Author Biography

My name is Todd Howard. I read Tolkien in the summer of 1979, between the fifth and sixth grades. That was a great summer; I started growing the heart of a writer. I loved Epic Fantasy—Good versus Evil, Sacred Quests in Unholy Places, Threats to All Life as We Know It, and Magic. It was all so magical! I still find it all very enjoyable and operatic. Few people do drama better than teenagers and opera singers—and I am an opera singer.

I went to some very good schools and became Enormously Educated, primarily because university life was grand. So many subjects, so little time! Being at the country’s best opera school, why would I want to leave? World-class music every day—rehearsals, staging, language classes, and performing. That life, too, is magical.

But reality intervened for a while. The music world only really needs about five new singers a year. There were 400 voice majors at the Jacobs School of Music. I was hopeful, but the stats were against me.

I continued singing (and remain available for weddings, mitzvahs, concerts, operas, etc.), but I eventually had to get a string of soul-flaying jobs that lacked artistry but kept me housed and fed. I was a little bitter. I still had the dream of being an author, though, so I have adopted writing as the professional calling for my silvery and golden years.

My characters often face the challenge of reconciling—or surviving—religion and reality. As epic fantasy worlds are usually in the process of falling apart, however, the characters focus on trying to master magic without killing themselves, learning to use weapons, and surviving fantastical quests and archetypal evil bastards. And let’s not forget the monsters.

They are also managing love, relationships, family, and problems like racism, misogyny, homophobia, religious bigotry, and all the other creepy faces of discrimination that failed to die with the Enlightenment.

I love reader contact and invite you to follow my blog and join in the conversation. We will focus on my writing, fantasy in general, learning about readers, and supporting new writers and new books. I will be reviewing a recently released fantasy novel each month. I would love book suggestions from readers. I believe that a community of readers and writers working together can accomplish a great deal of world-building.

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Todd Howard invites you to follow his blog and join in the conversation. It will focus on his writing, fantasy in general, learning about readers, and supporting new writers and new books. Todd will be reviewing a new fantasy novel each month chosen by him or suggested by blog followers. A community of readers and writers working together can accomplish a great deal of world-building.