Author Peter Gribble—writer, educator, and lifelong student of history—whose work explores knowledge, power, and the human condition. His fantasy series, The City of the Magicians, envisions a civilization where intellect and telepathic strategy replace warfare, revealing the fine line between strength and vulnerability. Shaped by his childhood in postwar France, Gribble’s storytelling confronts the dangers of complacency and the clash of pacifism and power. Beyond fiction, he has written for NUVO and spent over a decade as a gardening columnist.
Q. What makes your book a must-read?
It’s a story where the protagonists struggle between non-violence versus potential destruction; integrity versus compromise; openness versus secrecy and lies – situations we have all faced in one form or another.
Q. If you could give your book to one world leader, who would it be and why?
Barack Obama because he faced similar struggles.
Q. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Very little of it was hard. It was certainly a long time writing but my patience and fascination with the daily process was a sustained, creative intrigue.
Q. Do you sing in the shower?
Occasional songs without words.
Q. One word that best describes you.
Kind.
Q. Any ritual like a specific scented candle, preferred writing place, or drink that you kept through writing?
A consistent morning routine: wake, feed the cat, half hour of exercises, shower, breakfast and finally coffee in that order before I sit down at the dining room table to write for five to eight hours.
Q. If there is a movie adaptation of your book, who do you think would be perfect for the lead roles?
Timotheé Chalamet as Sas, Mikey Madison as Lalya, Steven McKinley Henderson as Shoan, Cate Blanchett as Lady Somaladea and Chris Hemsworth as Purdu.
Q. What can this teach to a motivated and mission-driven population of writers?
The habits of consistency and patience plus an exploratory openness and curiosity with the creative process.
Q. If you were given a one-minute ad slot during the Super Bowl, what would you fill it with?
The movie promo of Threat starring the above-mentioned actors.
Rapid-fire questions?
- The city or the country?
The country to inhale the fresh air and buy fresh produce then back to the city to cook, serve and eat the subsequent meal.
- Baking or Cooking?
Depends on what’s in the cupboard, the fridge and how hungry people are.
- Reading a book or watching a movie?
I’ll read the book first before watching the movie made from it.
- Holding a Puppy or Holding a Baby?
Both have their pleasures but eventually the puppy will need to go for a walk and the baby will be asking for the keys to the car.
- invisibility cloak or sparkling skin?
The invisibility cloak will protect you from the onset of snow blindness caused by the sparkling skin.
- Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon and cocktails in the evening.
- Dinosaurs or princesses?
An exciting adventure awaits in the rescue of a princess from a dinosaur unless the dinosaur happens to be her childhood pet.
- Laptop or phone?
Laptop because that’s where the City of the Magicians fantasy series continues to emerge from.
- Mountain or Beach?
The beach for its pleasure; the mountains for its atmosphere.
- Having a dog or having a cat?
A cat permits you to write your fantasy series . . . at least between meals, while the dog demands that you take a break and take him for a walk. Both permissions and demands are necessary.
Find more on author Peter Gribble here.
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