faq

Or second, it’s a purposeful meta-fictional layer constructed to add verisimilitude to the world I’ve created (c.f. Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton).

Is Mortal Coils suitable for a younger audience?
Absolutely. It’s appropriate the same way Ender’s Game or A Wizard of Earthsea is appropriate for a younger audience…as well as adults.

 

Mortal Coils is a stand-alone novel which serves as a launching point for the rest of the series.

 

Five are planned. The first two have been acquired by TOR. 

Buy lots and tell your friends so TOR will buy the entire series!

 

The sequel, All That Lives Must Die, should be out early 2010.

 

 

Eric Trautmann, then with Microsoft’s Licensing division, approached me to write that first HALO novel. I was the only qualified writer familiar with the (as yet unreleased) HALO property.  I was working at Microsoft Game Studios at the time.  So I was just at the right place and the right time. Trautmann needed it written, however, in seven weeks, and he knew I had a chance to hit that deadline from us having worked together on Crimson Skies fiction.

I wanted tell my own story. Don’t get me the wrong, Bill Dietz did a great job of writing that book... a lot better than I could have, because I would have tried to change everything. That wasn’t the purpose of that novel; it was a re-telling (and to Bill’s credit, the embellishment of) the first HALO game.  

You probably don’t. Microsoft Licensing picks the authors and decides which books get made—but they are very likely going to approach established previously published science fiction authors to write their novels. If you’re one of those...then your agent will know whom to contact. If not, and you still want to try, I suggest approached the current publisher of the HALO novels. Make sure you check the publisher’s current submission guidelines before you try, though, and follow them to the letter.

 

Just those two. Come on, I blew up the Earth and re-booted the entire Jack-infested universe—you want more? 

 

No. I don’t have that many copies left of what is my favorite of my early novels. Try the used section on Amazon.com or look on e-bay. Be prepared to pay up to $20.00 for a used copy of this paperback.

 

At this time I have no plans to write a sequel to that novel; however, some of the Dreaming Families make brief appearances in the second book in the Mortal Coils series…and more might show up later in larger roles as the series continues.

 

Are you going to make a movie out any of your books?
I wish! It’s not something I can do on my own. A production company needs to buy or option the film rights first. That hasn't happened (yet), but my agents are always talking with various production companies…so you never know!

Are there audio versions of your books?
Currently the HALO novels are available in audio book format.

Do you know where I can find fan-fic of your books? Can I send you my fan fic?
While fan-fic is flattering I cannot talk about or point you to sources of fan-generated fiction for legal reasons.

 

 

 

I wish I could accept every request I get but I can’t due to an extremely busy schedule. When I travel for business or pleasure, however, I usually try and set up a signing...which are posted on my website’s NEWS page. NOTE: if you want to pay me to lecture—that’s an entirely different matter. Send me an email. We’ll talk.

 
Can you answer questions for a school project?
Unfortunately, I am unable to help with all the school projects I get requests for. Hopefully you can get some of the answers you need from this page. Also you can search on-line for “Eric Nylund interviews”—and those might answer most, if not all, your questions

 

Email me the particulars of your publication, your list of questions, and additional items that you need from me such as photos. If I have the time, I’d be happy to oblige.

 

Please contact my publisher’s publicist. Sorry—I don’t have extra copies to hand out.

 

 

 

Search my blog. There’s a search field at the top of the blog page. Also every entry is “tagged” so if you see a blog with the label “writing advice” or “writing business” you can click on that tag and get a list of every blog entry on those subjects.

 

No, no, no, and no. 

Sorry. I'm unable to read others' writing or offer advice on stories. I don’t have time and there are excellent legal reasons for me NOT to do this. Please do not send any of the above to me--you won't get a response.

 

Write a novel. Find an agent. Sell it. Repeat.

(For specifics, search my blog please)

 

Please contact my agent, Richard Curtis, with rights inquiries.

 

No. Please don’t and say I did, either. They will ask me.

 

 

Track the website of video game developers. Watch for job openings that appear and take a careful look at their requirements. Keep an especially watchful eye out for internships. 

For you writers, write a sample script or download one of the many level editors out there to make a short sample game. It’s a great way to show you know what you’re doing to a prospective employer.

Also check out some of the trade schools/colleges that now have video game-development curriculum—they can help you learn the trade.

Or—you can go the indie route: make your own game. There are tons of opportunities out there if you have drive, guts, luck, and technical aptitude. Start small.

 

No. Microsoft Game Studios has a policy about not commenting (outside of official channels) about games still in production. Watch news outlets, though; there’s always something exciting going on.