Interview with Scott Lynch

Q: After being extremely active on various message boards, your interaction with fans ceased late last fall. Was there a reason why you "disappeared" like that?

I did slow down last fall, and more or less submerged for these past few months. I have decided that periodic cooldowns from heavy 'net use are a wise idea. I greatly enjoy surfing message boards and trying to be in as many places as I can be, yet... I am not a public commodity. People do not need to worry if I go quiet for a while. My job is to slowly induce carpal tunnel syndrome by writing books. When I go quiet, I am content to read journals and messageboards to keep tabs on folks I care about, and tend to respond on them very lightly.

I have gregarious periods and I have reclusive periods. A gregarious period is about to burst out; the urge to be sociable is bugging me the same way the urge for privacy was bugging me a few months ago. So it goes.

These past months, I've also had a ton of stuff to do... a pile of books to finish reading, a novel to finish, a novel to start, several short stories for various people, and I've spent a lot of private time with my wife. Our shared hobbies are important to us and we've devoted some time to rekindling some of them.

I am always flattered and flabbergasted by the attention people pay to my work online. Occasionally decompressing from heavy interaction is my way of avoiding screeching grumpiness, because I am really insufferable when I'm in a mood.

Q: Will you be touring during the course of the summer to promote Red Seas under Red Skies? If so, are there any specific dates that have been confirmed as of yet?

No, nothing resembling a tour. I will be doing at least one event in the Twin Cities, and I will be at the World Fantasy Convention, in the comfortable role of Wide-Eyed Starstruck Neophyte once again. Next year I hope to Get Out And Do Stuff, but details will have to be forthcoming.

Q: Cover art has become a very hot topic of late. What are your thoughts pertaining to that facet of a novel, and what do you think of the various covers that have graced your books? Do you know why Bantam decided to go with different covers? Do you have a personal favorite?

Bantam changes things, when they change them, because of their experience with what works or doesn't work in the US market. Ultimately, I've got to trust that each editorial and marketing staff knows best for a given sales area. After all, they're certainly not out to *decrease* sales, if possible.

This is all very easy for me to say, of course, because nobody has yet come back to me with something truly, utterly ghastly for a proposed cover. You do see it, from time to time... utterly magnificent novels with covers that had to have been designed by chimps on drugs... but I've ducked that so far.

Tough as it is to pick a favorite, I'd have to go with Bragelonne's French covers for TLOLL and RSURS. They're just so damn good, and intricate, and atmospheric.

Q: Your wife was overheard saying that you've never been the same since winning the MVP Award for the author of the year in the Fantasy Hotlist Awards last December (my very own year-end awards!). What's up with that!?! No but seriously, how rewarding is it be nominated for the John W. Campbell Award?

It's neat as all hell. I honestly doubt I'll win, but I'm up against some very nice people, so I'd be okay with that.

Q: I don't mean to imply that you don't approach your craft with seriousness, but are you having as much fun writing as I think you are!?!

File this under "silly questions." ;) I have a full-time dream job and a part-time dream job. What more could I want?

Q: Anything else you wish to share with your fans?

ANAK HAK HAK DRAKKHEN. That, of course, and thanks for all your kindness over the past year.

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Interview by Patrick
fantasyhotlist.blogspot