for books to show women can have an exciting, fulfilling life without their "soulmate" showing up. You don't see many books for boys where they end up with their one true whatever--which maybe there should be.

[–]EatYourPears 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I, too, am a bit heartbroken now. I always hoped Kel & Dom could make it work (like Raoul and Buri).

[–]SaltySeilde 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's good enough for me. Thanks. :)

[–]ElaineThreepwoody 10 points11 points  (5 children)

Hi Tammy! First, you're one of my favorite authors of all time: I still remember the day picked up First Test in the sixth grade and being entirely unable to put it down. I've read all your books since, and I treasure them all!

Questions: You're good friends with Bruce Coville: did you have any say in the casting of the Full Cast Audio productions of your books? (I thought they did a fantastic job!) Are you writing any more Tortall short stories (and can we please have an entire whole series about the girl I can only assume will become the Shang Ostrich?)

PS: Thank you for telling us you pictured Jeff Goldblum as Numair... I have never been able to get that out of my head, which may or may not be a good thing.

[–]minnabird 10 points11 points  (3 children)

I think the Student of Ostriches girl becomes the Shang Unicorn, mentioned in Lioness Rampant. But I also adore her story (and the Full Cast Audio audiobooks).

[–]ElaineThreepwoody 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Oh, gosh, I never even considered that. I would love that, if that was the case!

[–]minnabird 4 points5 points  (1 child)

I think a Tamora Pierce wiki informed me of the connection, so I'm not 100% sure but yesss, how cool would that be, right? Girl who joins Shang late because she's just that good, climbs the ranks to become literally legendary. :)

[–]missamuffins 7 points8 points  (0 children)

100% accurate. Her name is kylaia al jmaa. I was so excited to read her origin story years later after that throw away comment in Lioness Rampant. http://tamorapierce.wikia.com/wiki/Kylaia_al_Jmaa

Edit:: typo and book name

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Elaine, thank you!

Yes, Full Cast did like my input on casting, since Bruce knew I had done original radio comedy and drama in the 80s as a writer, director, and actor. Sometimes I just approved their choices; sometimes I was given a choice. Usually I understood their constraints, or more often, just loved who they picked!

I am writing more Tortall short stories, though slowly, because I'm working on the Numair (now) trilogy!

I think having Goldblum as Numair in my head is a good thing (well, the adult Numair), but then, I have barely clothed pictures!

[–]dinojay 12 points13 points  (9 children)

Hi Tammy! I've been a huge fan of yours since elementary school, so I'm really glad you're doing this AMA! For my question: I really love that your books have featured LGBTQ characters over the years! Have you ever considered doing a full multi-book series with a queer person as the main character, or the love interest? Are there any ways you approach LGBTQ characters/relationships in your writing that are different from the way you write straight characters/relationships? (IE, speaking to trans people about their experiences for realism?) Thank you!!

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 19 points20 points  (8 children)

Of course I've considered having a queer person as a hero or love interest--I'm just waiting for the right idea. I'm very nervous about it, because I don't want to screw up! In the books I approach the characters/relationships with care and caution, because I'm aware they live under a shadow. Even Rizu in WILL OF THE EMPRESS knows that without Berenene's protection her situation with her family is uneasy, and she might be forced into a marriage.

At the risk of sounding like a cis cliché, I've known LGBTQ people all of my adult life and listened to them talk about their lives, in addition to watching media and reading books by and about events in their lives. It's important to me to try to capture individuals who are people, not othering or sanctifying.


I'd just like to say that if that idea ever comes, I will be absolutely beside myself with excitement. LGBTQ characters are often relegated to supporting roles, and I've had to struggle to find main characters like me in the fiction I enjoy reading most (fantasy and sci-fi). I don't think you have to be nervous, either! Daja and Rizu's story was so important to me as a teenager, and it felt real and respectful, so I would eagerly look forward to another heroine who happened to love the ladies. Or even a heroine who was okay with loving both ladies and dudes! Bisexual representation is missing far too often.

[–]kabre 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Seconding this so hard! I think I would burst a blood vessel with glee!

Also, Tammy, you've had a pretty darn good track record writing your queer ladies so far. I get wanting to be cautious so as not to misrepresent, but I just wanted to put that in there. :)


I grew up on your books - started out with the Immortals quartet and then read everything I could get my hands on, Tortall and Emelan both. I've gotten to remember what it was like to read for the first time all over again over on Mark Does Stuff, so needless to say I'm a HUGE fan, and as a writer myself, I definitely list you among my influences.

One of the things that I admire about your writing is that the action and the battles are exciting and easy to keep track of, as far as how bodies work with each other in physical space during action sequences. I owe a lot of how I learned to write readable action to how you write battles and skirmishes, because it's easy to follow and always feels fast-paced.

Do you have any tricks for keeping track of all the people involved in big battle scenes, like planning action scenes in a different way from the rest?


Thank you very, VERY much! I work hard on my action sequences for this very reason! Recently I read a trilogy by a writer with a male swordsman hero, and the parts I skimmed over were the sword sequences. Once you start to track them through, you realize the people would either have to be made of rubber or able to teleport.

I got the idea for writing big battle scenes from two sources: military historian John Keegan and fantasy writer Elizabeth Moon. Moon writes the battles in her books from the point of view of the character who's doing the fighting. My favorite book in this regard is SHEEPFARMER'S DAUGHTER, the first part of the omnibus The Deed of Paksenarrion. Paks is trained exhaustively as a foot soldier in Roman-type foot combat, and her first battles are as a foot soldier, so that's how it's written, and the battles are madhouses. She goes through them clinging to her training, because that's the only way to proceed. Then I read Keegan's THE FACE OF WAR, where he explains that the reasons so many people who wrote about the battle of Waterloo seemed to be writing about entirely separate fights was that they were experiencing the "fog of war." They could only see a limited part of the fight, so that was their battle, the one they could report on.

Since this made sense to me, I stuck with it! Good luck with your writing!

[–]getyourkix 10 points11 points  (1 child)

How much of what you write gets taken out via editing? Would having left parts in dramatically changed any of the stories? How do you pick names?

You probably have answers to those somewhere, but I haven't come across them yet.

Thank you so much for Alanna and Kel! First series to actually get me to sit down, finish a book, and immediately pick up the next one. I would not be the reader, or person, I am today if I hadn't found them.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Most of what gets cut in editing is done my me, and I would say by the time I get down to edits I cut less than an eighth, both in what's suggested by my editor and in what I feel can go. The most cuts happen in my first draft--at least a quarter+ the finished draft--and in the second draft, at my editor's suggestion and my own wish. And invariably the process trims and speeds up the book; it doesn't change the direction. The only time that happened was when I was rewriting my original adult book as four books for teenagers and realized the original had an awkward final third because it was the wrong final third. I rewrote that material for the third and fourth books, and the new ending was far better.

I pick names from worldwide name books, from the culture in which my culture is based, and fiddle with the spelling a bit to make the words more "mine." I don't bother with meaning; that would slow my process down to a crawl!

[–]DramaRobyn 10 points11 points  (0 children)

In the Circle Opens quartet, we learn what 3 of the 4 mages have as their personal emblem on their medallions. However, there is no description in Magic Steps or TWOTE of Sandry's medallion. I've been very curious as to what her medallion looks like because I'm basing a tattoo idea on their emblems.

EDIT: Also, is Tris on the asexual spectrum? I kind of headcanon her as greyace, but would love to know what you have planned.

[–]girlandkat 10 points11 points  (2 children)

Many of your later books have important characters from the LGBTQ community. Was this a conscious decision to ensure these minorities were represented in popular books? Did you find any challenges in ensuring they were represented accurately?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 16 points17 points  (1 child)

When a fan told me how much heart they took from Kel telling Neal that in the Yamani Islands no one cares if men sleep with other men or women with other women, I realized that I needed to do more. That one of my fans shouldn't have to depend on one comment for the understanding that I was good with people being gay or lesbian, let alone any other sexuality.

Challenges? I am terrified that people will say that I have no right to write LGBTQ characters when I am cisgendered, or that I have written them badly. I write and rewrite as carefully as possible, with great respect, as I do characters whose racial or ethnic background is not my own, but I still worry.

[–]ladyknightthebrave[🍰] 9 points10 points  (3 children)

I hear you've also been enjoying Mark Oshiros reviews of your books. Have you had a favorite moment where Mark lost his shit in the middle of a reading. (I think my favorite so far has been the clear indication that Daja is a lesbian)

And I know Numair is next up on the docket but I am dying to know about Tris at Lightsbridge...any hints or snippets you can drop now?

Also hi I've been a fan of yours for YEARS. I started reading your books when I was 8 and never looked back

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 12 points13 points  (2 children)

I don't really have a favorite point when Mark loses it--I love them all! (Well, I feel bad about the sad ones . . . ) I am truly delighted by his happiness over Daja, and over Nestor and Okha. It means an awful lot to me.

Tris changes her name--she insists she just wants to get her certificate as an ordinary mage. She leaves Little Bear with Lark and Glaki, but she takes Chime. She has a roommate, and her advisor is Tim Gunn. )8-)

[–]deliriousgoomba 13 points14 points  (1 child)

How the devil does Tris intend on keeping her identity secret when she has a glass dragon who has lightning for blood?

[–]CrystalElyse 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel that that is almost guaranteed to be a plot point. At some point it will get out, no way you can hide it between her hair and her temper and seeing on the winds and Chime.

[–]mazokugirl451 7 points8 points  (2 children)

Hi Tamora and Spouse-Creature! This is to Tammy- I have been a fan of yours pretty much since I started reading, and it's so awesome that you're doing an AMA- My question is...In regards to the Immortals series, I have heard that you've been writing a series on Numair and his adventures when he was young...Can you expand on when you think that's coming out? Or any hints of what he's going to be doing/going through? He and Daine are my favorite characters in your Tortall universe, and while I'd love to see a series focusing on their lives after the Immortals was over, I'm really curious about this! Thank you so much in advance.

While I'm here...what are the odds of me being able to send my copy of Wild Magic to you to be signed? Can't hurt to ask!

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 7 points8 points  (1 child)

I've just finished the first draft of THE GIFT OF POWER, about Arram Draper and his first years at the university in Carthak. It's presently scheduled for Spring 2017, though since I'm late Random House may move it back to Summer. A year later (because the rough draft is almost done, yay me!) is the second book, and a year after that (rough draft also done, can you say "book got out of control"?) the third and last book.

About the book, write to me via the fan address on my webpage, and we'll work something out!

[–]mazokugirl451 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm so excited for these books! I'll definitely order them/pre-order them the minute they're available.

Also, I found your email, so I'm also excited about that :-) EDIT: I got the "Dreaded Form Letter" response...I'll try the other email I guess. Thanks anyway!

Thank you for being an amazing author! Your books definitely were an inspiration for a young girl like I was!

[–]sritzcracker[🍰] 7 points8 points  (2 children)

Hello, two very different questions! Sorry, I'm pretty excited for this. 1. What was the first thing that attracted you to writing novels geared toward young adults (and younger- I first read the Song of the Lioness quartet when I was eleven!)? And how has your perspective on writing young adult characters for young adult readers changed over the years? 2. How closely did you work with an illustrator to create the maps on the inside covers of your books,and how important have you found including a map in the overall experience of reading them?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 13 points14 points  (1 child)

  1. It was the idea of the woman who became my agent. She read half of the adult book I was sending around and said, "Turn this into four books for teenagers." I knew I could do it because during the previous year I had told the story, suitably edited, to the girls in the group home where I was a housemother. So I did it; I rewrote the first quarter as a book for teenagers; eventually it sold, and I converted the rest, and went on to a career at it.
    My perspective hasn't changed much. I've met more teenagers, of course, and talked to them lightly and in depth. I'm more committed to writing a variety of teenaged characters as I grow older: sexually, in terms of class, race, and experience. I still want to write them as realistically as possible.

  2. Second half first: I cannot write without a map. When I start a book, I start the map, and add to it as I go along, or I get lost in my own book. That said, I am no good at scale, which involves m-m-m-math. (I didn't learn until about ten years ago that I have a learning disability, dyscalculia, which is not only the math form of dyslexia, but covers things like memory for addresses, learning music, and physical tasks like knitting and dance steps.) Invariably I have to turn the map over to a friend with instructions about the time to travel between distances, or to the art department at my publisher. These people send a rough draft back to me; I give comments and corrections, and we have a map. I don't know how fans react--I just know I find it very useful!

[–]MusicalHalfAsian 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Fan girl alert:

Your books changed my life. I didn't realize I needed strong female warrior/Mage characters until I read the Lioness Quartet. The Protector of the Small in particular really resonated with me. Kel was part of my inspiration to join the Army. I have more of Alanna's temper but Kel taught me how to temper it. I loved that she didn't have the gift and how a lot of what she did was also hard work. Kel got me through a lot of hard times and I go back to her every time I feel lost. So just thank you so much.

[–]rlaceface 4 points5 points  (3 children)

How do you write? Do you write your scenes/chapters/sections mostly sequentially, or do you skip around and add pieces here and there depending on your mood/inspiration...like movies are filmed?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've tried to write a bit here and a bit there--my writing buddy, YR writer Bruce Coville, writer of The Unicorn Chronicles and MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, works that way, and I don't know how he manages it. I am what a friend of my spouse-creature's and mine called "a Spielbergian narrative over-determinist," that is, I have to start at the beginning, go through the middle, and fetch up at the end. I've tried to duck that beginning--it takes me as long to write my first chapter as it does the next four, because I'm always going back and adding characters and foreshadowing--but I can't write that next chapter.

[–]dainethesecond90[🍰] 4 points5 points  (1 child)

I've been reading your Tortall books and being inspired by them since the Lioness series, and with every series it keeps getting better. My utmost favorite has been a tie between Wild Magic (Daine's series) and the Trickster books. Can we expect to hear of further adventures for Daine and her growing family, or will we get more male-centric books? Also, will we find out what is happening with Aly, Nawat and the triplets? Thank you so much for your time, and for continuing to write such amazing, deeply infused characters! (also, have you ever considered selling the movie rights? how would one get involved with that?)


The way things are going, if/when I return to Daine/Numair and Aly/Nawat, it will be in short stories for some time. After conversating with my editor, I'm going to try going back in time for a different approach once I finish my current trilogy about the young Numair.

As for male-oriented projects, while Numair as a youth is fun, my main focus will always be female heroes. There aren't enough of them; they aren't at all equal in number to male heroes in any field of fiction except romance (and then it's 1 and 1 except for gay romance), and that's my mission and my desire.

Movie rights is/are something that's handled by Harold Ober Associates, my agents. I keep my hands off such things--too much work!

[–]creepydino 6 points7 points  (1 child)

I love how your characters are well written and easy to identify with. You have this crazy ability to make them seem like real people with natural flaws.

Do you have characters that were you favorite/least favorites to write? Or were there any that were particularly difficult to write? If so, who were they?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I work hard to make them seem that way (and I base a lot of them on real people for starters)!

I love Kel, because she always calms me down. If she's presented with a problem, she frowns, gets frustrated, and works to solve it. I love Sandry: she represents to me the best in my fans, their passion, idealism, and determination. I would love to be Daine, with her wild magic, particularly when I encounter a sick animal. The darkings are always fun--I'm never bored writing them! And Tris is me, without the lightning (though trust me, I have tried!).

Least favorite/difficult? I explain above about Aly, how I'm too much like her mother, and how as a female she's very different from me, more typically "feminine" and "girly" (I was so worried about my feminist credentials being violated with her that I asked my assistant at the time, a fierce feminist, to read the manuscript, and she told me I had nothing to worry about!). And Numair/Arram has been the product of a more cautious writing process, as have Rizu, Nestor, and Okha, because I am not them or like them, and I want to do them properly.

[–]multiverse4 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Hello! First of all: you are my favorite author. My mom and I both love your books, which we've been reading since I was 11 (now 21). The first book of yours that I read was Trickster's Choice, and I dragged it with me on all vacations, summer camps, and school field trips. The book became so dog-eared that I had to get a second copy so that I could preserve my first one: sections of pages were literally falling out!

I was wondering, is there a type of scene that you enjoy writing the most? And on the flip side, how do you handle writing scenes that are harder, or just more mundane?

Also - I live in upstate New York too, now (Rochester). Have you considered leaving NY and going somewhere warmer, or do you like the colder climate?

Last thing: It was so cool to see the updates on your feral kittens when you took them in! It's a great feeling to know that your favorite author happens to also be a fantastic person. Rock on :D

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the compliments!

I do like writing fight scenes, I confess! They're so straightforward, and I love the choreography--it's one of the few things I can visualize without struggle. Magical workings and exposition are much harder, and the only way I can do them is the hard way: one word at a time, or what I call "slogging." It may be uninspired, but that's what rewrites are for, and sections like that still have to get written.

I hate to say it, but toward the end of last winter I was actually thinking of going somewhere warmer. Last winter was the first time I actually got depressed over the weather. Luckily, most of the warmer places are either Red states or earthquake/volcano-prone, so I think I'm safe!

[–]stillticksaway[🍰] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In Magic Steps, you have the Unmagic Mage. Unmagic in general seems like an insanity inducing incredibly unlucky role to gain for 'magic bent.' What not murderous tasks could a skilled unmagic mage do? I can see how meditation would be a good step to helping an unmagic mage, but is there a buttons to ships path someone could take? Or would it be 'do as little as possible'?

[–]Slippery_John 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I absolutely love your books, I basically grew up on them. I remember picking up the second of the Protector of the Small series in 6th grade and absolutely loving it (didn't realize I hadn't read the first until I'd finished the third...), from there I basically devoured everything.

Anyway, to the questions:

  • Spoilers

  • Do you tend to do a lot of outlining, or do you do more discovery writing?

  • So the magic of the land is tied to the crown, how does that work with border changes? What if Tortall became a democratic republic, would the President / Prime Minister hold the national magic? If the magic is tied to the crown, would it be possible to steal the crown and deliberately use the power irresponsibly in a sort of scorched earth tactic?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hm. I can't seem to access the Spoilers.

I have to do an outline of future books in order to obtain a contract, but any editor who's been in the business long enough knows you can't hold an author to an outline, that the book begins to change with the first word on the page. For me, I know roughly how the first 3-4 chapters will go: the establishment of the main characters, the main conflict, a few secondary characters, foreshadowing of some plot elements. I always know where I will end up, usually because I am working within the framework of something with a set ending: school, achieving a knighthood, a war, a disease cycle, a natural disaster, a crime. Then, around chapter 4 or 5, I hit a vast desert wasteland known in professional jargon as "the middle." I have no idea of what to do next. That's when I scream for my Spouse-Creature and we talk things out until I come up with the next step (he says I reject all of his ideas. I only say no to half, but even with those, they give me the idea of what to do next). If he can't help me, I try my writing buddy, writer Bruce Coville. (When it came to Arram/Numair's body changes, I asked Bruce first. Don't ask me why.) Then my assistant, my editor, my agent, my best female friend, fans, anyone who can help! And thus I peck my way forward until I fetch up at the end.

This last question is a little more complicated. The power expands/contracts once mages conduct the appropriate ceremonies that fix the new border as part of the realm. I think a President/PM would be too unstable, their terms too unlimited, to hold the national magic: it would be imbued in the crown and the crown held in someplace like the Tower of London unless the borders are threatened, at which point the parliament would appoint someone from the Council of Mages to head a project to strengthen the borders and wield the power at the direction of the Commander in Chief of the military forces. And it would definitely be possible to steal the crown and use its power!


I believe the Spoiler question was about That Thing in Mastiff. They were basically asking what the thought process was behind it, and whether there were hints dropped in the first two books that may have made us more prepared if we were paying attention because it "came out of left field" for them.

[–]MichaelJSullivanStabby Winner, AMA Author Michael J. Sullivan, Worldbuilders 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hey Tamora, welcome to /r/fantasy. What is your current take on publishing? Best of times, worts of times, something in-between?

[–]heartsinger[🍰] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Thank you so much for all you've written, especially the Emelan books. When I changed my name, I named myself after one of those characters, though I won't say which. I reread or relisten to your books all the time.

  1. In Sandry's Book, Niko tells Tris that magic only attracts lightning when it's meant to, or mages wouldn't live to learn to use magic. But in Shatterglass, he says that a lightning mage wouldn't live to adulthood without learning to control their power. Keth also attracts lightning without intending to in the scene where Tris shows him that he no longer has anything to fear from it. I don't understand. Explain, please?

  2. Any chance of seeing a Full Cast Audio of Shatterglass? That would be so amazing. Even a regular audiobook would be good. What about the other books, including those with existing non-FCA audio versions?

  3. Will Kel be the training mistress someday? She'd be so awesome at it! How would she change things around, especially concerning attitudes about bullying?

  4. I know you've said in the past that you don't really think that your movies are well suited to the silver screen, but cultural and technological changes within the industry (that is, the new tendency for sweeping epics across many movies and the ever-improving special effects) seem to make it much more possible. How do you feel about movies now, both in terms of odds it would happen and how concerned you are about it being terrible?

  5. In the Song of the Lioness, Jon reenters the Chamber for the Ordeal of Kings, but in Protector of the Small, Raoul tells Kel no one has ever reentered the chamber. What's the deal? How is the Ordeal of Kings different from the Ordeal of Knighthood?

  6. Does the Chamber actually care about whether humans discuss their Ordeals, and if so, why? It seems like it'd go with the macho culture of the knights to forbid speaking of it because people shouldn't have feelings.

  7. How did the Cult of the Gentle Mother become powerful enough to stop women from becoming knights?

  8. Despite the lack of moral issues with sex in Tortall and the existence of perfect birth control, nobles still care about women's chastity. Why?

  9. Why did Eleni Cooper's family kick her out if having sex outside of wedlock isn't a taboo in Tortallan culture?

  10. What is up with the Old Ones? Are they a society similar to ours? When I was little I thought so, because of the whole terror of aging thing.

  11. How did romance and sex between people of the same sex become taboo in Tortall without Christianity?

  12. What's going on in Sarain? Is there any hope for peace in the near future?

  13. Tris is planning to go to Lightsbridge and learn how to practice academic magic, but I was under the impression that ambient mages couldn't do academic magic. How does that work? Couldn't Tris do stuff like construction for money? Obviously she'd have to be careful not to upset the guilds or cause the economy to crash by putting people out of work, but it seems like riverbank shoring and the like could be a pretty profitable endeavor.

  14. If you aren't already planning to cover this somewhere, will we ever see Tris's "family" again? What'll happen? Can the other three members of the Circle give them the what-for? I feel like that would be great.

  15. Will Duke Vedris give Sandry Emelan in the end? Why hasn't he changed his will yet?

  16. What will happen between Namorn and Emelan as a result of the events of Will of the Empress? Will they go to war? What about if/when Sandry is made Duchess regnant?

  17. At the beginning of Will of the Empress, Daja is afraid because she's been shut out of her home again, but at the end she talks about being ashamed of being taken in by Ben in Cold Fire. Why the change?

  18. What's up with Keth? Will he and/or the Bancanors be in trouble with the Empress for their association with the four?

  19. How are things in Tharios? Are the prathmuni getting better treatment? How goes Dema's promised blessing to work without fear of corruption by death?

  20. If you were to rewrite any of your older books today, what would you change because it's allowed now? Like, in terms of depictions of queer folks, or length?

Thank you so much, I hope that's not too many questions!

[–]Jessa_lyn[🍰] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Will we ever see more of Keladry, or at least the children she saved, her potential children, and her friends children? I know Keladry is now an adult, and that's about the point you move on to another generation, but we often get little hints and tidbits from the next generation, and that's ok too!

[–]Phytoseiidae 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I thought of another question! What did Joren see during his Ordeal?

[–]sillymega[🍰] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy! My name is Noah, and I've been reading your books since I was in middle school (which was a long time ago). I own almost all of your books. You're my absolute favorite author, and I'm really looking forward to your next series.

I feel like I have too many questions, so I'll try to just pick a few.

Who would you say is your biggest influence on your work, or what books have had a large impact on your writing? Where did your inspiration for Daine come from (my favorite character)? How many animals do you have in your home right now? Chocolate or vanilla ice cream? And a biggie: I'm a trans guy, and I've enjoyed the representation of queer characters in your novels. Do you think you'd even consider having a trans man as a character?

Thank you so much for doing this Q/A. You're my hero, and I'm really excited about this. I hope you're having a lovely day!


Noah, hi!

Wow! Um--neither chocolate or vanilla, actually. Peach.

Animals: 8 cats and 2 parakeets at present.

I'm assuming you mean trans guy as a main character: I'm not sure. I would have to be very sure I could carry the character accurately through an entire book, which would require a lot of close consultation with trans folk and research in books, television, and documentaries. I wouldn't want to hurt my trans fans by f'ing up.

Daine started as a picture of a card of a girl trying to manage a tumbled basket of kittens while a chameleon and a starling look on and laugh. Then I saw her in RL: actress Trini Alvarado as she played Meg in the Susan Sarandon/Winona Ryder "Little Women." For her personality, Alanna was more like my sister Kim and a little like me at 12. For Daine I wanted someone more like me in my 30s, a semi-recluse who dealt better with animals than with people. And like any character, the longer I wrote about her, the more she evolved into her own, stand-alone person.

I hope I'm still your hero!

[–]kabre 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey Tammy! You are hands-down my favorite author, and the biggest influence on my own writing to date. I still look to Alanna when I'm in need of fortitude.

Two questions for you:

  1. Did Lark and Rosethorn's relationship sneak up on you, like it snuck up on many of us, or did you know from the beginning that they were partners?

  2. Might we someday get stories about the Winding Circle adults' younger years the way we're getting a peek into Numair's past?

(edited to add because I keep thinking about it) Thank you so much for looking to include all kinds of people in your stories. You gave me young women heroes when I needed them as a young woman myself, and then shocked me into tears when, as a queer adult, you gave me queer adults to look up to. I don't think I can ever sufficiently express in particular what Rosethorn, as a successful and happy bisexual, polyamorous woman, means to me.

[–]minnabird 3 points4 points  (2 children)

First of all: you are one of my absolute favorite authors. You turned me on to fantasy, and I return to your books over and over again to spend a little more time with your worlds and characters. They inspired me to try writing for the first time when I was in middle school. I'm not sure how different I'd be if I'd never discovered your books, but I'm glad I did.

This question is so ridiculous and nitpicky, but it's bothered me for a while: What's the deal with the Scanra-Tortall border? Or rather, with the little finger of land Mindelan seems to be on? That bit of land is inside the Scanran border in my Alanna books, Wild Magic, and even in my copy of First Test (with Mindelan marked on the Scanran side of the border). By Page, the border has changed so that piece of land is inside Tortall's borders. Did you/the publishers end up deciding that was an error and changing the map? Or did the border move for in-universe reasons (conflicts with Scanra)? Just wondering whether, within Tortall, that piece of land was always Tortall, or if it became part of Tortall at a particular stage.

I'm way too invested in this world.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

You can't possibly be more invested than I am, surely? ;-)

I'm confused. I have Mindelan about a third of an inch down the coast and inland from Frasrlund harbor in LADY KNIGHT. Do you mean Trebond? That's the one I keep screwing up. It's supposed to be close to the border and only a week's ride from the palace, when if you go by the books and the maps it can be one or the other but not both. This is what is known in the publishing industry jargon as "a mistake."

I hope you are still writing and that you don't commit any big "mistakes" like these!

[–]minnabird 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the response! I get really enthusiastic about maps sometimes. For the record, these are the maps that confuse me, First Test and Page: http://i.imgur.com/OstxeMe.png http://i.imgur.com/NEcHbO0.png

[–]kiwiifruit70[🍰] 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Hi! As everyone else has said, I love your work. In fact, I'm twenty-something now and you've been my favorite author since the 4th grade. However, as I have gotten older, I've starting thinking about your portrayal of your "foreign" cultures, especially in your Tortall books. It seems clear to me that they were inspired by real - life countries. The Yamani Islands correlate to Japan, the Bazhir to Arab and/or Beduin tribes, etc. Do you ever get accused of cultural appropriation or of essentialization? How would you respond to those claims? I hope you don't think I'm being accusatory or disrespectful, because as I said I love your work. I've just been trying to engage with these issues on my own and would love to hear your point of view.

On a side note, I wanted to thank you for your representation of LGBTQ characters in your books. It means so much to me.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

I don't know what "essentialization" is; I haven't been accused of cultural appropriation that I know of. If I were accused of that I would say that while it's pretty obvious to anyone that I have borrowed elements of particular cultures from which to build my own, it is with utter respect and appreciation for those cultures, and the culture which I create is a culture of its own, not a cartoon, mockery, or even approximation of the original culture. The language has echoes, but it is not that language; the clothing bears resemblances but not acute resemblances, etc. The point is to create a fantasy culture, not a lampoon.

The closest I've come to any of this is the criticism I've gotten from some about the Trickster books, which they referred to as "This Island Needs a Honky." This bit pretty deep; I don't agree, but at the same time it made me aware of how some might perceive what I did with the Copper Isles.

It's difficult ground, and all writers have to tread it: we can't allow ourselves to tie ourselves in knots, but at the same time we want to proceed with respect. I wish you luck, and thank you for what you said about my LGBTQ characters!

[–]KeladryofMindelan 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Oh my goodness, you're doing an AMA. This is amazing. I've loved your books for over twelve years at this point, and Kel is my favorite girl forever (hence the username :D). Thank you so much for doing this.

As for questions, I've got three. Answer them at your leisure. Honestly, it's enough just knowing that you are occupying this internet space here today, haha:

What world was/is more difficult for you to work in, Tortall or Emelan?

Additionally, what made you decide to split up the last Emelan books into single stories rather than another quartet? The Will of the Empress serves as a great conclusion to the Circle of Magic and Circle Opens series, if need be. What made you write Battle Magic and Melting Stones too?

Also, your fans are always salivating over the thought of your next book. You are working on Numair' s books right now, but can you confirm these other plans too? Namely Maura' s book, Tris' Lightsbridge book, a Kel and her squire book, and a Daja book?

Thank you again for your time. Best wishes from a huge fan!

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Actually, both Tortall and Emelan are equally easy, or difficult, to work in; they're just different. I always put it that when I'm worn out from a book spent working in Tortall, I take a vacation in Emelan, and vice versa. I would tell you what is difficult, and that's working at the School of Mages at the University in Carthak! Teachers, assistants, students, staff--oy!!!

I had to write BATTLE MAGIC to explain why Briar had PTSD in EMPRESS and Evvy and Rosethorn had it in MELTING STONES. I wrote MELTING STONES because I wanted to try writing a book that could be published as a novel but was written first for audio--no changes when it was published in paper and e. I also wanted to take advantage of the wonderful actress who played Evvy in the audio book of STREET MAGIC. She was 12 then, and if I wanted her still with that cool, girlish voice, I had to write fast! And it was fun. She was wonderful, and Full Cast--my writing buddy Bruce Coville's audio book company, that recorded so many full cast versions of my books with me as narrator and my spouse-creature as assorted characters--published the first novel in the US written to be published originally as an audio book!

Tris and Lightsbridge yes. The other books are on hold. My Random House editor would like me to go back to writing for younger characters (10-12) for a while. To do that, I'm going to the Eastern and Southern Lands when they were part of one empire, shortly before the immortals were banished to the Realms of the Gods, 400 years before Alanna.

Thanks for the good wishes!

[–]Perfectpatches 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I really love your books and have reread them many times. Kel especially has always been really important to me since she was able to push through sexist barriers through work and without magic. Reading the POTS quartet is sort of a safety blanket kind of thing when my depression goes into a bad period. One thing I was wonder is how is mental illness treated in Tortall?

[–]katniqp 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Hi Tammy! I was wondering, how do you go about writing your characters? Every character of your's that I've read has such a rich personality and all of their actions have believable, realistic motivations behind them. How do you start with a character, like do you determine what role you need to fill then create the character, or do you characters choose their own roles in the narrative?

Also thank you so much for all you do. Tortall has gotten me through some very tough times in my life, especially Beka, and I cannot ever truly express how grateful I am that you (the author/your books) have always been there when needed.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I'm honored that my books helped you through bad times, especially on Beka's behalf. Books got me through such times, and this is what I want mine to do for others.

When I started to write all my characters looked and spoke the same. I was desperate to change, so I started basing characters on people I knew. We didn't live in pirate times or ancient Greece, but I had a pretty fair idea of how my family or the people I knew in school would react under the situations I put them in, and with people I knew I had the way my characters walked, spoke, dressed (colors, styles that could be translated), thought. As I continued to work, when I didn't have people I knew who fit the bill, I filled in with TV or movie actors or the parts they played, and celebrities of one kind or another (including professional wrestlers and poker players). I finally reached the point at which, if I had the right photo and the right name, I could create a character with that.

The thing about writing characters based on someone else is that usually they begin to become their own person, to act and react differently from the person you base them on. This is why it's a good idea never to tell someone if you base a character on them, and if they're going to see what you wrote, change some physical aspect of that character--hair or skin color, eyes, speech mannerisms--so that you can lie convincingly about your character not being that person. Trust me, you will be glad you did. People can be funny about seeing someone even remotely recognizable as them in writing!

[–]daaashu 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Hmmm so many questions I could ask! How did you go about establishing the magic traditions in your novels? Your Emelan series and Tortall series have different systems of magic -- what inspired them?

Also, of all the books I've read, Keladry/the Protector of the Small series is my most re-read. Thank you for bringing your characters and worlds into my life.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 6 points7 points  (1 child)

You're most welcome! Thank you for reading!

The magic system for Tortall is rooted for the most part in Wiccan tradition and belief as typified by a man named Scott Cunningham in the 70s and 80s. He was a gentle, kind soul who gathered occult practice from all over the world for his books, so his information wasn't just limited to the Wicca of the time, but included Native American, Greco-Roman, Asian, African, and other systems of magic. It's from him that I got my belief about pearls: he said that since an animal died to give a pearl, they should be used only for very important work, and the practitioner should be sure to thank the animal for its sacrifice. He wrote not only encyclopedias of herbs, stones, and oils, but he wrote magical handbooks for the home, the solitary practitioner (me!), and the earth (and more). I've gotten other books for reference since, including those by Deborah Blake, but Cunningham is always my first step.

Emelan started in a very different place. I was living in Idaho and watching TV with my family one night. Now mind, the closest I get to craft is knitting (though I can't remember how to bind off) and coloring in Dover coloring books (also great for research!). I was coloring that night and watching TV. I looked up and saw that with silver needles that blurred as they flew my step-mother and sister were turning balls of yarn into cloth. (They also sewed, quilted, gardened, and made designer wedding cakes.) I thought that that looked like magic to me. My dad, out in his garage, made scrimshaw, built furniture, and worked leather: also magic to me. 18 months later I met an artist-jeweler who worked every kind of metal and ceramics, spun, wove, knitted, crocheted, blew glass, worked at a forge--every craft you can imagine.) I kept the idea of crafts as magic until I was asked to create something apart from Tortall, and that became the system for the Circle universe. I even employed my artist friend as Niko! (My parents and sister were already in the Tortall `verse.)

I also had been interested in the land and water and what they did for years, including the energies they channeled. Those I use in both universes, though not in the same way.

[–]NotBlushing 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy! I’m so thrilled that you’re doing this AMA! I have been reading your books and loving them since before I can remember, and keep returning to them every year – it’s as if they just get better with age! I really feel like your books – especially Alanna’s story – shaped me as a young girl and contributed greatly to the values I hold and the lifestyle I lead now as a young woman. Your work inspired me – and thousands of others, I am sure – to be compassionate, hard-working, and brave, and to fight hard to achieve my dreams.

My question is, then, how much of this is intentional? Your books have always seemed to hold very strong moral messages. Your characters strive to always be kind, defend the weak, see past superficial differences and value the dignity of life, regardless of class, creed, race, gender, sexuality, and even species, even at times when other authors might have shied away from tackling such potentially controversial issues. How much do you intentionally seek to guide young readers, many of whom – like myself – find your books at a crucial time in their adolescent development? What is your opinion on authors taking sides on issues which can become politically charged in our society – such as your beautiful portrayals of non-heteronormative characters? Do you feel you have a duty to instill positive values in your audience, many of whom look to your characters as role models? If so, thank you from the very bottom of my heart. If not, it worked for me anyway, and I doubt I am the only one.

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Many, many thanks--I am so deeply honored by what you've written here. I feel very strongly about moral issues of all kinds, as you have seen. I always have, and at my stage of life I know I always will. I write heroes who feel as I do, but I refuse to preach. They speak passionately, or they act from passion, some of them, but their motivations aren't always clear, and they can and must be human. Very few teenagers like reading preachy books. Few people in general like it, and that includes me. As producer Samuel Goldwyn said, "If you want to send a message call Western Union."

Authors are human beings. They will always take sides on issues that concern them, though if they are good at their craft, they won't make it obvious. I like to set an issue before readers and let them make up their own minds, and most authors are the same. (I think I teeter the wrong way on slavery, but I'm not sure.) I think it's important to stand up for those who are treated as lesser by society, anyone who is treated as lesser by society.

I hope readers take positive values from my books, but I also know they'll toss my books if I preach. So I tread carefully, and hope that those who like what my heroes do know it's an expression of my own beliefs.

[–]MikeOfThePalaceReading Champion V, Worldbuilders, Mod Emeritus 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Hi Tammy, thanks so much for joining us!

You're trapped on a deserted island with three books. Knowing you'll be reading them over and over and over again, what three do you bring?


Yikers. The name of the island wouldn't be Hell, would it?

Um, lemme see. The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Isn't this kind of torture forbidden by the Geneva Conventions?


The Windrose Chronicles by Barbara Hambly.

Aiiiiiiiieeeeee!!!! I give up! I surrender! Melting! Melting! All my wonderful wickedness . . . I'm melting, melting, I'm gooooonnne . . .

[–]MikeOfThePalaceReading Champion V, Worldbuilders, Mod Emeritus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hee hee hee. I've asked this question of a bunch of authors during AMAs, and Sophie's Choice has come up more than once.

I love Fionavar. It's definitely a journeyman work on GGK's part, and not nearly as well written as his later stuff, but there's an earnestness to the trilogy that I just adore.

[–]imayid_291 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi and thank you so much for doing this ama!!!

I have been reading and loving your books since 3rd grade which was 15+ years ago. Questions that have been on my mind during this period:

I have always thought Kally's marriage to Kaddar is super fascinating both in terms of how they would get along personally and the struggles she would face becoming the Carthaki Empress. Are you ever planning on writing more about this? Is there anything you can tell us? Specifically how does Kally deal with slaves?

Is there any difference in how you approach a Tortall-universe story v. an Emelen-universe story?

Do you do any of the different fighting techniques used by the characters in your stories? What about other things like weaving or meditation?

p.s. I'm super excited for the book about Maura whenever it comes out. She's always been one of my favorite characters even though she only appears in one book!

p.p.s. I love the extensive book recs on your website. They have led me to some of my favorite authors like Shannon Hale and Elizabeth Bunce.

[–]ashpram[🍰] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Question: I read that you'll eventually write a book from the PoV of Kel's squire, one of the young girls she met at the tournament. Please say you plan to write more Kel! :)

I loved your books growing up and still do. Thanks so much!

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well, I did plan, but my editor and I talked it out, and she would like me to go back to younger (as in 10-12) characters for a time, which is why I'll be taking a short vacation in the empire 400 years in the past of Tortall and Carthak!

[–]atuinsbeard 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Hi Tammy! I'm a long time reader and fan of your here, I picked up The Will of the Empress and Trickster's Queen when I was in primary school and I loved them (yes, I started at the end and worked back). There are a few other people who have said this but if you ever come to Australia you have a fan base and I would be far too excited to meet you. (Actually, stuff that. I just saw that you're coming to Sydney for Supanova next year. I WILL BRING ALL MY BOOKS FOR YOU TO SIGN. I think I'll need to bring more than one bag lol.)

  • I had a bit of an odd question about Protector of the Small. I reread it a few months ago and it struck me that the Chamber basically serves the same purpose as the gods in Immortals and the Goddess in Lioness. I completely understand why you decided to have no gods in Kel's story, but why the Chamber of all things? It was quite a shift compared to the presentation of it in Lioness.

  • I remember checking your website around when Terrier came out, and I remember the Numair books being up on your list as coming out in a few years. What happened to push them back so much? Apart from the Beka Cooper books.

  • Does Sandry end up becoming Duke Vedris's heir?

Thank you so much for doing this AMA!

[–]orakel9930[🍰] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

First, I wanted to say thank you for creating some of my favorite characters, and for convincing my high school self that I could wear "girly" clothes and still be just as smart. Second, I have a theory that if you moved the Beka Cooper books to Gotham, Pounce would be Alfred - who do you think Sabine would be?

[–]Gregory-J-Smith[🍰] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Is Raul of Goldenlake demisexual? I have been wondering this ever since reading Squire. I want to say yes, but there are enough other reasons for him being single until Buri that I cannot say with certainty.

[–]rlaceface 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I remember reading that you don't listen to music with words while you write. Is there anything awesome you've been listening to while you write Numair's stories?

[–]Dalhousie01[🍰] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I feel like everyone started out with The Immortal Quartet. I certainly did, and even though Alanna (and of course Kel, Sandry, Briar, and Trist) holds a special place in my heart, Daine will always be the one who made me love your writing. I really appreciated the Daine/Numair romance, as I feel like the age gape would've made it quite taboo when it came out, as it was part of the YA genre. I also can't wait for Tris' book - I recently re-read the Will of the Empress and I thought it was funny how much she's grown as a character. I can't wait to see what comes next!

[–]Dalhousie01[🍰] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Oh, sorry, and my question was how did you feel writing Daine and Numair as more than just teacher and student? When did it start to feel right? :) -


Actually, when the book came out nobody said anything--there was more of a fuss about Daine not being a vegetarian and, later, about Numair being her teacher (though he wasn't when their romance began). It started to feel right to me toward the last half of THE EMPEROR MAGE, when they each had those frightening episodes of losing one another, and also of being adults in an adult domain. I was entirely comfortable with it. As with George, I was writing about relationships in a time when people were marrying as young as 14, and girls were marrying older men because older men could afford to support wives. It's a point I have to argue over and over, because now, of course, people do get upset about the age gap!

[–]rowanbrierbrook 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy! I've been a huge fan for many years. I reread your books often and they have been a great inspiration to me growing up. Do you think you will ever write any stories about the future of Tortall after the Trickster series takes place?


Do you know, I have no idea! The Arram/Numair books take place around the same time and after LIONESS RAMPANT, and my next endeavors will actually be set 400 years before ALANNA, in the period when the empire collapses and the Eastern and Southern Lands are formed, and the mages gather to exile the Immortals.

That said, I'm also working on a bundle of short stories that will be taking place in contemporary Tortall--I just don't know when!

[–]erisedsnidget[🍰] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

There are so many types of dragons written about in fantasy. Were Kitten (and her subsequent relations) inspired by any dragons in particular? And what are YOUR favorite books about dragons?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been told my dragons are rather like cats!

Seriously, they are shaped very like western dragons, with long, sleek muzzles, not the eastern dragon with the chrysanthemum heads (as Barbara Hambly described them). I got the idea for them as intellectuals from R.A. MacAvoy, I think.

As for my favorites, now you know: Morkeleb the Black from Barbara Hambly's DRAGONSBANE, Oo Long/Mayland Long from R.A. MacAvoy's TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON, Naomi Novik's dragons, of course!, and Menolly's dragons in DRAGONSONG and DRAGONSINGER by Anne McCaffrey.

[–]natmun[🍰] 1 point2 points  (4 children)

So many questions to ask!!! Does the Teasai conflict mentioned by Mithros in Tricksters Choice have anything to do with Tekalimy, from The Hidden Girl???

Also. I think the answer is no but part of my brain says yes--so, much internal conflict. Does Tortall and Summersea share the same world? just separated by the Endless sea/Emerald Ocean?

I cant help but think things like wild magic are just forms of Ambient magic that mages in the Eastern and Southern Lands haven't figured out yet.

Do you like Pink? Im a costumer, so I pay attention to what people wear in books alot (had the honor of meeting you with my crew at Bubonicon) While researching (reading all of your books... for the 20th time) I found a lot of your characters wear pink, not that there's anything wrong with that, but I was wondering where that comes from?

[–]TamoraPierceAMA Author Tamora Pierce[S] 2 points3 points  (3 children)

I hate to potentially disappoint, but Tortall and the Circle are in two separate universes. They were designed that way. When Tortall has worn me out, I have been taking vacations in Emelan and environs, and vice versa. The magical systems, and thus part of the physics, are different, and with one exception, the gods are different, with those of the Emelan world being more stand-offish.

Those of my characters who wear pink generally do so because they look good in it. Also, for years I disliked it as girly, and it was forced on me as "feminine," and I wanted to have characters who identified as feeling more feminine than I did. (I have grown up some since then and have been known to wear pink, but I have issues with people who insist that girl babies must wear pink and boy babies must wear blue. What a world, yes?)

[–]SAmbush1 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I'm a huge fan! Your books have influenced me a ton and I've been a fan for over a decade now. How did Tortall come about? Did it start in stages and grow, or did you have an idea of the entire scope of the universe before you began writing?


Thank you!

Tortall grew. I knew Trebond first, then the palace, then Corus. By the time I finished the book that became Alanna's quartet, I had the map of the Eastern Lands to the Roof of the World (I had named it "the Roof of the World" first, and only a couple of years later did I discover that the word "Himalaya" means . . . It gave me goosebumps!) and the southern continent's upper shoreline. I've been filling in ever since!

[–]Mercureee 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy! I have two questions.

Do you find it more difficult to write about male protagonists?

What are some of your favorite books you've read; were there ones that have stuck with you or inspired you?

And lastly I just want to say that Song of the Lioness was what inspired my love for the fantasy genre when I was 10 and I am extremely grateful for that


It's always wonderful to share my favorite genre with other people!

By and large I write male characters as people, and it seems to work out. ;-) With Arram/Numair it's been a bit harder, because there are, ehem!, areas of his teenaged life I have to cover that I didn't have to cover with male characters before!

Some of my favorite books. Barbara Hambly's early fantasy novels, including DRAGONSBANE, THE LADIES OF MANDRIGYN, and STRANGER AT THE WEDDING, and her Abigail Adams detective trilogy written as Barbara Hamilton. Elizabeth Bear's Jenny Casey sf trilogy, starting with HAMMERED. Ariana Franklin's historicals MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH and sequels. Barbara Cohen's UNICORNS IN THE RAIN. Bruce Coville's THE GHOST IN THE THIRD ROW; JEREMY THATCHER, DRAGON HATCHER; JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD. Libba Bray's THE DIVINERS. Ernie Lindsay, sf, PAWN. David Bradley, contemporary, THE CHANEYSVILLE INCIDENT. Daniel Abraham, fantasy, THE DRAGON'S PATH & sequels. Seanan McGuire, ghost, SPARROW HILL ROAD. Georgette Heyer's Regency and Georgian romances--don't ask me to pick one!

Stuck with me and inspired me? Tolkein's trilogy, of course. Barbara Hambly's work; Robin McKinley's early work; Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion, Dorothy Dunnett's books . Robert Howard's Conan books, Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books; CADDIE WOODLAWN by Carol Ryrie Brink; MARA: DAUGHTER OF THE NILE by Eloise McGraw; Louisa May Alcott's books; and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars and Earth's Core books, with their strong women!

I hope you always find fun fantasy!

[–]VagrantGypsy[🍰] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I am severely dyslexic, and was very slow to come to this who "reading" thing . In 4th grade I was told I had to try a chapter book for the first time. I grabbed the one with horses on the front, and made a good show of pretending to read. Except, for the first time, I was. It took awhile (and one book renewal), but I got through Wild Magic, and eventually the rest of the Immortal Series. That series changed my life, it made we want to read and not just something I had to do. My mom claims she saw a light go on that day, and it hasn't gone out yet. So thank you, thank you for my life.

Twelve years later, I wrote my thesis at UCLA on the "Man From U.N.C.L.E." and "Get Smart" verses "Burn Notice", and was very excited about the new U.N.C.L.E. movie, which I ended up LOVING. Did you get a chance to see it, and, if so, what did you think?


Thank you so much--I am thrilled that I was able to share my love of books with you!

I was deeply concerned about the new movie, because I was a major fan of the show when I was a girl (and had a complete crush on Daiv McCallum!), and the trailers looked nothing like it. To my great surprise and happiness, I loved the movie and can't wait to watch it again at home! Even though the characters are very different from the originals, I found them completely engrossing, and the women were delightfully strong. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

[–]Imposter_Six[🍰] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hi, Tamora Pierce! Tamora? Ms. Pierce? Tammy?

Long time fan, I have been an avid reader of your books for about 16 years, starting with the Protector of the Small quartet. I have always loved your worldbuilding and all the details, which leads into my question(s):

I've noticed with your books, especially with the Tortall series, that you base the different countries featured on actual countries/cultures/regions, what kind of research have you put into those imagined countries to make them similar to their earthly counterparts? How concerned were you with accuracy?

Here's another question: I've been able to discern for the most part what each country is and characters' nationalities, but I guess there are a couple I don't quite know. What is Daine and her country Galla suppose to be like (if anything)? This also goes for Thayet and Buri. I haven't been able to figure it out!

Thank you so much for this AMA. You have been integral to my love of fantasy and literature in general.


Tammy, please!

I'm not totally wound up with accuracy, in part because I don't have that kind of time, and in part because too much detail screams "look! I did my research!" That said, I always know more about the culture than I use, but that adds a certain weight to the background and details, a feel that this setting is real and that it's occupied by human beings. Every time my writing partner, writer Bruce Coville, will complain I describe meals or clothing too often and I'll cut back, but I'd rather cut back than have too barren a setting.

By the time I begin work, I have books on my setting that I've read, histories, military histories, and photo books on natural settings, architecture, wildlife, and historical clothing, including military wear. Some of these come from books I've had all along, including books of military gear and battles by the Osprey publishing company and a large number of books on fabrics and international clothing (including three books, one each of samples and descriptions of different weaves of cotton, linen, and wool; one only of facial veils). I have a large collection of books of maps and a drawer full of nothing but, as well as a shelf of books of names; a shelf of books on plants and agriculture, another of herbal medicines, two of travel books with photos, two shelves of books on medieval life worldwide . . . And that's not counting what I find on the interwebs.

And, to the surprise of those who know me, I have two shelves of cookbooks. I don't cook. I had to through my teens and while I was a single adult, and I quit when I learned my spouse-creature, then my boyfriend, loves to. But a good cookbook tells you more about a culture than just how to throw ingredients together. It gives menus, holidays, alternate versions when certain ingredients aren't available (I have a great one on the Jewish Diaspora with replacements for foods that aren't available everywhere Jewish people settled). When I was desperate for a description of Russian kitchens for WILL OF THE EMPRESS, I found a Russian cookbook with a drawing of one from the mid-1800s!

Galla is mostly medieval France, so it's very like Tortall, as are Tusaine and Maren. Saraine is like them in the south, but the culture of the northern part is that of the K'mir, the horse nomads, who live like the Montagnards of central Vietnam, but with a far colder environment.

[–]sleepymomday[🍰] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

First of all.....Thank you for giving us strong female role models. I am happy I will get to introduce your stories to my daughter when she is ready.

Second...... What is your favorite season of the year and why?


You are most welcome!

I love fall best, I think, for the glorious colors (I live in upstate New York), the comfortable days and the crisp nights, the smell of fireplaces burning and the feeling that the world is getting ready for a good nap. Spring is an overlapping first, because like fall, everything is changing!

[–]samanthamfarmer[🍰] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy! I just wanted to let you know that your books rank in my all-time favorites and I began reading them when I was in elementary school. Your heroines made an impact on me and have contributed to who I am today. I was wondering, what are your all-time favorite books and what specific characters in fiction have been important to you? (my personal favorites are Anne Shirley and Jo March, along with Daine)


I've mentioned a number of my favorite books above, including works by Barbara Hambly, who writes historical novels and historical mysteries these days, Elizabeth Moon, Ariana Franklin, Daniel Abraham, Bruce Coville, and others. Among my favorite and most meaningful characters? I think every American female writer bows to Jo March, don't you? I certainly do! (Though I never could have forgiven Amy for burning my book.)

Let's see, who else? There's Sam of The Lord of the Rings, who is steadfast, determined, and has a sense of humor. (I know, everyone expects me to worship at the shrine of Eowyn, but she gives up her sword, and I never forgave her for that.) There's Mara of Eloise McGraw's MARA, DAUGHTER OF THE NILE, who balances two masters, defies the pharaoh at the risk of being beaten to death, and still has enough mercy in her heart to be kind to a girl far from home and to hope for freedom not only for herself but for the only mother she's ever known. Then there's Peewee of Robert A. Heinlein's HAVE SPACE SUIT, WILL TRAVEL, an indomitable girl who sets out to conquer the universe with a rag doll named Madame Pompadour and a wad of bubble gum, and Madeleine L'Engle's Meg Murry of A WRINKLE IN TIME, brilliant and fierce.

[–]EmiliaAkari[🍰] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hello there!

First of all, I would like to say a major thank you. When I was in middle school, nothing would inspire me to read. I was falling very behind, until I discovered the Song of the Lioness. I was extremely inspired by Alanna, and I began to read so much more, as you introduced me to fantasy. I've also become a teacher, and constantly spread my adoration of learning and reading every day, and you were a huge part of that! Thank you!

My question is about the Stormwings, since I really loved their plot in The Immortals. I was wondering if we'd see a little more of them in future books! I'd love to see more about how people in Tortall are dealing with them being a constant presence in the world, and what that's doing politically between the humans and Stormwings. I heard that you were considering writing about Maura of Dunlath. Will she have to deal with them? Would her friendly relationship with Rikash and his crew maybe influence how she feels about them?

... Also, on a completely different and silly note, how could Rikash have gotten bones braided in his hair?! He couldn't do it with his talons or wings! Did Maura do it?


Hurray for you! Librarians and teachers were among my best friends in school, and I will never forget how good they were to me, or to thank their heirs for taking on the job!

You will be seeing Stormwings, but not in the future of the books for quite some time, I think. After some discussion with my editrixes, it looks like my next round of books once I'm done with Arram/Numair's story is going to be set 400 years before ALANNA, in the time when the Eastern and Southern Lands were part of one empire and when mages were gathering to find a way to exile the Immortals. It should be . . . interesting.

No, Maura didn't do Rikash's braids, but the immortals do have magic of their own. If you think of it, they would need magic to braid anything into their hair, because otherwise it would fall out while they fly!

[–]m3lm0 1 point2 points  (1 child)

My best friend and I love books, she introduced me to Tortall about 12 years ago and although much has changed in that time, getting lost in your stories will never lose its appeal.
I cant wait to share your books with my girls(and maybe even my nieces).
Words can't express what your books have done for me or my friend but Thank You. I wish you well with your writing, I cannot wait to read it.


Thank you so very much. I hope you, and your friend, always feel this way about my books, and that the women in your growing family do so as well!


To you, what real world city does Corus look like?

It changes for me every time I reread the books. Sometimes it looks like London, and sometimes it looks like Croatia.


I used a map of 16th century London to start, but I've made so many changes to it that it's its own city in my mind. It could as easily be Prague, too, with the palace on its hill over the city!

[–]TrisChandler 1 point2 points  (1 child)

First, thank you for being amazing. Daine, Alanna, and the rest got me through some pretty rough times in my life. Especially Daine. Her experience being believed when she talked about her magic driving her mad gave me the courage to start talking about the abuse I survived (even if it took a while for those seeds to bear fruit).

Anyway, question: Do you have a favourite type of magic to write? Between the Sight, the Gift, and various types of ambient magic, you've created quite a range. And would you class wild magic as a form of magic akin to the ambient mages of Emelan, or is it distinct from those in more ways than are immediately obvious in the presented text?


I am glad you were finally able to talk about what happened to you, and I hope that you were able to get some measure of relief and healing in doing so. It's always so hard to talk about abuse--your first belief is that no one will believe you, or care, and it's such a relief to find those who do both. I hope you've found those who do both.

I think wild magic is like ambient magic in that it's embedded in things and natural to what it's embedded in. It's there to be made use of by those whose own natural beings respond to it. I think wild magic and ambient magic are my favorites, because they buck what some of those who are far too fond of rules insist are the only true magics. I like wild cards; that's what I'm trying to say!

[–]ktktprettylady 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I've been waiting so long for this! Seriously, your books got me into reading. I would not pick up a single book when I was younger and it wasn't until middle school that I found the first Alanna book. We had a class period where we had to just read a book for like 40 minutes and I didn't bring one that day. My teacher had a small class library and Alanna, the first adventure was there and I read it and immediately fell in love with everything about Tortall and the characters you so perfectly had written. I've read them at least once a year since finding them (all books in the Tortall universe) and sometimes twice a year. I may be 26 years old but they never get too young for me. They have a perfect amount of everything. You were my biggest motivator to take writing classes in college and gave me an excellent hobby of writing. I honestly would not be the same me today if I hadn't stumbled upon your books. I've gotten my cousins into the books and will get my niece into them when she's old enough. I've been begging my younger sister to read them and I FINALLY convinced her this year. I bought her the first Alanna book and she finished it in a day and purchased the next three. She wasn't ever into fantasy and I think I've convinced her otherwise. :)

Onto my question(s): what advice would you give to a young fantasy writer? Both my sister and I are always writing and rewriting our own stuff. How do you get over writers block? Did you always know Alanna was going to end up with George? I was always cheering for him ever since he first saw her. Do you think you'll ever write about a new character in the Tortall universe? How are Buri and Raoul doing? Will you post some pictures of your cats?

I will never stop reading your books. Thank you for all that you've done and all that you do.


I don't have time to answer everything, but have you looked at my webpage (www.tamorapierce.com)? In the advice section I have everything I know about dealing with getting stuck/writer's block--all kinds of how-to advice. I also have advice, including the first thing I always say, which is just keep writing. The more you do, the better you get, so the more you do. Don't worry if you can't finish everything. The more you do, the better your chances of creating enough ideas to eventually finish something. Send it out and keep writing. When/if it comes back, send it out again and keep writing and finishing new things, and sending them out. Sooner or later you'll sell something, and as you continue to send work out, you'll sell more things. Being too stubborn to know when to quit is a real advantage to anyone in the arts.

No, I didn't know Alanna would end up with George--in the original book, she ended up with Jon, and the last third was awkward and bad. When I realized I had forced her to choose the handsome prince instead of the man she wanted, I rewrote it her way for the quartet.

I'll be writing new characters once I finish Arram/Numair's trilogy and the next Circle book.

Buri and Raoul are quite happy, patrolling the realm with the Own and trying to decide when/if they want to settle and have kids.

I don't know how to post pictures. I do have some on my Facebook page, though!

[–]HestraGallan[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Slightly off topic question! I've been following your cat rescue and fostering for quite some time now. I work and study from home, and I was curious if you had any tips to placate a needy kitty and get your work done. I adopted my cat as an adult this spring, and he seemed pleased to finally have full time humans. Maybe a tiny bit too pleased. I adore him, and I love that he loves us, but it would be nice to be able to keep him suitably entertained and quiet sometimes.

Second, coming from a conservative background, your work let me give myself permission to consider progressive points of view as a teenager. Gay rights, women in the military, premarital sex...it was so crucial to read about these topics from someone I admired. It planted seeds that helped me become a better person, and as a queer woman, a much happier one. Your work has meant so much to me in so many ways, but for this especially, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[–]Mike-Dane 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Thank you for all the great adventures I've had reading your books. You were my gateway into fantasy. When I was a kid I absolutely loved the books about tortall, especially the ones about Alanna.

My original question has already been afsked so i'll ask this instead:

What part of the day do you spend reading? I usually read in the evening right before I go to bed.


You are very welcome--it's always gratifying to introduce someone else to my most-loved genre!

I read whenever I get the chance--always before bed, but at breakfast and lunch, at dinner when I'm by myself, when traveling by air or train or subway, in airports, train and subway and bus stations, and at train and subway and bus stops, on elevators and street corners, during tv commercials and waiting for movies to start. (Unless I'm with people. I'm not rude. ;-) )

[–]tottwriter 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hello! A slightly mundane question from over the pond here! Your books have been out of print in the UK for quite a few years now. The Alanna books have come back via Random House, but so far they are the only ones. Is there any rough timeline in place for when your other books will be back on shelves over here? I'm importing for now, but I would love to be able to recommend you to other avid readers/parents (I am eagerly waiting for the day when my children are old enough to be given a copy of Alanna), and that would be a lot easier if the books were available here!

Your books have been an absolute inspiration to me growing up. I think I largely missed out on the assumption that fantasy might be a male-dominant genre because yours were the fantasy novels I read first. From the very beginning of my journeys in fantasy I believed that anyone and everyone could be a hero, and I put that down to your books. Thank you.


Hullo! It's not that mundane a question, not to me, anyway. Random House in the UK will be picking up publication of my books soon. I'm just not sure what books they mean to do next--most likely Beka Cooper. I'll be sure to announce it on my webpage as soon as I find out--it broke my heart when Scholastic UK dropped me!

Thank you for keeping me in mind. I hope we have new books for you soon!

[–]kutekat 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I love your books, and have loved them since I first started reading them as a child. Daine is my favorite character. I've always loved the names you created-when I first read about Kalasin, I read it as Kalisian, and from that moment forward decided my daughter's name would be Kalisian. My Kalisian is now one and a half and is a spitfire princess. My son's name Kit is partially inspired by your Kit, and by Diana Wynne Jones's gryphon Kit, and his middle name Liam was inspired by the Shang Dragon. Thanks for using and creating so many amazing stories and so many amazing names. My question-who would you say your favorite author/s of all times is/are?


I am so thrilled by those names!!!!!

It'll have to be authors, because I can't stick to one . . . .

Barbara Hambly, Guy Gavriel Kay, Bruce Coville, John Connolly, Mark Twain, Elizabeth Bear, Sarah Beth Durst, Robert McCammon, Jane Lindskold, Sherri L. Smith, Dorothy Dunnett, Georgette Heyer--to name a few, and they change all the time!

[–]tmitch77[🍰] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

When exactly did Numair fall in love with Daine? What was his revelation like? I love your books, especially the Immortals quartet. (I've even read them to my husband) When first read Wild Magic, I was Daine's age and when I just started rereading it for the hundredth or so time, I realized I'm Numair's age. It is pretty strange to think about, but I love the books even more than I did the first time. So thank you for years of enjoyment and what I refer to as my "comfort books."


rowanbrierbrook (below) is right. He loved her as a student and as a friend earlier, but it's that flash at the beginning of REALMS that makes him see her in a whole new way!

[–]rowanbrierbrook 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not Tammy, but I think we get a snippet of Numair realizing consciously for the first time that he loves Daine at the beginning of The Realms Of the Gods, when the barrier evaporates completely. That was always my reading of the scene, anyhow. :)

[–]MadxHatter0 1 point2 points  (1 child)

What's your favorite type of food to eat with an accompanying drink?

If you could list three things that have influenced your writing what would they be?

Planner or Pantser?

What are your thoughts on shared worlds in fiction?

Finally, what would a girl have to do if they saw you at a con to get you to sit down with them and talk with you about fantasy, mythology, and certain fiction ideas?


With my usual caveat about this all being subject to change without notice:

Food: pasta carbonara (no peas!) and a strong Bombay Sapphire gin & tonic with lime, little ice

My dad, fantasy novels, Mallory Loehr (editrix)

Planner-pantser-planner (start-middle-finish)

My hat's off to people who can work together in a world without duels/homicide

Catch me at a moment when I'm not talking to anyone else or doing anything else!


I don't really have a question, but I just wanted to say thanks for starting me on a love of books and a love of feminism.

I think I read Protector of the Small when I was 10, and every other series shortly after. I've reread every book every year since (12 years now!!). I just love the world and I love the characters, and I love how they're multifaceted, strong, flawed characters.

I can't remember how many book weeks I dressed up as Kel, or how many push-ups I did because I wanted to be strong like her (probably about 5, once, before I flaked out haha)

Even as an adult I love reading them, and I'm giving them to my little brother so he can grow up thinking that women are capable and amazing.

Also, your inclusion of actual canon queer characters is fantastic.

Honestly, just thank you for changing my life. There's no way I'd be the confident, capable woman I am now if it wasn't for you.


I am so deeply honored by this, and I hope you always feel the same way. There is really no greater tribute for an author than heartfelt thanks from a dedicated reader!

[–]Gwenhyvar 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hi Tamora & Tim, I don't really have a question, but I just wanted to say thank you for being such an inspiration. I'm a 26 year old who still re-reads the Tortall series over and over after 13 years, and you made me a very happy 15 year old when you responded to an email. Thank you not just for being a writer, but an amazing person, too. If you ever make it to Australia, I'll be there, even if it means a 5 hour trip :-)


Thanks so much! Actually, Tim and I will be in Oz sometime next year--watch my webpage (www.tamorapierce.com) for further details!

[–]alittlelipstick[🍰] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hi, I remember hearing a while back that you were thinking about writing a book about Tris at Lightsbridge. I was wondering if that was still a thing that might happen, because I would read the shit out of that. I would just love to hear about all the stuff that Tris would accidentally manage to get up to while trying to lead a peaceful academic life and all the interesting people she would get to know. A general timeframe of when this book may come out (never, in a week, in 3 years, in the year 2500 when your cryogenically frozen head has finally been brought back to life) would be greatly appreciated so I don't get my hopes up too high.


Tris is still going to university, still going under an assumed name--it's just been pushed back a bit, as Arram/Numair's book has gone from one book to two to three. I'm shooting for 2020 at this point (sorry....). But I want to do it very badly--she's got Tim Gunn for her advisor, a roommate who's a party animal, and Chime, who's supposed to pretend she's a static work of art when she isn't alone in the rooms!

[–]Castaras 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hi, I'm yet another person who's been reading your books since early teens and still love your books dearly.

Firstly, I'd like to thank you. Your books really helped me out in giving me a place to escape to, as well as some awesome reading for me to learn about how people think.

Secondly, a question! I really loved your stories Elder Brother and Hidden Girl - I'm curious if you're going to be writing any further about either one of these characters or the world they come from?


As someone who relied on fantasy for a place to escape to in her early teens, I thank you with great sincerity!

I would like to write more about Qiom and Teka at the very least, since they still aren't in Tortall! I don't know about the Hidden Girl as yet. I am slowly working on more short stories as I work on Arram/Numair's tale, so hopefully I'll be able to fit something in about them!

[–]SableCaught 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Hi Tammy,

Thanks so much for doing this AMA, it's been 15 years since I first discovered your books and I still always name you when people ask me for a favourite author.

My question is, do you think you'll ever write any books not set in Tortall or Emelan (well the extended worlds here)? Any new settings in store for us?


You know, I have no idea. I have an idea for a newer universe, set in either the late 1960s or early1980s, but so far, no time. I did a radio play in a version of it during the 1980s, but nothing since. ::sigh::

[–]ydeliane 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hi Tammy! Thanks for doing this AMA, very excited to read your responses though I don't have a question myself. Like many others here I was recommended your books by my primary school librarian as a young bookworm. I loved Alannah, which I think made me see why a handsome prince isn't (and shouldn't) always be the right choice. Even now I look forward to any of your new releases, and I am sure that any children of mine would grow up reading your books! Thanks! :)


Thank you so much--I hope you always feel this way!

[–]Katie_Masters[🍰] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Hello! First, to get the fan girl part out of the way:

I've read you since I was 11. The Lioness Quartet were the first of your series I read, and my favorite (Daine a close second!) After reading them all in a few days I sat down and cried because it was over. Your world helped me escape bullying and to rise above the taunts and names and to be okay with myself. You're also the reason I realized I wanted to be a writer! So thank you from the bottom of my heart! And thank you for showing teen readers that girls in books can be flawed and not beautiful and tall with flaxen hair, and make mistakes and have repercussions to their actions. Thank you for that!

And now, my questions!

1) Do you write best during the day, or at night?

2) If you were allowed to live in any country from the worlds you created, where would you want to live?

3) Are any of the men you've written inspired by your Spouse-Creature? And if so, who resembles him the most?

4) What's the most interesting place on Earth you've gone to?

5) What was the hardest book for you to write?

[–]TimELiebeAMA Author Tim Liebe[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

@Katie-Masters - I already answered the one about me at the top of the page - https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/3lw4b6/tamora_pierce_fantasy_writer/cv9z2cp .

Unless you want Tammy's take on it.... :)


[–]WickedGingerSnaps 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Oh my gosh. I was just talking about your books earlier today and then I see this. I mostly just wanted to say that I fell in love with your worlds as a young girl, and that now (at 25) I still find my way back to them when I need something heartwarming in my life.

My 2 questions are this: If you weren't a writer, what would you be? What other career path would you have gone down?

At what point did you realize that your books were something that would be kept in the hearts of adults that picked them up years ago?

I love seeing all the people in this thread that have been touched by your work. Thank you. For everything.


If I weren't a writer, I'd like to teach writing, or to be an editor. And if I were out of the writing/book field entirely, I'd like to be a wildlife rehabilitator!

I discovered that adults would pick up and like my books very early on, when part of my first audiences at appearances were librarians and teachers who brought me their own copies for me to sign!

Thanks for stopping in!

[–]Phytoseiidae 1 point2 points  (2 children)


1) Thank you so much for your books. I have been reading since I was 10 or 12 and now I am 27. Magic + animals + women who struggle with the career vs family issue: it's like you knew exactly what I wanted to read. I identify with Kel, but I want Daine's powers. Which character is most like you and who do you want to be?

2) I felt like there weren't enough indicators that Rosenthorn and Lark were together romantically in the original Circle series. Did you decide later in writing that they were involved, or is it just that the young POV characters were more oblivious to sex/sexually and didn't focus on or notice these sorts of things?

3) I am so glad there hasn't yet been an epilogue or mention later in the Tortall books of the "getting married and having babies" happy ending for Kel or Beka. Do you plan on one? It is interesting to read characters who would rather stay unattached, or have a spouse, but don't want children, since this is becoming more normal in western cultures.

4) Does the magic Beka has have an official name, like the Gift, or Wild Magic? How rare do you picture it being?

5) The gods in the Circle series were always less present (maybe they existed, maybe they didn't), until Battle Magic. Was there a particular reason you decided to have active gods in this book, or did it just happen?

6) What's your favorite thing to do or see in upstate NY? I just moved here with my spouse creature!

[–]Alocasia_Fruit 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Like a thousand people have already commented, but I feel like I would never forgive myself if I didn't ask anything.

First, my question: Do you have any difficulty whatsoever in maintaining the interweaving continuity of your stories? As in, your characters all exist and interact with each other in a way that I've always found brilliant and fascinating, but sometimes with my own writing I found that I have trouble with each of these people having their own lives and NOT having it come to the forefront of someone else's story. How do you keep it all separate and still make it seem like a piece of a larger tapestry?

Thank you, by the way, for the lifetime of reading your books. Growing up, they taught me how to cope with things I didn't understand and made me feel less strange. Eventually, I majored in writing with your name listed as one of my biggest influences. Words can't really express everything your novels have taught me about the craft. So, thank you. For absolutely everything.


I keep copious files and character forms with all of their data. Since I write for kids, the kid characters are front and center, so even when old friends show up, they are there in relation to the kids. We may see details of their lives at present, but we see those things through the main characters' lives, which is how I managed the two (sometimes traumatic for fans!) very different views of Jon through the young Alanna's eyes and the young Kel's eyes. As the writer even when I am writing a scene that only includes the older character I am keeping in mind the way the younger character would view and feel about it.

Does this help? It requires a serious lock on the main characters, but once you have it, you can fill the secondary characters in as brightly as you need to. I hope I said it clearly enough!

You see, you have just told me my Evil Master Plan continues to succeed. Said EMP is that with luck I will inspire enough writers that I insure that I never run out of anything to read! Pretty crafty, if I do say so myself!

[–]rchoks[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What's your favorite Bollywood movie? And if you haven't seen Jodhaa Akbar already (starring Hrithik Roshan & Aishwarya Rai), I highly recommend it!

[–]mybrokenlocket[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! My dad gave me a copy of First Test when I was in fifth grade, and I’ve been a fan ever since. I wrote my college essay about how Kel was my role model for succeeding as a woman in a male dominated field, and I still go back to Tortall or Emelan when I need inspiration.

There is one question that’s been with me since First Test. What is the story with Peachblossom’s original owner? Did Stefan (or maybe Daine) do something to terrify him out of ever abusing another animal? Is he dead? Did we ever meet him in another book? This might be strange thing to be hung up on sixteen years later, but I can’t let it go.

Thank you again for your wonderful books and all that you do.

[–]guardie18[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey Tammy! Oh my god let me just start off by saying your books defined my childhood and continue to impact me into my twenties :) I love the Circle of Magic books, thank you so much for putting Daja Kisubo in my life!

Okay now. Questions. Will we ever get a short story either explaining the Living Circle religion? Or any about Lark and Rosethorn (they are my favorite couple of anything ever tbh)? If you won't be writing about Lark and Rosie, can you at least say how they met? (It was totally in the Mire right?) Which of the four Emelan baby goats was your favorite to write? If you had to pick of the circle's ambient magic to have, which would you pick?

[–]marvelousmindelan[🍰] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Hello Ms. Pierce! I'm sorry in advance for this question spam but I know too many Tortall and Emelan fans and I am the only one who both has a reddit and was going to be guaranteed to be on here today - so these questions are from me and a bunch of other people! Thank you for all your time and thank you for giving us your stories! Now, here we go :

-We know that the crows were able to teach Aly Crowspeak. If Aly were to Crowspeak at Diane, would she understand? Or is Diane's ability to understand animals more Telepathically based?

-How many kids do Beka and Farmer have?

-At one point, Daja talks about some islands far far over the sea with copper skinned natives. Is it possible that those are the Copper Islands?

-Are there other wandering constellations?

-What are Kel's siblings, Avinar and Demdina like?

-What did George do to get a favor from Kyprioth?

-What will Aly spend her favor on?

-Kel's mom Ilane was from Seabeth and Seajen, what had Ilane's family done to have two fiefdoms?

-What are the personalities of the Sky and Dawn Crows?

-What do you think would happen if Alanna and Beka met?

-Are Kel's siblings proud of her?

-What is Alanna’s favorite food? Kel’s?

-What would have happened if Thom had survived?

Thank you again for everything you've done! You have no idea how much you've shaped my life and how strong of an impact your books and characters have had on me personally. I wish you all the best!

[–]LadyRavenEye 1 point2 points  (1 child)

How would you feel about a convention based solely around your work?

[–]rhiaaryx 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Hi Tammy,

I've been reading your books.. well, I actually don't know how long, I was maybe 10 years old at best--so somewhere in the range of 16 years. Whenever I'm having a rough time, I pick them back up and read through them. Some people have comfort food, I have comfort books :) One of them even got glitter perfume spilled on it when I was a pre-teen, so my copy of the first Alanna book is glittery! Quite ironic.

I'm gearing up for NaNo, so most of my questions for Tammy are writing-related.

Questions for Tammy:

  • What is your writing process? Do you have a time of day that you usually write, do you outline, etc?
  • What do you do in pre-writing?
  • What is your favorite part of writing?
  • Have you ever imagined what the Tortall series would look like as a TV show? Who would play Alanna?

Questions for Spouse-Creature Tim:

  • How involved do you get in the book process?
  • Is it hard to keep Tammy's workspace a workspace?
  • What's it like being the spouse-creature of a novelist?
  • Which is your favorite book?

And last of all, thank you both for doing this! Getting a chance to ask you both some questions makes this grey September day quite bright :D

[–]TimELiebeAMA Author Tim Liebe[🍰] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

@rhiaaryx - okay, don't know what Tammy already said, but here goes for my part of it:

HOW INVOLVED DO I GET IN THE WRITING PROCESS? Mostly Tammy just uses me as a sounding-board, bouncing ideas off me and listening to what I think about them, or asking what I'd do as a way to get her own brain oiled. If you ever watched the ABC-TV show Castle, it's a bit like how Rick Castle will throw out idiotic solutions to the crime they're solving, and Beckett dismisses them as "crazy" while coming up with counter-solutions - and they keep going until they usually end up at the same place! :D

IS IT HARD TO KEEP TAMMY'S WORKSPACE A WORKSPACE? Only when we're fostering cats! One of the bedrooms in our house is strictly her office, and that's all it's used for - unless we have a feral stray cat or one that's sick and needs to be kept out of gen-pop for long periods, then it becomes Tammy's office and cat-home.

WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING THE SPOUSE-CREATURE OF A NOVELIST? It's like being the spouse of any professional woman who works from home, mostly - we share the chores, we make accommodations for each other's schedules and deadlines, and I provide feedback and moral support for her. The biggest change from being married to a woman who's running a non-creative business out of her house are meeting Tammy's fans, who are legion and very awesome! :)

WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? Well, my favorite story is the one she wrote for Bruce Coville's Half Human collection, "Elder Brother", which I think shows just how far she can stretch outside of what her fans think of as "a Tamora Pierce story".

Books...? That's like asking "Who's your favorite kid?" ;) But if I had to choose one, I'd say either Cold Fire or Shatterglass, because I'm a sucker for a good mystery-thriller, and they both have strong world building, and interesting and strangely sympathetic villains.

[–]porcupette9 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi Tammy,

I first just want to say how much I love your books. When I was in third grade, I had a dress that had pockets that were exactly the right size to fit my copies, and I would wear it pretty much every day, and always with one of your books in each pocket. I'm 24 now, and they're still my ultimate comfort books. I always go back and reread them when I'm having a rough time.

My question for you is about adaptations. Have you ever been approached about having one of your books made into a movie or tv show? Would you be interested in having something like that done? What would be your biggest worry about it?

[–]abionalowell[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, Tammy! Thank you so much for doing an AMA. I can't truly express in words what your work means to me. I found your books at a very lonely and difficult time during my childhood, and they're one of the few things that helped get me through. Whenever I opened them, it was like I was among friends, and I found kindred spirits in so many of your characters. I could never be truly alone with them there, and I learned so much about bravery, compassion, being yourself, mistakes, friendship, etc. Thank you so much for sharing the worlds that you've created.

I suppose I should ask some questions. Haha.

  1. What books/authors were most important to you as a child and why?
  2. Will we see any more about Lark and Rosethorn?
  3. What was your inspiration for Faithful/Pounce the cat?
  4. Which character do you see yourself most in? Was it intentional?

And, just for fun: If you could be a mage, what power would you most like to have?

[–]Shoskiboom[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was wondering if there was a possibility of a future Shang universe collection? I love Alanna (and her choice in relationships) and I would really like the story of Liam up to the point where they first met. Do I dare to hope?

Thank you!

[–]FaustynaWriter V. M. Jaskiernia 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi Tammy!

I have been reading your books since I was about as old as the protagonists (I'm 25 now and still check your website to see if there are new books out). Because of your work my love shifted from modern fantasy to mediaeval, historical, and cultural. Some of the first stories I ever wrote down were clear rip-offs of Tortall (gotta have the tall attractive mage-master after all), and so much of your work is still influencing me in my more original writing.

Because of you I can let myself create extended family sagas with sets and sets of stories filling each world. Because of you (and Megan Whalen Turner) I've always had a love of thieves and spies. I'm not worried or afraid of showing the truth about death and pain. Your books were the first ones where I learned how ugly it is to die, and I appreciated the truth. I love your magical systems, your pantheons, and the life in your worlds. I hope I can be half the writer you are.

I don't really have a question- just praise and thanks. So thank you.

(Ok, I have one question: do you ever read self-published books? And if, say, I suggested a short book that may have been written by me, what are the chances you read it? Because that would be the coolest thing ever. Even if you just click the link and see the cover I'll feel like I accomplished something, heh).

Again, thank you for your stories :)

[–]images-ofbrokenlight 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! I'm a long time fan (I've been reading your books since middle school and I just graduated from college in May! :D) Throughout the years reading your books have always felt like I was coming home...they've been a source of inspiration and strength. I've gotten through some tough times in my life with the help of your books.

I feel a bit rushed since I was supposed to leave for work 10 minutes ago but here are my questions: (I haven't read through the responses so I apologize if these are repeats)

What is a Tortallan wedding like?

Any information on Beka and Farmer's married life? (Kids, Careers etc?) I miss them!

Do you have any book recommendations? I remember picking up Eon/Eona by Alison Goodman and Cinder by Marissa Meyer because you recommended them. I had a lot of fun reading those!

Do you have any pictures of your cats you wouldn't mind sharing? (cat tax!)

I'm looking forward to reading your future books! Thank you so much for everything.

[–]JenGallagher[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi Tamora I always wondered what the other knights seen in the chamber of ordeal? more specifically what did Joren of Stone Mountainy see? I love all your books you are the best righter in my eyes thank you for being so amazing and please say hi to all your pets for me :)

[–]koalakoda[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

May I ask, How are you? You too Tim, How are you doing?

Have a wonderful year.

[–]chabbit[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey Tammy! Aside from your amazingly representative casts of characters, I'm a huge fan of your world building. I love the worlds of Tortall and Emelan, and as a kid I used to fantasize about being part of them. (As a kid? Who am I kidding?) I really admire your ability to incorporate real traditions and languages into a fantasy setting, and I hope to be able to create fictional worlds just as skillfully some day. I have two questions about world building for you, a serious one and a silly one: 1. How much do you rely on real world topography/history/environments while making maps for your books? 2. You've created two great fantasy worlds, Tortall and Emelan - if you had to choose to live in either of them, which would you pick?

[–]Spastickle 1 point2 points  (5 children)

Some friends and I have talked about how cool it would be to have a Renaissance Festival modeled after Tortall. Perhaps a different storyline each day following major events in the novels and featuring the corresponding nobles to hold court. Rather than traditional coat of arms, we'd see the personal heraldry of Alanna, George, etc. Patrons could attend an archery demo with Daine, witness an epic joust with Kel, share a pint at the Dancing Dove, etc.

So I guess my question is: how possible would this be? Would you support an idea like this to come to fruition?

Also: As many have said, I love your work and your characters were a pivotal part of my identity growing up <3 Thanks so much for doing this AMA!

[–]alaskajenna[🍰] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi Tammy! I love listening to the audio books for your novels, particularly the Beka Cooper trilogy. I finished listening to Emperor Mage a little while ago and belatedly realized that you were the reader/narrator. How was that for you, getting to be the one reading your own books? Do you have any interesting stories about the Full Cast Audio or were there any actors that changed how you see your characters? (Also- I stumbled across your books two years ago and devoured them! Thanks for giving us such a great world to fall into)

[–]Phantine 1 point2 points  (1 child)

What's your favorite gemstone?

[–]TheWalkingOracle 1 point2 points  (0 children)


My question is about the relationship between Keladry and Wyldon. I have always been curious about how exactly Wyldon views Kel as an adult, especially once she leaves his command, as I assume she does at some point. She clearly respects him, and I think that he respects her in his own way, but is there ever a moment where he acknowledges that publicly? He often speaks to her privately, and it is implied that he is proud of her choices, but does he ever come out and say it, despite the politics of the situation?

Also, I just want to say that Kel and her friends helped me through some extraordinary circumstances in my own childhood, and she inspired me to be as brave as possible, and work to solve problems peacefully before resorting to the easiest solution. What was your inspiration behind creating Kel, who was a completely different personality from Daine or Alanna? They, I think, would rather shout and throw things than calmly tell the King that certain laws should change. :)

Thank you for creating these marvelous worlds to escape into. They constantly surprise, inspire, and comfort me. I recommend them to all of the students I tutor, even the boys, simply because they allow teens to explore growing up and becoming adults AND because they are then forced to question their own choices and morals in the process.

[–]dianalilwashu 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi Tammy! I'm sure this is part of a chorus by now, but I love your work so much, and it's been a huge influence on my own life and beliefs. As a messy brown-haired girl named Diane who likes animals and was good friends with many of her teachers, I found myself rather emotionally attached to the Immortals series in my teenage years. :) I have a few questions that involve some headcanons, which I'd be curious to know - if you've even thought about these at all.

  1. Is Raoul attracted to men as well as women? I didn't think about this possibility until Mark Oshiro pointed it out, but now I find myself considering it often during rereads. Raoul canonically has a drinking problem, and I wonder if that may have stemmed from problems about his attraction/sexuality.

  2. Do you have any thoughts on what the Cooper and Conte children aside from Aly choose for their futures? I remember hearing that Kally married Kaddar (which is fascinating for me to think about!) and obviously we know what happened with Aly, who referenced Thom being a mage and Alan being a squire and Roald being happily married as heir, but do you have any other thoughts about the kids? Does Alan have the makings of a commander like Kel (hence being chosen to squire for Raoul)? Is Thom researching the necromancy killing machines for any particular reason? What are the other princes and princesses doing? Hmm. Number 2 turned out to be a bunch of questions all at once. Sorry! I just like to imagine the future adventures of our favorite characters' families. :)

Thanks so much for all your work and everything you do! I can't wait to pick up your next series.

EDIT: Yikes, I have no idea how to format Reddit comments, apparently.