Wizards of the Coast: Thanks for doing this interview, Mr. de Bie.

Erik Scott de Bie: Oh, call me Erik. Or Lord Erik, if you like. Some call me Darth Erik, actually. But it's always Erik, except when it's not.

Wizards of the Coast: Righty. First off, how do you pronounce your name?

Erik: 'Tis Dutch: duh (like "DUH!", except a fair bit more elegant) bee (like the insect that shouldn't be able to fly and, yet, does). My paternal grandfather's family was a band of horsethieves who would descend out of the hills (hence de Bie, meaning "of/from the cleft") to steal from my paternal grandmother's family, who were related distantly to the royalty in France and the Netherlands, until a Romeo-and-Juliet-esque love affair united them . . .

Wizards of the Coast: Sounds like something that belongs in a novel.

Erik: I shall take that as a compliment.

Wizards of the Coast: 'Twas. Now then: If we wanted to get to know the "real you," how would we go about it?

Erik: Fencing a bout with me, playing a game of chess with me, and trying to survive one of my campaigns would be a start, but since those aren't necessarily feasible, let's go with information:

Some people have thought I sound British or at least foreign in some sense of the word (possibly extraterrestrial) in my online persona, but I'm all American. I was born and raised in a tiny town in California called Dixon -- a town where everyone stops for fast food on I-80 between Sacramento and San Fran if they missed either Davis or Vacaville (both of which have superior dining potential), and locals marvel at the one stoplight. Or they did, until Walmart came and brought four more stoplights. Craziness!

Anyway, because so little went on in that place, you'd be surprised if I didn't start writing fiction to pass the time before I had a car -- and played my fair share of D&D (which is to say, it consumed my free time). I originally got into fantasy through a combination of a child's love of mythology, being read Lord of the Rings by my dad at bed time, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and then-TSR's Moonshae and Icewind Dale trilogies.

My degree comes from Willamette University, a liberal arts school in Salem, Oregon, and I'm in the process of living my third decade in Seattle. As you can see, with each stage of my life I'm progressing north: first California, then Oregon, then Washington. Soon it'll be Canada, then the frozen reaches of the Arctic, wrestling dire polar bears.

Wizards of the Coast: So you have a background with the Realms, then?

Erik: In a sense, as much as any mortal can be said to have any sort of background with the wonder that is the Realms -- the heavy hitters notwithstanding (none of them being truly mortal). Of the various campaign worlds, it's my favorite to play and DM in, not to mention my favorite to read in. The Realms just seems so alive to me, and the possibilities within are endless.

Wizards of the Coast: Speaking of the possibilities in the Realms, your novel, Ghostwalker, is something uncommon in fantasy today: a revenge story. What was your motivation and inspiration for designing such a gritty, vengeance-driven tale?

Erik: Well, I was asked to select, for the Fighters series, a prestige class from a list. The list got sent to my parents' house, that being my permanent address at the time, and my dad read me the possibilities over the phone, while I took furious mental notes. I don't remember exactly what they all were, though I remember Purple Dragon knight being there (as much as chivalry and knighthood fascinate me, I didn't want my first novel to be called "Purple Dragon"). I skimmed through the list, my mind batting around some possibilities, and stopped dead on ghostwalker. I just didn't hear the rest of the possibilities.

Everything came together in that moment: my previous game experience, my dark style of writing, movies I had seen, music I was listening to at the time, and it just all happened at once. Or, well, to be precise, I conceived the story at breakneck pace over just a couple days. 'Tis a theme I have strong feelings about -- justice vs. vengeance -- and this is the perfect opportunity to explore it. And for that I needed a powerful, brutal, edge-of-your-seat revenge story. Hopefully, I got it. [wink]

Wizards of the Coast: How did you design your hero?

Erik: Well, I sat down and said to myself, "I need a hero . . . He's gotta be strong. And he's gotta be fast. And he's gotta be fresh from . . ."

Wizards of the Coast: Back on topic. [wink] Why an avenger? Why that particular sword? Why all the black?

Erik: Few motives can be as powerful -- or as blinding -- as the drive for vengeance. Except, perhaps . . . Well, I won't spoil it. [grin]

The blade Walker carries is significant not only to what he is and what his powers are, but his function in the narrative -- he breaks blades.

And black because nothing discolors it -- not rain or blood, not bile or tears.

Wizards of the Coast: Your manuscript doesn't just read like a fantasy -- there is a noticeable western element to it. Walker is the consummate "man in the black coat." Are you a big western buff?

Erik: I have enjoyed a great number of them, but I wouldn't make that claim. Revenge/"hard man" westerns are the ones I prefer, and witty and clever ones. Unforgiven, High Plains Drifter, and Tombstone would be examples of the former, Quigley, Maverick, and Brisco County Jr. (go BC!) of the latter. To my knowledge, I've never read a western novel, unless King's Dark Tower series counts.

Wizards of the Coast: What can you tell us about the characters in Ghostwalker?

Erik: Only that they all have different motives and different forces pushing them against one another. The heroes and villains (I prefer to think of them as protagonists and antagonists) all dress in shades of gray beneath the clothes they wear on the surface. Very few of them are what they seem.

Wizards of the Coast: I noticed Ghostwalker has a great many names that have the letter "Y" . . .

Erik: "Y" makes a good stand-in for "I," you know.

Wizards of the Coast: Uh . . . yes. Well. Is something significant about the names?

Erik: Oh not at all. Total coincidence. Well, except one. [wink]

Wizards of the Coast: Hmm. You're just going to be cryptic all day, eh? Very well. The Knights in Silver -- Silverymoon's young (by Realms standards) but legendary force -- get some play in Ghostwalker. If you had to put your trust in an organization to protect or avenge you, which would it be?

Erik: In the Realms, the Seven, naturally. In our world, Her Majesty's SAS, no question.

Wizards of the Coast: You seem to know your Realmslore. How was it writing in the Realms? Did you make use of the sourcebooks?

Erik: I took it as an honor. Ed of the Greenwood has created a fantasy world of such vast scope and limitless potential that I was a bit in awe to enter it. Now that I'm there, though, it's like a dream.

And the Silver Marches book was practically my bible on this one. If you're a Forgotten Realms player, you might see some rules between the lines and Realmslore behind them, filtering in, but you certainly don't have to be a gamer or a Realmsian to understand Ghostwalker. Also, I used Sword and Fist, naturally, and Complete Warrior.

Wizards of the Coast: There seem to be a great many sword fights in this novel. Do you have special grounding in swordfighting?

Erik: Not really. As hinted before, I fence (decently, at least), and I have a small collection of swords. Most of my interest in swordplay comes from my favorite fantasy authors, R.A. Salvatore chief among them. I'm a sucker for a good swordfight.

Wizards of the Coast: What other authors influence you?

Erik: In fantasy, the various authors in the Realms, Robert Jordan, Dave Duncan, David Gemmell, George R.R. Martin, and others too numerous to count. In literature as a whole, Shakespeare, Tolkien, Poe, Dostoevsky, Camus, Steinbeck, Hemingway, Lovecraft . . . As for more modern writers, John Gardner, Don DeLillo, Glen Duncan, Neil Gaiman, and Kurt Vonnegut are my top choices.

Wizards of the Coast: One thing that struck us was the cinematic style of Ghostwalker. Are you into screenwriting? Movies? Other media?

Erik: I've never written a screenplay, but I'd like to try. As for movies, definitely. My favorite movie is a tossup among Matrix, Fight Club, and Snatch. My wife will hate me for saying it, but I admire Tarantino as well: a few touches of Kill Bill make their way into Ghostwalker. If I ever catch snippets of slasher films as well, they remind me of some scenes. As for other media, I listen to a great deal of rather varied music, but I always come back to my rock roots: A Perfect Circle is my favorite band, and parts of Ghostwalker go well with some APC in the background. Except, of course, for the Rob Zombie and Metallica parts.

Wizards of the Coast: You seem to like music a great deal. Do you listen while writing?

Erik: All the time. I've been known to make playlists for each of my works, and sometimes for each of my characters. One of the characters in Ghostwalker is definitely an APC type, while another of my characters would adore Evanescence if she existed today. I also make use of soundtracks and game music, particularly epic-feeling chanting. And let's not forget Carmina Burana, whether you're writing the last battle or taking an epic pillow-fight break. [wink]

Wizards of the Coast: Does music have anything in particular to do with Ghostwalker?

Erik: It's subtle, but yes, I make extensive use of music in the novel. Other than one of the primary antagonists being a bard, song and lyric are important forces in the narrative -- for good or for ill. They deepen the connections between characters and hint at roles central to solving the mysteries imbedded in Ghostwalker. There's also formal musical imagery, as hinted by the "prelude" and "postlude" passages, and the story ends, in more ways than one, with a song.

Wizards of the Coast: Your short "The Hunting Game" (in Realms of the Dragons II) has its fair share of twists. Does Ghostwalker as well? Do any of the characters go mad? Are any of them radically different from what they seem?

Erik: You know me. [smirk]

Wizards of the Coast: Yes, that we do. [knowing smile] One of the most important parts of a story -- which often contains a twist -- is the ending. How was that to write?

Erik: In one sense, it was incredibly easy. I just asked myself, what kind of ending fits the novel? And it all just flowed out. And in another, it was very hard. My fingers ached. Wrenching and beautiful, I was going for. I guess we'll see what my readers think.

Wizards of the Coast: If you had to describe Ghostwalker in one sentence from the novel, what would it be?

Erik: In the words of one of the most important characters, "'Tis easier to destroy than to create."

Wizards of the Coast: Anything else we should know about Ghostwalker or ghostwalking in general?

Erik: It's a scary business, walking with ghosts, but it's ultimately worth it -- if you're into that kind of thing.

And if my information is correct, the upcoming novel Bloodwalk by James P. Davis also features a ghostwalker. Apparently, he had originally submitted for Ghostwalker itself, but Wizards loved his blood magus villain more and, well, so it goes. Watch for it this summer.

Wizards of the Coast: Speaking of upcoming novels, you have another Realms project coming up: The Depths of Madness. Care to drop any hints?

Erik: What do you think I am -- mad? [wink]

Only that it will be the first book in the Dungeons series, and it's tentatively set for March 2007. There's a benefit to the title, because if anyone bugs me, I can just reply, vehemently, "I'm in The Depths of Madness and can't be disturbed." Gets 'em every time.

I'm early in the writing stages and it is far too far in the future for any details, but I will say this much (without giving anything away): Depths reads like a mixture of three-parts fantasy, one-part murder mystery, a shot of thriller, and a pinch of noir. The leading characters are all new, except for one. As for the what, the where, the when, or the why -- well, those are all mysteries to be resolved within its pages.

Wizards of the Coast: You're as mysterious as your characters. Do you have other projects on your plate?

Erik: Look for a short story of mine ("The Greater Treasure") in Realms of the Elves, due out in February 2006. And be sure to make careful note of the characters. You may see some of them again.

Outside the Realms, I'm working on a sword-and-sorcery trilogy of my own (the first book of which I've been calling The Blinding Eye) and a few other, more secret projects. Check my blog for details as they come!

To learn more about this novel, check out the sample chapter.