Max Moyer, author of ’Zodak - The Last Shielder’ - Fantasy author talks world-building, stopping for 18 years, and why you don’t need to be completely original

One of the most frequent requests to writersroutine.com is for fantasy authors. World builders. Authors with the ability to take you on an adventure across times, dimensions and brand new maps.

This week's guest, Max Moyer, has figured a way to do that. His new book 'Zodak - The Last Shielder', is the first in a new series, 'Tempest Rising'. There is a prequel novella already out, 'Throne Born', and this properly sets up a new world that's been in Max's head for 30 years. It started as an idea for a board-game and fantasy series with his brother, yet when life got in the way, Max left it untouched for 18 years. Now, alongside his sibling, he's created a brand new world with new lands, strange magic, and unusual creatures.

We get right into the detail of world-building - how to get the specifics right, how to create lands, magic, even accents. You can hear whether the plot comes before the world and how organic the world is created. We discuss whether it provides an easy get-out for a character in danger, and why he went back to his idea after 18 years away.

Max runs a law-firm and has helped raise a big family, you can hear how he's created time to do this, and what big plans he has for the series.

This week's episode is sponsored by 'Who is the Cheese Wire Killer?', a brand new podcast series you can binge now.

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