An Interview with Timothy Forrest

I grew up in New England, but moved to Arizona in 2007. I’ve loved Sci-fi and fantasy my whole life, and started playing Dungeons and Dragons shortly after I moved to AZ, when a friend invited me. When I decided to run a game, I created the world of Talloxxis, which I then set my series in.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

Reading Eragon for the first time, and the story of how it got published. I had tried writing a novel at least three times previously, but never got far. The first story I finished was a novella I titled Son of Heaven, Daughter of Hell, which became #6 in my series.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

The kernel of the story was an idea about a guy who gets sucked into a book, and I refined it in my head for a while before starting writing. Eventually, it became the first novel-length story I finished (of eleven).

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I started the theme of “Son of *, Daughter of *” with my first novella, and I’ve stuck with it, with variations sometimes, as with Children of Strength. So, no, it wasn’t hard, though coming up with that first one took MONTHS.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Eighties rock: AC/DC, Guns n Roses, Def Leppard, among others. Karen lives in the eighties, at first, and knows nothing about the modern world.

Describe your dream book cover.

Eddie using his Firestorm ability to annihilate the vampires. Huddled down in a ball, Karen and Maggie unconscious nearby, and fire shooting out of him. Oh, in a cavern, of course, maybe some pillars in the background.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve mostly worked in retail and restaurants.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I had to frequently consult my impressive collection of Dungeons and Dragons books—I have about 45. Yes, I’m a geek.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope reading this first one leads them to want to read the rest. There are sixteen volumes in Tangled Bloodlines so far, with more coming. I hope I get to share them with the world at some point.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.