Christopher Paolini Interview and Giveaway!

Eragon Author Christopher Paolini joins SciFiChick.com today to promote the 10th Anniversary of Eragon. And keep reading for a chance to win the beautiful new Collector’s Edition with impressive illustrations by Paolini!

With the incredible success of Eragon, did it affect your writing of the rest of the Inheritance saga?

It didn’t change how I wrote the series, but it did make me more aware of my audience. When I started Eragon, I didn’t really think anyone outside of my family would read it. Once the series began to sell, all that changed. For a time I struggled with what could only be called anxiety performance or stage fright. It’s hard to write what will always be a rough and imperfect first draft if you start worrying about what every one of your readers is going to think about every one of your words. It may sound strange, but in order to write with any degree of confidence, I had to effectively ignore my audience.

Of course, when the time came for editing, I could think about them all I wanted. During editing, you want to embrace your doubts and insecurities, because they’re probably based in sound instinct if you have any sense for how your book ought to be written.

In the end, I’ve learned not to worry what people will think of my writing, while at the same time keeping in mind the importance of respecting the expectations readers have for the story (even if I don’t always fulfill them the way people would want).

Eragon was such an ambitious first novel. How did you find the motivation to keep going? Especially at such a young age?

There were plenty of times when I nearly gave up. However, I persisted for two reasons: (1) my parents were enormously supportive. And (2) I tend to be both obsessive and overly-determined. Once I start a project, I see it through to the end, no matter how hard it is. A useful trait for an author. Of course, the reason I had that determination in the first place when it came to writing is because I love stories more than anything else (besides my family). Stories have given me enormous amounts of pleasure and have enriched my life in innumerable ways. If not for the books I read growing up, I would have ended up far worse off than I am today.

What are you working on now? Any other stories on the horizon?

At the moment I’m working on a sci-fi project, but I can’t say much about it without spoiling it. However, it does have spaceships, lasers, aliens, explosions, and all sorts of other fun things.

Are we going to get to see Angela’s story soon?

Readers will certainly see more of Angela the herbalist when I write Book V in Alagaësia. However, after spending over ten years on the Inheritance Cycle, I need a break!

Do you have a favorite place where you like to write?

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