Bitten by Books
Welcome to the first of two launch parties I’ll be having here at Bitten By Books this summer! (The second will be in a couple of weeks, for a release coming out under my real name, David B. Coe.) I want to thank Rachel and Bitten By Books for hosting me again this year. This is my fourth year with an event on the site and I’m really pleased to be back.Dead Man’s Reach, the fourth book in my Thieftaker Chronicles, was released this past Tuesday by Tor Books. Dead Man’s Reach follows Thieftaker, Thieves’ Quarry, and A Plunder of Souls, and continues the adventures of Ethan Kaille, a conjurer and thieftaker (the 18th century equivalent of a private detective) living in pre-Revolutionary Boston. Each book in the series is a stand alone mystery set against the backdrop of some key event leading toward the American Revolution.
In past volumes I’ve blended my fictional murder mysteries with the Stamp Act riots, the arrival of occupying British troops in Boston, and even a small pox epidemic. But Dead Man’s Reach is special. It’s the book I anticipated writing from the very moment I first had the inspiration for this series. The novel begins in February 1770, on the eve of the first killing tied directly to the conflicts between Crown loyalists and those rebels who called themselves patriots. And the book ends a couple of weeks later, just after the bloody shooting known in American history as the Boston Massacre.
I have a Ph.D. in history, and I’ve been writing fantasy novels for nearly twenty years. From the beginning the Thieftaker books have been a geek-fest for me, allowing me to combine my two passions — history and fantasy — in a way I never envisioned all those years ago when I first went off to graduate school. As soon as I started work on the Thieftaker series, I knew that I would close the cycle (or at least this arc in the Ethan Kaille tales) with the Boston Massacre. It was, in many respects, the first truly searing event in American history, and one of the defining moments of the pre-Revolutionary era.
The events leading to the shootings on King Street, were incredibly complex. One of the great challenges of writing this book was blending all the historical details necessary to convey the weight of the moment with my fictional narrative in a way that told both history’s story and mine in coherent ways. I’m proud of the final product and I hope you enjoy it, too.
If you haven’t yet started reading the Thieftaker series, shame on you! Just kidding. Sort of . . . You can begin with Dead Man’s Reach, or you can go back and pick up the earlier volumes. Whatever you choose to do, if you enjoy mystery, magic, a touch of romance, and history with an attitude, you’re going to love Ethan Kaille and his adventures.
Buy a print copy of Dead Man’s Reach from Amazon by clicking here.
Buy a Kindle copy of Dead Man’s Reach from Amazon by clicking here.
Books in the Thieftaker Chronicles series in the order they should be read:
Thieftaker
Thieves’ Quarry
A Plunder of Souls
Dead Man’s Reach
Excerpt fromDead Man’s Reach:
“Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay, February 21, 1770
Ethan Kaille slipped through shadows, stepping from one snow-crusted cobble to the next with the care of a thief. He held a knife in one hand, his fingers numb with cold. The other hand he trailed along the side of a brick building, steadying himself as a precaution against the uncertain footing.
Dim pools of light spilled onto the street from candlelit windows. Flakes of snow dusted his coat and hat, and melted as they brushed against his face. Every breath produced a billow of vapor, rendering his concealment spell all but useless.The air was still-a small mercy on a night as cold as this one-and a deep silence had settled over Boston, like a thick woolen blanket. Even the harbor, her waters frozen near to shore, and placid where they remained open, offered not a sound. In the hush that enveloped the city, Ethan’s steps seemed as loud as musket fire.
Will Pryor, who had stolen several gemmed necklaces and bracelets from the home of a merchant in the North End, lived here on Lindal’s Lane, in a room above a farrier’s shop. Ethan had followed the man for two days, and though he’d not yet seen the jewels in Pryor’s hands, he had little doubt but that the pup still possessed them, and was merely biding his time until he could sell them without drawing undue attention to himself. Ethan was determined to keep him from finding a buyer. He feared, though, that the uneven sound of his footsteps would be enough to wake Pryor from a sound slumber, much less alert the thief to his approach.
Ethan reached the worn wooden stairway leading up to Pryor’s room and began to climb, wincing at every creak, eyeing the window, which glowed faintly. It wasn’t until he heard the murmur of voices, however, that he thought to examine the steps with more care. Leaning forward, squinting in the murky light, he felt his stomach clench.
Footprints in the snow. Several pairs.
Seconds later, an all too familiar voice called out, “Come and join us, Ethan. We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Damnit!” he muttered, teeth clenched.
He kept still, snow settling on his shoulders, and he pondered his options. Realizing that he had none, he pushed up his sleeve, cut his arm, and whispered an incantation to remove his concealment spell.
A glowing figure appeared beside him, russet like a newly risen moon, with eyes as bright as flames. He was the ghost of an ancient warrior, tall, lean, dour, and dressed in chain mail and a tabard bearing the leopards of England’s ancient kings. He was also Ethan’s spectral guide, the wraith of an ancient ancestor who allowed Ethan access to the power that dwelt at the boundary between the living world and the realm of the dead. For years, Ethan had called the ghost Uncle Reg after Reginald Jerill, his mother’s waspish brother, of whom the ghost reminded him.
Reg regarded Ethan with an expression that bespoke both amusement and disapproval.
“I didn’t know she was here,” Ethan said.
Reg scowled, as if to say, No, but you should have.
Ethan could hardly argue. For years, Sephira Pryce, the so-called Empress of the South End, Boston’s most infamous and successful thieftaker, had been interfering with his inquiries, swooping in at the last moment to take for herself items he had been hired to recover, stealing his clients and with them the finder’s fees they paid. She reveled in tormenting him, although most times she seemed content to taunt and ridicule. On occasion, she set her toughs on him, allowing them to beat Ethan to a bloody mess. And every now and then, she threatened to let them kill him, and dump his body in the leas of Boston’s Common.
That she and her men had reached Pryor first, should have come as no surprise at all.
“Don’t stand out there pouting, Ethan. It’s only a few pounds. Mister Wells should never have gone to you in the first place. A man of means, of culture. He should have been mine.”
Ethan glanced at Reg. “I’d gladly pay a few pounds if it meant a moment’s peace and an end to her mocking.”
Reg grinned and faded from view. Ethan cut his arm again before climbing to the top of the stairway and pushing open Pryor’s door.
Three of Sephira’s men stood before him, blocking his way. One of them, a brute named Afton, was as large as a British frigate and almost as welcoming. He had dark, stringy hair and a broad, homely face. Next to him, smaller, also dark-haired, stood Nap, a flintlock pistol in his hand, full-cocked and aimed at Ethan’s heart.The third man held a blade instead of a pistol. He had pushed up the sleeve on his left arm; a trickle of blood ran from a cut on his forearm, twin to the gash Ethan had carved into his own skin. Gaspar Mariz was a conjurer like Ethan, and though in private conversations he had declared himself Ethan’s friend, he still answered to Sephira. Ethan had no doubt that if she ordered him to kill Ethan with a spell, he would attempt it. He stared at Ethan, his expression grim, the lenses of his spectacles catching the light of a candle so that they appeared opaque.
Behind these three, were three others. Will Pryor, lanky, youthful, with yellow hair and dark eyes, sat in a chair, blood seeping from his nose and split lip, as well as from a raw wound on his temple. He watched Ethan, clearly uncertain as to whether his arrival presaged an escape from his predicament or a worsening of it. Another brute loomed over him: Gordon, as big and as ugly as Afton. And beside these two, a look of smug satisfaction on her lovely face, stood Sephira.”
About D. B. Jackson
Author Bio:
David B. Coe/D.B. Jackson is the award-winning author of eighteen fantasy novels. Under the name D.B. Jackson, he writes the Thieftaker Chronicles, a historical urban fantasy from Tor Books that includes Thieftaker, Thieves’ Quarry, A Plunder of Souls, and, the newest volume, Dead Man’s Reach, which was released on July 21. Under his own name, he writes The Case Files of Justis Fearsson, a contemporary urban fantasy from Baen Books. The first volume, Spell Blind, debuted in January 2015. The newest book in the series, His Father’s Eyes, comes out on August 4. He lives on the Cumberland Plateau with his wife and two daughters. They’re all smarter and prettier than he is, but they keep him around because he makes a mean vegetarian fajita. When he’s not writing he likes to hike, play guitar, and stalk the perfect image with his camera.
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Hello, all! Looking forward to a great event. It’s nice to be back at Bitten By Books!
Who are some of your favourite authors?
Hi, Minna! Welcome to the book launch. I have a lot of favorites. In epic fantasy, I’m a huge fan of Guy Gavriel Kay, Patrick Rothfus, and Kate Elliott. In urban fantasy, I love the work of Faith Hunter, C.E. Murphy, Jim Butcher, and Patricia Briggs. Outside of our genre, I enjoy reading Tim Winton, David Liss, Barbara Kingsolver, Annie Proulx, as well as older authors like Wallace Stegner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dickens, Hemingway, and Faulkner.
Who are yours? (Aside from me, of course!
)
Why the split between David B Coe and DB Jackson? You keep refering to both names as a writer, so I guess for most readers you are one.
Susanne, it was a branding issue. Tor books, my publisher for my older epic fantasy work as well as the Thieftaker books wanted to keep my historical urban fantasy distinct from my epic fantasies. And so they asked that I write this newer series under a different name. I used my first two initials and chose Jackson as a way to honor my late father, whose name was Jack.
It’s actually fun having two identities, although I’m not sure the branding thing worked out the way Tor intended. Because now I’m writing urban fantasy for Baen Books, under my own name.
Well, I like your real name best
(But I keep wondering what the B stands for…)
Bartels. It’s a family name, Dutch.
Really?!
So we share something… Dutch!
Hey David, When researching a project does it ever open new story ideas to you or are you pretty set in your plot when you start?
Steve, the glib, annoying answer is “both.”
The truth is, I start with a pretty firm idea of where I THINK I’m going, but I also find that the more research I do, the more that new information bends my narrative. And so I wind up with a hybrid. My original story remains, but it’s modified by what I’ve learned as I delve into the historical material. Does that make sense?
Very much so, thank you
Some of my favourites are Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, David and Leigh Eddings, Cindy Spencer Pape, Tove Jansson and Arto Paasilinna.
Nice. I haven’t read some of them. I always enjoyed the Eddings’ work. Thanks, Minna!
In Colonial Boston I would miss most the possibility of reading all the books I want. Both the number of books and the kind of books (fantasy and crime).
Good answer. I’d miss that, too. And I don’t know where I’d recharge my tablet.
Luckily I prefer paper books over e-books…
Tell us about your process. Are you one of those that dives into research? Do you do extensive outlining or one scene at a time? I know… that seems like two questions really…
Hi, Alexandra. Welcome to the launch. My process tends to be fairly synergistic, by which I mean my plotting and my research (as well as my worldbuilding, my character work, etc.) feed each other. I will generally start with a broad outline of my plot and a series of research questions that will guide my research and keep me from vanishing down a research rabbit hole. And then, as I was saying to Steve, as I learn things along the way, I find that I need to (or want to) modify my plot to fit the new stuff I’m learning.
I do tend to outline, particularly with these historical novels. Because I’m blending my fictional narratives with historical events, I need to outline pretty carefully to make sure that everything meshes the way I want it to. I’ll be launching another book in two weeks here at Bitten By Books — His Father’s Eyes, written under my own name, David B. Coe. That series is contemporary urban fantasy and I write those a bit more loosely in terms of outline, though they’re still tightly paced and plotted.
How hard was it for you to hold off on writing this book if it’s the one you originally envisioned?
Nick, that’s a great question. It WAS hard. I’ve been impatient to write this book for some time. But as you’ll see, it needed to be set up by the other volumes of the series — all of them. And I actually think that having to wait to write it made this book that much better. I learned about my characters, my world, my magic system, etc. from the previous books. Had I written this one earlier, I’m not sure it would have turned out so well. As it is, I love the finished product, so I think it was worth the wait.
Thanks for the question, and welcome to the launch!
If you could only give ONE piece of advice to newbie authors and writers, what advice do you think is the most important one to give? One CON to being a writer? A PRO?
Hi, Raonaid. Thanks for the questions. The one piece of advice I would give is “Love what you do.” And I mean that on several levels. Writing is not an easy job, and one doesn’t make a lot of money doing it. People who get into the business to get rich are almost always disappointed. And so I always tell aspiring writers to get into it for the love of writing. If you write because you can’t stand the thought of not writing, because you have stories inside you that just have to be told, and characters in your head who are clamoring to be heard, then you’re a writer and should keep going. But you really have to love the work, because loving what you do is the greatest reward of this profession.
Love what you do also means write the story you want to write. Trying to write to the market, to anticipate what’s going to be hot at any given time, is almost impossible to do. The market is a moving target. So write the story you love, and that love will come through in your prose, in your characters, in your story line.
Con of being a writer? Working in isolation much of the time. Pro? Being able to create for a living. I LOVE that aspect of my job.
Hope that’s helpful. Best of luck!
A villain should also do something nice once in a while, even something really small counts. Also, it’s good to know the guy/girl, at least a bit of background just to make it an actual person.
Finally, the villain should be a real bad guy/girl, not just a petty thieve.
Agreed. Villains need to feel human, three- dimensional, real. They can’t just be mustache-twirling caricatures set up as foils for our heroes. Thanks, Susanne!
Hello! What writers have helped to influence you? I myself haven’t read historical urban fantasy before, and I am now really intrigued by your series.
Thanks, Susan, and welcome to the book launch! Stylistically, I’d say that my biggest influence was Guy Gavriel Kay, a wonderful Canadian fantasy author who I’ve been reading for years now. Early on, before I was published, I knew that I wanted to write like he does — rich worlds, luxurious prose, living breathing characters. When I started thinking about writing historical stuff I read C.C. Finlay’s Traitor to the Crown series, which is also set in the era of the American Revolution. His stuff and mine have little in common beyond that, but he’s a marvelous writer. Reading his stuff taught me a lot about blending historical and fictional elements. And for urban fantasy, I have learned a lot from reading some of the authors I mentioned earlier — Jim Butcher, Faith Hunter, C.E. Murphy, Patricia Briggs.
If you were to go back in time to live in Colonial Boston, what do you think you would miss the most about life in the 21st century?
— The beautiful wonders of plumbing… I need a flushable toilet and the convenience of hot water. – Laughs – I think those would be what I missed if I visited the wonders of my favorite era (the Celts and Druid era)
When you are reading, what three qualities do you look for in a compelling villain?
— The ease in which the villain invokes my emotions…I do not want an author to tell me to hate a villain… I want the man or woman to invoke my wrath, to make me hate them with each dastardly deed they do.
Intelligence – Not genius style intelligence but a crafty sly kind that would not make too stupid or rooky mistakes that get them caught. One who is confident and not lazy.
Blanking on a third
You have the opportunity to go back in time. You can have an ale with Samuel Adams, go horseback riding with George Washington, or dine with Thomas Jefferson. Which do you choose?
— Tough one to answer because all three does not sound appealing… and women back then had a different standing then the standing they have now abouts… The thought of horseback riding in a skirt really does not sound appealing. LOL.
Yes, I’d miss plumbing, too. And indoor climate control. I live in Tennessee and I can’t imagine braving these Appalachian summers without air conditioning!!
I think you would like Sephira Pryce, the recurring nemesis for my hero in the Thieftaker books. She is canny, ruthless, brilliant, beautiful. I think she’s the best villain I’ve ever created.
Women did have a different standing in the Colonial Era, though they were actually better off in the 1760s and ’70s than they were in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The tight restrictions on the sphere of women is actually something that developed most strongly during the early industrial revolution. Women had more freedom in Colonial American than you may think, something I show in the Thieftaker books. (Ethan’s lover, for instance, is a widowed business owner, which was quite common then.)
Still, I don’t think I would want to wear all that a woman had to within those days. I would be the oddball who’d prefer to wear men’s trousers just for the freedomof it.
Yeah, you would REALLY like Sephira…
I totally get what you’re saying. Even the guys had to wear way too many clothes. I can’t imagine having to wear breeches and coat even in mid summer. Residual Puritanism really must have been a drag.
Going back in time I would like to dine with Thomas Jefferson, and talk about his ideas and philosophies on science and learning in general. Also I’d like to know more on his views about slavery.
That would probably be my choice as well (in part because I don’t do well around horses . . .) Although sharing an ale with Sam Adams would be fun, too.
Hi, I will be attending the When Words Collide convention in August. What are some of the panels you will be on?
Hi Nicole! I’ll look forward to seeing you there. To be honest with you, I have no idea yet what my panel assignments look like. I’m sure that it’s been posted, but with the releases (this one and the one I have coming in two weeks) and the fact that I was just teaching at a week-long writing workshop, I haven’t had time to look. But I would imagine I’ll be on panels about writing, maybe the Live Action Slush. And I’ll be teaching at the post-Festival writing workshops. My friend Faith Hunter is one of the Guests of Honor, and she and I have done lots of writing panels together in the past. Hopefully we’ll be on some panels together in Calgary, too.
I personally have not read your books yet but have a friends who loves them. Where/with what book and/ or series would you recommend a newbie start with your books?
Hi, Maria! This is obviously a friend with uncommon intelligence and good taste . . .
I would recommend starting with the first book of one (or both) of the series I have going right now. The first book of the Thieftaker Chronicles, the historical urban fantasy series that is ending with DEAD MAN’S REACH, is called THIEFTAKER, and it is written under the D.B. Jackson pseudonym. I also have a contemporary urban fantasy series called The Case Files of Justis Fearsson that I write as David B. Coe. The first book of that series is called SPELL BLIND. The second book, HIS FATHER’S EYES, will be out on August 4, and I’ll be back here at Bitten By Books on August 6 to mark that launch and give away another gift card!
Hope that helps. Thanks for asking.
Just wanted to tell you a friend of mine once got me Rules of ascension for my birthday. I’ve been hooked since the moment I read the first chapter, and I’ve been trying to follow your adventures in writing-land ever since.
Please keep writing the way you do, and refer us to other interesting writers out there once in a while (I read all of Kat Richatdson because of you).
And jeez, I sound like a groupy right now…. Sorry for that.
Anyway, signing off now, it’s late were I am, and tomorrow is another busy day.
Thank you so much for that, Susanne. I’ve known you for a long time on Facebook, and I so appreciate your interest in my work. Stay in touch and have a good night.
How do you decide how much historical accuracy to sacrifice for a better story, character, or setting? Is it something you decide ahead of time, or work out as you write?
Hi, T.S. Thanks for coming to the launch. That’s a great question. I have a Ph.D. in history, and take the idea of historical accuracy pretty seriously. My goal throughout the Thieftaker series has been to follow my historical timelines as closely as possible, and maintain as high a level of authenticity as I can. But as your question suggests, my desire to write accurate books does at times come into conflict with my desire to write entertaining stories. For the most part, this is something I don’t work out ahead of time, the reason being that stories and characters evolve as we write, and so while I can try to anticipate problems, the fact is the issues I anticipate often work themselves out along the way, and, in the same way, the most serious problems I encounter tend to be ones that blindside me.
In the end, I will do all I can to maintain my historical authenticity, right up to the point where I know that I am a) forcing a character to do something he/she wouldn’t normally do, or b) bending my narrative to the point where I am sacrificing too much pacing, tension, or emotional power. I know: that’s a really vague answer. But the fact is, every instance is different, and each time it happens it becomes a judgment call. The fact is, either by luck, or good planning, I’ve had few instances in these four books where I really needed to turn away from historical fact. Yes, it’s happened a couple times, but the changes I’ve had to make to the historical record have been so subtle that the choice was a no brainer.
Ultimately, though, it comes down to this. I’m a fiction writer. I’m writing novels for my 21st century audience to enjoy. Yes, I have a history Ph.D. and I take the history seriously. But my first duty is to my characters, my narratives, and the readers who enjoy them. Does that make sense? Is this at all helpful?
Thank you for the response, that seems a reasonable approach. On the same subject, I’m curious, how historically accurate and realistic is it to let Sephira wear pants in colonial Boston, or does she get away with it just because she’s such a powerful figure that she can do whatever she wants? (sorry. more than one question!)
I have been enjoying the Theiftaker series so far and looking forward to the newest installment, thanks for taking the time to discuss your work with fans/other writers.
You know, the truth is that Sephira represents (aside from magic and the very existence of Thieftakers in Colonial Boston) the single most ahistorical element of the series. Is it realistic that she wore breeches instead of a gown? Probably not. But it’s even more remarkable that she’s a female brigand, so the breeches seemed a small matter. The fact is, she probably should have been a man. That would have been more realistic. But frankly, I think that her being a woman adds so much narrative force to her scenes with Ethan that I was more than willing to trade away some historical credibility. That’s the perfect example of what I meant in my last response — I’m a storyteller first and foremost. And for the sake of story, I made her a woman, put her in breeches (and that tight waistcoat) and set her loose in the streets of Boston. I sacrificed a little to do so, but I gained a lot. Thanks again for the question. Keep ‘em coming. And thanks for the kind words about the series. Glad you’re enjoying the books.
Thanks for the response. I personally appreciate that the women in the series are able to be active participants in events and, even if historically inaccurate, aren’t just background elements. Still, I’d be interested to read a female character who’s able to do all of that within the limitations of her historical setting. That’s probably even less realistic, especially, as you say, with magic already in the mix (which is part of what makes it fun). Most important is that females are all genuine characters with actual personalities, and that is much appreciated.
If you could spend the day with any literary character, who would it be, and why? What would you ask them?
Hi Becky. Interesting question. I would probably choose to spend the day with MacBeth. I have always been fascinated by Shakespeare’s work, and the Scottish play in particular. I would want to take the measure of the man, see what it was that allowed his ambition to overmaster his reason and his morality. And I would ask him to what extent he was real, and to what extent he was merely a product of Shakespeare’s imagination. I’ve heard it said that he was based on a historical figure, but I don’t know how far the historical similarities go.
Answers to Author’s questions:
1. If you were to go back in time to live in Colonial Boston, what do you think you would miss the most about life in the 21st century?
The amount of books, and the different genres, that are available to read in the 21st century. Also the fact that it is acceptable for a woman to read now, when it wasn’t in Colonial times.
2. When you are reading, what three qualities do you look for in a compelling villain?
Motivation, intelligence, and personality
3. You have the opportunity to go back in time. You can have an ale with Samuel Adams, go horseback riding with George Washington, or dine with Thomas Jefferson. Which do you choose?
Dine with Thomas Jefferson, because it would be easier to talk over food, than on horseback, and he’d be easier to understand, than if he was drunk from drinking ale.
Good answers! Particularly to #3 — that made me laugh out loud. Thanks!
If I went back in time to live in Colonial Boston, what I would miss the most about life in the 21st century:
Civil rights. Indoor plumbing. Vaccines/penicillin. You know, I think I’m fine just reading about it…
When reading, what three qualities I look for in a compelling villain:
1-Reasons for his/her villainy. Evil for evil’s sake does not work for me. 2-Complexity/interests outside of primary villainous behavior. 3-Potential for redeemability
Great answers, TS. Thanks. I love creating villains, in part because I try to put in those complexities you mention here. An interesting villain is so much more fun to write (and read) than someone who is simply bad. I enjoyed the Harry Potter books, but I as villains go, I actually liked Dolores Umbridge better than I did Voldemort. I thought she was more interesting, because she was more understandable. But that’s just me.
Good points. While I’m not as enthusiastic about the Harry Potter series as many, there were a lot of good characters in the stories. I could never take Voldemort seriously, for some reason. Perhaps because he did seem to exist only to be the baddie. Umbridge did indeed make a good villain, because she was horrid, but it all made sense from her perspective.
Hi D. B. and Congratulations! Who is your favorite book character?
1. I’d miss indoor plumbing the most closely followed by air conditioning!
2. Unpredictability, intelligience and a quirk that helps define him.
3. I’d choose dining with Thomas Jefferson and that could be heavily influence by the fact that I’m hungry!
Hi, Betty! Thanks for the good wishes. My favorite book character? In any book or my own? Wow. Hard question either way. In any book, it might well be a villain named Brandin of Ygrath in Guy Gavriel Kay’s TIGANA, which is one of my favorite fantasies of all time. Brandin does terrible things, but because of the way Kay has set up the book you understand and almost sympathize with everything he does. He can be charming, loving, funny. But he is also cruel, ruthless, and terrifying. I love that complexity.
In my own books, I would have to choose Ethan Kaille, the hero of my Thieftaker books. He is the most complex, interesting hero I’ve ever written, and the prospect of DEAD MAN’S REACH being the last book in the series makes me a little sad. I’m not ready to say goodbye to him yet.
D. B., then DEAD MAN’S REACH can’t be the end of the series!
We’ll have to see. A lot of it depends on how this book does. Thanks!
hi DB,
well since I just saw your advice to read the books in order and I have not, do you prefer series more then stand alone books? I like them to be either, as I dont always get to read in order.
Hi, Dina. Yes, I would suggest that you read the Thieftaker books in order, just because there is an overarching character progression in the series. But the books are written as stand-alones and can be read in any order. My contemporary series, The Case Files of Justis Fearsson, which I write under my own name (David B. Coe) is like that as well. I’ve also written epic fantasies that really need to be read in order, because the story is told over the course of several volumes. I’m not sure which I prefer. I have been enjoying writing these stand-alones. There is something liberating about not having to base one story entirely on the book that came before. On the other hand, I still love epic fantasy, and have it in mind to write more, soon. I guess the answer is, I like to write, regardless of series structure.
But again, the Thieftaker books really can be read in any order. That’s part of the appeal of them. Thanks!
then I will
Ah! My evil plan is working!
Hey D.B.! If you were stranded on a desert island and had to start a fire with the books you saved, what one book would you choose to keep?
Wow! Tough question! Probably Wallace Stegner’s ANGLE OF REPOSE, which is just an amazingly beautiful and richly textured book. I think that’s the one I could read again and again and to keep finding something new. But just because of you, I’m bringing those firestarter logs with me anywhere I go . . .
lol! Haven’t read Stegner, but just put his name on my TBR list, along with Guy Gavriel Kay.
Stegner is great. It’s straight literary fiction — ANGLE OF REPOSE won him the Pulitzer. It’s not an easy book, but it’s so worth the effort. And Kay is an amazing writer.
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
I’m assuming you mean my own real-life experiences, keeping separate the question of the historical events I recreate in the Thieftaker books. I think to some extent there is lots of personal stuff in every author’s books. We draw upon emotional experience in portraying the emotions of our protagonists. We have all experienced love, joy, sadness, rage, guilt, grief, etc., and in writing in our characters’ points of view, we tap into those experiences.
I’ve found though, that when I try to base a character or an experience on a book on someone or something too specific from my life, I wind up restricting my imagination. I get so caught up in trying to recreate the reality, that I no longer allow my characters and narratives to take on lives of their own. So for the most part I will make stuff up as much as can. Now, that said, I would say that there are elements of my interactions with my wife in the give and take between Ethan (my hero) and Kannice (his love). These tend to be small things, moments of shared laughter or affection — that sort of thing. Overall, though, it might seem counter-intuitive, but the more I make stuff up, the more realistic it comes out when I write. And conversely, the more I base story elements on real-life experiences, the more forced and unnatural it seems. Thanks for the questions, and thanks for coming to the launch!
horseback riding with George Washington
humor, intelligence, calculating
I would miss indoor plumbling
Thanks, Lisa. I think you’d like Sephira Pryce, my hero’s nemesis in the Thieftaker books.
Is there a genre that you’ve thought about writing in, that you enjoy, but you haven’t yet for whatever reason?
Good question, Fox. I have considered writing straight literary fiction, but I’ve yet to do so. I would like to try my hand at writing a story without any speculative fiction elements in it, just to see how it comes out. But at root, I’m a fantasy geek, and every time I try, I wind up thinking, “Ooo, but what would happen if I gave this character the ability to cast spells!” and I’m right back in fantasy again. Some day, perhaps.
If you were to go back in time to live in Colonial Boston, what do you think you would miss the most about life in the 21st century?
As one of my peers said before me - The beau-tiful wonders of plumbing…
When you are reading, what three qualities do you look for in a compelling villain?
( I am thinking right now about Loki)
Lot of of wicked humor, smart, looking good
You have the opportunity to go back in time. You can have an ale with Samuel Adams, go horseback riding with George Washington, or dine with Thomas Jefferson. Which do you choose?
Hmmm, nothing is really appealing to me… maybe riding with George Washington (I love horses)
Thanks, Sarit. My villain in the Thieftaker books, Sephira Pryce, fits the bill perfectly for you. She’s witty, brilliant, and beautiful. And she is the perfect nemesis for my hero, who sometimes takes himself too seriously.
And at this point in my day, I’m thinking that ale with Samuel Adams sounds pretty good.
Thanks for the responses!
Wow thanks foe the fast response.
I think I’ll try Thieftaker - sound good.
Usually I prefer to drink bear with people that I know…but if i’ll meet somebody who can make me lough it can be the exceptional
Thanks! Hope you enjoy the books! And I know what you mean about the beer. Sipping with friends is always best. But to meet Samuel Adams? That would be pretty cool.
OK now I had to check about him… beside the beer I didn’t now a thing a bout him ( I am not American even though I live at the US for 4 years, So far, my history as Israeli was really crazy thing to absorb)
Any way the thing that caught me immediately about him was -
” Samuel Adams later became a controversial figure in American history. Accounts written in the 19th century praised him as someone who had been steering his fellow colonists towards independence long before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. This view gave way to negative assessments of Adams in the first half of the 20th century, in which he was portrayed as a master of propaganda who provoked mob violence to achieve his goals. Both of these interpretations have been challenged by some modern scholars, who argue that these traditional depictions of Adams are myths contradicted by the historical record.”
So it seems that I could give it a try.
If you are doing a pot luck morning tea (we do them at work on a rotational basis) what is your favourite got to recipe? (or a snack recipe)
Good question, Emma, and you’ve caught me near the end of my day, when I’m pretty hungry. I have a recipe for Thai Chicken Satay that is really good. It’s savory and a little bit spicy, with a hint of peanut. Broil or grill the meat after letting it marinate for about 12 hours, and serve over jasmine rice. It’s really, really good. Thanks for coming to the launch!
Do you share that recipe?
it’s a recipe I got from a spice catalog we use, that I then modified slightly. The satay seasoning (Penzey’s catalog spells it Saté) is the spice backbone, and then you add rice wine vinegar, peanut oil, tamari, a bit of cold water, a bit of toasted sesame oil, and whatever meat you want to use. We use chicken, but you can also use beef.
When did you first get the idea for the Thieftaker series? And have you ever considered writing in the same universe but a different time period?
Hi, Tammi! I actually got the idea for the Thieftaker books from a footnote in a history book about Australia. I’m a bit of a history geek, and some years back, when my wife and I were preparing to move our family Down Under for a year (which we did — it was an incredible year) I read Robert Hughes’ history of Australia, THE FATAL SHORE. It’s a good book and it had this footnote about thieftakers in London in the early 18th century, including some information about a corrupt thieftaker named Jonathan Wild who became the inspiration for Sephira Pryce, the nemesis of my hero in the series. I was fascinated and decided right then that I was going to write a series about thieftakers.
I have considered writing in a different place — I’ve thought of sending Ethan away from Boston, to Philadelphia or Charleston, or perhaps even Savannah. But I haven’t really thought of taking the story out of the Colonial Era. I like the magic system, though, so it’s certainly something I could do. I’ll have to give that some consideration. Thanks!
Are there any other periods/places in history you might like to one day write about? Or maybe one you’ve wanted to learn more about that seems like it could inspire a book or series?
There are a few, yes. I’ve thought of setting a magical story in early 20th century America. I’m not sure yet what kind of story idea I could come up with, but I know the period well (I wrote my doctoral dissertation about the New Deal) and so I’d like to play with it. And as I mention above, I’ve also thought of staying in the Thieftaker universe and the Colonial Era, but moving Ethan and his adventures to another city. There’s a lot of cool speculative fiction being written right now about Western settlement in the U.S. They call it “Weird West” and I’m very intrigued by that.
“If you were to go back in time to live in Colonial Boston, what do you think you would miss the most about life in the 21st century?”
Central Heat and Air, because I do not like being cold and trying to start or stir up a fire with cold numb fingers is not something I would like to do on a regular basis.
Yes, you and me both! That and plumbing. And having access to music any time I want to listen. I wouldn’t want to have to bring together an ensemble every time I had a hankering to listen to tunes.
If I were to live in Colonial Boston, I would miss EVERYTHING about the 21st century-plumbing, air conditioning, having a camera/google in my pocket at all times, online shopping, people pronouncing words that end in r correctly. Actually, I don’t know about that last one; I don’t know when the current accent came to be. I guess the accent was more Britishy then. I’m clearly an historian.
Bethany, I feel much the same way, as you can see in my response to Tammi directly above. The accents wouldn’t bother me (I’m a transplanted New Yorker living in Tennessee — accents are my life . . .). But the rest I would miss. Thanks for the comments and questions!
I’m originally from Knoxville and my husband is from Long Island. If those sides of the family ever got together I’m not sure they’d be able to communicate.
Right? It’s not easy. There really are times when I don’t understand anything that certain people say to me.
How do you decide if a book is going to be a stand alone or part of a series?
Thanks for the question, Mary. That’s a decision I almost always make when I start a project, way before I start the actual writing. It comes down to a question of how much narrative is there to the story you wish to tell. If you have a single, delineated story arc that ends and leaves few or no plot threads dangling, you pretty much have a stand alone story. If, on the other hand, you have a story that has multiple strands, involving several point of view characters and many sub plots all weaving together to tell a larger story, chances are you need to write your tale as a series. The Thieftaker books kind of fall in between. Each book stands alone, because each is built around a mystery that needs to be solved by the time the story is over. But my characters recur in each new mystery, and there is some story arc across the separate violumes — the deepening of the romantic relationship, Ethan’s political evolution, his growing mastery of his magic, and a few other things. And so this becomes a true serial — it’s not a single extended story arc, but it’s also not simply a single stand-alone story. It’s something in between. Is that at all helpful? I hope so.
From any of your books, what has been one of your favorite scenes, or types of scenes, to write?
Hi, Lindsey. Thanks for coming to the launch. That is a very difficult question to answer, because every book is different, and each one has certain scenes that wind up being so much fun to write. Sometimes it’s an action scene — lots of fighting or magic. Sometimes it’s a quieter more romantic or serious scene. I guess the ones that stand out, the ones I always look forward to — are the scenes in which I bring together two prominent characters for the first time. So I might have my hero, and then a shadowy villain who the hero has yet to confront. That confrontation, when it finally happens, is usually really exciting to write. Or sometimes, if I have a couple of plot threads and different point of view characters for each one, when I finally bring together those two “stars of their own stories,” that’s fun, too.
Hi DB! Welcome back
What do you think Ethan would miss the most about his time if he were somehow transported to the equivalent of our time?
If I livid in Colonial Boston I would miss, in this order 1.) Indoor plumbing- I love long, hot, showers! 2.) The food I have access to now. 3.) The tech- I like my toys!
I think a compelling villain has to be intelligent- there is something in the intelligence that brings a certain surety of purpose that makes them compelling. I think that charm is just as integral- it is much scarier when you are drawn to a “bad guy” on the sheer force of their personality. Finally, I like a villain that makes sense…one where I understand where they are coming from.
I think I would have to dine with Thomas Jefferson.
Thanks for the welcome, Kristin. It’s good to be back here. And thanks as well for your answers to my questions. I’d miss my toys, too. It’s embarrassing how attached to them I’ve become.
Setting aside his friends and his love, I think that Ethan would miss the quiet of Colonial Boston. It’s really hard in our world to escape entirely from man-made noise. I think that would freak him out a bit. And so would the lack of truly dark night skies. I think he would miss the stars. I know that I would if I had access to skies that were dark enough to see all the stars available to us.
if you could do a crossover with any book,film, or series what would it be and why?
Thanks for the question, Stacey. It’s actually funny that you should ask that, because I’m currently working on a really fun crossover. My best friend in writing is Faith Hunter, author of the bestselling Jane Yellowrock vampire hunter series. Recently, Faith and I have been working on crossover short fiction in which we bring a character from her world — actually an ancestor of Jane Yellowrock’s closest friend — into the Thieftaker world. The character from Faith’s world is named Hannah Everhart, and she is a witch; and she interacts with Ethan Kaille, the conjurer/thieftaker from my books. The first story we did is called “Water Witch,” and it’s available from Amazon and other e-book vendors. And then earlier this week we released a two part free piece of short fiction to mark the release of my book. That story is available at Faith’s website, http://faithhunter.net. Great question, and timely! Thanks.
What did you focus on for your Ph.D. and why? I got my M.A. in European history, primarily focusing on the witch hunts. I love hearing about what other people love about history and how they first got interested in studying history. I’ve also worked as an historical editor before and trying to keep a good novel reasonably accurate was a huge headache for me. Kudos on managing that on your own.
Thanks so much for the question and kind words, Melinda. That blending of history and fiction is tremendously challenging, but also fun and so rewarding when we get it right. My Ph.D. is in U.S. environmental history, with a focus on the New Deal Era, which I chose for the simple reason that it interested me, and I thought it was something I would want to write about and teach. I care deeply about environmental issues, and there is a common misperception that the world discovered the environment as an issue in the 1960s and 70s. Nothing could be further from the truth, and so when it occurred to me to combine my interest in conservation with my interest in political and policy history, I latched onto the idea and devoted several years of my life to the project. I decided in the end that history was not the career path for me. I’m much happier writing fantasy. But if I was still studying history, I’d still be doing environmental. I enjoyed it.
What song do you think sums up your story the best?
Hi, Laura. Thanks for the question, but I’m not really sure how to answer. It’s a book about vengeance, so I suppose if you have a favorite revenge song it might work, but most revenge songs are about jilted lovers, and that’s definitely not the case here. While I wrote the book, I listened to a lot of Celtic instrumental music, much of it by the duet of Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas. But that’s not really what you’re asking. I’m sorry I can’t give you a better answer.
What was the last movie you saw in the theater?
Good question, Natalie! Let me think. The problem is, we live out in the boondocks and so rarely get to see movies in the theater. I think it must have been Divergent, which was out a really long time ago. Now I’m embarrassed . . .
Who is your favorite Muppet and why?
Cookie Monster. Because I totally — TOTALLY — get where he’s coming from . . .
I’d be afraid of life without modern medicine!
In a villain, I look for believable motivations, emotional shading, and intelligence!
I’d dine with Jefferson, partly because I know he was an epicure and I’d love to see what he serves, and also because my mom adores the guy and would NEVER forgive me if I didn’t bring her along.
Great answers, Trix. Jefferson is a hero of mine, too, despite the philandering and the blindness to his own hypocrisy re. slavery. And, as I’ve said to others, if you like villains like that, you’ll like Sephira Pryce, who is the recurring antagonist in the Thieftaker books.
Congratulations on the publication of Dead Man’s Reach! Do you have any input into the cover designs of your books?
Thank you, Bonnie. I’m excited about the release. This is the fourth book in the Thieftaker series and all of the jacket art for the books has been incredible. The artist’s name is Chris McGrath, and he does a lot of fantasy and scifi covers these days — all of his work is terrific.
I do have some input on the content of the covers. I will refer the art department to scenes in the book that might make for good, evocative covers. But when the very first book was in production I gave Tor some thoughts on what I thought they should do with the art. They didn’t listen to a word I said, and thank God. Because the cover that Chris and the art department produced was so much better than ANYTHING I could have envisioned it’s almost laughable. That experience taught me what I should have known already. I’m a very good writer, but I don’t know squat about art design.
What things inspired you for writing books ?
Thanks for the question, Alexandru. I am inspired by lots of things — ideas about magic, characters who rattle around in my imagination, worlds that I want to explore. Mostly I love to tell stories, just as I love to read stories written by others. I have so many ideas for new stories and I can’t wait to write them, as well.
If you didn’t go into writing or history, what would you be doing?
Hi, Ann. Thanks for the question. I am an avid amateur photographer, and I would love to think that if I wasn’t writing I would be a professional landscape and nature photographer. I love to travel, I love hiking, and getting out into the wilderness, so I think that’s where life would have taken me if not for my writing.
The books sound very interesting, I’m looking forward to checking them out! I’m a bit of a history geek myself but most of my interest lie in the ancient world through the renaissance. What is it about colonial history that intrigues you?
History geeks unite! Sorry. Got carried away . . .
I chose the colonial period because thieftakers were a 18th century phenomenon, and so the time period fit perfectly. But I love politics and intrigue, and the years just before the Revolution had it all — politics, spies, traitors, riots, etc. And it is also filled with amazing personalities. I think that, along with the Civil War Era, it’s the most dynamic and dramatic period in our history. The other advantage of writing in this period was that it has been largely (though not entirely) ignored by the speculative fiction market. Unlike the Civil War, which has been written about extensively. So it was a good choice for me all around. Thanks for asking.
How many books will be in the series?
This particular arc of books ends with this volume, DEAD MAN’S REACH. We contracted four books, and there is a character and narrative progression that comes to some resolution with this book. The books are largely stand-alones, and can be read in any order. But for those who read the books in order, there is some sense of closure with this book.
That said, I would like to write more Thieftaker books and continue Ethan’s story, though in a somewhat different direction. Thanks for the question.
plumbing
not sure
Jefferson
Thanks, BN!
answers to author’s questions-
1. it would be a toss up between air conditioning and clothing… of course I’m from the south so staying cool is pretty much a priority this time of year. Colonial clothing just doesn’t seem comfortable and looks like one would get pretty hot in all those skirts.
2. When I’m looking at characters in general I want them to be believable. Villains are compelling when they seem real, their actions fit their personalities, and their motivation for being the bad guy makes sense. Even in fantasy, paranormal, or sci-fi genres, I look for ‘human’ elements in the protagonist and antagonist alike.
3. That is a tough one… dinner with Jefferson would probably be the most intriguing. With horseback riding coming in at a close second.
I live in the South, too, Amanda, so I’m right there with you on the air conditioning thing. I’m also not sure I would have been able to get away with shorts and a T-shirt had I lived in that era.
Thanks for the responses.
who is your favorite author?
I have several, Thomas. I’m a huge fan of Guy Gavriel Kay in fantasy. In urban fantasy, I love the work of Faith Hunter and C.E. Murphy. In literary fiction, my favorite is probably Wallace Stegner.
What is the title of the most expensive book that you own?
Wow, Dovile, that’s one I’ve never been asked before. Interesting. I think it might be DESERT, which is a cloth bound, large format photography book with a cloth-bound slip cover. It’s by a photographer named David Muench, and it was very expensive when new. At this point, it’s a collector’s item, so it would be even more. Thanks for the unique question!
Where’s your favorite writing spot?
Hi, Amanda. Thanks for the question. I would love to tell you that I have some exotic spot I go to for inspiration, but the fact is, my favorite writing spot is at my desk in my home office, surrounded by my books, research materials, and photos of my wife and daughters. My stereo is nearby, and all my little chotchkes (Yiddish, for all the little useless things we buy and put in our homes) are scattered on the bookshelves and desk. It’s not very exciting, but it’s comfortable, and I work well there.
Do you have any current favorite shows or books?
1. If you were to go back in time to live in Colonial Boston, what do you think you would miss the most about life in the 21st century?
plumbing, internet and easy to get to food…oh and all my books
2. When you are reading, what three qualities do you look for in a compelling villain?
intelligence, a real reason to being the villlian, and charm.
3.You have the opportunity to go back in time. You can have an ale with Samuel Adams, go horseback riding with George Washington, or dine with Thomas Jefferson. Which do you choose?
I don’t like ale and i don’t like horseback riding so i’ll go with dining with Thomas Jefferson
So many good questions asked already, hard to think of something different to ask you! Would you like to see your books made into a tv series or movie? And who would you like to play Ethan?
To answer your questions:
1). So many things! The main two things would be modern medicine and contraception - not a fan of being pregnant my whole child bearing years thanks!
2). Intelligence, determination and charisma.
3). Horse back riding with George W. I love horses and I think that George Washington would be a pretty memorable riding partner:)
What do you hope readers will take away from reading this book?
if you could have three folks to dinner living, dead, real, or imaginary who would they be and why?
1. modern medicine and indoor plumbing
2. smarts, evilness, and likability.
3. horse back with George