In this episode K.S. and I discuss:

• The inspiration behind The Wolf of Oren-Yaro
• Building on a previous series
• Creating a deeply flawed character that readers can still root for
• The interplay between the external and internal journey of the protagonist
• Meeting genre expectations in a new way
• Building a world through character

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About K.S. Villoso

K. S. Villoso writes speculative fiction with a focus on deeply personal themes and character-driven narratives. Much of her work is inspired by her childhood in the slums of Taguig, Philippines. She is now living amidst the forest and mountains with her husband, children, and dogs in Vancouver, Canada. Visit her website or connect with her on Twitter or Facebook.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro

Born under the crumbling towers of her kingdom, Queen Talyien was the shining jewel and legacy of the bloody War of the Wolves. It nearly tore her nation apart. But her arranged marriage to the son of a rival clan heralds peace.

However, he suddenly disappears before their reign can begin, and the kingdom is fractured beyond repair.

Years later, he sends a mysterious invitation to meet. Talyien journeys across the sea in hopes of reconciling their past. An assassination attempt quickly dashes those dreams. Stranded in a land she doesn’t know, with no idea whom she can trust, Talyien will have to embrace her namesake.

A Wolf of Oren-yaro is not tamed.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 292

(Right-click to download.)

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 292: World Building in Epic Fantasy — Interview with K.S. Villoso appeared first on DIY MFA.

The Winds of Winter is, in fact, coming (or so Mr. Martin says), but as it’s likely it will be at least another year, and March at best for the new season of the show, you might be looking for some new reading material.

While you’re anxiously awaiting news about which one of your favorite characters is about to get axed in some gruesome way, and after you’ve checked out this twitter feed, and watched this youtube video . . . and this one, too (spoiler warning!), check out these five other awesome fantasy epics:

The Name of the Wind

By: Patrick Rothfuss

Patrick Rothfuss jumped onto the fantasy scene with this debut. It’s the story of Kvothe, a kingkiller, dragonslayer, magician and legend . . . as told by Kvothe, who is now hiding in a small tavern, bereft of his powers. Turning the genre’s tropes on its head (much like Martin), Rothfuss tells the epic story behind Kvothe’s myth . . . along with some great romance, a magic school and a fantasy world dense and rich enough to host several video games. There’s also a sequel already available, a companion novella coming out October 28, and the author has said the third book in the series will be the last. So, no waiting decades to know your favorite characters’ fates.

Kushiel’s Dart

By: Jacqueline Carey

Much like Patrick Rothfuss, Jacqueline Carey burst onto the fantasy scene with a debut that became an instant classic. Set in an alternate Europe where men and women are descended from fallen angels, Kushiel’s Dart has one of the most compelling protagonists you’ll meet in fantasy: Phedre, a courtesan blessed (or cursed?) to experience pain and pleasure as one, who discovers an insidious plot to destroy her beloved country. This one will make you cry, cringe and blush. Plus sides? It’s written from Phedre’s perspective, so there aren’t a million characters to keep straight. It’s bleeding romance, high adventure and gorgeous prose. And you can already buy the entire trilogy. No waiting to find out who lives or dies.

The Eye of the World

By: Robert Jordan

If you’re looking for a series with an immersive world, multiple viewpoints and giant tomes you can spend weeks reading, The Wheel of Time, beginning with Eye of the World, is a safe bet. Robert Jordan’s epic spans fourteen novels. Tragically, the author became ill and was unable to finish them before his passing, but Brandon Sanderson—another author to watch in the genre—completed them from the author’s outlines. The last book, A Memory of Light published in March. So. You can find out everything there is to know! And then get started on Sanderson’s new epic, The Way of Kings. Two in one!

Throne of Glass

By: Sarah J. Maas

Called a YA Game of Thrones, Sarah J. Mass’s book series could be described as a fantasy summer read. It’s got a whirlwind pace, exciting romance, court intrigue and a protagonist who brings new meaning to the term, “bad@$$.” She’s an assassin with a veiled past who, in the first book, is rescued from prison to compete to be her tyrannical king’s champion. It helps that she’s also torn between two equally sexy fantasy dudes—a prince and a guard, both of whom get viewpoint chapters, as well. This series is ongoing, but if you’re looking for a breath of fresh air after that beheading, Throne of Glass, its two sequels and a series of prequel short stories might serve as a nice breather.

Lord of the Rings

By: J.R.R. Tolkien

Because none of these books would be here without it. Tolkien invented the modern fantasy epic, the immersive world and the thousand-page-but-still-commercial book.  If you’re looking to be a proper fantasy nerd, you need to be able to act superior to the poor people who don’t know who Tom Bombadil is, what happened in the scouring of the Shire or that Aragorn is actually eighty seven (but Arwen’s like three thousand, and they’re technically related, so it’s the least weird thing about their relationship). You will also be able to laugh knowingly at this Game of Thrones/Lord of the Rings mashup. Smug? As if your friends weren’t before you watched The Red Wedding.

So there you have it. Five fantasy series. Hundreds of characters. Thousands of pages. Get that image of the Viper dying out of your mind. Stop listening to this song. Quit arguing about who Jon Snow’s mother is. You’ve got reading to do!

Bess Cozby writes epic stories in expansive worlds from her tiny apartment in New York City. By day, she’s an Editor at Tor Books, and Web Editor for DIY MFA. Her work is represented by Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency. Tweet her at @besscozby, contact her at bess@diymfa.com, or visit her website at www.besscozby.com.

The post #5onFri — Five Books to Read if You Loved Game of Thrones appeared first on DIY MFA.