It goes without saying that there is a lot of hidden back story to all the characters in Black City Saint; how much of that have you already planned out? How much will you probably use?

There’s quite a bit of back story for each, most of which I plan to use, if given the chance. I think each of the character’s experiences will be essential to the overall storyline.

How difficult is it to blend the character’s history into the ongoing narrative of an action-packed story?

With a character such as Nick, not difficult at all. His history is that of a soldier, a fighter, and it affects, positively I think, the action in the story.

Fetch is slowly becoming a fan favorite like Oberon from Kevin Hearne’s The Iron Druid Chronicles; does it surprise you that he has clicked with readers so much, or did you sense his appeal as you were writing?

It doesn’t surprise me. Fetch is a very appealing character. Even when I started writing him, I knew that he would be almost as complex a character as Nick himself, but with that otherworldliness and humor that rounds him out so well. At the same time, he has that dangerous edge that we’ve not seen the last of.

Any favorite character in Black City Saint? If so, who and why?

Besides Fetch? Nick and the dragon. I put them together because of their situation. The dynamic between them fascinates me. They are by no means friends, not even good allies. There has always been that dangerous gulf between them of which Nick must always remain wary. The dragon is a danger that means that the pair will always be dueling on some level.





As a writer who has played in other people’s worlds (Warcraft, Diablo, Dragonlance) and created your own (Dragonrealm), which is more satisfying? Why?

Well, I would have to say that playing in my own worlds is more satisfying, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy playing in other people’s words a lot. With my own creations, I can take the paths I want, whereas even if given a lot of leeway, I still have to remain true to what someone else has created. That’s perfectly fine, of course, but there’s nothing like expanding your own work.

When you are writing, how do you keep all the little details straight about a world, remain consistent to past stories, yet still find a way to surprise fans who want to be amazed yet are also looking for one little inconsistency to pounce on you about? Has a reader ever nailed you on a small mistake you overlooked?

I try to keep a lot of notes nearby, but, yes, things will slip through. This happens with either my own world or someone else’s. In the latter, even those who created the world will often miss elements. We do try to catch everything, but no one is perfect. We have been caught. That’s different, though, from having to adjust or even change something due to necessary advances in that world’s storyline (this especially in something as massive as Warcraft has become).

How many writing projects do you juggle at one time? Do you ever catch yourself accidentally using ideas from one story in another without meaning to do so?

Several is the best answer I can give. For the most part, I’ve kept things separated.

What projects should your fans look forward to in the near future?

More Dragonrealm, some Pathfinder . . . things I can’t mention yet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard A. Knaak is the New York Times- and USA Today-bestselling author of The Legend of Huma, WoW: Wolfheart, and nearly fifty other novels and numerous short stories, including works in such series as Warcraft, Diablo, Dragonlance, Age of Conan, and his own Dragonrealm. He has scripted a number of Warcraft manga with Tokyopop, such as the top-selling Sunwell trilogy, and has also written background material for games.

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