B.T. Robertson is the author of the Chronicles of the Planeswalker fantasy trilogy. The third book, Part Final: Alignment was published last month. B.T. is also known around the empire as the galactic Gaming Editor, so of course we pinned him down for an interview about his books, his influences, his inspirations, and more.
Damon Cap: This is your first trilogy, and you chose as a main character an Elf. So why Elves? After writing book three do you maybe wish you had changed your main characters, or do you feel that having Elves made it easier for the reader to relate to?
B.T. Robertson: I started off the trilogy far differently than I finished it. In book 1 – Part Zero – the elves were my main focus because they are a traditional and “safe” starting point. In other words, the decision established me as a novice because I didn’t push the boundaries of characterization. Instead, I chose to focus on race as the defining model rather than their character. But, it provided a safe starting point while at the same time permitting the creative freedom to angle their culture to my liking. The elf is so relatable today to all science fiction and fantasy readers because of the Lord of the Rings movies, so that did strike a chord in me. Lastly, I find the elf to be the antithesis of a vampire because of their inherent good nature…traditionally speaking, of course. Elves and vampires have a lot in common, but it was the primary difference of their natures that drew me to write about elves. With the popularity of vampires today, perhaps history will judge my decision to be the wrong one. [laughs]
When you read Part Zero, you’ll notice the elves speak in far different tones than they do in the second and third books. They’re far more formal with their speech patterns due to the years of isolation and sanctuary in the forest. When I read Part Zero now, I cringe at certain spots because the characters have grown so much and don’t talk that way anymore. I’m proud of that, and I think it will shine through for the readers.
I know this might be a broad question, but what do you feel you learned writing book 3 that you did not learn from book 1 and 2? How have you grown as an author?
[laughs] Broad questions receive lengthy answers. What I will say in a nutshell is that I have grown as an author. But to pin it down to one or two reasons may be a bit difficult, because growth comprises so many factors. I took my time writing book 3, much to the chagrin of my readers, most certainly. But in doing so, I found my focus and a stronger, more potent voice for the characters. We want to read about people, relationships, and interactions between people. It took me a while to realize that it’s not about the magic system as much as it is about the character wielding said magic. As a child, I was drawn to fantastical displays of magic spells in video games, but really what I was connecting with were the characters battling against evil. As a writer, I had to learn that while creating great battles and nice set pieces of “stuff” is fun and action-packed, if the characters are duds, the writing will fall flat and lack emotional connections. These connections are what keep the pages turning and readers invested.
How much input did you have on the cover of book 3? Was there a particular reason that the artist for book 2 was not retained?
I had full input on the cover for book 3. Thomas Hunt did a superb job, and we became great friends during the process. Natascha Roeoesli, the artist on the second novel, would have been retained if not for her personal ailments which prohibited her from being commissioned. I tried, but it wasn’t meant to be. Her talent is noted, however, as people still love that cover.
I knew I wanted something epic for the final book’s cover, but in the beginning I wanted a red-toned image. The first book’s cover is dominantly green, the second book blue/black, so I figured a red-toned book 3 cover would complete the RGB trio that I thought would’ve been pretty cool. But, that being said, the fact that the color scheme in Tom’s cover is close to Natascha’s, I think the decision to go that route was a good one. It provides a relatable connection between the two books, which is wise from a marketing perspective. Plus, the Orus beast Tom painted is really this nasty in the book. Red would’ve thrown it all off and wouldn’t have had the impact that the dark Orus has. I guided Tom along and chose the scene, but he had free reign to create the Orus the way he felt was best, and it turned out more amazing than I could ever have envisioned.
How has David Farland helped you become a better author? Can you give us a bit of background on that relationship?
I’m glad you asked about David. The relationship started before Part One: Alliances‘ release – recall, this is book 2 [laughs]. I had purchased some of his Runelords books and wanted them signed. On his website at the time, he offered to sign any books that a fan would ship at their own expense. To me, that was a no-brainer, so I sent him some to sign and included a little cover letter about who I was. Simple, to the point, but I mentioned that I was a writer and provided my website address. He responded with such enthusiasm that it floored me. He requested my manuscript and asked if I would like a cover quote, if he liked it! I mean, can you imagine that? Me, a nobody, being asked by a world-famous author if he can provide me a quote, pending his enjoyment of the manuscript. He ended up providing one…he liked it [grins]. Part One: Alliances was released in April 2007.
Part Final: Alignment’s writing process was bolstered by my trip to Saint George, Utah in May of 2008, where I attended David’s Writing Workshop (now called “Writers Death Camp,” FYI). As a young and novice writer/author, this had a profound effect on me…for the better. His workshop changed the way I looked at writing, and I literally threw out most of the first five chapters I had written because of all the techniques I learned. Too much to go into here, but suffice to say that Mr. Farland is a genius and, more importantly, a great mentor who helped me grow. As I stated in the Acknowledgements section in Part Final: Alignment, pay attention to chapter 15 – “Belegriss and the Queen Slayer” – because it’s a direct result of the workshop and is one of my favorite chapters in the book.
What does the third book have that other authors on the shelves have not done in the same way?
Great question, wow. It must be noted that I haven’t read probably 1/50th of the fantasy/science fiction novels out there on the shelves, so I don’t know how other authors have written their third books. However, what I can tell you is that my concept of the Planes and the worlds they contain, in my knowledge and experience, is wholly unique. I based the idea on the structures of organic molecules. You know, those ball-and-stick models used to represent the concepts of molecular bonding to form new compounds? Because of that, and because I spent a huge amount of time pondering the inner workings of the system, I believe that is what sets Chronicles of the Planeswalkers apart from the pack. It’s part science-fiction, part fantasy, but all adventure and mayhem, with some love tossed in for good measure. [smiles] Elves, dragons, and dwarves aren’t unique and have been used before, but I’ve created my own species of creatures and beings that inhabit these worlds – or at least the Plane or two you visit in this trilogy.
And I’m not done writing in the Planar universe I’ve created. I’ll at least drop that tidbit of info here and now for BSCreview’s readers.
Tell us a little bit about the main hero and villain of the story. Did you model them after anyone in particular?
I won’t lie, I put a lot of myself into the main protagonist, Aerinas. He’s a Krayn Elf, son to Tristandor and Nimoni. Tristandor is the High Elf-Lord in Mynandrias. He has a strained relationship with his father throughout the series, which plays into a lot of the situations they encounter. This does, in some ways, model my own life experiences, but not directly. Tristandor is modeled after my own father, but it’s not a one-to-one relationship. I don’t put too much of my personal baggage into the writing, because it sends the wrong message.
There are several villains in the series, to be frank. Haarath is the visible one, the puppet, if you will. He’s doing the bidding of a being known as Hydrais, who is unseen most of the way. I don’t want to spoil anything, but those are your two main baddies. Jjyn Cormülan is also a bad guy introduced into the series, as is Amark the Goblin King. Amark’s crazy, and that’s what I love most about him. Hell, they are all crazy!
There’s probably a little bit of me in all the characters. One of my personal favorites is Pux, the jesting apprentice whose soul has been banished and confined into Aeligon’s staff…Aeligon’s my wizard character who I identify with a lot. Pux is just funny, and I enjoyed writing his dialogue sequences. But when it comes down to it, Pux changes and matures, which illustrates the depth these characters have now that they may have lacked before. Perhaps that’s a metaphor for how I have matured in life. [laughs]
What is more important to you, the world, the story, or the characters and why?
The characters, bar none. Building worlds is fun, but they are ultimately empty without characters. And unless you’re writing stories about animals, a story can’t be written without characters. Some may argue that generalization, but in broad terms a story is told with characters and that’s what readers are drawn to. I have more fun writing dialogue between characters than any other single facet of writing. It’s amazing, too, how they throw me for a loop at times. [winks]
Being a fantasy author and a gamer, what would you say your favorite fantasy game on the computer has been and why?
[groans] I’ve got to go old school on the readers, sad to say. The Legend of Zelda series has always captivated me, even today. I wish Nintendo would age Link and make a more mature game now that I’m 32 years old, but I can’t think of a Zelda game I haven’t thoroughly fell in love with. And it’s about an elf, fancy that.
Tell BSCreview why people should pick your trilogy up?
Because I’m a starving artist? [cackles] No, seriously, pick up the trilogy because it’s a fantasy/science fiction hybrid story about redemption, personal accountability, love, friendship, strife, rebellion, and the realization that while you may not be able to identify evil by its physical manifestations, persistence and fortitude will eventually draw it out like poison from a wound. It’s a story for young adults and mature readers alike. The Planar worlds and concepts will offer something unique that you may not have read before, and the characters are memorable for their quirks as much as their strengths.
I’d like to thank the staff and readers at BSCreview for this opportunity and undying support.
The Planar Alignment is at hand and a powerful being named Hydrais awaits his return from banishment on the Dark Plane of Zamas. Meanwhile, on the Plane of Vaalüna, Aerinas, along with his friends and allies, struggle to prevent Hydrais’ return. To do so, they must battle the forces of evil while Aerinas confronts truths about himself and the cold, calculating intelligence that dominates all life and destiny.
Great job, guys!