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Hi Fiona, >>

Never used a forum before but here goes.>>

As a young lad of 12 I discovered Alistair Mclean thrillers and soon learned what it was to read a book that I just could not put down.>>

Sadly, for a long time, I never found another author whose books really gripped me and were unputdownable, despite numerous blurbs that stated otherwise, until I discovered Robin Hobbs’ Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies. Oh dear! Talk about a life-changing experience. Symptoms included finding myself staring blankly at a page with tearful eyes, constantly turning up at work bleary eyed after little sleep – not good, finally followed by the awful void/ache in your life when, after the last page, you realise “how on earth am I going to follow that and find another author who will sound the depths of emotions that I have just experienced?”>>

Well, I thought that I was doomed to yet more years of disappointment until I did something in my local library that apparently I should not have done!!! I judged a book by its cover and boy, am I glad I did! A paperback of Myrrens’ Gift caught my eye. Must say that there really is something quite haunting about the covers of the Orbit paperbacks of the Quickening series! Anyway, what I really wanted to say is this: Fiona, you have proved beyond doubt that there is life after reading Robin Hobb books! Many thanks. I think you are a rare gem! My problem now is what happens when I have read all of your books? Having already suffered from years of post-Alistair Mclean-ache, and more recently, many months of post-Robin Hobb-ache, have I really got to suffer long-term, post-FMc-ache? Any suggestions? >>

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This was so much fun to read. I was chewing on toast and vegemite and my smile got bigger and bigger as I read on. thank you for your wonderful post and very fine compliment. I don't think I could be happier than to be compared to Robin Hobb, who happens to be among my very, very few absolute favourite writers because they can wring real emotion from me. Everything you described I have also lived through with Hobb. That terrible blankness and weeping helplessly for the character I think we're both referring to...feeling bereft when the whole thing ended because you'd give up part of yourself to that big story. And so to your new dilemma. Well, you have before you The Quickening to finish, then you may want to go back to the first series and read Trinity, then move into Percheron and by then I will probably have book 2 out of Valisar so you'll have the current series to get through with a wait through to book 3 perhaps. You may want to try my crime although unavailable in UK for now. I presume you're based in UK? Beyond McIntosh? I wouldn't hesitate to suggest you try The Fionavar Trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay as an opener and then if you like his writing - I defy you to not love it - then read everything of his - Tigana, Lions of Al-Rassan, Song of Arbonne, Sarantium Mosaic (all adult fantasy). And then I would highly recommend George R R Martin. Begin with Game of Swords I think it is. And if you get bitten by it - then there's at least four books after that worth reading. Does it have to be fantasy? I'm sensing you might enjoy historical fiction. Don't hesitate - go to the library or bookshop and grab anything by Sharon Penman. Start with The Sunne in Splendour (Wars of the Roses) although my favourite is Here Be Lions. You may also really enjoy Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and its sequel. Other fantasy authors I can happily recommend because I've read their work and swear by it - Tad Williams (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn), Jack Vance (Lionesse etc), Stephen Donaldson (Chronicles of Thomas Convenant). Those stories would be among my top ten. Happy reading, Phil, and thank you again for your generous comments. F

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Re: Heart-felt thanks and  ..... er ...vegemite?

Thank you so much for taking time out and replying to my post. I'm glad that I did not ruin your breakfast. Vegemite? Arrgh, sorry, just had an awful flashback to a long forgotten school disco (bad dancing, bad flares and bad hair - good times!!) dancing to Down Under by Men at Work!  I'm sure they sang something about a vegemite sandwich. Are they still "at work" in Australia? Anyway, I'm determined to try vegemite, though, living in a small village in South Wales (you were correct in assuming I am in the UK) it may be hard to source. Apparently, things will improve when the railways arrive.

Well, I've finished the Quickening (didn't love it though ...... adored it) and am up to book 2 of the Percheron (what can I say .... i'll let you know after book 3, though at the moment I'm leaning toward an A++++++ grading)

After i've fininshed your books I hope to take you up on your challenge and read the Fionavar trilogy - thank you so much for your advice.  Take care.  Phil.

ps.      I was pleased to know that I made you smile because I love your humour and your timing is perfect. It's such a powerful emotion and it's great to hear your characters laugh, even when all seems hopeless. I have to say this, there was a point in one of your books (Quickening book 2, during a conversation between Aremys and Wyl as Faryl .... priceless!) that actually made me laugh out loud, and I mean loud, and that is something that I have never done when reading a fantasy book. Your characters are so real! I recently read a fantasy book where, early on, you find out that one of the main characters is going to die, and I must say that sadly, I didn't really care which of them it was to be because I wouldn't have missed any of them.

pps.      Do you ever come to the UK to do book signings? Must tell you this: while I was reading the Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies, I knew very little about the author and purposely kept clear of Hobb-related websites - you always tend to find out something important about one of the characters and you can guarantee that you haven't reached that part of the book yet!   Well, when I finished the books and was experiencing the early stages of the "terrible blackness" ( as you so beautifully described that awful feeling, in your reply) I hit the websites and found to my horror that Robin Hobb had not only been in the UK, but had been signing in a bookshop only 40 miles away, just 2 weeks earlier - still haven't recovered yet!   Thanks again for your time and advice.  Phil

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No, Men at Work are no longer producing songs, although I'm sure the lead singer, Colin whateverhisnameis, who bobs up from time to time, is still involved in music. So, South Wales. I was in North Wales about 16 months ago and fell in love with Conwy, which inspired Penraven in Valisar, and the tiny village of Beddegelert (love, love, love its legend). I'm in the UK regularly. I'll be there in March (but only in Cornwall and London for a few days of research) and I reckon I'll be back in southern England around October/November. the publisher is talking about a book tour. And.....while it is purely rumour at the moment ... my editor spoke to me last year about a potential tour at this time (end 2009) alongside Robin Hobb. As Robin and I have become great friends (long story how we met and she began to take an interest in me and my books) we would make a good roving pair for appearances and signings. So, Phil, while I can't confirm anything yet, I do think there's a good chance I can sign your books for you at some stage in the not too distant future. You will be pleased to know that your favourite writer is working on a new series and I imagine Robin will release book 1 later this year - so that's something you can really look forward to. I do hope you've read her Liveships series? If not, hurry up, you have a wonderful surprise in store because the way it works back into Farseer is really special. Thanks for reading Percheron and for still enjoying my writing. I think it's always hard to move straight into a new series when you've loved a trilogy but hopefully my stories have that common bond in story style that it feels easier to make the jump from one set of characters you've shared so much with to a whole new group. Hope Percheron delivers for you. And by the way, I reckon I can guess which bit made you laugh out loud in The Q. I think I laughed when I wrote it. It's exactly the sort of line my husband would say! Thank you for enjoying it.So, roar on Phil. Happy reading and hopefully I'll be signing your books in the next year and will have the chance to say hello in person.All best, F

Edited by Fionamc at 28th Jan 2009 08:54:53.

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Hi Fiona. Gemmell awards sorted - my pleasure. Actually, David Gemmells books (I've read most of them now) helped to take the edge off my previously mentioned post-RH-ache. In fact, was just finishing his Troy series when I discovered Myrrens Gift.  Although living in South Wales (I was born in the Midlands) I too love North Wales and have spent a fair bit of time just a few miles from Conwy. Did you walk the town walls and see Britains smallest house by the quayside? I look forward to reading Valisar with this in mind. The story of Llewelyn and Gelert - wow! I agree. It gets me every time too. I have also spent some time in Cornwall, particularly near Tintagel - King Arthur country, so plenty of legends and also fascinating burial sites and numerous standing stones. A while back, I spent an incredible day exploring stonehenge, the village of Avebury with its immense stone circles and then in the evening, while the sun was setting, sat on top of Silbury Hill - what an awesome sight that is and man-made too.

I digress. Almost finished Percheron and have Betrayal ready at hand. By the way, don't remeber saying in my earlier posts that RH was my favourite writer! I think that you have now taken that spot ( I can't believe I'm cheating on Robin Hobb! would it help if I told her that while I was reading your books I was actually thing of her? sorry, couldn't resist that) I have read Liveship traders but although I really really enjoyed it, somehow, it just did not hit the spot, whereas, all of your books have found the mark every time.

What a thrill it was to hear about your rumoured tour. Fingers crossed! Exciting or what? Though I must say that I am a bit concerned..... Was just reading an update article about CERNs large hadron collider: remember all the hype about the LHC? High speed protons occupying the same space, and whether such an event will produce not only the elusive "Higgs" boson but also more unseen sources of quark flavours (in addition to the known "strange" and "charmed" particles already found), or was the project going to produce a black hole and annihilate us all? Well, after reading your reply, I got to thinking: Is it possible for two unbelievably incredible and fantastic fantasy authors to occupy the same space and time? Surely this will cause a major ripple, or even a rip in the fantasy-time-space-continuum? Lets hope at least that this event will lead to the sighting (in the UK) of the rare "Hobbs" boson and also the more elusive FMc charmed(charming?) particle - obviously chocolate flavoured!!  We wait with bated breath.  Bye for now,  Phil.

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Enjoyed your post, Phil. Yes, I did see the smallest house and did walk the walls and oh lovely Gelert. Is this the same Llewellyn (I doubt) who is featured in Sharon Penman's Here Be Lions - please, please read! Hmm, I wonder? Anyway, my time in Cornwall will be spent in and around Penzance researching ... but not for fantasy, although you never know where the next item of inspiration will occur. Why not Cornwall while thinking about an entirely different novel? Now the proton thingo. I was so interested in that whole amazing experiment and thought it quite hilarious that people were frightened of creating a black hole. I never believed that but I was intrigued by it. And to answer your question, indeed Robin and I could easily occupy the same few feet. She is a superstar and I am her groupie. While we've not toured before we have appeared on panels before and have become good friends and she is such a delight to be around that I couldn't think of anything nicer than book touring with this writer. I could talk to all her fans while they queue in their thousands, keep them entertained while they wait. I have been known to happily sign another author's books if my queue dwindles. Ask Monica McInerney! Anyway, Robin and I are quite well balanced actually because we are polar opposites in a lot of things - particularly style of writing and the kind of read you're going to get. She often laughs that I cover years in one chapter while she could dwell on six weeks of a man's life in a whole book...or series. So our pacing is very different and the manner of our stories so different. She is all peaceful and quiet...the sort of person who commands your attention by her stillness and softly spoken way. Oh dear, I'm like a thunderclap - noise, laughter, demanding chocolate and incessant chatting to everyone - loudly. I think we'd make a good tag team. But we shall have to cross our fingers and see. It all depends on her next book and its timing because my next one is already written, with the UK editor and advanced in its editorial journey. Thank you for the Gemmell award thingy. Yes, he's a special writer and it's a real honour to even be mentioned in the same breath. But then I feel that way about Hobb too. Keep enjoying Percheron. Betrayal was my first ever attempt at writing, let alone writing a book. Be gentle! F

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Phil, you really are incredibly, deliriously kind. Thanking you from the bottom of my heart. I never feel as though I walk tall among any other writers - that's the truth. So to know that the stories have touched people - and the gang here are always so supportive - is a constant source of inspiration and energy. So thrilled that you enjoyed Percheron and no, there's no rush to Trinity. It will find you when the time is right. And there are so many other marvellous books to read in the meantime. It was funny you mentioning that bit about luring ships to the shore. I've just written that very item into my mainstream novel....they were up to that very crime over in Cornwall too where my story begins! You're walking the beach and I'm walking around the bay each day but up a reasonable hill that curves around the bay, hugging it as we trudge up until we have the most awesome view of the area and out to sea. Like you, I use the time to blow out the cobwebs but also to have a wonderful 40 mins of chatting time with my sons who head out with me each day. It's amazing what gets discussed during this precious time. Here in beautiful Tasmania for only a mere handful of days now - dreading going home to the hellish temperatures that Adelaide is experiencing. 38 today, which is a respite, considering it's been up to 44 or something. But they're saying 41 for our arrival home - yuk! - and here it's 21 and delicious. Adelaide is a lovely city but I HATE her summers. I hear London is covered in snow. Wow. What extremes. And I imagine it's pretty nippy around your way too. Stay warm, Phil. Don't know any of that music you mentioned but sounds as though it's just the tonic for you. Fx

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Hey Fiona, So, two surprises yesterday, first; your lovely greeting – I was only telling the truth! And second; woke up to 3 inches of snow, Yay!!! - it usually falls on the hills behind us and misses the beach. I love the cooler weather and cannot begin to imagine facing temperatures in the 40’s (poor you!), we seem to wilt in the high 20’s (for us, last summer was a wash-out but the year before we had a few days of between 28-30!!). Went to see how the beach looked and got ambushed by a few young children who decided they wanted a snowball fight; they didn’t stand a chance (I haven’t grown up yet!) until their parents helped! – Meanies. Had to smile when I read about your coastal walks/talks with your sons.  I totally understand. I’ve persuaded my son, who is a Gemmell-nut, to read Myrrens Gift. He loves it!!! He too suffered from post-Robin Hobb-syndrome after he came across my copies of Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies, and we have spent many times walking on the beach into the early hours of the morning discussing the books as he progressed through them, and especially after he finished them. I agree, it is amazing the topics that you end up discussing in these precious times. After very rough seas, there is usually an abundant supply of driftwood and then it’s so relaxing to sit round a fire on a darkened and deserted beach and talk (what is it about men/boys and fires? my 2 boys love them). I’m sure I’ll be doing a similar thing soon to ease his Post-Quickening void. I’m thinking that as the UK is becoming so Health & Safety conscious, surely your books (and RH’s) should carry an emotional health warning. By the way, we both have a complaint about your books!! Each one is about 300 pages too short!! I’ll try and persuade my son to contact you when he has finished the Quickening (if he does, you could always tease him (he won’t mind) about his reaction to the beginning of chapter 35 of Fools Fate (“Resumption” – the one that starts with a such a moving poem and then the words “Fate took a final swipe at me.&rdquo, we still discuss the poem now - it has the same effect as the story of Gelert. By the way, have you read the poem “Beth Gelert” by William Robert Spencer? I came across a copy last time I visited the grave. I can email it to you if you haven’t read it – it’s well worth reading. If you do get a chance to listen to music, you must add “Transatlanticism” by Death Cab For Cutie (as well as “Lazy Calm” and “Pink Orange Red” by Cocteau Twins – that was my post-Quickening tonic) to your “must listen to” list. Broke my resolve and started reading Trinity – well, I held out for a few days while I was awaiting the arrival of book 3, but books 1 and 2 were there, just staring at me. I’ll talk to you about it when I’ve finished the series. Stay cool (especially in Adelaide)   Philx

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Where did that strange yellow face come from?  I think it should have been a quotation mark. Philx