This week’s On the Spot guest is with Paul S. Kemp, who some would say is in a small handful of Wizards of the Coast Authors that one would call elite writers. Paul, who was kind enough to speak with us, has a great interview with Medsin here at Fantasybookspot.com.
A big welcome for Paul S. Kemp, On the Spot:
Medsin – So far in the Erevis Cale Trilogy’s first two books, we have seen a lot of interesting characters (and development) and tons of twist especially in Dawn of Night. So, can you please tell the fans what can they expect from Midnight’s Mask?
Paul S. Kemp – More interesting characters and twists. 
Seriously, it’s hard to tell much without revealing spoilers, and I don’t want to do that. How about this: I think Midnight’s Mask starts out fast, right from Chapter 1 (a sample chapter is now available on the Wizards of the Coast website), and never slows down. I really felt the intense pacing as I wrote it. I hope that comes through to the readers. In the book, the Sojourner’s ambitious plans are revealed, Cale and crew are forced to explore an exotic environment, and the ending (in my opinion) is among the most intense that I’ve ever written in any book.
Medsin – Most authors of the world today are influenced by some source to take up fantasy writing. Many of which were influenced by Tolkien’s work. What influences have pushed you take up fantasy writing and how was that journey to you?
Paul S. Kemp – As an initial matter, I was drawn to the way fantasy so clearly juxtaposed Good and Evil. Fantasy did and still does offer an appealing moral certainty. Tolkien’s work did that, and Tolkien was among the first fantasy (other than mythology) that I read. Later, I came to enjoy authors who challenged that easy juxtaposition — Leiber and Moorcock come to mind. Leiber gives us a pair of heroic rakes who star in classic, sword and sorcery character dramas, while Moorcock gives us an epic featuring a dark anti-hero. These days, I think my writing shows more direct influence from Lieber, Moorcock, and their progeny than it does from Tolkien. But make no mistake: I will always be fond of Tolkien. The Battle of the Pelennor Fields, from The Return of the King is my favorite chapter from any fantasy book I’ve read.
As far as modern fantasy/sci-fi authors go, I count Michael Swanwick as among my favorites. I most enjoy authors who explore big ideas through the small lens of interesting characters. And when that gets combined with someone who writes excellent prose, it leaves me wowed.
Medsin – Reading some of your blog entrys I realized in one of your entries you hinted that there is another trilogy coming since Midnight’s Mask is not The Ending, So on that if i say that we would see the wonderful character’s from the Erevis Cale trilogy (ones that survive that is) in another trilogy? What can you tell us about it?
Paul S. Kemp – Indeed there will be a follow up trilogy to the Erevis Cale Trilogy. It will be called The Twilight War, and will feature the survivors from the first trilogy, will include some new characters, and will revolve around a “Realms Shaking Event,” which (for those not versed in Forgotten Realms lore) means an event of regional or world significance for the Forgotten Realms.
Other than that, I am positively sworn to secrecy and can say nothing else. My editor and I recently came up with the titles for both the new trilogy and each of the individual books. They are, in order, Shadowbred, Shadowstorm, and Shadowrealm.
Medsin – You are a father of wonderful twin boys, a person that has a day job, and a contract job. How do you manage to get time enough to finish writing your novels?
Paul S. Kemp – Interesting question. Since the boys have been born, everything else has taken a backseat, including writing. I still do it, still love it, but don’t feel quite the same burning desire to do it NOW, if you know what I mean.
As for how I balance all the aspects of life — family, legal career, and writing — I just treat them all with the respect they deserve and fit them in as time and circumstance allow. And when fitting them in, the following priorities apply: Family comes first, then the legal career, then writing.
I think it would be easy to treat the writing as nothing more than a hobby that pays some money, but I never do that. I take it very seriously (quite apart from the fact that I enjoy it so much). There are a host of loyal fans out there who expect nothing less than the best I can do, and that’s exactly what I demand of myself.
Medsin – Have you ever come into a loss while writing your books? ex: any writer’s block or don’t know what to do with your character…or maybe the whole set up has just got confusing and the plot and story got all mixed up…? if so, how did you get out of this problem?
Paul S. Kemp – I’ve never experienced any serious writer’s block. Likely that is because I write from very detailed outlines. Having the outline means that even if I encounter a minor hiccup within a scene or chapter, I always know where I’m going and that tends to get me past any blocks.
I’ve taken to writing my books non-sequentially too, so if something doesn’t come to me for a particular scene or chapter, I go on to something else and return later. In truth, I’ve come to really enjoy writing the books out of order. Not sure why. Something to do with a disordered mind, no doubt.
Medsin – Have you ever considered writing in a different realm other than the forgotten realms (i.e.: Eberron, your own, Corona, etc)… and Why did you choose Forgotten Realms in the first place?
Paul S. Kemp – I have three works in progress, one set in a fantasy world of my own creation, one set in our world (though with a fantasy/horror element), and one set in the world of “City of Heroes,” which will be entitled, The Rikti War.
I didn’t so much choose the Realms as just happen upon it. Back in 2000, I submitted a writing sample to WotC. They liked it and thought my style would be a good fit for the Realms. I’ve been very lucky in that regard. I very much enjoy writing in the Realms, despite the knocks that it and shared world fiction sometimes take. The Realms is richly layered, with a detailed history, colorful personalities, etc. I’ve found it vast enough to accommodate virtually any story that I want to tell, in whatever tone I want to tell it. For some gamers and readers, that breadth (which they might term, “lack of coherence,” is a problem. For me, that’s its charm.
Medsin- We are glad to see that the companions (those who survive of course) in another book(s)….. But have you ever considered writing a book with fresh new characters? Why yes or no?
Paul S. Kemp – New characters, at least compelling new characters, are hard to create but wonderful once created. So yes, I will write books with all new characters, but for the moment, I want to give Erevis Cale his run. Fans seem to enjoy him and I enjoy writing him. So that will continue.
I would add, however, that all my books feature several new characters. Sometimes it’s just a side character or three, but I take great pride in fleshing out my side characters so that they do not appear to be just another ally/enemy for my protagonists. It has pleased me that many of my readers really enjoy those characters — Sephris the Loremaster, from Twilight Falling for example, or Azriim the villainous, but fashion conscious, slaad.
Damon- Thanks goes out to Mr. Kemp who not only has taken the time for an interview but you can also see gracing the forums here at Fantasybookspot.com. Its great when you have access to speak to an author and get their feelings on their work, as well and get to know them as a person not just an author. For many of the people that have grown up on fantasy you are one of the great authors over there at Wizards of the Coast that keep us coming back for more. In November, Mr. Kemp’s Erevis Cale Trilogy will be concluded with the release of Midnight’s Mask.
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