Interviews

An Interview with Margaret Weis

Paul Goat Allen: How thrilling was it to be approached by Tor, arguably the biggest fish in the fantasy publishing pond, and asked to create and develop a new series?

Margaret Weis: It was such a shock that it took a while for it to sink in. I remember being very calm and businesslike on the phone, talking to the editor. When the call finished, the thought came to me, I'm doing a series for Tor! Wow! Tor! And I started calling my friends, shouting into the phone, "I'm doing a series for Tor!" It was fantastic.

PGA: Who came up with the concept of Dragonvald, a world of humans that is secretly ruled and manipulated by godlike dragons? Was it originally Tor's concept or yours? And how is this realm distinct from others you've worked in?

MW: My editor at Tor came up with the idea of a parliament of dragons. I thought that was very cool. The rest of the world and how it worked evolved from there. This realm is different from others I've worked with because it deals with only humans. No elves, dwarves, etc. It is fantastic, but the fantasy element creeps in slowly. There is a much more real-world feel.

PGA: While reading Mistress of Dragons, I couldn't help but think of the story line as a multilevel game of chess. While Draconas and King Edward are searching for a way into Seth, Draconas thinks: "You are neither child nor fool, Edward. You are a pawn. A small and insignificant piece in a very large game." So Edward is a pawn to Draconas, who in turn is a pawn to the Parliament of Dragons. How difficult was it to formulate this multilayered story, and how did it differ from writing other novels?

MW: I really enjoy writing multilevel stories. Life itself is multilevel, and I try to make my stories reflective of real life, so that those reading them can say to themselves, I understand! I've been there myself! As to formulating the story, it began to take on a life of its own, which is very exciting. I gave it direction, but then something happened that I didn't expect but which turned out to be perfectly logical, as if I'd been thinking of it all along. Which maybe I was, subconsciously.

PGA: I've read in a recent interview that you once wrote a novel in 48 hours (with Dragon magazine editor Roger Moore, under the pseudonym Susan Lawson)! I was impressed by Ray Bradbury finishing Fahrenheit 451 in 10 days, but 48 hours must be some kind of record! How long did it take you to write Mistress of Dragons?

MW: We had fun with that 48-hour novel, which neither of us wanted to take credit for. That's why we invented poor Susan (who is now working as a topless dancer in New Orleans!). Mistress took about nine months. I not only needed to invent an entirely new world, with all that entails (including laws of magic), but I wanted to really take my time with this book and craft it as carefully as I could.

PGA: Of the more than 50 novels you've written, which ones are you most proud of, and why?

MW: Ah, that's like asking a mother which child she loves best! I like all of them for different reasons. And of course my favorite is the one I'm currently working on, which is the sequel to Mistress of Dragons.

PGA: While Mistress of Dragons was a supremely entertaining fantasy (I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting), the explosive cliff-hanger of sorts at the conclusion sets the stage for what should be a great series. Please, can you give me a hint as to what will transpire in the second book in this series? Is there as tentative title and publication date for the second book?

MW: Thank you! The second book is The Dragon's Son, and you'll have to check with Tor as to the pub date. The third book is called The Master of Dragons. As to a hint about the second book, I think you can guess that from the title!