| Author |
 Topic  |
|
The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Sep 2006 : 02:41:10
|
quote:
Originally posted by Murray Leeder
Hi Red Walker. I'm glad my work clicked with you. I like what you're saying about character differentiation; that was something that was very important to me when I was writing.
Nothing else Realms-related on the present slate, but who knows about the future? I've actually just finished writing a haunted house novel that's been a back-burner project of mine for quite a few years and I'm anxious to start shopping it properly. But then I also just started a Ph.D. So much to do all of a sudden!
Glad to hear character differentiation is important to you, is is not a high enough priority for to many authors. Many treat non-esential characters like "cameos". And camoes just don't work unless it is someone who is widely known and understood. In my opinion, under developing characters sells your story short. A couple of well developed character surrounded by "clones" can be a really good book.
Even better though is an effort like yours that has a full "cast" of well "fleshed out" characters, which makes for something special.
You also did a great job conveying the dynamics between all the different people in your book. You did not just have them as "ships passing in the night", there were definate rivalries, competitiveness, and commraderies. Just reading, you knew how everyone felt about each other. I read "Son of Thunder" as soon as it came out. I have a terrible memory for small details, but many stand out from your work.
Thanks!
I will look forward to more of your work.
Thanks! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
|
Edited by - The Red Walker on 15 Sep 2006 02:48:45 |
 |
|
|
Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3741 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2006 : 23:07:35
|
quote:
Originally posted by Murray Leeder
Hi Red Walker. I'm glad my work clicked with you. I like what you're saying about character differentiation; that was something that was very important to me when I was writing.
Nothing else Realms-related on the present slate, but who knows about the future? I've actually just finished writing a haunted house novel that's been a back-burner project of mine for quite a few years and I'm anxious to start shopping it properly. But then I also just started a Ph.D. So much to do all of a sudden!
-Pfft. Good luck with those PhD studies... |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerūn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerūn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 15:52:01
|
| To think, when it's all over I'll be able to say: "Trust me, I'm a doctor." |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2006 : 19:09:21
|
I thought I'd let people know that the anthology Clash of Steel 3: Demon is out, and has a story by me called "Into Shards." You can find it on amazon.com: Here
Mod Edit: Shortened the URL somewhat.
|
Edited by - The Sage on 04 Dec 2008 15:10:10 |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2007 : 05:41:17
|
I just discovered something rather fascinating online: http://www.ezustsolyom.hu/content/view/249. So Son of Thunder has been translated into at least one language, Hungarian! I looked at this document for a while before I realized that it is an excerpt of the prologue and first chapter.
I wonder how the Hungarian sales are... |
|
|
|
Matthus
Senior Scribe
Germany
393 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2007 : 16:19:40
|
Hi Mr. Leeder,
for another topic here in Candlekeep were are collecting lore for adventuring companies:
Is it possible to answer this:
"The Antiquarians" Mercenary company : Son of Thunder
Type: ??? (Recruited veterans ?)
Fixed Base : "
Names and career (all dead  ) I got from the book.
Thanks for your help.
|
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2007 : 18:25:32
|
Interesting. There's very little on the Antiquarians that isn't in the book, to be honest, but here's some trivia. I modeled them after the Band, and I invented them just after a viewing of The Last Waltz during the leg of the process written at my sister's house in Bournemouth, England (I mention this only because I happen to be back there visiting now). The idea of battle-scarred, road-weary veterans, rock stars or mercenaries, was just what I needed. It broke down like this, as I recall: Royce = Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm = Vonelh, Bessick = Richard Manuel, Gunton = Garth Hudson and Nithinial = Rick Danko ('cause if anyone ever looked like a half-elf, he's the guy). This ended up being a fairly thin conceit but I helped me imagine the characters up initially.
By this logic, I suppose Geildarr would have to represent Bob Dylan. Or maybe Geildarr is Ronnie Hawkins and Mythkar Leng is Dylan. Hmmm...
Anyway, here's what was clear to me about The Antiquarians. They had some career together possibly under the name "Royce's Band," a team of effective dungeon delvers who were one of a number of adventuring companies that Lord Geildarr recruited to scavange local luins and dungeons. They were worshipers of Shaundakul, although not especially devote ones. They proved very effective (in no small part to their varied set of skills, and Gunton's legitimate knowledge of Faerun's history) and Geildarr tapped them to work for him almost exclusively. Only at this point do they become known as "the Antiquarians," dubbed so by Geildarr. They have some misgivings about working for the Zhentarim but can't argue with success, and appreciate Geildarr's willingness to let them do what they do best and admire his devotion to archeological pursuits. They're fairly neutral in their outlook; they simply think that moral questions don't concern them, that they have other concerns and those kind of issues aren't for them.
Their fixed base is certainly Llorkh, though they're sent all around the area (note that they're recalled from a mission to Highstar Lake early on). They're well-known there and probably maintained some sort of residence in town (Big Pink?), but, like a touring rock band, spend a lot more time on the road than at home.
And yeah, they're all dead. My bad. But they could certainly figure in any campaign that takes place before the fall of 1373. Hope I've done some good. |
Edited by - Murray Leeder on 06 Aug 2007 19:30:17 |
|
|
|
Matthus
Senior Scribe
Germany
393 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2007 : 12:21:52
|
I liked the details how you got to your idea - and so you did a lot of good  .
Thanks a lot for the inside an the information. |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2007 : 19:37:07
|
| I have an interview up on Heidi Ruby Miller's fascinating blog: http://ambasadora.livejournal.com/132535.html. It's to promote Sails & Sorcery, the shortly forthcoming anthology in which my short story "Female Rambling Sailor" appears. |
Edited by - Murray Leeder on 06 Aug 2007 19:40:34 |
|
|
|
Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 04 Dec 2008 : 14:18:33
|
Hey Murray, I don't know if you still frequent these boards, but I was wondering, are you back in Canada? (and are you back here in Ottawa still studying?)
Also wanted to say I am a bit more than halfway through Son of Thunder and it is excellent and the realmslore contained within is up there. Any chance you will (or are) writing more realms novels? |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 04 Dec 2008 : 15:08:36
|
Mr Leeder still visits from time to time. And I'd assume he's got email alerts for this particular scroll, to notify him when new replies come about.
And, judging from his profile, he's been active here today.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2008 : 21:34:23
|
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Hey Murray, I don't know if you still frequent these boards, but I was wondering, are you back in Canada? (and are you back here in Ottawa still studying?)
Also wanted to say I am a bit more than halfway through Son of Thunder and it is excellent and the realmslore contained within is up there. Any chance you will (or are) writing more realms novels?
Hello Alisttair. Thanks for the interest! I am indeed here in Ottawa, finished my comprehensive exams and almost ready to start writing my dissertation. I keep writing fiction where I can (recently submitted a story to the Morrigan Books "Phantom Queen Awakes" anthology) but it's very much backburner to my studies right now. I've actually got an article coming out in the next issue of the Journal of Popular Film and Television, with more academic publishing forthcoming.
I have no present connections with WotC, but as for the future, who knows? |
|
|
|
Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 08 Dec 2008 : 04:28:55
|
| Heh, hope the snow didn't cause you too much trouble this weekend. Hope you get another deal with WotC down the road. I'll keep an eye out for your article. |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2008 : 17:11:38
|
| I just wish there wasn't ice inside my window. |
|
|
|
Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2008 : 18:00:38
|
quote:
Originally posted by Murray Leeder
I just wish there wasn't ice inside my window.
Uh oh, that don't sound good. The snow right now ain't stopping either. I've gone outside to shovel 4 times and counting (part of my job at the elementary school over on Smyth Rd.). Imminent bus strike is gonna clog the snowy roads with more cars also. Gah!!!! Freaking Ottawa weather (must have been worse out west I imagine though, huh?).
|
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
Edited by - Alisttair on 09 Dec 2008 18:02:22 |
|
|
|
Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2008 : 18:01:18
|
DOUBLE POST - (thought I hit edit reply rather than reply with quote, and went too fast to notice  )
note: triple edit for typos  |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
Edited by - Alisttair on 09 Dec 2008 18:05:24 |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2008 : 18:45:40
|
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
quote:
Originally posted by Murray Leeder
I just wish there wasn't ice inside my window.
Uh oh, that don't sound good. The snow right now ain't stopping either. I've gone outside to shovel 4 times and counting (part of my job at the elementary school over on Smyth Rd.). Imminent bus strike is gonna clog the snowy roads with more cars also. Gah!!!! Freaking Ottawa weather (must have been worse out west I imagine though, huh?).
Out west the snowy season was definitely longer and it can probably be said that the extreme temperatures were lower (-40 once or twice a winter). But somehow the winters I've spent in Ottawa nevertheless feel like the most punishing I've experienced. |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2009 : 19:34:06
|
| For those interest, I have an article in the newest issue of the Journal of Popular Film and Television. It's called "Forget Peter Vincent: Nostalgic, Self-Reflexivity and the Genre Past in Fright Night." |
|
|
|
ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2067 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2014 : 00:27:05
|
Murray, I've recently been rereading Son of Thunder.
What alignment, race, class, and level do you envision Lanaal Featherbreeze to be? (I know the text says gold elf, but I didn't know if she was some sort of werebird, or something else.)
|
--
http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2014 : 14:09:30
|
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
Murray, I've recently been rereading Son of Thunder.
What alignment, race, class, and level do you envision Lanaal Featherbreeze to be? (I know the text says gold elf, but I didn't know if she was some sort of werebird, or something else.)
Hi Eric. Lanaal is a "birdlord" (see "animal lord" from Masters of the Wild), and presumably a fairly high level one given the powers she demonstrates, though I'd need to give it more thought to determine a level. She was born a gold elf but does not identify as one, |
|
|
|
ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2067 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2014 : 14:21:39
|
quote:
Originally posted by Murray Leeder
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
Murray, I've recently been rereading Son of Thunder.
What alignment, race, class, and level do you envision Lanaal Featherbreeze to be? (I know the text says gold elf, but I didn't know if she was some sort of werebird, or something else.)
Hi Eric. Lanaal is a "birdlord" (see "animal lord" from Masters of the Wild), and presumably a fairly high level one given the powers she demonstrates, though I'd need to give it more thought to determine a level. She was born a gold elf but does not identify as one,
Thanks!
Something like NG female gold elf ranger 5 / birdlord 6?
(Note the animal lord class was updated in Complete Adventurer.)
--Eric |
--
http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
|
|
|
Murray Leeder
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2014 : 02:41:42
|
| I would have to check against all of the abilities she has, but that tentatively sounds right to me! |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Questions for Murray Leeder
