More
recently, Violette Malan did the same thing to me, I think as some sort of
punishment. I don’t think I deserve it, but she strikes me as quite dangerous in her Spanish cape, so to be safe I guess I’d better
follow through.
Originally
I’d threatened to go rogue and rewrite the questions, but as it turns out I’ve
struck out only one and left it visible, so you can see which it was.
Now
I’m obligated to tag five more writers, but that’s where I will be disobedient.
Link back to me if this looks like a fun exercise; otherwise, you’re free to go
on living your life—perhaps to keep writing!
Ten Interview Questions
for the Next Big Thing
What is your working title
of your book?
I’ve
been asked not to reveal the title yet, but the previous volumes are Prince of Wolves, Master of Devils, and Queen of Thorns. If you’ve been paying
attention and read the description, you’ve got a better-than-average chance of guessing it.
Where did the idea come
from for the book?
Because
the Pathfinder Tales line is still relatively young, we’re still experimenting
with ways to attract different portions of the audience to the novels. I’ve
felt for a while that the Pathfinder gamers weren’t showing up in droves, so
I’ve been hoping for a chance to connect a novel more directly to one of
Paizo’s Adventure Paths. That chance came with the announcement of the Wrath of
the Righteous AP set in the Worldwound.
This
novel takes place at the same time as the AP, and players of that adventure
will gain a much fuller appreciation for the setting and the conflict around
the Worldwound by reading the novel. Best of all, there are absolutely no spoilers
for the novel in the AP and vice versa.
At
the same time, readers who aren’t playing the game won’t notice any difference.
It’s still a Radovan & the count novel whether or not you even know the
game exists.
What genre does your book
fall under?
All
the Radovan & the count novels are sword & sorcery adventures with a
healthy dose of humor and mayhem.
Which actors would you
choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I
recently answered this question in a Q&A at paizo.com (check out the awesome desktop wallpaper with art by Mathias Kollros), but I love giving alternate answers. Jeremy
Brett (of Sherlock Holmes) would make
a splendid Count Jeggare, while Josh Holloway (Lost’s Sawyer) would be a terrific Radovan. For younger actors, I’d
pick Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers’
Loki) and Chris Pine (the new James Kirk).
What is the one-sentence
synopsis of your book?
Radovan
and the Count go to Hell (well, the Abyss) on Earth.
Will
your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How would you describe the
Pathfinder Tales line?
One
of the coolest things about the line is that every book is different, even
moreso than in other tie-in lines. Of course part of that is because each
author is an individual, but the line editor has allowed us a broader range of
stylistic freedom than you often see in novels set in a shared world. Thus,
books like Winter Witch and Plague of Shadows are a little closer to
classical fantasy quests, while Death’s
Heretic and City of the Fallen Sky
have a more contemporary fantasy vibe.
How long did it take you
to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I’ll
let you know when I’m finished. I’ve written previous books of this length in
anywhere from two to six months. This one will have been closer to two.
What other books would you
compare this story to within your genre?
I’m
probably too close to my own work to label it with direct influences, but I’d
say the works of Leiber, Zelazny, and Asprin have all permanently altered the sword &
sorcery portion of my brain in various ways.
Who or what inspired you
to write this book?
Film
and television often inspire my novels. For this one, I didn’t have any
conscious cinematic influences, but I’ll be re-watching Band of Brothers and The
Pacific as mood pieces as I continue writing. Ultimately, however, like Queen of Thorns, the influence for this
novel comes almost entirely from the Pathfinder campaign setting and the
background of the characters we’ve seen over the past few novels, novellas, and
short stories.
What else about your book
might pique the reader's interest?
In
Master of Devils I introduced a
third, secondary POV character. This book also features a third POV character,
but one who is equal to and completely different from the boys in ability and
outlook. Those who’ve wanted to see Radovan and the count through different
eyes will have that chance in this book.
