Ask the Author: Richard Swan

“Ask me a question.” Richard Swan

Answered Questions (9)

Sort By:

An error occurred while sorting questions for author Richard Swan.

Been loving grave empire, though 1 question has been burning me since the first trilogy. Was there any reasoning in picking dutch for Kasarsprek? It always catches me by surprise when I read it.

Richard Swan Hi Nino, I like to use real languages because it gives me an opportunity to slip little easter eggs into the novel (for those who feel like translating them). Because the Kasar have a close relationship with Sova and because Sova is a proto-Germanic society I wanted to give them a Germanic language to speak. Dutch is quite a guttural language with some sounds pronounced in the back of the throat which I thought would fit the lupine mouth well. Dutch is also reminiscent of Afrikaans (which of course is derived from Dutch) and which is evocative of southern African nations which does a nice job of fixing the Kyarai linguistically and geographically in the reader's mind.

flag

4 likes · like
1 comment

Is it pronounced HEL-ena, He-LEE-na, or He-LAY-na?

Richard Swan He lay na (I have to add more text to meet the minimum character requirements)

flag

1 like · like
Comment

Is there anywhere online where I can get the second and third art of war trilogy books in paperback still?

Richard Swan Hi Ryan - not currently, no, but these will have a physical release at some point!

flag

like
Comment

Hello Mr. Swan, After listening to your Empire of the Wolf trilogy which I loved. I said to myself what else has Ricard Swan published and came across your Art of War Trilogy, & immediately purchased Book 1, " Reclamation. My my my, What an amazing Sci Fi story it is. I finished it and have now bought Book 2 and 3 and can't wait to get into them. What is your favorite genre, Sci Fi or Fantasy?

Richard Swan Hi Peter,
Thanks a lot for picking up the AOW books, and I'm really pleased you enjoyed reading Reclamation. I've always been more of a SF reader and writer than a fantasy reader and writer, though I must say I have really loved writing Empire of the Wolf and the Great Silence. These days I still read very little fantasy but I'd struggle to say which genre I prefer!

flag

1 like · like
Comment

I have so many questions! But I would love to know where the concept of the series came from or what inspired the Empire of the Wolf?

Richard Swan Hi Rachel - if you look in the acknowledgements section in the back of Trials I speak about this at length; in essence, a multitude of things (as is always the case) - some direct inspirations like Robert Harris' Cicero trilogy, Eisenhorn / Ravenor trilogies by Dan Abnett, Shardlake by CJ Sansom, the Witcher video games, real life history (Carolingian / Holy Roman Empires, the Roman Empire, medieval England, the Crusades), the artworks on Hell of Wayne Barlowe, and a million other things large and small which I couldn't possibly hope to list!

flag

1 like · like
Comment

Good morning Richard. I listened to Empire of the Wolf on Audible and loved every minute of it. The narrator, Lucy Patterson was amazing. I would like to know what your next project is and when can we expect to hear any details of it’s release. Will it be in the same world as Empire of the Wolf or a completely different setting ? … Keep up the great work. Panarch Pete, Toronto

Richard Swan Thank you, Lucy is incredible and I've heard so many compliments on her narration. Next project is another epic fantasy trilogy, a flintlock series set in Sova but 200 years after the events of Empire of the Wolf. Formal announcement in the next few weeks!

flag

4 likes · like
Comment

This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Richard Swan

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

flag

1 like · like
Comment

I'm a huge fan- absolutely LOVED Empire of the Wolf! Wanted to know: will you go back to this world, or revisit these characters in one of your future books? I hope that you do. And: is there a real life inspiration for Heinrich...? :)

Richard Swan Thank you! I will certainly revisit the world, and perhaps some of the minor characters, but not Helena and Vonvalt. Heinrich was inspired by Henry, our old black labrador who sadly is with Nema now

flag