David Farland

[November 5th, 2008]

You really should read: The Runelords; Ravenspell.

All you really need to know about David Farland (a.k.a. David Wolverton) is that he holds the world record for the most book signings in one sitting. So, even if you don’t find the prolific author’s sci-fi works and fantasy series—which range from the sprawling seven-book saga The Runelords to his popular mice-fighting-evil series Ravenspell—fascinating, there are a helluva lot who do. Plus, next time Led Zeppelin reunites, don’t be surprised if Robert Plant starts cribbing lines from Farland instead of Tolkien. KELLY CLARKE. Noon Sunday, Nov. 9. Wieden & Kennedy Stage.

What’s your personal writing ritual?
A laptop in an easy chair with a diet Mountain Dew at my side.

What are your favorite themes to write about?
Overcoming adversity.

The most beautiful word in the English language is:
woman.

What authors made you want to pick up a pen in the first place?
William Shakespeare and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Fight Club time: If you could fight one author (or critic), who would it be and why?
Gosh, I don’t want to fight anyone that I can think of. I’ll just crush them with my prose.

Name a book that you think is highly overrated. Be honest:
The Grapes of Wrath.

Dream project:
It’s secret. I’m working on it.

Most recent nightmare:
One of my characters was dying—Sir Borenson.

Your cure for writer’s block:
Get into a really quiet place, turn off the TV and phone, and wait until my characters start talking.

Pessimistic question: Will you keep writing even after people stop reading?
No. I’ll be dead long before that question.

Optimistic question: Kittens? Discuss.
Love ’em. I have three.