Trudi Canavan
Thief's Magic is the first book of a fantasy trilogy called Millennium's Rule, set in a new universe to the books I've written before. The story is set in two worlds, one in which an industrial revolution is powered by magic, the other where using magic is forbidden except for priests. It centres around two characters: Tyen, an archaeology student who discovers a treasure he suspects his tutors will want to destroy, and Rielle, a young artist from a wealthy family who must choose between love and duty.
Please tell us about the characters of Tyen and Rielle.
Both are young and have much to discover about their world, and those beyond. Tyen is inventive and clever, but too easily led astray by his friends. Rielle's ambitions are both more humble than her parents, who want to marry her into one of the older, more respected families of their city, and would rather pursue her passion for art. I gave given equal weight and time to these characters, so that the story could not be said to be dominated by a male or female protagonist, and it has been interesting to see which one reviewers and readers have gravitated toward.
What drew you to the fantasy genre as a writer?
Magic! I have always been fascinated by the supernatural elements in stories, whether fairy tales, myths, film or literature. Not just for the pure thrill of imagining what it would be like to do things that are impossible, but to explore how societies might develop because of it.
If you could have a magic power what would it be?
Healing. Obviously it would be wonderful to be able to heal yourself and others, but logically it might even mean you could live a very long time.
Your first published story received an Aurelias Award for Best Fantasy Short Story, so how did that make you feel?
Astonished and then relieved. It was my first short story and the first writing of mine that had been published, and it reassured me that I could string words together in a vaguely pleasing fashion.
Who are your favourite authors in the genre?
Too many to list here! Currently my favourites are N. K Jemisin and Kate Elliot, but they are at the fresh end of a long list including J. R. R. Tolkien, Ursula leGuin, Guy Gavriel Kay, Robin Hobb, Jennifer Fallon, Alison Goodman and Juliet Marillier.
Your Black Magician Trilogy was a bestseller, so what can you tell us about these books?
Once again, my ideas for this series came out of imagining how magic might affect a society. In this case, if magic could only be learned then the teachers would be the most powerful people. Eventually they would become the highest class, and that would be strengthened by them only choosing to teach youngsters from their ranks. So, of course, what would happen if someone in the lowest class should develop an ability naturally?
What is next for you?
I'm currently writing the second book of Millennium's Rule, Angel of Storms. The third and final, Successor's Son will come after then, if enough ideas have come to me by then, I might write another sequel to the Black Magician Trilogy. Or perhaps slip in a collection of short fiction between trilogies.