Sim Storyteller Spotlight! New Interviewee!

Your work is so clever, so wickedly funny and then you can turn on a dime and make me cry. It is amazing what you do with the base game only: you wring everything possible out of it.

You have such a large cast of characters but you make them uniquely memorable. Although there are family resemblances, every character is strikingly and unforgettable. Do you spend a lot of time thinking about each person? How do you do it?

Hi Van!!

Your worlds are so vibrant and lush... I always feel like I'm falling into another realm when I read your work, and it's so refreshing to get away from Real Life in that sense. Do you find that you think in terms of Naroni or Ashelia... any of them, really... very often, and apply them to RL? And you've said before that Naroni started off from something you'd written when you were twelve or thirteen. Have you been developing the stories and plots that long as well, or did you simply borrow them and change them? When you write, do you know where it's going to go? Do you have outlines or do you just 'go with the flow'?

YAY!!! I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS INTERVIEW OMG OMG OMG! I just happened to pop in to KoN and lo and behold! The announcement.

And now for my questions:

What draws you to a particular time period? I know that your locations fictionalized and that you consider your work not to be historical fiction but many of your stories lean towards the "period piece" genre. What is your favorite thing about writing stories set in the past (or, in the case of Orbis Umbra, a time period that never happened)?

Most of your stories seem pretty thoroughly structured-- A great deal of thought seems to go into your outlines for your stories from beginning to end. But how far in advance do you plan a story like Naroni that is more open-ended? And does the flexibility of an open-ended story pose its own challenges or does it feel more liberating?

When do you take the time to come up with all of this stuff?? Your imagination must not have an off switch! Is there a specific point in your day where you sit down to hash everything out or does inspiration just strike you wherever you are, whatever you are doing?

Additionally, is Florian based on a real person? And if so, will he marry me?

I am so behind but anticipate catching up soon. (Which makes me conflicted because on the one hand, I want to be caught up but on the other hand, NARONI BINGE!!)

-Pen

Since you mentioned it, how many illegitimate children does Lonriad have? ;)

About how long does it take you to write a post? How many drafts do they go through?

Are we EVER going to see the Many Potential Brides of Severin?

Does Albany know that Hal is back in town (and married to a Monty)? If so, how does he feel about it and why hasn't he been making Hal's life more miserable?

I'll add more if I think of them. It's awesome that you're featured, Van!

GAH!! I hope you get this in time!! I know I told you on twitter but CONGRATS on this interview!!

How do you keep up with so many stories and do it on such a structured time table?

What drew you to this time period? I know you hopped into current time with THiV(which I ♥!). Do you see yourself doing another story like that?

OMG!! FLORIAN!! He is the best! Where did his character come from? ♥♥

FYI: You're awesome! I'm just behind on reading! BLAH!