Willowhugger wrote:1. So can you describe your relationship with the publishers?
In what way? That could be a very awkward question, depending on what you actually mean.
I never met them in the flesh or even spoke to them (living as I do on the other side of the world), but we seemed to have a good working relationship. They offered to write me a reference once, so it can't have been all bad.
2. What is your favorite work done for the line? Why?
I am relentlessly self-critical, so it would be a lot easier to ask what I like least about what I've done. For those who care, it's the Necropolis gazetteer. I'm really not happy with the way that came out, which I think is partly due to having such a small word count to work in.
Of my Kargatane stuff, I think Mictlan is my favourite.
Of my printed, writing-drone stuff, I like Noises in the Night, although it was almost pure agony to write. It was nice that it was so well received.
Of the work where I had a little more control, the design of VRGttWalking Dead was good, even if it didn't come out exactly as I'd planned.
Of everything I've ever written ever, my most favourite scene out of everything is in VRGttWD, where one of the twins is grabbed from behind by a Restless Dead (I think), which smells her hair and then runs off. I am truly proud of the perversity and violation in that otherwise harmless encounter.
3. What are your regrets about not doing? Having been able to do? Why?
I think it is a real pity that the gazetteers were never completed, since Our Hero had all sorts of exciting adventures ahead of her (I was particularly looking forward to Blaustein, which is the highlight of her story for me). But considering that after the Great Falling Out, the gazetteer writers weren't even really aware of the metaplot, I'm not sure it would have lied up to my expectations.
That is where I have real issues with the way things were handled. The Gazetteers had the potential to be the real flagship of the series, and they were, at times, poorly handled. Our Hero is completely different in character in Mordent, for example, and everyone should have known theb metaplot. These are unforgivable errors.
Another regret is the Great Falling Out. It was a bad thing, and it put me in an awkward position (loyalty to my friends vs. desire for Ravenloft). I think Ravenloft would have benefited overall if the Kargatane had stayed, even though they wouldn't have with the way things were.
Another product I kept desperately trying to pitch but never got done was Lands of Nightmare, a uide to the pocket domains of Ravenloft as seen through the eyes of Dr Illhousen wandering around the Nightmare Lands looking into people's dreams.
Long time/observant readers will also have noticed I'm mad about Doctor Who. A more general regret is that the BBC's slush pile closed before they accepted my Doctor Who novel. I know no one here actually cares, but I really wish that had gone ahead.
alhoon wrote:4: If you had the chance to continue writting for Ravenloft would you do so for WotC if they asked you?
Of course.
5: If nothing has happened and things progressed normaly what would you prefer to work on? Gaz 6 - 10? VRA II?
Lands of Nightmare, as I said.
The Gazetteers. I had already planned out Gaz VI and what I was going to do with it.
VRAII doesn't really appeal to me.
I'm not sure. I'll think about that and get back to you.
6: Would you spend a bit of your free time and creativity to write up a few things for Ravenloft unofficially (like mr Mangrum's Horsemen, the Shadow of the Knife adventure etc)? Please answer YES to this one! I loved your work (Your's and the rest of the Kargatane).
Thank you. I've enjoyed writing them (except Noises in the Night, which was like pulling teeth).
My upcoming projects include a PhD in biochemistry, a book of evolutionary biology and (fingers crossed) my Doctor Who novel. At some point, I would like to run some adventures for my friends. I'd also like to work on my writing abilities, since I'm still quite convinced they're lacking. In the gaps between these, I'll try to write something for you. How's that?
But it's amazing how staring at DNA and protein samples all day can suck the creativity out of you.