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Valondil the Ranger
Learned Scribe
USA
109 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Dec 2004 : 00:37:08
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Hi, Mr. Bassingthwaite
I've recently heard of Black Gate magazine, in which I ALSO found out you wrote articles for. Since I'm very interested in sending them some of my fiction, I was wondering what you thought about the magazine? Were there many publishing difficulties? Any problems with anything, really? I pretty much want to know this so that IF they do accept my work, I won't run into any problems down the road.
Thanks in advance and I plan on picking up The Yellow Silk and Mistress of the Night soon--and I simply can't wait for the Eberron novels!  |
--Your humble ranger,
Valondil
Check out my webpage at http://iankappos.blogspot.com/ |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2004 : 04:07:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Valondil the Ranger
I've recently heard of Black Gate magazine, in which I ALSO found out you wrote articles for. Since I'm very interested in sending them some of my fiction, I was wondering what you thought about the magazine?
Valondil, I can't give you an unbiased opinion of Black Gate because I'm actually on the staff (such as it is) - I'm the Gaming Editor. However, I can tell you that it's an absolutely professional magazine in every way. If you do decide to submit your fiction, you might want to be aware that perhaps more than most fantasy fiction magazines, the editor is swamped with submissions and it will take him a while to get back to you.
However, I would encourage anyone who like short fiction (or longer short fiction) to check out Black Gate. It's bringing in some really great authors. There's a new issue just out - which also happens to feature an excerpt from an upcoming novel I did for the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting. 
Thanks!
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2004 : 04:10:44
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Just to let people know, I'm probably not going to be checking the forum more than once a day for the next week - I'm in the final push on my current project and am keeping my DSL connection unplugged to avoid the temptations of the Internet!
If I'm a little slow answering, you know why!
Thanks!
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 09 Dec 2004 : 01:21:29
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Thanks! I'm glad you liked Brin - he's the combination of a desire to have a very defined, active villain and my enjoyment of playing characters against type. I just got hooked on the idea of an evil, psychotic halfing.
And answering the spoiler question: yes, all the way from the initial plotting of the book.
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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Lauzoril
Seeker
Finland
71 Posts |
Posted - 29 Dec 2004 : 20:36:53
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Greetings Mr B.
The Beer with a Fat Dragon was excellent. Li&Tycho and the dragon's human form were well portrayed. Now I really have to read the Yellow Silk to know more about those two. You wrote rather raunchy lines few times imo, I liked them.
It seems that the Kara-Tur is your professed area in FR writing. Correct?
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"Death to the enemies of Bane."
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2005 : 23:12:34
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Hi Don
With you writing a novel for Eberron, have WotC moved you completely into that world with Mistress of the Night being your last novel for the Realms, or can we expect more from you in the future?
I think i recall reading somewhere that Edward Bolme was now exclusively writing Eberron. |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2005 : 15:22:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Lauzoril
Greetings Mr B.
The Beer with a Fat Dragon was excellent. Li&Tycho and the dragon's human form were well portrayed. Now I really have to read the Yellow Silk to know more about those two. You wrote rather raunchy lines few times imo, I liked them.
It seems that the Kara-Tur is your professed area in FR writing. Correct?
Hi Lauzoril -
I'm so sorry that my reply has taken so long - I'd forgotten that a message was waiting for me on this thread! I'm pleased that you liked "Beer with a Fat Dragon" (kudoes to anyone who spots the allusion to a bit of more literary fantasy...). If you liked it, I think you'll like "The Yellow Silk" as well.
I wouldn't necessarily say that Kara-Tur was my chosen area, but if I had the chance to, I'd really enjoy the chance to explore it some more. I've always been quite fond of the setting and would definitely like to see it brought up to date with the rest of Realms.
And yes, I took some liberties with Tycho's bar songs. Look for "The Thayan Pox" in Yellow Silk.
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2005 : 15:26:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
With you writing a novel for Eberron, have WotC moved you completely into that world with Mistress of the Night being your last novel for the Realms, or can we expect more from you in the future?
Nothing has been formally discussed, but I think WotC does have at least a habit (if not a policy) of keeping writers in one line. I'd be more than happy to do more work in the Realms, but more likely I'll be working in Eberron -- at least for the near future, as I'm actually doing a trilogy, so my time is booked for a while.
I'd be optimistic, though, and say that I wouldn't rule out a return. Hope springs eternal.
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2005 : 05:19:15
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Mr. Bassingthwaite, I loved the way you wrote the bards in The Yellow Silk (like many others here I like bard protagonists). Not only that, I felt the characters in the book were realistic and human, and it seemed like the book was a bit of a buddy comedy. It worked to a good effect--nice work!
A question though:
SPOILER WARNING FOR THE YELLOW SILK
Did the Yellow Silk truly lose all its magic when Yu Mao cut through it with his butterfly swords? If so, that sad (rather symbolic, as well).
Thanks in advance,
Rinonalyrna |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Alaundo on 05 Feb 2005 10:27:49 |
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Paec_djinn
Learned Scribe
173 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2005 : 08:45:25
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Hey Don, I really loved your book Yellow Silk. I had been away from Realms books for awhile and your book restarted me into the setting. I just wished you could continue writing for the Realms.
Li for me was kick ass and the storyline was great. But Yu Mao being the boar was kinda predictable to me later on. But that didn't change my opinion on the book though. I would love to see Li and Tycho some more in future on novels.
In the meantime, I can wait till RotD appears in bookshops near me (They get it about 4-6 months late).
My question though is whether you would or can request to write more for the Realms or are you stuck with Eberron till they change you back? |
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ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
2067 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2005 : 06:36:16
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Don,
I finally got a chance to sit down and read Mistress of the Night. You and Dave did a great job. I really enjoyed the tale.
SPOILERS
I really enjoyed the new Realmslore you created, including the New Moon Heresy (brilliant!) and the New Moon Pack. Any ideas what in game benefit might apply to joining the New Moon Pack?
I liked the history of the artifact and how it got to Yhaunn, but I was a little confused about the destination. Was Calimshan a red herring ... a false destination implied by the supposed origin of your villain or really where they were headed? If the latter, why would they go SE, not SW from Netheril?
My one nit on Realmslore comes on page 169. There was no House of the Moon in 767 DR. See the write-up of the House of the Moon and its predecessors in Powers & Pantheons (in the temple section at the back of the book). Otherwise, everything looked perfect.
--Eric |
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http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/ |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2005 : 00:39:15
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quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
Don,
I finally got a chance to sit down and read Mistress of the Night. You and Dave did a great job. I really enjoyed the tale.
Thanks very much Eric! I'm really pleased you enjoyed the story - and the additions to Realmslore!
SPOILERS:
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Any ideas what in game benefit might apply to joining the New Moon Pack?
You're going to have to forgive me because my notes for Mistress of the Night are long packed up and I can't find anything on my computer. I believe I was thinking something along the lines of acquisition of some feats related to shapeshifting: character becomes a natural lycanthrope if they aren't already; character acquires a rapid shifting feat, the feat allowing casting of spells in animal and hybrid forms (proper name escapes me at the moment), and the abillity to speak normally in hybrid form.
It was never something fully developed, but there was the vague concept of them as rivals to the Silverstars.
quote:
I liked the history of the artifact and how it got to Yhaunn, but I was a little confused about the destination. Was Calimshan a red herring ... a false destination implied by the supposed origin of your villain or really where they were headed? If the latter, why would they go SE, not SW from Netheril?
The artifact really was heading to Calimshan and the Temple of Old Night - smuggled out of Anauria just ahead of its fall. Again working from memory, but SE seemed the more logical route - the land around the Moonsea had (if I remember correctly) been settled by some survivors from Netheril and the southwestern route was somewhat less wild than the the SE based on Anauria's position.
quote:
My one nit on Realmslore comes on page 169. There was no House of the Moon in 767 DR. See the write-up of the House of the Moon and its predecessors in Powers & Pantheons (in the temple section at the back of the book). Otherwise, everything looked perfect.
What? ... Doh! Well, that's the hazard of writing the Realms. No matter how hard you look, there's always something that you miss. I thought I caught every major religion related book, but I didn't catch Powers & Pantheons and I think I made this reference to the House of the Moon (for those who might not recall, the temple of Selune in Waterdeep) based on other sources and a reasonable guess.
I've just downloaded Powers & Pantheons now - let's have look... wow, I can't even make the argument for a "Shack of the Moon" at the time period!
Thanks for pointing it out!
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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Prince Forge of Avalon
Learned Scribe
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2005 : 05:41:34
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Dear Don,
I took the the time to thank Dave, so I MUST include you I really enjoyed the Mistress of the Night book amd wanted to thank you for the FINE read, keep up the great work.
PFoA |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2005 : 18:56:23
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Awesome! Thanks very much - I'm rreally glad you enjoyed it!
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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Paec_djinn
Learned Scribe
173 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2005 : 08:42:46
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Hi Don,
Just here to tell you that I really enjoyed your collaboration with Dave Gross to bring out Mistress of the Night. Certainly one of the best realms books.
Anyway, I was just wondering though, since Radu Malveen was one of my favorite characters in the Sembia series, what was his role in the story before you cut him off? That's of course if you don't mind. Just curious. |
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2005 : 22:41:07
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Hi Don,
Just wanted to say that I read most all of your White Wolf stuff way back when and am really glad you've started writing for the FR! I look forward to even more great work!
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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Smyther
Learned Scribe
Canada
121 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2005 : 05:25:19
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Well, I don't know if you're still around on Candlekeep, and if you still check this, but...
The Yellow Silk was absolutely incredible! I had heard reviews that it was the best out of the Rogues series, so I picked it up, not expecting too much, but I was blown away!
Tychoban and Kuang Li were really well done characters, and they came alive in the setting. Whilst a few people have commented on Brin being good, I have to chime in and say that he was a really believable villain, with a great temper.
I did feel like the actual inclusion of the Yellow Silk (and Brin's knowledge of it) was a bit unnecessary (the story could easily have been done without the 'magic item' deal). The only other bits I'd take nit-pick with are the beginning (it felt a bit detached and broken, as if you were just getting into the writing mood), and I felt the epilogue was unnecessary. I just feel it could have been completely dropped with no messing up the story. I would have liked it better with the fates of the villains being a mystery.
Otherwise, a fantastic book, and definately high on my list of realms favorites. A sequel qould be excellent, but I can see you just sticking with Eberron. I'm looking forward to reading the story in RotD, when I get it in a few weeks. (Also hoping to get Mistress of the Night.)
Good luck on future novels! |
So sayeth the Smyther, the Dark Bard of Amn. |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2005 : 21:55:31
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Thanks very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
The epilogue is largely unnecessary at this point, but at the time I wrote The Yellow Silk, I hadn't made the jump to Eberron yet so I was hoping for a sequel. 
Thanks!
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2005 : 09:23:53
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Don, this question was originally asked by Braveheart, but I've moved it here since it's more appropriate -
quote:
As the end of Mistress of the Night was quite a cliffhanger, is there any chance to see Feena in an own trilogy?
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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dbassingthwaite
Forgotten Realms Author
Canada
64 Posts |
Posted - 08 Dec 2005 : 00:28:53
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quote:
As the end of Mistress of the Night was quite a cliffhanger, is there any chance to see Feena in an own trilogy?
Oops - sorry, I haven't been over to Candlekeep in a while! However, to answer the question: not likely. As mentioned above, I hadn't made the jump to Eberron when Mistress of the Night was wrapped up, so things were left (wishfully) for a sequel.
However just because I won't likely be writing in the Forgotten Realms again doesn't mean that someone else couldn't pick up Feena and continue her story. I'm happy to share my notes when they're needed.
Don |
Don Bassingthwaite
www.sff.net/people/dbassing |
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Questions for Don Bassingthwaite
