FLURRIES OF WORDS (FLOW) sat down with Independent
Author and Gary Gygax (creator of Dungeons & Dragons) collaborator, Jon Creffield,
for a one on one chat about his work with Gygax, the Gygax memorial fund and his
new novel, Hell’s Door Opens. Here is what we talked about...
FLOW:
When did you work with Gary Gygax? Did you consider him a mentor? How has
his work influenced you and your work? What prompted you to be involved
in his memorial fund? Can you tell our readers a bit about its purpose
and goals?
CREFFIELD: In the late 1990s I was very lucky to get
an opportunity to start writing and creating role-playing game material with
Gary Gygax. I continued to work with him until shortly before his death in
2008. Gary was a mentor. Not just to me but to a whole host of writers and
publishers.
Collaborating on projects with him taught me so much. In particular
I noted his work ethic, Gary was a real powerhouse, he worked day in and out,
putting in long hours and never letting rejection or bad opinions put him off.
He believed in himself and what is more he believed in his cowriters.
He produced enormous amounts of material. He could
write!
Gary loved
sword and sorcery fiction. In the back of the original Dungeon Master’s guide
for the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons game Gary included a list of
inspirational fiction. That list turned me on to a whole of host of writers:
Jack Vance, Robert E. Howard, HP Lovecraft, August Derleth, Michael Moorcock,
Fritz Leiber and more. My whole approach to fantasy has been shaped by the
genre of games Gary created and by the adventure material he wrote.
Gary’s wife
Gail Gygax has set up the Gygax Memorial Fund. It aims to build a memorial
statue in one of the parks near Gary’s home in Lake Geneva Wisconsin. The fund
also aims to promote Gary’s literary legacy and to set up a scholarship in his
name. I’d like to urge your readers to visit the fund’s website at http://www.gygaxmemorialfund.com
As for why I
support the fund, in addition to being a great friend to me, a source of advice
and help whenever I needed it, Gary has had a massive and largely unrecognized
impact on popular culture. A whole host of books, films, and games have their
roots in the work he created – I do not think it is an overstatement to say that
anyone who has played a MMORPG owes a lot of their enjoyment to Gary Gygax. In
addition, so many writers, artists and filmmakers have been inspired by his
creations – sadly D&D has a ‘nerd’ reputation in certain circles and
perhaps some of those inspired by his work haven’t fully acknowledged the
impact role playing games have had on their career.
FLOW:
Did you work on Castles and Crusades? How do you feel about the current state
of D&D (Wizards of the Coast style)?
CREFFIELD: The game I worked most closely on with Gary was Legendary
Adventure, a rules light approach to role-playing. I wrote a series of adventure
supplements for that game: The Legendary Road, Dance of the Fairie Ring, Mouth
of the Marsh and They Who Watch. I worked on other Legendary Adventure projects
too, published and unpublished, including the massive Hall of Many Panes.
We
co-wrote two books for the d20 version of Dungeons and Dragons: The Slayer’s
Guide to Dragons and The Slayer’s Guide to Undead, released by Swindon based
Mongoose Publishing.
I
did not work on Castles & Crusades rules. That credit belongs to the Troll
Lords.
I
did assist Gary with a massive project to detail the City of Yggsburgh for the
Castles & Crusades game. The city was described in a hardback gaming
supplement but the intention was to further detail each sector. A whole host of writers contributed detailed
descriptions of its various districts, high and low. I was the content editor
and helped develop and marry up the texts as they were completed. That project
went on hold after Gary’s passing.
Although
I wrote two books for the 3rd Edition of Dungeons & Dragons and
I have enjoyed playing 4th Edition games, for me ‘true’ D&D is
the rules light earlier versions of the game. I’m pleased to see that WotC are
taking a big step back in that direction with D&D Next, what they’re
calling the new iteration of D&D. They are aiming to recombine D&D’s
fractured fanbase with a version of the game adaptable to different play styles
and rules so that players can enjoy it no matter which edition they prefer. The
playtest rules for D&D Next are light and flexible and lend themselves well
to a fast style of play that concentrates on what is happening outside of
combat as well as the down and dirty of man on monster fights. I like to watch
players create a story of their own in the fantasy environments I present them
with in a game, I think D&D Next is shaping up to suit that style of play.
FLOW: Adaptations to film are always difficult. What did you think of
the two D&D movies? The early 80s cartoon series? Has anything,
in your view, done a good job of capturing the true spirit of D&D on film?
CREFFIELD: If the two movies hadn’t had D&D in the title I’d
think they were okay if mediocre B grade fantasy offerings. As they were
supposed to be D&D movies they really deserved a much higher budget. They
did not do the game justice and may have contributed to the mistaken impression
some people have of D&D.
I
did not like the cartoon series. Gary would bop me on the head as he worked
very hard on it but for me it did not give the right impression of the game. With
that said, I am sure it did much to improve D&D’s reputation amongst
parents scared by all the devil worship nonsense that was going on at the time.
D&D was subjected to ridiculous accusations in some quarters.
FLOW: You've now delved into the world of Indie Authors. What's your
writing process? How do you find self-publishing? How do you reach your
audience? What are your thoughts on the current tight POV trend in
fantasy? Have you read any other indie fantasy writers?
CREFFIELD: I like to set
myself a daily writing target and then work at it until I reach that number.
So, I might say “2000 words today” and then work solidly at creating that. If
you do that day in day out you produce a solid amount of work. I sometimes use
a mental analogy of building a wall, the bricks are the words and I am a
dedicated worker putting them in place. Of course I’m not always good like
that, in fact I can be quite chaotic, when working on projects with deadlines I
have often pulled frenzied all nighters, writing like mad until the wee hours
to make up for lazy days spent despondently lurking about by my keyboard.
For
inspiration I sometimes listen to appropriate music before writing, maybe a bit
of heavy metal, or the Sisters of Mercy, or whatever seems apt to the piece I’m
creating. At other times I’ve taken my laptop down to the park and worked
there. It is a nice way to write.
Back
when I smoked I’d hammer away for 20-25 minutes then make a coffee and have a
fag break, pacing backwards and forwards while I smoked and thinking about what
I’d write next. I don’t smoke anymore although just writing that has made me
feel wistful for my unhealthy but somehow mind-focusing habit.
Now
that I’m delving into the world of self-publishing I am coming across some very
interesting and helpful people, amongst whom I’d include your good self. There
is much to learn. Many valuable lessons. My website www.hellsdooropens.com is intended to
be a blueprint for others who seek to take the self-publishing route. The
lessons I learn will appear there so others can avoid any pitfalls I stumble
into and hopefully benefit from any reliable routes and resources I find. In
fact, I’d like to invite your readers to contribute a guest blog, article or
idea to www.hellsdooropens.com - if
you have a valuable insight, a painfully learned lesson or great idea to share,
I’d really like you to share it with visitors to my site. Drop by and leave me
a note at the site or email me at jonathan.creffield@gmail.com
As
for tight PoV, in Hell’s Door Opens I maintain one point of view per chapter,
each chapter unfurls from the perspective of one individual protagonist. I like
to write that way, it makes the characters and the world feel real. It comes
naturally to me and allows the reader to see other characters from different
perspectives while following one character’s internal dialogue.
With
that said I enjoy reading fiction where so-called “head hopping” occurs. I
think it is best to limit the number of heads the reader is supposed to keep up
with but I don’t think a writer should feel constrained by any particular style
– he should tell his story in a way that flows naturally, is readable, engaging
and exciting.
I’m
keen to start exploring the work of independent fantasy writers. I’ll be
looking for recommendations and seeing what treasures hide in the indie underdark.
FLOW:
What do you think of the blending of real
world religions with fantasy? Can you have Christians, for example, in a
fantasy world?
CREFFIELD: It worked for CS Lewis and on the quiet JRRT was heavily
influenced by his Catholicism. For myself, I don’t think such things should be
too obvious in case they jar the reader out of the fantasy realm the author is
creating. If the reader finds his ability to suspend disbelief challenged then
the author is doing himself and the reader a disservice. So, the real world
idea or belief, be it spiritual, political, atheistic or whatever should be
camouflaged and clothed in the trappings of the author’s world. In addition, it
should not be the point of the author’s work either. No one wants to be
preached to. We don’t open fantasy books for a sermon. Now, if a valuable
spiritual or moral insight comes along as a natural
part of the story then that is great – but writers shouldn’t labour the
point or heavy handedly try and convince their readers of their own personal
convictions.
There
are some spiritual asides in Hell’s Door
Opens but I won’t tell you from what direction they come or what my
personal beliefs might be.
FLOW:
Can
tell us a little bit about your new book, Hell's Door Opens? What
was your main inspiration for it? What one thing would you like readers
to take away after reading it?
CREFFIELD: In the main I was trying to recapture something I felt
was missing in much of today’s fantasy. The sword and sorcery tales I enjoyed
featured horror, the macabre, the weird and the earthy. I wanted blood and guts
and fury. I wanted loathsome things that make the hairs at the nape of your
neck stand on end. Most importantly I wanted my fantasy to horrify as well as
excite. You can only be a real hero when up against something really frightening.
Part
of the story’s origin lies in a conversation I had with my sister. She told me
about a radio show she’d listened to in which a panel had been asked who they’d
rather have for dinner, God or the devil. The panel chose the devil as they
thought he’d be a more interesting guest. I thought the panel had no
imagination, I figure you should ask the people of Srebrenica what it is like
when the devil comes to call. Those thoughts were still mulling around in my
head when I wrote Hell’s Door Opens.
I’d
say my main inspiration for the book is writers like Howard, Derleth and
Lovecraft. With that said I like what a reviewer said at www.flamesrising.com,
he noted that the book takes the classic tale of swords and sorcery and turns
it on its head.
The
male characters are deadly but in the City of Sept the female characters are
deadlier still. I hope readers will find all the protagonists well drawn and
with deeper psychological motives than sword and sorcery characters sometimes
display. The action is fast paced and I really hope that readers are both
engaged and carried away by the tale.
The
main thing I want readers to take away is a sense of enjoyment – the story
exists to provide thrills and chills with some deeper elements thrown in.
Amongst the blood, fear, lust, magick and action there are thoughts directed to
the purpose of suffering, the question of evil and the nature of the divine.
FLOW: If you had to choose between Campari and
soda, a pint of bitter, Asgardian mead, and red wine, what would it be?
Why? Which is more powerful: Bigby's Crushing Hand or his Clenched Fist?
CREFFIELD: Bah, I’ll take
none of those drinks – give me some Velunian Fireamber, a gill of Keoish
Brandy, some Ulek Elixir liqueur or any other beverage served at the Inn of the
Welcome Wench. As for Bigby’s mighty spells I cannot recall which is the higher
level but the words of Princess Leia to Governor Tarkin spring to mind, “The
more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through
your fingers.” Not that such wisdom applies to facing off hordes of enemies in
some DM created hellhole – I guess I’d go for whichever would most effectively
splat the opposition.
What I really need is Bigby’s
lesser-known spell Bigby’s Typing Hand
– I’ll have my next book online in a trice!
By the way, you can make D.P. Prior jealous if you tell him I’ve explored the first level of
Castle Greyhawk with Gary as the DM and I was captured by goblins.
FLOW:
He is very jealous! ;-) What do
you have planned next?
CREFFIELD: The hardcopy print
version of Hell's Door Opens will
soon be released. It will be for sale on Amazon and also at DriveThru Fiction.
After that my intention is to release a series of sequels to Hell's Door Opens that will complete its
tale of dark swords and sorcery horror.
I've been canvassing reader opinion - would they prefer a series
of shorter novella length releases? I've read that the eBook reading public
prefers shorter works of fiction. Do your readers agree? I would then combine
the novellas two at a time for print release.
My ultimate aim is to complement the Hell's Door series with
other books set in the same world. I have a number of them in different states
of development, from fairly well fleshed out manuscripts down to mere sketches
and ideas.
FLOW: Is there anything else you'd like to
share with our readers?
As I mentioned above, I'm very interested in hearing the
opinions of your readers where it comes to the length and format of eBook
fiction. I wrote a guest blog on the subject for Flames Rising: http://www.flamesrising.com/
If anyone would like to share their preferences with me they are
welcome to visit the Hell's Door Opens FaceBook page at http://www.facebook.com/
I'd also like to invite readers to share their experience of
independent publishing on my site. I would welcome guest blog posts describing
the ups and downs of self-publishing. Readers can contact me at my site or via
email -jonathan.creffield@gmail.com
FLOW: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk
with us. :-)
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