Interview with Tracy Hickman

- In light of the current market, are you tempted to write one of those enormous fantasy epics which continue to be the most successful series at the moment? To a certain extent, you and Margaret opened the door with the success of THE DEATH GATE CYCLE.

(LCH) Well, in our Bronze Canticles we have three books in print now – and for us that represents only a third of the story we would like to tell. We’ve always seen this complete story as a trilogy of trilogies. Ah, so many worlds and so little time!

- After producing all those bestsellers and selling millions of copies worldwide, is there added pressure when it comes to writing new series/novels, knowing that the expectations will always be high?

(TRH) No matter what you do, you will always be compared to your previous works. When Bronze Canticles came out, there were a lot of people who wanted to compare it to Dragonlance – even though they are very different worlds and very different stories basically. I don’t know if one can address audience expectations; it may be a better place to write the best story you know how on a subject that you dearly love. Bronze Canticles is a good example of that: everyone expected it to be a ‘typical trilogy’ of books – but each of these books is a self-contained and complete story with many years separating different characters in the same world. It was new and different but everyone keeps trying to hammer our square peg into their preconceived round hole. I think it better to not worry about high expectations and concentrate on making the best story and book you know how with the craft you have.

- DRAGONS OF AUTUMN TWILIGHT was first published in 1984. How does it feel to see it still in print and on bookstores' shelves after more than 20 years?

(TRH) Fabulous! It means that we are still sharing our stories with more and more people!

- Readers from the 80s hold you and a number of other authors in high esteem. But the "new" generation of fantasy readers doesn’t always consider your novels with the same regard. Admittedly, the fantasy market has changed dramatically since the emergence of writers such as Robert Jordan, Tad Williams, George R. R. Martin, Terry Goodkind, and many others. But do you feel that this "new" generation gives your books and those of Raymond E. Feist, Terry Brooks, etc, the respect they deserve? Because without such authors to pave the way, there is no Jordan, Martin, Erikson, etc.

(TRH) I didn’t know I was such a venerable old sage! (Please don’t tell my wife – she still is under the impression that I am perpetually twenty-six years old.) Truthfully, I don’t think that respect is ‘deserved’ – I think it is earned with every book, every day.

- After creating a number of fantasy universes, what part of world building do you enjoy the most?

(LCH) I love weaving the story into the society of the books. But, for Tracy, that has got to be the maps!

(TRH) I love maps. I have an eight foot cork board above my writing desk just to pin up huge maps I create on my computer for the books we write.

- In recent years, although you have continued to work together, you and Margaret have also devoted a lot of time to your personal projects. After collaborating for so many years, is that just a natural progression for you both?

(TRH) I think that times change and that we all have to change with them; relationships also grow and we have to grow with them. Change and growth are what keeps us alive – and that includes exploring new avenues of creation. Laura and I do a monthly podcast now because it’s a new direction and channel by which we can communicate with our audience. We are also exploring the idea of podiobooks.com and making our works available in new ways. Laura wants a new professional microphone of her own for Mother’s Day.

- What can you tell us of your future projects? I know there is a new Dragonlance series on the way. . .

(TRH) Yes, Margaret and I are doing the ‘Dark Chronicles’ – those parts of the original Dragonlance Chronicles which we removed for space considerations. It’s been a delight going back to that world in an age when our heroes were just ‘making their bones’ and were not so sure of themselves. The first book in that series, ‘Dragons of the Dwarven Depths’ is scheduled to be out in hardback this summer. Of course, the third book in our Bronze Canticles series by Laura and I has just come out this spring. We are now working up proposals for our next books, including a series by Laura.

(LCH) Yes, I’ve been working up a proposal for a book series as well – one that I’ve wanted to write for a long time. But we’re also exploring new things, as Tracy said. We have a podcast called ‘DragonHearth’ which is available to anyone on the internet. You can search for us online at DragonHearth or in the podcast section of iTunes ... or just visit the website at dragonhearthproductions.com to link up and listen to our voyages across the sea of possibilities. I also have a couple of podcasts of my own that I’d like to create. We will also be releasing one of Tracy’s early books in audio through podiobooks.com in the very near future. So, I guess being creative can take up a LOT of one’s time!

Many thanks again for doing this! I wish you continued success in your career, and may the release of MYSTIC EMPIRE bring even more readers into the fold.

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Interview by Patrick
fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com