Terry Goodkind

Infobox Writer


imagesize = 150px
name = Terry Goodkind
caption = Terry Goodkind
birthdate = 1948
birthplace = Omaha, Nebraska
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = Novelist
genre = Epic fantasy
movement =
notableworks = "The Sword of Truth"
influences = Ayn Rand, Aristotle, Sir Winston Churchill, Founding Fathers of the United States
influenced =
website = http://www.terrygoodkind.com/ http://www.terrygoodkind.net

Terry Goodkind (born 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA) is a contemporary American writer and author of the best-selling epic fantasy series "The Sword of Truth", which according to his publisher Tor Books in an August 2006 press release [http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=15750 Press release regarding the production of a "Sword of Truth" Mini-series] ] has more than 10 million copies in print and has been translated into 20 different languages. In a recent Publishers Weekly article, it was reported that Mr. Goodkind has sold 25 million copies [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6573502.html Terry Goodkind Moves to Putnam for Three-Book Deal] ] worldwide.

Biography

Goodkind was born in 1948 and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, where he also attended schooling in art and Catholic Catechism Instruction.

Goodkind learned early in his life that he suffered from dyslexia, a cause of constant frustration while he was in high school. He later dropped out of college and worked as a carpenter, a violin maker, and a restorer of rare and exotic artifacts and antiques. Before starting his career as a writer, Goodkind was best known for his realistic marine and wildlife paintings. [cite web|url=http://cgi1.usatoday.com/mchat/20030805003/tscript.htm|title=USA Today Article] In 1993, during the construction of his home on the forested Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine with his wife Jeri, he began to write his first novel, "Wizard's First Rule", and his writing career was launched with its publication in 1994. In addition to his home in Maine, Goodkind and his wife built a second home in the desert southwest where he now spends the majority of his time.cite web|url=http://www.prophets-inc.com/the_author/|title=Terry Goodkind Bio at terrygoodkind.com]

Career

Goodkind's first book, "Wizard's First Rule", was auctioned to publishers in 1994 for six times more than the record price previously paid for a first fantasy novel. [ [http://www.sff.net/people/lynn.flewelling/s.goodkind.html Lynn Flewelling interview with Terry Goodkind at Sff.net] ] It had a first print run of 60,000 copies, where 3,000–5,000 is more usual, and became an international bestseller.

Goodkind has subsequently published ten other novels and one novella to great commercial success. All of his books, with the exceptions of "Stone of Tears" and "Wizard's First Rule", have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. [cite web|url=http://www.hawes.com/pastlist.htm|title=Hawes' archive of "New York Times" bestsellers from 1994 to 2005] Of his latest novels, "Chainfire", debuted at #3; [cite web|url=http://www.hawes.com/2005/0501.htm#January%2023|title=Hawes' archive of "New York Times" bestsellers—Week of January 23, 2005] in January 2005, "Phantom" at #1 [cite web|url=http://www.hawes.com/2006/2006-08-06.pdf|title=Hawes' archive of "New York Times" bestsellers - Week of January 23, 2005] in August 2006; and "Confessor" at #2 in November 2007 on the NYT Best Sellers List.

Influences

Goodkind has been largely influenced by the books of Ayn Rand and is a strong supporter of her works and of Objectivist philosophy. While he acknowledges writing in the fantasy genre, he perceives his novels to be more than just traditional fantasy because of their focus on philosophical and human themes. [http://www.prophets-inc.com/the_author/va.html Interview with Terry Goodkind at a Virginia book signing] ]

Themes

"The Sword of Truth" series is considered an epic fantasy series by both readers and critics alike. The awards it has been nominated for or won are all fantasy-related, and as the series contains all the standard fantasy elements such as dragons, magic, a setting containing a more or less European medieval level of technology, and fictional countries, it has been marketed as a fantasy series. Despite being placed in the genre by others, Goodkind perceives himself more as a novelist than as a fantasy author. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20040831203534/http://www.terrygoodkind.com/chats/PIchat5.php Webchat with Terry Goodkind from Web archive] , retrieved January 14, 2007] Goodkind believes that using the fantasy genre allows him to better tell his stories and better convey the human themes and emotions that he desires to share with the reader. Regardless of the genre of his novels, Goodkind states his main goal in writing is to inspire. [cite web|url=http://www.scifidimensions.com/Aug03/terrygoodkind.htm|title=Sci-Fi Dimensions Interview]

Each "Sword of Truth" novel includes a Wizard's Rule of the fictional universe which also serves as a thematic statement for the novel.

Published works

Goodkind's novels include the following:
* "Wizard's First Rule" (1994)
* "Stone of Tears" (1995)
* "Blood of the Fold" (1996)
* "Temple of the Winds" (1997)
* "Soul of the Fire" (1999)
* "Faith of the Fallen" (2000)
* "The Pillars of Creation" (2002)
* "Naked Empire" (2003)
* "Chainfire" (2005)
* "Phantom" (2006)
* "Confessor" (2007)

In addition, Goodkind wrote a novella titled "Debt of Bones" for the 1998 anthology "Legends", edited by Robert Silverberg. The novel takes place in the "Sword of Truth" universe and is set a few decades before the events in the main series. In 2001, the story was published as a stand-alone book.

The last book in the current story arc, titled "Confessor", was released on November 13, 2007. [ [http://www.terrygoodkind.com/his_works/confessor.html Announcement of final book in series.] ]

Recently Goodkind has signed a contract to publish three mainstream novels with G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Books, moving away from the "Sword of Truth" series for the first time in his career, though future volumes of the "Sword of Truth" will continue to be published by Tor, when and if the author chooses to return to that world.

Other media

On July 24, 2006, [ [http://www.bookstandard.com/bookstandard/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002878399 "Spider-Man" director buys rights to Goodkind series] ] , it was originally announced that the "Sword of Truth" series would be produced as a mini-series. According to the press release, Sam Raimi, the director of "Spider-Man" and Joshua Dohen would produce the mini-series. However, in January 2008, it was announced that a full series would be produced instead by ABC Studios. As of Comic-Con 2008, the series is now called "Legend of the Seeker". [ [http://www.legendoftheseeker.com Legend of the Seeker Official Web Site] ] Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, and Ned Nalle serve as executive producers. [ [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-29-2008/0004745212&EDATE= WFR to be made into syndicated TV show] ] The first episode airs in syndication on November 1, 2008.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* [http://www.terrygoodkind.com Official Terry Goodkind Web Site]
* [http://www.terrygoodkind.net Unofficial Terry Goodkind Web Site] (endorsed by Terry Goodkind)
*
* [http://freetalklive.com/files/goodkind.mp3 Terry Goodkind Interview on freetalklive.com] - Interview about the political aspects of the "Sword of Truth" series
* [http://www.iscifi.tv/podcast/category/episodes/terry-goodkind Terry is interviewed] at www.i-sci-fi.com
* [http://www.fantasyliterature.net/goodkindterry.html Reviews at FantasyLiterature.net]

Persondata
NAME= Goodkind, Terry
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= American Novelist
DATE OF BIRTH= 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH= Omaha, Nebraska
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=