Andy from barnesandnoble.com: Thank you for joining us this evening, Terry Goodkind, to chat about the monumental anthology, Legends. Before we begin, how are you this evening?

TG: Terrific, and I'm glad everyone could be here.

Katarina from Italy: Where did you go to school? Why did you become a writer?

TG: I went to school in Omaha, Nebraska, where I grew up. I became a writer because I've always had characters in my head who were telling me their stories, and to me it was the most noble and engrossing thing I could ever aspire to do.

Mike from Jamestown, OH: Not really a question Mr. Goodkind, more of a brief comment. I have been reading since I was 14, I am now 29, anyway yours are by far the best epics I have ever read, and my library is quite extencive. I read the first, W F R, while my wife and I were on vacation and had to run out and buy the rest. My wife is also a great fan, she says hello. I started my 56 year-old mother on W F R, and she is now hooked. Thanks for the great entertainment, and keep it up. I am looking forward to the next novel. Mike

TG: Thanks, Mike -- the check is in the mail. Seriously, I really appreciate the interest of readers and the way they have spread their enthusiasm to their friends and family.

Brian Hayes from Boston, MA: First I would like to say thank you for writing your stories so that I had the chance to read them. They have brought many long hours of enjoyment, and were a complete thrill to read (more than once). My question is how long till we are graced with your next volume in the Sword of Truth Series, and have you decided on a title as of yet? If this is a little strait forward, I am sorry, but I think I am not alone in wondering about the answers to those two questions :)

TG: Excellent question, and here is the answer: The next book is called Soul of the Fire. It will be coming out sometime in early 1999. It was slowed down because I took time out to write the short novel for Legends.

Ash Eldritch from London, England: The Sword of Truth books have strong philosophical elements in them (such as the wizard's rules)... Is this a concious effort to convey your philosophies and insights to your readers?

TG: That's a somewhat difficult question to answer. To an extent, I have to restrain myself because nobody likes to be preached to, but on the other hand, a writer can only write from his own base of knowledge and morality, and I have a strong belief that readers like myself want to read about people who are real, and have flaws, yet to whom they can look up to. So, yes, to a certain extent they reflect my own philosophy, and they also reflect my own aspirations of what I would like to live up to.

Andrew Datkun from Bay Shore, New York: Mr. Goodkind. Is Debt of Bones going to be released on its own or maybe with an upcoming Sword of Truth novel?

TG: Tor has expressed interest in perhaps, at some point, releasing it on its own. But there are no plans at present to do that. For now, it's a part of Legends, and I'm honored to be in the company of such terrific other stories.

Greg from Calgary: Me and all my friends read all your book. We are having a debate on how Kahlan's name is pronounced. Is it pronounced Kah-lan or Ka-len or are we all wrong????

TG: First of all, let me say that it's my belief that when a reader has the book, it's they're experience, and I don't don't like to criticise the way they enjoy that experience. So, I don't mind how readers pronounce the names. However, I pronounce Kahlan's name "Kay'-len", and if I was going to be finicky about any name, that would be it.

Elizabeth from New Jersey: How Much research is involved in writing your books?Do you feel it's harder writing about thing you have not lived?

TG: For certain things, I've had to do a lot of research, because I don't want to be inaccurate about real things. As far as the human emotions are involved, I've been doing that research for fifty years.

Cheryl from Illinois: My husband can't be here but asked me to relay his question. He has read all you books and loves them. The one thing he would like to know is what influence did Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series have on your Richard Rahl series? Thanks so much for the great books Regards, Cheryl

TG: Zero influence, I don't read other fantasy. That said, you must understand that these kinds of stories, in other words fantasy, involve some of the deepest, deepest myths of mankind that are common to all peoples throughout all time. So, just like the fear of the dark, there will be common elements with other writers who are also touching that deep inner myth.

Hank Thomas from Little Rock, AR: Do you know how long your fantasy series will run? Do you have ideas for a series to follow up the Sword of Truth?

TG: I don't have a specific number of books I plan to write, because I'm having so much fun exploring different areas, that for now I want to keep doing it. And in order not to make that wearing on readers or on me, each book has its own conclusion. I feel that because of that, it's I can allow myself to leave it open-ended for right now. As far as future series', I devote my entire thought process to the book I'm working on, and I don't worry about what will happen in the future, because I don't want that to influence what I'm doing now.

Cindy from Red Oak: Trying to catch up on your books by taking paperback copies to work. Picked up my copy of Legends Saturday, can't wait to read it! When do you think you will be back in the mid-west for another book signing or just a visit? Please tell J. G. hi from all of us, and tell her to get hooked up to internet so we can talk!! Love, Cindy R.

TG: Well, Cindy R., hi to everybody. I have lots of writing to do, not only this book but the next one, so I don't know yet when I'll be back to the mid-west to sign books.

Jordan from West Virginia: Hi, Terry. I'm curious to know how this book came together. Were you planning on writing this short novel anyway, or did you write it for the collection? Thanks...

TG: It came together out of panic, because they invited me to do this, and I knew I wanted to contribute a story, and then after I said yes, I thought, "Uh oh, now I have to decide what to write about." Had it not been for the opportunity, I wouldn't have taken time away from the series to write a short novel like this. I've never written anything this short before. If I'd have had more time, I could have made it even shorter.

Andy from Columbia, MO: I heard that you built your own home... How cool! Could you tell us about it?

TG: Since I had my own ideas about things, it was easier for me to build it than explain it to anyone else. Basically, it's a super-insulated house, the walls are 12 inches thick, and since I was a cabinet maker, all the finish work inside is extremely detailed, the kind of things that it's too expensive to hire someone else to do. Things like kitchen cabinets made entirely out of Corian. And the living room is made out of frame and panel white oak.

Brad Howsen from Syracuse, IN: Can you tell us anything about the new Sword of Truth novel?

TG: No. I don't tell anyone what I'm writing about, because it takes some of the excitement and fire out of the writing process. This is a source of great aggravation to people close to me.

Debra White from Maine: Did you base any of your character's personalities on real people? Have you ever tried to put yourself into one of your stories? If so, what book or story?

TG: I can only write based on people I know, so the characters have little elements of people I know -- this is only natural, and since we know ourselves better than anyone else, I think that it's unavoidable that all the characters, good or bad, have elements of myself in them. With the bad people, these are elements that I would hope to correct within myself, and with the good people, it would be characteristics I would hope to live up to. But I didn't base the characters on anyone I know, and I'm not anyone specific in the books. With one exception, and that's the character of Chase, who has chunks borrowed from what I know quite well...the better chunks, I might add.

Alex from Vacaville: Sir I love the Sword of Truth books. And especially the Villains... so I was wondering, will Richard face the Sisters of the Dark in the upcomming books again? And will he have there be any more conflict with the Keeper?

TG: Nice try, but I don't reveal what will be. But I think I can safely say that with those sorts of dangers running free, the possibility of conflict would have to be high.

Cindy R from Red Oak IA: Hi Terry!! I would like to know who your favorite character is and why? Which character is the most difficult for you to write about and why is that character so complex?

TG: It's difficult to say who's my favorite, because just like children, you'd like to say you love them all. But, it sometimes is emotionally difficult to write from inside the head of very nasty people, because you have to live the evil emotions that these people have, and justify within themselves their violence.

Alyssa from Maryland: Were you surprised when your books became so highly recognized?

TG: I suppose that at a certain level, it was a delightful surprise, but that's not the way I approach anything that I do in life. Basically, I visualize the success of things, and I fully expect that success to happen. So, although it sounds egotistical, I don't mean it that way, but I expected the book to be a success.

Nancy Evans from Tulsa, OK: Hi Mr. Goodkind. You're such a wonderful writer. How did you get started?

TG:Well, I was born, and then... That's a very hard question to answer because there are so many facets to it. On one level, I've always had characters in my head telling me their stories. And another level, I've always wanted to be a writer -- it was always my most sacred dream. Sacred dreams are dangerous things, because once they are lost, it's a very significant loss to you. So, I was always reluctant to damage that sacred dream by actually trying to make it come true. But a point in my life came when I decided the time had finally come, and I let Kahlan and Richard tell me their story, and then I sat down and wrote it. And that was Wizard's First Rule. So, while in a way I didn't start writing until I wrote Wizard's First Rule, in another way I've been writing ever since I can remember.

Patty from North Carolina: Mr. Goodkind, this isn't so much a question as it is a thank you. Coming from an Irish/Cherokee background, the art of storytelling is of great value. I would simply like to take this opportunity to thank you and express my appreciation for the extraordinary talent you possess. :)

TG: Thank you, Patty, that sentiment means a lot to me.

C Alfredo from Dallas TX: In Legends why did you choose to write about Zed? I like Zed and look forward to reading about him.

TG: It's not so much about Zed as it is about a young woman named Abby. But I have to say that Zed is always really fun to write about. He's almost like dessert.

Angela Perlin from Windsor, Ontario: I enjoy your books very much. As do my mother and brother. I would like to know where you came up with the idea of the Mord Sith?

TG: I was writing Wizard's First Rule, and Denna put her boot on the back of Richard's neck, and smiled that wicked grin of hers, and I thought to myself, oh boy, we are in some trouble now. She just showed up on her own. I fear to think where she came from.

Steve from Utah: Mr. Goodkind: When you began researching and writing the Wizards First Rule, were you working full time and if so how and when did you make time to create such a fantastic world?

TG: Basically, I took time off to write Wizard's First Rule. I did a little cabinet making and art work while I was writing it, but mostly I just worked on Wizard's First Rule.

Alan Jones from West Palm Beach: How did you come up with your intricate magic? What was your inspiration behind the Temple of the Winds? That book rocked!!!!!!!!!!!

TG: Thank you very much. I don't build worlds, I tell the story of characters, and the characters bring the experience of their world with them. To a large extent, it's difficult for me to answer completely questions like this because to a large extent, I don't know how I do what I do. I just sit down, and I'm writing every day for ten or twelve hours, and I'm completely engrossed in that world, seven days a week, and somehow it all comes out.

Andy from barnesandnoble.com: Mr. Goodkind, thank you so much for joining us this evening for our online chat. I know I can't wait for Soul of the Fire to be published. Do you have any closing comments for your online audience?

TG: I'd like to thank everyone who came, and I'd like to thank everyone for their gracious comments. They all are appreciated. Now, I will go back to writing Soul of the Fire, and I have to tell everyone I'm having a terrifically good time doing it. And just for the fun of it, since you all came, I'll tell you the first line of Soul of the Fire. The first line of Soul of the Fire IS: "'I wonder what's bothering the chickens,' Richard said." I hope everybody enjoys the story in Legends; I was honored to contribute it. Thanks, and I'll talk to you again.