Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Triumph of the Wizard and the rest of the trilogy with Chad Corrie!With the publication of Triumph of the Wizard King you complete an entire trilogy. What’s that like from your perspective?
It’s actually pretty nice. From a writing perspective it’s great to finally see the entire series off into the wild, as it were. It also brings a sense of new energy to my current creative efforts as having more space opened up by the release affords more time to finish other projects and ideas I’d otherwise have to place on the back burner.
Did you learn anything from the process in general as you brought things to completion?
I’m of the mind you can always learn something from the process, even if you’ve done it multiple times before. This time around, however, I got to learn and see first hand how alternative options are possible for getting the word out when the previously standard channels were made temporarily unavailable. It was also interesting to see and learn how to better build upon the first book’s release and learn how to make that work better with the second and now third book in the series.
And speaking of the third book in the series, what do folks have to look forward to in the final installment with Triumph of the Wizard King?
A finished story, for one; answers to some mysteries and behind the scenes things that have been going on in books one and two as well. And then there are the big fights and final confrontations that bring everything to a completion in some form or fashion. Obviously, I can’t give too much away, but it’s a pretty big story in several ways, and reaches even beyond the world and into various cosmic realms for that final resolution.
The series has had a rather unique release schedule and then its own set of challenges this last year and a half with the shutdowns and such. Has that affected the story or production of the series in anyway?
Outside of timing for releases, the story itself has remained unchanged. The benefit going into this process was having the entirely of the trilogy written from the beginning. So all that needed doing was some editing and layout work, which greatly freed up my time and let me focus more on other things with the production process, allowing for additional flexibility when called for.
I don’t think I’d want to try and do a release this fast if the story wasn’t finished. It’s a pretty involved process in places with book production. If you add in the work-at-home issues and the delays in various parts of the process in times past, which made it difficult in patches to keep things moving as smoothly as everyone I know wanted it to run, I don’t think it would be as productive let alone as enjoyable. But having a truncated list of work needing completion helped us leapfrog some things and get and keep us more or less on track for regular production.
The one boon you can say that came out of all this is I’ve been able to more or less remain in a state of near constant promotion for the series since Return of the Wizard King was released last year. I’ve been able to get out there in some form of book tour or promotional effort and then do some things online, working with Dark Horse and Recorded Books to further amplify the news. And just about when that’s run its course I have enough time to catch a short breather before getting back into all over again.
As you mentioned, you've done some various forms of promotion for the other two books in the series, assuming you’re doing the same with Triumph, what do you have in the works?
The goal is to have some actual book signings again. Up until now we’ve been able to get stock signings and some virtual things in place but the goal is to really get back to book signings. And the way things have been moving thus far—at least where I’m at in Minnesota—make it a pretty safe assumption we’re going to be able to do them this fall. So book signings are the main focus but there will still be stock signings and hopefully an actual event or convention again in the mix. You’ll have to check out my social media and website for more information/updates on that (@creatorchad | chadcorrie.com).
Now that the trilogy is getting wrapped up with Triumph of the Wizard King’s release, is there anything else you have in the works?
I’m always writing and creating, so there’s always something in the works. I can say there is a new graphic novel I’m working on with Dark Horse for 2022, but can’t say too much about that right now. And then there are a few new stories and tales and even series—both comic/graphic novel and prose—I’m seeking publishers for as well. So plenty to keep me busy and readers stocked with fresh titles once they find their way onto store shelves.
While I’m unable to give away too much in the way of titles and story information at this time, folks can always follow me online and/or subscribe to my newsletter for updates.
Thanks, Chad! Triumph of Wizard King publishes August 31, 2021. The two current titles: Return of the Wizard King and Trial of the Wizard King, are available wherever books are sold.