Margaret Weis

BIO

Margaret Weis was born on March 16, 1948 in Independence, Missouri. She graduated the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Major in Creative Writing and Literature. She was the Advertising Director of the Herald Publishing House in Missouri from 1972 to 1983. Then, the Division Director from 1981 to 1983. Weis became an editor of the TSR Inc. book division, makers of the DUNGEONS &DRAGONS® role-playing games, from 1983 to 1986. Currently she is on the Board of Directors of Mag Force 7, Inc. and also a freelance author.

INTERVIEW

April 7, 2000

Science fiction and fantasy fans are applauding Margaret Weis's DRAGONS OF A FALLEN SUN, the first volume of a new epic trilogy, co-created by herself and Tracy Hickman. Weis, the celebrated author of ten Dragonlance novels, among many other projects, is well known in the sci-fi world and is falling into the hands of mainstream readers. Find out how she comes up with her creative character names, what career move gave her the connections to publish, her college addiction, her next project, and much more in this interview.

TBR: As a child, were you into role-playing and fantasy, and did you write?

MW: I was a child in the '50s! Role-playing games didn't come along until the '70s. I read Tolkien in the '60s when that first came out. But I was highly imaginative as a child and was the class storyteller.

TBR: What is most memorable about working on the DRAGONLANCE campaign?  Do you like to be called a hero by your fans?

MW: The friendship is the most memorable part. I don't think of myself as a hero. I didn't really risk my life to write these books.

TBR: Where and how did you and Tracy Hickman, coauthor of DRAGONS OF A FALLEN SUN, meet?  

MW: We met at TSR. Tracy was the designer of the DL game and I was the book editor in charge of the book side of the project.

TBR: How did you get your writing education/inspiration?

MW: I majored in English and American Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Then I went to work for a small publishing company where I met my agent and started my career.

TBR: As the class storyteller, what did you tell stories about?  Were they Star Trek-like or DRAGONLANCE-like?

MW: Considering that I was the storyteller in kindergarten in the 1950s, that was way before science fiction or fantasy. I remember that I retold TREASURE ISLAND, which I had seen on television. I hadn't seen the ending though, so I made up my own. My teacher told my mother she liked my ending better than the original.

TBR: In college, what were you into?  Did you write a lot, read, or hang out with friends?  

MW: I wrote a lot and read a lot. And we were addicted to bridge. We played bridge in the Student Commons day in and day out. And since it was the '60s, we were involved in protests. I was in a riot once --- an interesting experience.

TBR: How did you get into the DRAGONLANCE world?

MW: I got into DRAGONLANCE when I went to work for TSR. They hired me as a book editor. One of my jobs there was, to be in charge of the book side of the project. They were already creating the game, and that's how I met Tracy and everyone else.

TBR: It's rumored that you are working on a DRAGONLANCE screenplay. Is this true?

MW: Well, Tracy is working on one, or I am hoping so. Tracy is always doing about five or six projects at once. I am hoping he does do one.  

TBR: Will there be a sequel to THE DOOM BRIGADE with all our friends such as Kang and Slith?

MW: Yes, Don and I are almost finished with the last chapter now. It will be called DRACONIAN MEASURES and is due out in November of this year.

TBR: How do you come up with new character names?

MW: Well, you know you want names that go with the race. Dwarf names, like Fireforge and Kender, are just plain fun. Elves always have "S's" and "L's" --- with the exception of Dalamar, who was a person I met at a convention.

TBR: After you come up with the names, how do you match the personalities, such as Tanis and his personality?

MW: Actually, Raistlin for example, I got to know him really well. He was one of those characters that just came to me, and I understood him. I become as close to him as a member of the family. I had a real problem with Tanis. I really didn't understand him. Tracy told me to think of him as Captain James Kirk. After Tracy told me that, I got along with him really well.

TBR: Some fans have heard that your books are based after role-playing experiences, is this true? If so, what was it like to live THE WAR OF THE LANCE and so on?

MW: No, all the characters and plots were predetermined. Games make bad plots.  

TBR: In DRAGONS OF A FALLEN SUN, will we see any of the Fifth Age characters?

MW: Actually, in the beginning, there is one that was seen in the Fifth Age I believe.  Plus there will be some new characters, and some old ones.

TBR: People have been wondering if Dalamar or Jenna died during the Chaos war? It seemed that they were prepared to.

MW: Actually no, they didn't die.

TBR: Do you have any new projects coming up?

MW: Actually, yes. I have one coming out called SOVEREIGN STONE, which already has a role-playing game out. And the first books are due out this summer. They will be called THE DEATHGATE SERIES.

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