Several things influenced me to write Grayrider. The idea for the character of Grayrider had been with me for a number of years. The concept for the hero and his sword came from a troubled home life as a child. It was from that I first visualized Grayrider as a character.
As to what caused me to write the novel, several influences were involved. A divorce caused to me to rethink my life and made me desire to live out my own dreams. The success of the first Lord of the Rings film spurred me to finally begin writing the story. Finally, my fiancé insisted I must try to publish the finished manuscript. She’s dying of cancer—so the book is dedicated to her.
I have several influences in regards to my writing. The first is the author Jack Higgins. His suspense novels I model my own work after. Secondly, J.R.R.Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books are the archetype for all fantasy novels. He was an inspiration for my story. Finally, Bernard Cornwell’s historical novels with their excellent characterizations and suspenseful plotlines continue to challenge me to write as well as he does.
My lifelong dream has been to be an author. And, as my fiancé so astutely observed, I’m happiest when I’m working on a novel. So I keep writing. The second volume of The Deathsong Chronicles is finished and will hopefully be published later this year. I’m currently writing the third book in the series. And after that, I may well take a crack at writing historical fiction. I’ve acquired many books on the topic I want to write about. And that’s a project I’m eager to get into. But I’ve also been told I should do more than three volumes of The Deathsong Chronicles. But I need an idea for the next novel in that series. I don’t have one yet. But I’m working on it!
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A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. “If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that’s what I strive for Grayrider’s world to be. I’ve built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.
“When I wrote Grayrider, I followed the advice of Stephen King. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself.”
You can visit his website at www.bruceskye.com.
Editor’s Note: Bruce will be on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in March ‘09. If you would like to host him on your blog, contact his publicist, Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife(at)yahoo.com.
The Story Behind the Book 