Ask the Author: S.D. Smith

“It's possible. I'd like to someday. ” S.D. Smith

Answered Questions (107)

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Hi mr smith! Your books are SOOOO awesome! After the main series which one read next: Black star or the last archer? Thank u so much!!!!

S.D. Smith Whichever you like! I'd do the Archer, then the Old Natalia.

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I was looking to see about getting the Green Writer, and watched the first free video. It was mostly about overcoming fear of writing, which I don't have. I'm fifteen years old, and wondering if it is applicable to me and what I'm looking for: improving my writing. What do you think?

S.D. Smith Hi Niyah, if I were you, I'd watch the other two free ones and see the other session titles and descriptions and make the best decision you can.

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In Ember Falls, Flint and Fay are mentioned to be the "divintites" of Natalia. From a Christian vantage point, what does the mythology of Natalia look like?

S.D. Smith Hi, Abigail. Like LoTR, the Christianity in these books is implicit mostly.

Flint and Fay are not described as "divinities" of Natalia. They are described by Heather as being seen as old, honored heroes. However, she is learning that the Halfwind rabbits revere them more and that they seem to see them as being "holy ancestors, touched by divinity." So even the Halfwind rabbits don't see them as "divinities," but as being touched by the divine.

The F&F stories are their myths, their true stories they believe about their origins. But many have wrong beliefs about what is true. They differ (like humans do), but there is a Reality in their world, and the stories that H&P hear growing up and that the presters etc. of Halfwind tell are pretty much true.

I hope this helps.

Blessings!

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In the first green ember book Heather, Picket, and Smalls escape into the mounds, and inside they find the ruins of a old civilization all abandoned and inhabited by creatures. What was that place once? Was it a warren, or have you not decided its orgin yet, also what were the creatures/monsters?

S.D. Smith Hi Luci,

This can best be answered if you read Prince Lander and the Dragon War (and all the Green Ember: Old Natalia trilogy).

And, an upcoming book. ;)

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In the epilogue of Ember's End you mention how your writings were very much influenced by those of J. R. R. Tolkien. As an avid Tolkien fan myself, I was wondering what stories of Tolkien's influenced you the most and which was your favorite?

S.D. Smith I love best The Lord of the Rings. Secondarily, I love Smith of Wootten Major. Not sure what directly influences me, but I can name the virtues deeply foundational to the stories, and the real sense of history that I want to emulate. I don't in any conscious way imitate character or style or world or plot, but I love the deep goodness.

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Hello, Mr. Smith! I was wondering how you keep details in order when writing a long series like The Green Ember. Do you draft out every book before writing it, to avoid hinting at one thing in Book 1 only to have it finally come to light in Book 8 (or never at all)? Do you jot down notes to keep your thoughts in order? Or do you have a different process? Thank you!

S.D. Smith Hi Emily C. I HOPE this is helpful. :)

I don't do it great. but I try to keep track of notes as well as I can. Many writers call their notes on this stuff a bible. I have notes, but they aren't always organized and a few times I've made mistakes on continuity. Mostly, I keep it in my head. But that is not a reliable vault! Best to keep good notes in an organized file. God bless!

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What was your inspiration to write the Green Ember series about rabbits?

S.D. Smith Telling a good story to my kids.

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who is the pilgrim?

S.D. Smith Suprise: He is Abraham Lincoln!

Not really. More on him in future book, God willing.

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How did you come with all the characters' names for the Green Ember?

S.D. Smith Hi Nora! I tried to make them all plausible in world and pronounceable. Those were my rules. Lastly, they should sound cool, if possible.

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Do you plan to write a series geared towards older teens? While I enjoyed The Green Ember as a read aloud with my siblings/family, I would be curious to see what you could do for a Christian series geared towards an older audience. I am sure you could take most topics and make fantastic stories out of them!

S.D. Smith Hi Ethan. I have a book (and series) that I think may trend a little older. But I tend to think all my books are for any age. They are the kind of books I like. I am with CSL on that front.

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Hello Mr. Smith! I am SUCH a huge fan of yours!!! Will you be writing a new series in the future? Also, is there anyway I could get your autograph?

S.D. Smith Hi Elijah,

Thank you! Yes, there are new series coming, Lord willing. More Jack Zulu, i hope. More Green Ember. And some new stuff. The best way to get my autograph is to be tuned into when we sell signed books at my store. You can get it now on a three-book combo and on The Found Boys.
https://store.storywarren.com/product...

Cheers and God bless!

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Hi, S.D. Smith! I am a huge fan of your books! How did you start such a fantastic story? How did you come up with the plot?

S.D. Smith Hi, Jonathan. Thank you! The stories started as ones I told my kids, so the plot just sort of evolved over the years. It is always a mix of preparation and forethought and being awake to what might make for a cool moment in process. God bless!

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Hey S.D. I am a big fan of 'The Found Boys' and it is such an interesting book in the way the plot plans out, what gave you the ideas for this book? Did you base it off of something, some story in your life, or maybe a book that you really enjoyed, or was it just from raw imagination?

S.D. Smith Hi Cora. Thank you.

It was a bedtime story for my daughter. It started very rooted to a familiar place for me (my childhood church and the creek behind it) and then morphed as it continued into an imagined adventure. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Bless you.

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How much have other fantasy works affected your writing? Also, how much does the Bible affect your writing?

S.D. Smith Everything we read goes into the ecosystem that produces our writing/art. The Bible cannot be overestimated as a source. It is the fountain. Other works come in, of course, none more than Robin Hood for me, but many others influence and have influenced me. Star Wars as a kid. Others.

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Why do you write?

S.D. Smith My gifts meet the service of others, and there is joy and love there.

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Do you have a favorite character? If so who

S.D. Smith It's not easy to pick, but I think it's Heather in the Green Ember.

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How do you add detail and make your books interesting and suspenseful to draw in readers to the story?

S.D. Smith I think you have to know the world you are creating and sharing very well, then tell honest, entertaining stories inside that world. It has to be coherent and believable. Then there needs to be a causal connection between scenes. This happened and then that happened because that happened. Not then another thing happened and then another thing happened, BUT BECAUSE this, then that. And so on.

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