How has writing such a successful series changed your life? As a result of that success, how has your life changed the story and your writing?
I have to steal an answer from Stephen King, here. I read it in an interview with him, and his answer seemed so obvious, so right, that I said, “But, of course!” The biggest change in my life, and the best thing about having a successful series, is that now I can buy any book I want. I don’t have to wait for the paperback or haunt the remainder tables or plow through the second-hand bookstores. I can just buy it. Being able to travel is great, especially when there is fishing to go with it, but being able to buy the books is bloody neat!
As for my life changing the story: no, the story is still the story I set out to write God help me! more than fifteen years ago. My writing, of course, as distinct from the story, almost certainly has been changed by my life. No writer can be so isolated from life that what he lives through has no effect on his writing. Or if he can isolate himself, either his writing isn’t worth reading or he himself is nuttier than a fruitcake! But I can’t tell you how it has changed, except that I hope it has gotten better. After all this time, I would hope to God I’ve gotten at least a little better at it.
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