46 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine ARTS, MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT TERRENCE D. BROOKS AUTHOR Bonney Lake, WA Terrence D. Brooks is an award-winning fantasy writer who has published more than 50 books as Terry Brooks, including the bestselling “The Sword of Shannara” and “The Word and the Void” series. A voracious reader whose passion for storytelling was encouraged from a young age, Mr. Brooks began writing as a child and was first published in the Illinois Historical Journal at age 13. He found support for his creative pursuits in his teachers, whom he cites as an inspiration and a key factor in cementing his lifelong love of language. He went on to study at Hamilton College, earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1966. While he did not find the same level of encouragement for his passion at the post-secondary level, Mr. Brooks remained dedicated to his craft and continued to write as he pursued other professional avenues. In 1969, Mr. Brooks earned a JD from Washington and Lee University and began a 17-year career as an attorney. Though he recognized early in his legal studies that he lacked enthusiasm for the field, he remained on his path with his parents’ encouragement and turned his focus to his writing practice to balance the demands of his work. During this time, he began work on his first book, the bestselling Tolkien-inspired epic “The Sword of Shannara.” After seven years of work and revisions, the book was published in 1977 and kicked off a 40-year career that cemented him as a major voice in modern fantasy literature. With the guidance of editor Lester Del Rey, Mr. Brooks wrote the sequels “The Elfstones of Shannara” and “The Wishsong of Shannara,” both of which also became bestsellers.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ5NDA2