After growing up in a house with a dad as a book author, Ian Terry decided to follow suit.
‘It’s really cool, I didn’t expect to have my first book out when I was 19,? said the 2012 Oxford High School graduate.
Terry is the author of the self published e-Book, ‘Monster Seeker 2: Rise of the Phoenix King,? which is a sequel to his dad’s, Mark Terry, ‘Monster Seeker.?
‘I was actually the person who created the original concept (for the first book). He (my dad) just kind of adapted it into his own and he wasn’t going to write second one, so I asked if I could and he said ‘yeah,?? noted Ian. ‘I went ahead and took his world and adapted it to what was already going through my head. I used his elements and brought it new elements. I had the same characters and brought in new characters and just kind of molded it so it’s different, but the same.?
According to a press release, the books follow the adventures of Dan O’Malley, now a 14-year-old, who can see monsters. An orphan living in Detroit, he is discovered by a professor from the Monster Seeker Academy, which trains monster seekers on how to identify and fight monsters – to either recruit them to fight for good, or destroy them if necessary. In the course of his training, Daniel discovers he is the Amulet Mysterium, which may or may not provide him with special magical powers.
Ian said his love for writing not only came from inspiration of his dad as a writer, but also being a lover of books as a reader.
‘I read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi,? he said.
Influences for Monster Seeker, Ian said were J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter? series and Rick Riordan’s ‘Percy Jackson? series. He also drew influence from comic books, such as DC’s Team Titans.
‘Dan O’Malley is like Team Titan ‘Beast Boy,?? Ian added. ‘He kind of likes his powers, is kind of cocky, a goofball and gets way in over his head and it has this whole team element to it (that) you can’t do this alone.?
Ian is currently a professional writing major at Michigan State University, hoping to get into editing and publishing and he is a member of the school’s Quidditch team, which according to Wikipedia is a ‘competitive sport in the wizarding world of the’Harry Potter’universe.
Matches are played between two teams of seven players riding flying broomsticks, using four balls and six elevated ring-shaped goals, three on each side of the Quidditch pitch (field).?
Ian is also a member of the school’s ‘Telecasters? and produces a show called ‘Turn,? which he says is a ‘dark drama, sci-fi, horror.?
Besides writing and school related activities Ian enjoys Sanchin-Ryu Karate, inwhich he holds a first degree black belt. Ian said knowing Sanchin-Ryu has helped him in his writing of action and fighting scenes.
‘When it comes to action sequences or just how characters approach situations. I really have the Sanchin-Ryu mindset,? he said. ‘It’s always in the back of my mind, what is this character going to do? How would I react to this situation??
While Monster Seekers 2 has only been out for just over a month, Ian said he and his dad have already started writing the third book, which is currently untitled.
‘We were discussing how many (books) we want to do and I said an overall of five,? he said. The third book has a return of same characters and return of the same bad guy.?
Instead of just having his dad as an editor, Ian decided to have he and his dad split writing chapters for the third book.
‘He has a different voice than I do. I have him writing chapters that have a couple adults in the series,? Ian said. ‘I got him a little more involved in this one and I think he’s enjoying it a lot.?
Ian said he’s also drawn from his dad’s advice ‘to always keep writing,? so while he’s waiting for his dad to finish up the chapters he’s assigned him, Ian has started another book series entitled ‘The Forever King.?
‘It’s a brand new fantasy world and the main character is kind of a wizard and kind of not at the same time. He gets involved in this whole conspiracy theory of these two warring nations and gets caught in the middle of it,? noted Ian. ‘It draws from George R.R. Martin, J.R.R Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis, those big epic fantasy writers and their ‘made-up? worlds.?
When asked why Ian decided to self-publish through e-Books, instead of actual hardcopy books through a publishing company, he said ‘it’s the trend right now.?
‘It’s easy to do,? he said. ‘You write the book, you have it formatted, put it straight on Amazon and its readily available (and) you don’t have to go through an agent or a publisher.?
Monster Seekers 2: Rise of the Phoenix King is available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnobles.com and kobobooks.com