With a historical setting, I worry about accuracy at every turn... With a created world, I have to worry about all of it holding together and seeming coherent... Each presents unique challenges and opportunities.

Guy Kay is probably my favorite and the writer I most want to emulate.

I listen to instrumental jazz and bluegrass, but aside from my AM workout, I have no rituals.

I write every day for most of the work day, and I try to write 2,500 words per day... If I don't make it a routine and treat it like a job, I'd never get anything done.

The closer you can get to your setting and to primary sources, the more authentic your history is going to be.

I love magic and playing with magic systems. But to me, good fantasy like all fiction comes down to good character and plotting.

Before writing, I start with a series of questions, specific things I need to know before I can write the book... That list grows and changes as I do more and more research. But when I've answered the bulk of the questions, I begin to write.