On the eve of the release of his new novel, AS THE SPARROW FLIES, I had the pleasure of speaking with author Chad Corrie about his past work, current projects, and what lies ahead.
Geek’d Out: Next year marks the fifth anniversary of your debut novel Return of the Wizard King. How have you grown over the last half decade, as both a writer and a person?
Chad Corrie: I’m just amazed it’s going to be five years as things seem so fresh still with the series. But generally speaking, since that time, I’ve learned more about writing (and editing) and become better at pacing myself through life—finding that ideal work/life balance, if you will. I’m still learning, of course, on these and many other things but some definite progress has been made.
How did the [2020] pandemic affect or shape your creative process?
Since Return of the Wizard King came out in 2020, with the rest of the series following on its heels in 2021, you could say it had a great deal of impact on the series. I wasn’t able to do any signings or traditional in-store or in-person events until the release of book three, which probably had a hand in delaying awareness of the series on some circles until recently…
As to creative process effects, it really didn’t change too much how I worked or wrote for the most part. There were some changes in how business was done—some good, some not so good—but the creative process really pretty much remains the same.
What did you want to be growing up? And why?
You know, I don’t really remember anymore. I’m sure there were some strange notions over the years growing up but most have faded like so much mist before the rising dawn. I know I was considering getting into special effects at some point—maybe some film type of work—and used to be more into art than I am today (at least the traditional types; I still do some design work for various promotional matters)—but for the longest time I just knew I wanted to create and later on write. And that has been what I’ve endeavored to do until the present.
Your last book was a graphic novel with anthropomorphic animal warriors. What was your experience like writing “Sons of Ashgard: Ill Met in Elmgard” and how did that differ from your usual style?
Graphic novels are always different than prose novels as it’s more of a team effort to create something. Prose is more solo work, with later aid provided through editors and the like. That said, I enjoy writing both.
Graphic novels tend to be faster and makes me think in different ways. For instance, I tend to write comics and graphic novels more in terms of scenes and those usually start with just blocks of dialogue that then get blocked into “shots” for the panels. So it’s really more about the characters—focusing on them and working around what they say in most cases or do in other cases.
Prose writing still has that but you have to build the scene around the characters for them to inhabit. So you’re always thinking about scenery and layout of the room, light sources, and so forth to get a scene —at least when I write—and then you have to make sure it ties into other parts of the story and aspects of the character and their actions because you can’t see them with the naked eye and have to help the reader envision things in their own mind’s eye instead.
Tell me about “As the Sparrow Flies.”
It’s the first of a new YA fantasy dystopia series called Sojourners’ Saga, that publishes this May from Dark Horse Books. Recorded Books will be publishing the audiobook.
At its heart Sojourners’ Saga is about a young wanderer who’s lost her people and decides to reluctantly join forces with another young man who just happens to be a crusading zealot beginning to question his previous fervency. In the process they’ll pit themselves against fanatical factions, apocalyptic environments, and their own internal crises of faith, as they forge a path across a dying world that ultimately leads to the greatest truth and hope each could ever envision.
Where did you get the idea for this series?
I don’t really remember any more when the official idea struck, but it was at least several years ago. I’ve been playing around with doing something different than what I’ve written before, which had been more traditional fantasy. Somehow I got to thinking something more post apocalyptic/dystopian would be a nice chance of pace.
The story constantly morphed and developed in the early planning stages and even into some of the first drafts as I wasn’t entirely sure which direction it should take. Finally, I came to understand it would be better suited as a YA title with more of a focus on the two main protagonists. After that just about everything else fell into place.
How is the series different than your other works?
Well, as I’ve said, it’s my first YA tale and is a departure from what I normally have written. This is a human-centric dystopian/apocalyptic world and really is pretty sparse on the fantastical elements. There aren’t any elves or wizards or that sort of thing, making it more grounded, and perhaps grittier. The younger protagonists are also something different as is some of how it was constructed and paced, etc., which readers will be able to discover soon enough…
What was it like writing something YA rather than adult?
In many ways it was the same. Story is still story no matter what genre it falls into. You’re always going to have a beginning, middle, and end to things. How you go about presenting said story, however, is where it takes on changes.
Having the two main protagonists be younger than most of the rest of the characters also allows for some interesting observations and interactions that might not have been possible with older characters. And as a writer that was rather interesting to explore at times—really trying to see and understand what they saw and understood at various parts of the story, etc.
What are you reading right now? Not right this minute, but when you get time?
Since I’m always working on something—world building, writing, etc.—I haven’t read as much for pleasure as I used to, usually focusing on more non-fiction topics tied to business or writing or other areas I’m seeking to explore for creating worlds, making websites, or something else I’m engaged in at the present.
That said, some recent titles I’ve been able to squeeze in are the new Calvin and Hobbes collection that came out last year, picking up some of the latest Conan comics from Marvel before they went to Titan Comics for their new editions, Blood of the Serpent by S.M. Stirling, and the two latest Dragonlance novels by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Dragons of Deceit, Dragons of Fate). Next on my TBR pile is Winter’s Song: A Hymn to the North by T.D. Mishchke, which talks about winters in the Midwest.
Which decade do you prefer: the 90s or the 80s? Or is there a decade you prefer otherwise?
While I don’t usually go back and dwell on nostalgia nor seek to get lost in the past overall, I enjoyed the less digitally-connected and more private—even laid back—nature and ways of the 80’s and then the creative innovative aspects of the 90’s. So much was coming out during that particular decade: cable, internet, cellphones, computer innovation, and the like, it was interesting to be in the midst of it and tap into the curiosity and general positive ideology that people and things were collectively heading into a brighter future.
What are your thoughts on the current situation we have with AI generators?
I don’t really have an opinion on that at the moment other than to wait and see what happens next. Part of me thinks there is more hype than substance to various claims and I’ve been around long enough to see a few fads come and go that had everyone thinking this or that would be the next big thing that would change the world only to have them fizzle out soon enough. Others just found their own level and niche and things sort of went on as they have before. So it’s a bit too early for me to tell—at least from where I’m at. Maybe in a couple more years things will be clearer and/or have faded out or moved on to something else…
What’s one action you could take today that would make your work life easier?
If I could have taken it I would have taken it already, as it’s always nice to have an easier work life. 🙂 I’m sure better time management would be in the list, though. As would limiting time with social media, which can be such a time sink in general and wants to dominate your day if you let it.
What’s the last movie or show you watched that made you think/laugh/cry?
I used to be a fairly frequent watcher of Amadeus and The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen. I’ve fallen out of the habit and perhaps should revisit it again but the movies helped in two ways. Amadeus reminded me not to be jealous of others’ talents, skills, and success—focusing on my own instead. Munchausen reminded me to stay creative and not fall into the fallacies of losing childlike wonder, joy, and possibility-thinking just because one was an “adult” or advanced to some place in their life.
Where in the world do you long to travel?
Nowhere really calls out to me. I guess I’m more of a homebody in that sense. Are there some places or locales I’d like to see at some point, perhaps, but they’re not life or death matters—at least not at the present time. But who knows, maybe in a few years I might have a new perspective.
If you were to write a book about something you know nothing about, what subject would that be?
Probably something sports related. While I have the general gist of most of the major sports I don’t really have the interest in or insight of all the finer and profound aspects of them overall. Second option would probably be something related to law enforcement. Again, a general understanding exists but that’s just the tip of a much deeper iceberg to which I remain oblivious.
What are your views on fame and celebrity culture?
I don’t really have views on the matter other than to say folks need to understand much of what we call “fame” or a “celebrity” is really more about marketing and promotion than anything else. There are plenty of folks who are wealthy, are on bestseller lists, have created/invented/done amazing things we never heard of—so it’s not about those things, per se in and of themselves, but the project(s) the person is associated with and how it is/has been marketed. The more something is pushed—the more something is known, etc. That goes for bathroom tissue to sports, to movies, etc.
What’s something from your past that you’re thankful you gave up on?
A lot of the worrying I used to do about so many meaningless things. Total waste of time, energy and life, frankly.
What fictional character would you most like to meet, and why?
I don’t really know if I’d ever like to sit down with any fictional character I’ve come across. While some have been interesting on the small and large screen or pages of a book no one has really caught my eye in that respect. But maybe I just haven’t come across the right fictional character yet, either.
You have the rare opportunity to time travel for an hour to meet your younger self. What advice or message would you pass on to your younger self?
Actually, this once was an occasional fantasy I’d entertain. Must be something that happens in life as you grow more seasoned with years. The focus and message has always been more selfish, however. I’d be looking to give myself all the material created thus far with all the information needed to get a jump start earlier in life.
This, of course, is a fallacy as in giving myself said knowledge and material I didn’t work for would actually make me weaker as a person and create a worse and more self-entitled writer/creator who most likely be would be envious of others and perhaps more petty and spiteful as deep down I’d know I didn’t really create anything, it was just handed to me. So, needless to say the fantasy was only briefly indulged as I walk through the logical next steps of said actions and realized them to be more detriment than boon.
What do you want your legacy to be?
Since I’m not dead yet, it’s hard to say. And, to be honest, I don’t tend to dwell on it much. You really can’t control how people will remember you or speak of you—no matter how carefully you seek to craft any narrative or endeavor. So I just seek to be as authentic to myself and others as I know how to be and I guess we’ll go from there…
What’s next after “As the Sparrow Flies”? You have a short story collection coming out?
Well, the next two books in the Sojourners’ Saga series will be coming out in May of 2025 and 2026. So there’s that on the horizon. The next book this year—you’re right—is a short story collection that takes us back to Tralodren but with a different time period, region of the world, and cast of characters exploring new tales and escapades. Titled, Rainier’s Legacy, it will be publishing in September. Some information has been posted on the website for those curious: www.chacorrie.com/rainierslegacy
And then there is a new graphic novel in the works based in Tralodren, some possible Wizard King Trilogy anniversary ideas in the mix, and some other things I’m not quite ready to spill the beans on just yet… It’s going to be a busy next couple of years but some fun ones too…
Chad lives in Minnesota and is currently at work finishing up the second novel in the Sojourner’s Saga. For more, check out his site at https://www.chadcorrie.com/. AS THE SPARROW FLIES is set for release in May 2024.
