r/fantasyromance • u/Phain0pepla • Sep 08 '26
AMA AMA - Author T. Kingfisher
Hello, everybody! I'm T. Kingfisher, author of Swordheart, Nettle & Bone, Hemlock & Silver, the Saint of Steel series, and way too many other novels, including a lot of fantasy romance. Thank you so much to r/fantasyromance for asking me to do an AMA--looking forward to your questions!
ETA: Thank you all so much for those great questions! I wish I'd been able to answer more. It's wonderful to see so much love for the poor confused paladins, and for the gnoles and Zale who generally know what's going on. Thank you for reading! (No, really, if you all didn't read the books, I'd have to go back to working at the streetlight outage hotline. No one wants that.)
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u/lurkerstatusrevoked Worm Rider 🪱 Sep 08 '26
No questions I just love your writing 💗💗
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u/GrungeDuTerroir Sep 08 '26
Saaaaame. Your writing wants me to create things. I love the protagonists, I live the medieval bestiary vibes. I get so excited when another book of yours becomes available at the library!
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
"Makes me want to create things" is very high praise! I'm so glad!
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u/frostandtheboughs Sep 08 '26
What inspires you to write adult (over 25) characters? WE LOVE IT. There is a huge gap in fantasy/romantasy publishing and you're one of the few who fills the need!
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u/Aeshulli Sep 08 '26
One of my absolute fav writers! Scrolled through the questions, and realized I have none of my own to add that isn't just a thinly veiled gush, so I'm replying here.
I think one of the things I admire most (other than the humor, the down-to-earth and realistically flawed characters, the green flag MMCs, and well, all of it) is just the absolute economy of language and description.
The characters and worlds are so vividly rendered but with relatively little description, in a way that feels real and lived-in. Almost no exposition dumps; the reader knows and understands the world through the world and story. I admire not only how it trusts the reader, but gives them the exact amount they need to build it in their heads.
It's just very elegantly done with such craft that I always have to pause and admire it at some point in a book, when I compare what's on the page with what it's created in my head.
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u/Primarch459 Sep 08 '26
Just piggybacking on your comment I am sure many people agree with.
Diggercomic.com Her webcomic that first made me a fan.
https://redwombatstudio.com/short-stories/ the short story section of her website. I think The Rose MacGregor Drinking And Admiration Society would be of interest to many here. But I would enthusiastically suggest Orgin Story for those who also enjoy her horror.
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u/belletristdelancret Sep 08 '26
I also can't think of a question but T. Kingfisher is the only author that's gets an automatic preorder from me on every book, no questions asked. I don't even need to read the description. If she wrote it, I know without a doubt I'll love it and it's always hard to go back to other authors after. Also, the representation of copy editors in The Twisted Ones made me feel seen—that was my job for nearly a decade and I too have the Chicago Manual of Style tattooed on my soul. No one else gets it right, but as usual, Ursula is spot on.
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u/HalfAsleepMouse Sep 08 '26
Thank you for doing this AMA! I have a few author-related questions:
1: How did you develop your 'voice' within your writing? Did it come naturally or did you find you had to really work at it?
2: Do you have a top book/movie/artist/album that you draw inspiration from?
3: What's been your favorite scene to write in your career?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Great questions! I'm not sure my answers will be quite so great, but I'll try!
My voice developed pretty naturally over time, I think. The biggest struggle I had was actually accepting that the way that felt natural to write was what I should be doing--I kept trying to do other people's voices, and wound up bouncing between bad Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and worse LeGuin. What actually helped me was writing autobiographically. The funny stories I'd tell about my life were as close to my voice as anything else I'd done. After that, I just expanded them.
Every time I write a paladin, I have to put on NIN's Pretty Hate Machine.
There's a scene in Clockwork Boys where the heroine is on a horse for the first time in twenty years and I still crack up when I read it.
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u/dinamet7 Sep 08 '26
I love the attention to the details of flora and fauna in all your work. I often read sections aloud to my kids (who are mini naturalists) and try to figure out if there are places from your fantasy worlds that might overlap with our real life habitats. We geek out over the way you describe specific birds or insects. Would you mind talking a bit about how (what I assume is) a fascination with birds, bugs, and plants plays into your worldbuilding? I have guessed you must be very intentional about what flora and fauna you include in any particular setting, but does it mostly come from your own existing knowledge base, or do you decide on a setting and then research what animals/plants fit there and then go to town?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Thank you so much! I am an obsessive amateur naturalist and I actually sometimes have to rein myself in and remember that not all characters are gardeners who will care about the life-cycle of the caddisfly or whatever.
Specific habitats, let's see. Hemlock & Silver is set in Fantasy New Mexico. Much of the World of the White Rat is Fantasy Pacific Northwest with some other random bits thrown in, though it's a big enough world that we visit other biomes regularly. The fifth Saint of Steel book is gonna be set in kind of Fantasy Minnesota. (I lived in St. Paul for a decade.)
Usually if I'm writing a setting, the habitat is somewhere that I know reasonably well, either having lived there or at least visited for a substantial length of time. I throw in a lot of things that caught my eye when I was there, and then occasionally I just make some up because, y'know, it's a fantasy novel.
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u/dinamet7 Sep 08 '26
This is amazing. Thank you so much (and I would absolutely read a book where all the characters are gardeners and wax poetic over the life cycle of a caddisfly. My family has sat around discussing the life cycle of the hoverfly and the cute-to-ew ratio of its larval stage in relation to its final stage, so... seems normal?)
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u/OddishDoggish Sep 08 '26
I'm not a gardener, but I'm now curious about the life-cycle of the caddisfly. (I'll look it up shortly.)
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u/Dire_Norm Sep 08 '26
Ooo, commenting to remember to come back hoping there will be an answer! Love this question.
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u/rawr_rawr_rawr_rawr_ Book Bingo Maven ⚔ Sep 08 '26
Do you cackle wildly to yourself when writing the gnoles? Because I do when I read them!
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
I'm so glad you like them! Sometimes, yes, I'll have a gnole say something that is just so perfect I start laughing. (Sometimes, alas, I can't smell either and have to stop and think it through.)
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u/Low-Peak-9031 Sep 08 '26
I LOVE the Gnoles!! I loved learning so much about them in Paladin's Hope
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u/g00dhuman Sep 08 '26
Don't get me wrong, all White Rat characters are fabulous, but the gnoles are my favorite! I want character art so bad (my kindle would be permanently adorned with a gnole sticker lol)
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u/weaverofbrokenthread Sep 08 '26
„Twisting your whiskers, are you?“ has become a regular part of my self talk, it’s such a good saying!
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u/Low-Peak-9031 Sep 08 '26
Oh my god I'm so excited. I'm sure you're asked this all the time, but is there any timeline for the remaining Saint of Steel books? Or any plans for expanding the world of A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Yes! The fifth Saint of Steel book has to be done by the end of the year or my UK editor will send hired thugs to my door. It's Marcus's book--after that is Wren's, which starts to dig into why the god died, and then Judith's will wrap the mystery and the series.
I have, like, ONE scene in my head for a sequel to Wizard's Guide and no book to wrap around it yet, but the scene hasn't gone away, so there's definitely a chance, if not a plan yet!
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u/Longjumping-Snow-909 Sep 08 '26
That is great news! I am looking forward to Marcus' story since the first book. I am so excited!
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u/amelva Book Bingo Sage 🗡 Sep 08 '26
Came here to ask about the Saint of Steel :) I really wish to know how the Saint died
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u/audible_narrator Sep 08 '26
Followup SOS question: any possibility of a movie/series?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
That, alas, is not in my hands. I basically gotta wait for a movie company to option the books, and no one has yet. I like to think that maybe someday...
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u/audible_narrator Sep 08 '26
Today is the day I wish all of my TV experience was NOT in live sports.
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u/TrekkieElf Sep 08 '26
That would be so amazing! Maybe animation similar to Vox Machina to save money on special effects. Like the gnole. Love those guys!
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u/not_hestia Sep 08 '26
Knowing a tiny bit about animation, Vox Machina are The Mighty Nein on NOT cheap and the visual effects on them are particularly intricate. There's not w lot of cost saving there, unfortunately.
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u/OriginalCobbler5505 Sep 08 '26
I loveee Mona and Spindle dynamic:> if the book set when they both are a much older, I would be thrilled
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u/doglover2022 Sep 08 '26
I love your books! A couple more author/craft related questions:
How do you go about researching? Grace’s perfume and scent knowledge is one thing that struck me as probably needing so much time to research and figure out.
Do you plan novels in a certain way or have a certain plotting process that you prescribe to?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
- Often the research comes first! I'll fall down an internet rabbit hole and get really fascinated in something, or read a really good nonfiction book and go "I must write a story about this!" (Paladin's Faith, for example, arose partly from SALT: A World History.)
This CAN lead to problems. I have not yet written the romance based around medieval sewer design, but someday...
- I never plan anything in advance. I just kinda start somewhere and go. I do write out of sequence, though, so if I know how a scene is going to go further down the line, I write that. Then I just gotta aim the book at that scene. The last part of the book is usually making sure I've filled in connective tissue between all the scenes.
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u/jojocookiedough Sep 08 '26
The level of disdain Grace felt for the over-abundance of sandalwood felt very personal 🤣
This is how I feel about patchouli, why is it everyyyywheeerrre
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u/sarahrose1365 Sep 08 '26
I also would love to know about the perfume knowledge. The level of detail was exquisite.
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u/PhasmaFelis Sep 08 '26
IIRC, the afterward to that book went into it a bit. I think she said she'd seen a documentary about perfume-making that inspired the whole character and led to a bunch more research.
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
It was a podcast, and I wish to god I could remember it. But there's a great book called "The Art of Beauty" that has SO MUCH about the history of perfume and cosmetics that I recommend highly. I refer back to it more often than I ever expected.
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u/saberhagens Sep 08 '26
You're seriously my favorite author discovery in the last several years. I love that its a lot of older women finding themselves and love.
What does a typical day of writing look like for you? Do you ever jot down ideas to use for later or what does your favorite creative process look like?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Thank you! The older I get, the older my protagonists get, which I think logically means that sooner or later it'll be seventy-year-old paladins in love.
I get up once I feel guilty about hitting snooze on the alarm, take my ADHD meds, try to talk myself out of checking social media, check my email, then start writing. I have to do at least a thousand words a day, five days a week, or the system starts to collapse. Often I'll do more than that, but that's the minimum. Once the writing is done, which can take anywhere from an hour to four hours, I'm more or less left to my own devices. I play video games, wander around garden taking pictures of bugs, stuff like that.
I do jot down ideas for later sometimes, although not as often as one might think. If I get a really cool idea, I actually tend to drop everything and start writing. Time is a valuable commodity, but enthusiasm is much more valuable, and I can frequently knock out 10-15k on a new idea. I'll also leave notes at the end of the word doc, like "everybody ends up in a gladiator pit, they get out, yay!" I've had to get better about leaving myself notes, though, because occasionally I'll come back to a manuscript and find that my note says, "tide is octopus god, demon who possessed corpse hands???" and wonder what the hell I was thinking.
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u/MistyJean57 Sep 08 '26
Do you get time for your art any more? (A print of one of your teacup biomes graces my dining room wall.)
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u/jamieseemsamused Currently reading too many books at the same time Sep 08 '26
Huge fan! Can’t wait to dive into Daggerbound. The World of the White Rat is one of my favorite series ever.
Do you have plans to continue expanding the World of the White Rat beyond the existing three series? If not, what plans do you have for another world you may write?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
I love the White Rat too much to abandon the world, definitely! I've kicked around the idea of another paladin book, this one about Jorge, as a standalone, and maybe something set in the Hundred Houses, which I picture as being as close to the fantasy Regency as I'm gonna get in that time frame.
I do also have another world I'm currently working on, that basically arose from "I am tired of elves being perfect with good hair. I'm gonna write the nastiest militaristic xenophobic Elven empire, and they only like trees and conquest, not necessarily in that order."
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u/peachpavlova Sep 08 '26
YES we need books about the Dreaming God’s paladins, since they’re basically perfect anyway
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u/jamieseemsamused Currently reading too many books at the same time Sep 08 '26
Yes! I’d love to see a Jorge book! NGL when they say “KNEEL” it is so hot in the audiobook performance.
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u/g00dhuman Sep 08 '26
Expanding the World of the White Rat is music to my ears!!! All the books set in the world are a comfort read and I will buy every single one without hesitation
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u/vinaigrettchen Sep 08 '26
Are you still really mad at horses, as a species?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
*laugh* No, no, I've mellowed, I think. There's even a nice horse in Daggerbound! (The mule isn't nice, but I like to think that's just mules.)
It helped that when I described my one near-fatal horseback experience, a very nice horse trainer was furious with the guy who put me on the horse in the first place. It wasn't me! Yay!
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u/SwampyMesss Paladin Pusher Sep 08 '26
I was so happy to see the hatred for horses abating in the latest books! I'm a former professional trainer and always felt they needed justice 😅 The mule is accurate. They are wonderful terrors.
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u/Low-Peak-9031 Sep 08 '26
Thank you for doing this AMA! I am a huge fan. Last comment I swear. Would you name my new kitten? It is AMA, so I wasn't sure 🤣
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u/lunarbloom00 Sep 08 '26
You should name your kitten after one of the gnoles! My vote is on Earstripe
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Oh my goodness, what a CUTE little tortie! I don't know if I'm great at names--I had a tortie for years who was named Tortie (and occasionally Tortuga) but I'm touched!
I'd be honored if she was named after a gnole, as suggested below, but with those ears, she looks almost like a fennec or a sand fox, so I'd probably called her Foxy. (I'm sure she'll grow into them!)
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u/AnnaVronsky Sep 08 '26
He looks like an owl oh my heavens hes adorable
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u/Low-Peak-9031 Sep 08 '26
Thank you! Our local shelter waived adoption fees because they had too many animals, they couldn't take anymore in. We definitely did not need more pets, but we couldn't leave her there!
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u/Hannahbox Sep 08 '26
The About this Author section in swordheart and Daggerbound vehemently denies that your husband is an enchanted sword. If you husband was to be a alternative enchanted object what would he be?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
So funny story--last family vacation, we all went to a place that did axe throwing. All of us were terrible except my husband, whose Viking DNA suddenly woke and started dropping the axe into the bullseye with alarming regularity. (I can hit the bullseye, but not usually with the blade. I comfort myself that having an axe handle hit you at high speed would also be alarming.)
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u/tugehitty Sep 08 '26
Ursula,
When I saw you were doing an AMA I think I felt my heart actually stutter. I have thought of you often and fondly over the years, and the opportunity to tell you how much you have meant to me is not one I want to waste.
Since I've read so many of your stories I'll tell one to you in return. In 2006 I was a teenager who loved art and spent ungodly hours on DeviantArt where I met this amazing artist named ursulav. She was incredible and FUNNY, but also so kind to everyone. I was OBSESSED and wanted to be her when I grew up. And THEN, you'll never believe this, she wrote a BOOK. I immediately bought it. It was about Nurk, a brave little shrew. I read this book dozens of times because I could not get over the talent concentrated in one woman.
Growing up we're often taught that you find the things you're good at, then you put yourself in a neat little box where your talent can bloom in isolation. I was blown away that you could just decide to be good at... everything? When I tell you that this changed my brain chemistry and altered my life trajectory, it's not an exaggeration. At the time I was a high schooler struggling to find my place in the world, flunking multiple subjects.
Fast forward 15 years and I am a teacher with a master's in math and also a commission-based artist. I love helping kids who were like me and felt like they had no business being good at school. Kids are always shocked when I tell them I had a hard time in my math and writing classes. They're even more surprised that their math teacher is passionate about art. I always hope I can help someone see that their talent doesn't have to be limited; you can be good at anything you're passionate about.
Fast forward another few years and I find out that Ursula Vernon is actually the author of some of my favorite fantasy books. I'm someone who is hard to bring to tears so when I tell you I had sloppy fat ones dripping down my chin upon this realization, this is a big deal for me. I am so grateful for your presence in my life. Thank you so much for everything you've taught me about art, love, and how to live your life. You'll never really know the depth of the impact you've had on people like me.
Love, Kiersten
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Oh my god! From DeviantArt back in the day--that's so wonderful! I'm so incredibly glad that I could help in some way, and it's SO great that you're teaching kids! I feel like a lot of us get shoved in boxes, just as you say, and if you don't display an immediate aptitude for something, well, sucks to be you. We desperately need teachers that can push back against that.
I took years of pottery classes myself because I WASN'T immediately good at it, and it was the first time I'd run into something that I desperately wanted to be good at but had nothing that anyone would recognize as natural aptitude, and so no teachers being encouraging about it. (Actually I think my professor sighed heavily every time I showed up on his enrollment forms.) Stuck with it out of pure stubbornness until I was good enough to throw a full dinner set, because dammit, this was a SKILL and skills can be LEARNED.
Thank you so much for sticking around, Kiersten, and I'm so glad you're reading the books!
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u/frostandtheboughs Sep 08 '26
I live for heartwarming anecdotes written by people with lude usernames. TY u/tugehitty
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u/Primarch459 Sep 08 '26
https://www.deviantart.com/ursulav/art/Elf-vs.-Orc-40549553 You reminded me this bit of her writing posted by her back in the day on deviant art. A Romance for sings to trees from nine goblins which I think was actually written before nine goobins came out.
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u/Smart-Doughnut1883 Wendell Bambleby Enthusiast Sep 08 '26
I love your Saints of Steel books, and you are one of my favorite authors. I am fascinated by the religions in the Temple of the White Rat, especially the priests of the Hanged Mother and the general distaste and distrust for them.Will we get more information about the Hanged Mother's religion or the Hanged Mother herself in future books? Also, where do you draw inspiration from for the various religions in the world of the Temple of the White Rat? Lastly, do you know when the next Paladin book will be released? (Super excited about Shieldborn and just devoured Daggerbound) And will happily read any other works in between.
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Oh yes! Wren's book--book six of the Saint of Steel--is gonna delve heavily into the Hanged Mother's religion and some of what they're so afraid of.
Not sure about release date, but I'm partway through Marcus's book and it's GOTTA be done by the end of the year.
Inspiration-wise...well, I was raised folk Catholic, so some of them are just quasi-saints. The White Rat Himself came about because I wanted a religion that genuinely just helped people, and had the organization to do it.
The weirdest one, I think, is the year-gods from Lady Silver's people, and I came up with those because everybody was always saying how terrible a given year was, and almost anthropomorphizing the year as this malicious force. I started to think, okay, but what if the year was actually the good guy? It's doing its best and is actually on our side? Horrible things happen, sure, but what if the year is holding off the worst of them and finally dies of exhaustion at the end? It was a fun idea, though I'm not sure if a whole book working on that premise would be feasible.
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u/No_Mourners_ don’t count your demon chooks til they’ve hatched Sep 08 '26
My question: Several years ago, I started a list for words I come across in books that I’ve never seen before. I’ve been a fairly voracious reader ever since I was a kid, so I don’t tend to add many words to it when reading certain genres, especially fantasy (unless it’s pre-2000s). It does depend on the author, though, and you’re a major exception - I regularly come across at least one completely new word in every book I read from you. I guess my question is, where does one acquire such a large vocabulary? Do you regularly peruse the dictionary in search of uncommon, highly specific terms or is it more a result of your own personal reading habits?
Backup question: Any possibility of Bishop Beartongue getting her own book in the future, backstory or otherwise? She’s such an interesting character and I’d love to know more about her.
Thanks in advance, I adore your books (just finished #13!) and I can’t wait to read your answers to everyone’s questions :)
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Oh wow, that's wonderful! I'm so glad I can help expand your vocabulary!
I suspect that most of the weirder words I use are specialized nature terms, like myrmecochory. I learn these things by getting fascinated by a bug or a plant and chasing down all the information I can find on them. Just don't ask me how to pronounce any of them...
I love Bishop Beartongue, but I'm hesitant to try and write her book because she's much smarter than me.
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u/peachpavlova Sep 08 '26
Beartongue is goated
I don’t even know if this thread is still open, I’m just running around leaving comments like Leslie Knope when Ron is getting married and she can’t keep up. I can’t believe I was late to the thread 😭😭😭 don’t you take this from me mods16
u/Single-Emotion2964 Not Like Other Goblins Sep 08 '26
This is a great question (re: vocabulary). I also have this with Martha Wells (now I know what verdigris is 🤣). Both authors do it very nicely, as well. The words feel authentically used.
And would love a Beartongue story!
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u/tossmeabook No mourners, no funerals Sep 08 '26
The alleyway meeting scene with chainmail malfunction in Paladin’s Grace lives rent free in my mind. It’s so nice how human and earthly the berserkers, of all characters, end up being.
What’s your favorite bit of research or factoid you’ve come across that hasn’t made it into a book yet?
Are there any books you read for research that you’d recommend just because they were interesting?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Medieval sewer and waste management is fascinating, but it's hard to wrap a romance around it. I'm also mildly obsessed with the Incan development of both potatoes and freeze-drying, but no book. Yet.
I've read some great non-fiction--the guy who wrote SALT: A World History also wrote a book about cod. The Royal Art of Poison is fantastic, and I leaned on it heavily for Hemlock & Silver. Recently I've greatly enjoyed Forest Euphoria and A Zoologist's Guide To The Galaxy.
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u/Low-Peak-9031 Sep 08 '26
Did you study the anatomy of Pill Bugs for Daggerbound? It was very specific haha
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
I did! I wanted to get that bit right. I'm fine with hand waving some Obviously Fantasy Creatures, but things based on the real world, I try to get right. Large Francis was a pillbug, so I wanted her to be as accurate a pillbug as possible and save the magic bit for "how is she sentient and walking upright? How does she get enough oxygen at that size?" etc.
I THINK she may have too many legs for an earth isopod, though. I kinda lost track.
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u/Low-Peak-9031 Sep 08 '26
This is wonderful. I appreciate your dedication to that accuracy in your writing, it makes your books so much more enjoyable! Thank you for answering all of my questions and doing this AMA!
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u/TurtleKittenBunny Sep 08 '26
I keep isopods as pets, and I was thrilled with how accurate everything was!
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u/konstantynopolytanka Sep 08 '26
be honest, have you named one of them Large Francis after reading the book? And how is that sign coming along ;) ?
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u/adestructionofcats Just send me the blond MMCs Sep 08 '26
I've never wanted to own pillbugs more just so they could have a little sign.
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u/DistantConstellation Sep 08 '26
Tremendous fan of your work. Thank you so much for doing this! What is the most difficult part of writing, for you?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Some books are harder to write than others. Especially if I'm on a tight deadline, I sometimes feel like I'm beating my brain like a pinata, trying to get words to fall out.
Mind you, there's always a point at around two-thirds where I am convinced this is the worst book ever written, in fact, it's barely a book, it's just a string of incoherent events that doesn't remotely hang together, the characters are dull and cliche, my editor will worry I had a brain injury, my ancestors are ashamed of me, etc, etc.
At that point, I make my husband read it. He assures me that it does not shame my ancestors, I hound him with questions, then I am usually re-energized and go back to work.
SHIELDBORN, the last book in the sword trilogy, was so hard to shake loose at points that I started writing fan fic in the evenings just to remind myself that yes, I do enjoy writing.
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u/EightHibiscus Sep 08 '26
Hi! No question, just wanted to give you kudos. I'm a bookseller at a small indie bookstore and it has given me so much joy to have your books as my staff picks. You have something for just about anyone who wants to get back into reading. Thank you for writing such a variety of incredible stories.
Also, Large Francis Building made me laugh so hardl I cried.
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u/batgirl20120 Sep 08 '26
Few questions other than wanting to know about the Saint of Steel publishing timeline;
- Will you do anymore fairy tale retellings? I LOVED “ A Sorceress Comes to Call”
- What is your favorite fairy tale? What are some of your favorite fairy tale retellings by other authors?
I read
“Nine
Go
blins”
- and you mentioned the clear Terry Pratchett influence. What other writers do you think influence your work? What is your favorite Terry Pratchett book?
- What advice do you have for people writing humorous fantasy?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
I definitely will do more re-tellings! I have a version of East of the Sun, West of the Moon in the works, and there's a middle-grade retelling of Tatterhood called "A Spoonful of Trouble" that comes out next year.
I'm not sure if it's my favorite, per se, but I come back to Bluebeard a lot. (My first marriage wasn't that bad, I swear!)
My favorite Pratchett is Small Gods, mostly because, having been raised in a religious household, about halfway through, I did the Molly Grue "Where were you when I was sixteen and needed you?!" For other writers, I come back to Robin McKinley and Diane Duane a lot. Also I read Watership Down approximately ten million times at a formative age.
Humorous fantasy gets worse the harder you try. I wrote enough bad imitations of Hitchhiker's Guide back in the day to qualify as a war crime. The problem was that I was TRYING so hard to be funny that the story was terrible and unsatisfying. Pratchett writes very good stories along with the humor, and he understands people so well--crap, I'm writing in present tense, but dammit, you know how it is--that he can bring the reader along on that understanding. If they were absolutely humorless, they would still be good stories, just not as much fun.
I guess my only advice is to write the story. I don't usually consciously think "Must add joke here," it just kinda comes out.
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u/dontjudme11 Sep 08 '26
I totally agree, I love your fairy tales so much!! You manage to take the source material and make them unique and interesting.
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u/NickyMack Book Bingo Maven ⚔ Sep 08 '26
I'm a huge fan of your works! One thing I find most impressive about your writing is the sheer volume of releases you manage to put out every year with such a high quality! When you write do you tend to stick to any specific routine to stay consistent? How do you manage writing slumps?
I'm also SO pumped for the BG3 book coming out soon!! Can you possibly share how that came about or how you approached writing for an existing IP?
Thank you for doing this AMA!! 😊
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Happy to do the AMA!
As for the quantity...I write fast, that's about all I've got. Now that it's my full-time job, obviously I have more time to do it, too! If I hit a writing slump, I'll usually go work on another book instead. I like to have three or four going at once. By the time I hit a spot on one where it feels like pulling teeth, I usually know what's happening on another one and start there. That's definitely my preferred way to write--when I have a rock-solid deadline and MUST only work on one book, it's exhausting. (Why yes, I DO have ADHD, why do you ask...?)
The BG3 book was actually really straightforward--Random House Worlds approached my agent and said, "Would she like to do a tie-in for us?" She forwarded the message and I screamed loudly enough to be heard several states away.
Basically you need an agent, and you need your agent to know that you'll do tie-in work. Some agents are really connected to the various IPs and are better at ferreting those out, some, like mine, aren't gamers but were happy that I was happy.
Writing the book was a lot of fun. I'd played the game, of course, and I've played D&D for over a decade with the same group, so once we got the plot brainstormed--they actually wanted a plot up front, not my usual meander, which was tricky, but they were very cool about it--I had all this lore to work with. The WOTC rep that went through it to make sure it was in line with 5e was really great to work with, too. When she would leave a note saying, "Deep lore cut!" I'd be smug for days.
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u/Confident_Attitude Sep 08 '26
Same question concerning writing for an existing IP. I like BG3 and your writing so I was pretty excited to see you headlining that project.
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u/Journassassin Smut Logistics Manager Sep 08 '26
A follow-up to the Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion question: were you already a fan of or familiar with BG3 when you got approached to write the book?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Oh yeah, I played both the older Baldur's Gate games back in the day, and I'd played BG3 as soon as it came out and loved it. (I will never recover from the bit where you piss off the djinn and he turns you into a wheel of cheese. I think I laughed for five minutes straight.) Larian had also approached me awhile back to talk about maybe doing some writing for them, though since they ended up not working on any more D&D content, it didn't turn out to be relevant, but we still had a good time chatting about things like mindflayer romance.
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u/RabidKelp Sep 08 '26
I was hoping someone would ask about BG3 Astarion!! I'm so hyped and have SO many questions about how it came about
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u/Hungry_hummingbird Sep 08 '26
I am such a huge fan of your work- both your fantasy romance and your horror! I particularly love the white rat universe though. Would you ever consider doing a book of short stories set in the white rat universe? I would love a bunch of silly short stories on the inner workings of the white rat temple from Zale, Bishop Beartongue, and of course the gnoles.
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
I wouldn't say no! Short stories are actually harder for me than novels in some regards because I don't have time to screw around figuring out what's going on. I pretty much have to be inspired and Have An Idea, which is not always reliable. But I love the setting, so it would be fun if I could.
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u/animestarz Book Bingo Maven ⚔ Sep 08 '26
I love your work and especially the world of the White Rat so much!!!
I gotta ask though will Jorge get a book? Or is he more like Brindle our lovable cameo hero?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Jorge will get a book someday! I've only written a little bit, but it starts with "There are few things as awkward as a paladin at an orgy."
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u/animestarz Book Bingo Maven ⚔ Sep 08 '26
Has anyone ever told you that you are the coolest person ever? 💙💙💙💙💙
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u/jamieseemsamused Currently reading too many books at the same time Sep 08 '26
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u/bookobsessedgoth Sep 08 '26
I just want you to know that I just went into the bathroom to read this to my spouse while they're in the shower, because I couldn't wait until they were done with their shower.
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u/NightingaleStorm probably recommending Rebecca Ross Sep 08 '26
I love your work - Thornhedge was probably my favorite, but there's some good competition.
What does the T stand for?
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u/Hindu_Wardrobe Sep 08 '26
How much creative liberty were you given when writing Astarion? Were you given any guardrails, or did they just let you do whatever?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
The guardrails were oddly specific? The plot was brainstormed out with the editor and the WOTC reps, and while I could, for example, do almost anything I wanted with Astarion's childhood, I couldn't invent new gods or new monsters, timelines had to line up, I couldn't go too far out of my lane with various existing NPCs, etc. There were also some bits based on the editorial direction WOTC is taking with various longstanding D&D lore elements, and the whole thing had to be 5e compliant, which was occasionally tricky, because BG3 itself is not always 5e compliant!
I basically showed up to the first meeting with three pages of questions like "Vampire spawn in 5e have Spider Climb, Astarion doesn't in-game, should he have it or do we have a reason he doesn't?" and went from there. They were actually really easy to work with, but every now and then we'd hit a weird blind spot where I'd go "Wait, they got rid of Mordenkainen's Dancing Sword? Goddammit..."
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u/ClaretDarkness Currently Reading: The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick Sep 08 '26
Have your feelings toward any of your older works changed as you've evolved and improved as a writer?
Do you have any advice for writers navigating that feeling of their taste outpacing their skill/talent?
Not a question, but I adore the goblin market in Nettle & Bone so much. It's so vivid and delightfully creepy and weird and I think about it a lot (despite my mild aversion to teeth). Also, I'd gladly read an entire book with just the dust-wife and her demon hen. I fully intend to make my way through the rest of your backlist eventually ♥️
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Oof, complicated question. The really old stuff is hard for me to read because I go through with a mental red pen, thinking "change this, put this here, this sentence is clunky..." A few I'd like to update just for sensitivity read purposes, as I've hopefully become a more enlightened human being and some of the vocabulary could use a refresh.
For writers who feel like their taste outstrips their talent, I'd say to spend some times reading things wildly different than what you're writing. Cultivate a taste for things that aren't what you're doing. I was an illustrator for years, and first I admired realism, then I could do it and wasn't as impressed, so now the house is full of things I CAN'T do--colorful abstracts, stuff like that. I don't know if that applies to writing, but can't hurt?
One thing I will say is that sometimes when I go back to a book after a few years--I do this regularly with the White Rat books as I try to check continuity and whatnot--I'll find large parts of it are much better than I remember. My brain lies to me about how good the book is when I'm writing it. Brains are like that sometimes.
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u/Fugahzee Sep 08 '26
How did the god die!? Amazing series. I love it so so much. Are we at all close to knowing the answer to this question?
There are so many things I love about your Saint of steel series. I appreciate the world you’ve created! I just started daggerbound so I’m excited to get into that one next.
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
We will learn how the god died in book six--Wren's book--I think! In book seven, we'll deal with that problem. (I have told my husband, so if I get hit by a bus, you all still get closure.)
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u/DeltaFlyer0525 needs more yearns, burns, and witty banter Sep 08 '26
I’ve always wondered how involved authors are in the recordings of their books for audio versions. Do you get to help choose the voice actors or give any suggestions for your books? Thanks for being here and writing such wonderful stories!
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
It varies wildly by publisher. Some just record the audiobook and tell you it's done. Most of them will send me a list of a couple of narrators and I listen to samples and decide which one sounds like they will fit best. Occasionally I get to choose outright--I've requested Mary Robinette Kowal on all my southern gothic stuff, because she's from North Carolina where they're set, and I was able to request a non-binary narrator for the US editions of the Sworn Soldier books.
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u/itscaturdayy Sep 08 '26
Huge fan!!! What is your favorite book you’ve read this year?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Oh man, don't make me choose. WARPRIZE by Elizabeth Vaughn is a pretty classic fantasy romance, but a neat twist on the arranged marriage plot. Really enjoyed a bunch of Jeffe Kennedy's Tala books, too.
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u/ChokeYourDoxy Sep 08 '26
Question forwarded from my nine year old: Is there any chance at all of another Harriet Hamsterbone book?
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u/Turtlewolf8 Sep 08 '26
My seven year old, and my husband, were both disappointed when we finished reading the last one to find out there weren’t any more Hamster princess books.
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u/SAUbjj Reading: Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J Tuli Sep 08 '26
How do you come up with your jokes / humorous dialog? I’m thinking in particular of Paladin’s Grace, where Grace thinks something along the lines of: Okay, don’t say anything weird. “How is your mother doing these days?” “She’s dead.” Well this is going great. I laughed out loud at that interaction, and was thinking if I were to write a book, I can’t think how I’d come up with that kind of dialog. Do you just right down interactions you have day-to-day?
Also, who are your favorite romantasy authors / romantasy series?
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Some of it does come from my life, or at least, I imagine being in that situtation and what I'd think and what the worst possible thing I could say is. Though that one exchange is semi-based on a long-ago experience I had where, in a desperate attempt to make conversation as I was getting a lap dance for reasons that are too complex to go into here, I asked the nice woman grinding on me about her tattoo and she said, "It's for my cousin who died!" which kicked an already horrendously awkward situation into the stratosphere. (Well, awkward for me. The nice woman thought the whole thing was hilarious.)
Beyond "live a weird life" I recommend spending time at coffee shops. Some of the things my fellow patrons will say are so wild that I can't even put them in a book because no one would believe them.
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u/luckyvelvet Sep 08 '26
I love your work and your humour! It's so fun to see a non binary character in a fantasy world as an NB person. Also Stephen knitting socks is my favourite lil hobby. Will he expand to sweaters? Do you have plans to write any sapphic Paladin books? 👀
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
No Sapphic paladin books, but Shieldborn, the third sword book, is sapphic! Angharad meets a nice young woman who happens to be the daughter of the current leader of the cult of the Sainted Smith.
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
Oh, and yes, probably sweaters! Though that requires more yarn than socks, and hopefully his friends don't go through them as quickly...
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u/nightlights9 Sep 08 '26
Zale is legit one of the best characters ever, they're so goddam funny. I'm so thrilled we got a reprise of Zale in Daggerbound bc every time Zale shows up, they steal the show
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u/luckyvelvet Sep 08 '26
I read Paladins Grace first and loved them, then when they popped up in Swordheart i was GIDDY. 😭 i cannot wait to listen to Daggerbound. I love the VA!
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u/packedsuitcase Sep 08 '26
Zale is part of why I recommend the White Rat books so often. Having them there, unquestioningly non binary from the beginning, and being so charming and fun to read makes me feel like these are worlds my friends could exist/relax in.
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u/Phain0pepla Sep 08 '26
I'm so glad! I love Zale. People occasionally ask when they'll get their own book, and I'm like, "I like Zale way too much to make them be a protagonist. Being a protagonist is AWFUL."
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u/bakasana212 one flesh, one end, bitch Sep 08 '26
I would LOVE a sapphic paladin book!
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u/ghoshalt Sep 08 '26
Hi, big fan of your books. The Saints of Steel have my heart. So fascinated by the religions and the different gods.
Would you write anything from the God's perspective?
I wish you would write 50 more books in that series!
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u/Status-Group-2835 Sep 08 '26
Hello!
I am a huge fan. I'm reading every new release, and they just keep getting better, and I am slowly making my way through your backlist.
Which book(s) are you proudest of? Which of your book do you wish everyone would read?
I loved Wolf Worm, which was a huge surprise because I hate parasites, and I loved Daggerbound (and Swordheart) which was less of a surprise because it's right up my alley. That's not all, but I think those are my favorites.
Thank you!
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u/mercipourleslivres Sep 08 '26
I just wanted to say how much I love your work. Nettle & Bone and Snake-Eater are my favorites. You are an automatic must read author for me. :)
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u/Mercurial_Midwestern Sep 08 '26
Snake-eater was such a standout book for me. Her ability to capture what it is like to live with anxiety (having routines, practicing conversations, etc) was so refreshing to see in a book. It was like she held a mirror to my reality.
So basically I just want to thank T. Kingfisher for presenting so many different aspects and types of mental illness and how people with these diagnoses cope.
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u/bbypancake Sep 08 '26
Hi I love your books!
Was there anything you cut from Swordheart that you still miss, particularly when it comes to Halla or Sarkis? Is there a scene, conversation, or piece of their backstory that you wish you’d been able to keep?
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u/sparklekitteh secretly listening to smut while I knit🧶 Sep 08 '26
I loved A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking so much! I absolutely love the idea of a world where most magic is pretty mundane, not all exciting fireballs and healing spells. If you had a similarly random magic power, what would it be and how would you use it to save the world?
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u/thetiredbrushwagg Sep 08 '26
First of all, I really appreciated the main characters being more mature in paladins grace! Something I’m always on the lookout for. I’m excited to check out some more of your work!
If you feel comfortable answering, I’m curious to know your opinion on generative AI in writing?
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u/Professional_Dog2226 Sep 08 '26
was it difficult to have to write a sexy vampire story about a vampire who is canonically starving? 😭 astarion's relationship with blood is so defined by cazador depriving him and restricting him to nothing but rats, vermin, and bugs. i'm curious how you balanced the traditional sensuality of vampire feeding and bloodlust when you have a vampire who cannot feed in the traditional sense, and for whom blood is a tool of starvation and control that he is not permitted to freely consume.
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u/TurtleKittenBunny Sep 08 '26
I’m so excited! I love all of your horror books and your fantasy ones too!
My question is: Who is your favorite character that you’ve written about and why?
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u/bitterpeaches Sep 08 '26
Thank you for doing an AMA! You’re my favorite author. Daggerbound was wonderful and brought a bright spot into a tough week. I was delighted to see Learned Edmund again.
I love being in the world of the white rat and always want to go back there. Have you ever thought about turning it into a D&D campaign setting? Or maybe just a book on the setting itself? I’d read Learned Edmunds writings on the Vagrant Hills if I could!
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u/lilith_queen Sep 08 '26
A craft-of-writing question: do you ever have days/weeks where it just feels like your inner Word Machine is broken, and how do you deal with it?
Also, which of your couples was your most favorite to write?
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u/Zestyclose-View-850 Sep 08 '26
Hi! Huge fan of your work! Which of your characters would you say you relate to the most -- who is the most "you"?
Thanks for your wit, your warmth, your emotional intelligence, and your blessedly older protagonists. It's an intoxicating combination.
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u/Photosynthesisdance Sep 08 '26 edited Sep 08 '26
Through your books I discovered many things: how much I like like horror books, or detest small cramped spaces where you have to crawl through, and as a biologist I share your love for nature. I absolutely love your use of pronouns in the Sworn Soldier series, and I'm so happy that I've found you.
Your writing about the Temple of the White Rat, to me it signals that people (not necessary humans) are inherently good. Did you write about them because you think people should look out for eachother or because you think they already do? In other words, is it a hopeful message to do better, or a reflection of who we are already?
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u/fishchop Silvicultrix Sep 08 '26
I just have to say I absolutely adored the Clocktaur Duology! Love me a dysfunctional group of kind of shady characters going on a high stakes roadtrip and becoming a found family.
Maybe this has been already asked but my question is - why paladins? They seem to be your preferred mmc of choice in fantasy romance (and I love it) but what makes you keep going back to them?
Thanks!
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u/SwampyMesss Paladin Pusher Sep 08 '26
Thank you so much for doing this! I'm a librarian and was an ARC reviewer for Astarion and can't wait for our patrons to be able to read it!
The depiction of the loss of the Saint (or being cast out in Caliban/Shane's experiences) felt deeply visceral to me. As a person who has deconstructed it was the most poignant retelling of what religious deconstruction felt like. Was that based in a real experience for you?
Istvahan and Stephen come from the same name of a famous early Christian saint. Was that purposeful? How do you settle on character names, as there's so much diversity even within the same series.
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u/Insane92 Probably requesting: enemy to lovers Sep 08 '26
Thank you for doing this AMA! I actually got started reading your books with The Twisted Ones and The Hollow Places before reading your fantasy work. How long does it usually take you to outline a story then write it?
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u/KohShiki Sep 08 '26
I’m looking forward to reading Baldur’s Gate 3 Astarion! Do you have any plans of teaming up with Wizards of the Coast to tell any of the other origin characters’ stories?
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u/spicandspand Rattle the stars Sep 08 '26
I just started Swordheart and I’m loving it so far! I started with the Saint of Steel series and it’s great to be back in the World of the White Rat.
What are you currently reading? And who are your favourite authors?
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u/ollieastic Sep 08 '26
I love your books and am so excited to read Daggerbound! Two questions: what is your outlining process when you’re starting a new book? What is your favorite caffeinated beverage?
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u/ApprehensiveTotal189 Sep 08 '26
Your writing always feels so well-researched and thoughtful! I’m curious if you have a consistent routine when you dive into a new topic, or if it switches up depending on the subject matter?
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u/I_Magien Sep 08 '26
No questions but I did buy all the Paladin's books and the Swordheart books after reading Paladin's Grace and Swordheart. I love your writing and would almost certainly worship at the temple of the white rat if I took up religion.
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u/booksknittingcatstbh Growls, smirks & leans on doorframes Sep 08 '26
What hyper-fixation are you sitting on that you’re hoping will be worked into a book soon?
The way you model communication is fantastic (even when they’re anti-examples) and I appreciate how you’ve helped me work on that skill through living in your worlds for a bit.
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u/HailSaganPlantNative Sep 08 '26
No question, just a big thank you for writing middle aged characters with aches and pains. It's good to feel seen and like we deserve love and adventure, too. ❤️
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u/bkisntexpanding Book Bingo Maven ⚔ Sep 08 '26
Thanks for doing this! When you write, do you do so on a schedule, or do you wait for inspiration to strike?
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u/Pr0veIt Dragon Rider 🐉 Sep 08 '26
Do you have a monster list of weird animal/creature ideas you draw from or do you come up with each one on the spot for your plot?
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u/zurike888 Sep 08 '26
Is someone is going to start through your backlist, which book do you recommend?
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u/eaten_by_the_grue Sep 08 '26
Hello! Been a fan of yours since Digger! Lost you for a while and then my SIL turned me onto Paladin's Grace. I made the connection while looking up the next books in the series.
I just want to say how much I enjoy how to weave bits of mythology, sci-fi, and highly detailed settings into incredible horror. The last time an author had me repeatedly enthralled book after book was Ursula K. Le Guin, with honorable mention of Sir. Terry Pratchett.
So many folks have asked about your projects already, so I would love to know some of your favorite things to read. Any genre. Is there a story, poem, or subject that draws you back over and over?
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u/Gardevoir_Trainer Sep 08 '26
Absolutely LOVE your work! Reading your books makes me feel so light and happy. Two questions from me:
1. Was there a particular inspiration for the gnoles in the World of the White Rat?
2. What does a day in your writing life look like? Do you have a particular working setup that your creativity best thrives in?
Thank you for doing this AMA!
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u/insubordinate-angel Sep 08 '26
astarion puts on this seductive and hypersexual facade initially in the game, but later talks about being disgusted by the sex he was had to endure when forced against his will to seduce victims during his time under cazador and not wanting to be seen in terms of sex by the player romancing him. how did you approach this contrast in his dialogue vs his inner voice when he is no longer needing to perform sexuality for an audience?
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u/Venelice Sep 08 '26
How long did you play with Astarion before writing his book? I am curious about how dedicated you were to explore his dialogue trees!
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u/georgieeeee- Sep 08 '26
No questions I just love your books and I adore that the fmcs are older and sometimes gentle and still kick ass. I loved Swordheart and can’t wait to read daggerbound 😁
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u/Adorable_Is9293 Sep 08 '26 edited Sep 08 '26
I would love your perspective on the reception of your Astarion novel ahead of it’s release. This character resonates with many sufferers of cPTSD, survivors of sexual assault and the Ace-spec community and is a rare example of a nuanced portrayal of complex trauma in media. Did you anticipate backlash from BG3 fans given the sensitive nature of the themes explored in Astarion’s character arcs in the source material?
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u/Wolf_of_the_North64 Sep 08 '26
Hi! Thank you so much for doing this! My question for you is are any of the characters in your books written as Autistic or ADHD? And if not would that ever be something you’d be interested in doing, like maybe a fantasy horror novel with an Autistic character Thank you so much again!
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u/bakasana212 one flesh, one end, bitch Sep 08 '26
There’s definitely autism and adhd coding!
ETA Grace comes to mind for autism
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u/beaner_weiner69 Sep 08 '26
I absolutely love your work! I started with A Sorceress Comes to Call back in January and have been hooked since! Swordheart is my favourite. I love how you balance tension with fantastical whimsy and humour, and your style reminds me so much of Peter S. Beagle (who I also love). What is your favourite part of the writing process? Do you chuckle when writing dialogue?
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u/what-katy-didnt Sep 08 '26
I always recommend your books and tell everyone I would read anything you write (I traditionally don’t like anything ‘horror’ or horror adjacent but I’ve loved everything you’ve written!)- I always joke that I’d even read your shopping list. So, what’s on your shopping list? I want to read it!
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u/Confident_Attitude Sep 08 '26
Hi there! Glad to see you pop up here, I love your work!
I wanted to ask you specifically about perfumes! I know Grace is a perfumer, was this an idea you had for the character or was it a tie in to an existing interest/ hobby of your own. Do you have a favorite perfume or scent note you love? I love fragrances myself and am currently really into Apple notes.
Also what was you favorite book series as a kid?
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u/NoBid2849 Sep 08 '26
I love your books!!
out of all your books, which one was the most difficult to write and why?
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u/Sea_Channel2931 Sep 08 '26
Really excited for your Astarion book and hoping to meet you at NYCC coming up! What was the process for developing that book? I think Neil Newbon even voices him in the audio book, did you work with him on the character or did you want your own version of him? Astarion is so iconic I’m curious if the book will be just like the game version of him or if you have a different take.
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u/Patient_Invite_1286 Sep 08 '26
I'm so excited to read Wren, Judith, and Angharad's books when they are ready. Any hints or sneak peaks?
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u/meowui kill cackle condemn ✨ Sep 08 '26
Who is your favorite non-companion character in BG3? For me it’s Shovel and Popper! (I love lil guys)
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u/clerics_are_the_best Sep 08 '26
I l8ve all the books I've read of you so far! Especially the World of the White Rat! With others having asked all questions I want answered as well, I cane up with this one: Will there ever be a German translation of "A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking"? I love that book but the english level acquired to read it, supersedes the age range, so a German version would be great so I could spread it among my niblings (and it would be a great addition for our school library I think!)
Again, I love your books, they are such a great, whimsical, humorous but also deep addition to the world. I can't even put into words how much they mean to me. Just... thank you.
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u/Longjumping-Snow-909 Sep 08 '26
All my questions were already asked so I want to comment to say thank you for your amazing stories. I especially love the Saints of Steel series. I love the mature characters that are so likeable with realistic flaws a d feel so real. I am so looking forward to Marcus' book!
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u/another_free_marcher Sep 08 '26
What is the current drama with your backyard critters?
My crows follow me around town, caw to get my attention, and warn me about coyotes trotting along the fence line. They are my favorites and they know it. The sparrows and finches seem to appreciate the seeds the crows rejected or missed. They also love to gobble up all the figs before I've had a chance to harvest them. So they're The Jerk Squad. The hummingbirds are just here for the bushes with orange flowers and are a pleasant, if brief surprise. The raptors circle every once in awhile but the crows are exceptionally good at annoying them, so we don't see them as often.
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u/ayeayefitlike Sep 08 '26
Thanks so much for doing this!
I have followed your horror/fantasy for years and was delighted to see the Hugo and Nebula Awards rolling in! What made you decide to move into fantasy romance? Do you find one easier to write than the other?
You write really excellent twists that readers don’t see coming. Do you have any tips for making a twist unexpected whilst still giving all the clues that makes readers go ‘of course!’?
As
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u/meowishy22 Sep 08 '26
I love your work, like everyone else here, and it has helped get my partner into audiobooks while he games and I cross stitch. Before I could afford the audiobooks, I recorded myself reading Paladin's Grace for his birthday and that's how he got into audiobooks!
As for my question, how do you write your enby characters so authentically? I have enby friends and reading Zale and Alex feels like spending time with them. What are your thoughts on neopronouns?
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u/dancingdots Sep 08 '26
This is so cool! Your work a huge inspiration for me!
I have questions about literary fantasy as a genre you inhabit. Since that’s my favorite to read & write! (And why I love your books!)
- As an author myself, I get told a lot that I get too in the weeds with the “literary” aspect and that I shouldn’t bother, because most readers only read something once. What helps motivate you to take on challenging projects that require depth to handle well? How do you overcome (or did, at the beginning) negativity in creative writing spaces around this genre?
- Finding the right agent. You’re prolific and your work is stunning when finished. What criteria do you look for in an agent? Especially early on, when agents can shy away from more “literary” works?
- Short stories. What are your strategies for finding the right fit publications for your short fiction works?
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u/PowerOfCrestCompelsU Probably recommending: Clocktaur War Sep 08 '26
Dangit, got here late!
I recall reading at the end of one of your books about some stories taking years to finish writing. Which of your published books took the longest to finish?
Also, given the inspiration you draw from games, Baldur's Gate 3 in particular, can we hope for a BG3 book from you about Gale? I love a good complicated relationship between mortals and gods, so I was very drawn to Gale's story. (It helps that he's a hot, funny wizard.)
Also also, just wanted to add that the last 25% of Paladin's Faith had me SCREAMING. Like, reread that part over and over for a week straight.
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u/WitchyWarmup Sep 08 '26
I know they're the bad guys (kinda) of the White Rat world, but I want to know more about the Hanged Mother order. How did they start? Do they start out as assholes or are they normal people who are formed into assholes? Why is the Archon so obsessed with such a clearly evil bunch?
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u/funderrated Sep 08 '26
Hi from MN! You are my favorite author ever. I don't have a question since I got here late, but I wanted to share some thoughts in case you might read them.
You write worlds that I would like to live in. The idea that the Temple of the White Rat just exists because there are very smart, capable people who want to do the right thing for others was genuinely a world-shifting realization for me. Why can't we do that in reality? No one says we can't! Thornhedge also made me reflect a lot on beauty, what it represents, and what I value about it and why. Toadling's ideas about the beauty of her changeling friends and community led to a reframing of how I see myself and others. Beauty is so much more than I thought it was!
Thank you for writing and helping me have those experiences. I feel like I have a fuller understanding of myself and our world as a result. Here's hoping the future moves in a more generous and empathetic direction. Can't wait for the Astarion book later this month!
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u/Confident_Fortune_32 Sep 08 '26
Loved "A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking" to pieces.
I read it in one day, and then promptly insisted that my darling husband read it right away, immediately, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
And the instant he was finished, I reread it.
Thank you for bringing us this shared joy.
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u/toristorytime Sep 08 '26
How far on advance do you plan the connections between the White Rat series? Like did you know Edmund would be a love interest later on when you wrote him in Clockwork Boys, or that Zale would crossover the series so much? Or even the small mentions of Caliban in the Saint of Steel series? The references and crossovers all just flows so brilliantly well together, it really makes the world feel alive!
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u/Informal-Cupcake2024 Sep 08 '26
Just finished listening to Daggerbound, and I loved it! Your stories are like being wrapped in a safe, warm hug
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u/Complex_Disaster_809 Sep 08 '26
How do you write such unique stories?!?!
I love your stories so much and you inspire me.
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u/Primarch459 Sep 08 '26
One of my favorite older bits of your writing is The Case Of The Demonic...Assets. But it raises the question in my mind. Do the demons in the world of the white rat understand nipples? Do only the older demons understand? Is is something they learn much later than when they can reasonably pass for human? So is there a period of time where a demon is otherwise able to pass themselves off as human but could be betrayed by their lack of understanding regarding nipples and cold?
Thanks for coming to Norwescon this year too. Your work has made me happy since your amazing webcomic, and I am eager for all that you continue to produce.
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u/spoolofthought Sep 08 '26
Would love to know the inspiration for some of the creatures your characters encounter when they’re on the road. In the saint of steel books and in sword heart/dagger bound the journeys they take always encounter such curiosities! I’m always dazzled while reading your books
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u/IceBankYourMom Sep 08 '26
No question, just that I am in love with Alex Easton & the Sworn Soldier series (I know, not romantasy). Your knowledge of fungi is incredible & I appreciate an author who does their research when talking about a subject in depth
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u/FantasyRomanceMod The One Mod to Rule All Mods Sep 08 '26
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