Q&A with Author Christie Golden

Award-winning and seven-time New York Times best-selling author Christie Golden has written over forty novels and several short stories in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Among her many projects are over a dozen Star Trek novels, nearly a dozen Blizzard World of Warcraft and StarCraft novels, and three books in the nine-book Star Wars series, Fate of the Jedi, which she co-wrote with authors Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Her latest book, Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag™: Blackbeard: The Lost Journal, hits shelves on March 4, 2014.

We asked Golden questions about her incredibly impressive career thus far, her new Assassin’s Creed® book, and what she sees on the horizon:

1. You launched the TSR Ravenloft line with your first novel, Vampire of the Mists, in 1991. What inspired you to start writing fantasy? How did you break into the publishing world?

I’d been creating stories ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon and started my first serious attempt at writing a fantasy novel in high school. In my mid-twenties, I had been on the editing staff of magazines and gotten on the open audition mailing list of TSR, who gave the world Dungeons & Dragons. I gave it a shot at one point and was not successful. The next chance I got, I tried again—and I was chosen! I’d submitted an outline and a first chapter based on a rough idea they had presented, and next thing I knew, I had to write my first book . . . in three months! Baptism by fire, for sure! 

2. What has been your favorite series or property to work on?

Oh my, oh my, that’s like asking which of my children I love best! I’ve been so fortunate in that I’ve worked in so many different worlds. Each one has had something wonderful to teach me and has been a valuable experience. How about I say why I love a few in particular? I love Ravenloft, because I got to create Jander Sunstar—perhaps my best-loved character by readers. I love Star Trek, because it was the first science fiction show I ever watched when I was a child. I love Star Wars, because it took me by the heart when I was thirteen and didn’t let go. I love Invasion: America, because it gave me the chance to work with Harve Bennett, who paid me the ultimate compliment when he said on a phone call, “You know what you’re doing.” I love all of Blizzard’s properties, because I’ve been with them so long and the blending between game and novel is so fluid, and they’re super to work with. I love Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag™ because Ubisoft really does their homework on history, and well—who wouldn’t be thrilled to write Blackbeard’s Journal? As for my favorite world to write in . . . I have to say, my own!

3. Where can fans expect to meet you next? Any book signings or appearances in the future?

I am a fixture at Colorado’s StarFest, where I will be selling and signing books on May 2–4 at the Marriott in the Denver Tech Center. I’m hoping to be a guest at Wyrd Con, May 22–26, at the Westin LAX. We’re still waiting on the results of a Kickstarter before I can confirm I’ll be attending. I am also a regular at BlizzCon, but I have no details to share as to when—if it’s happening, which I hope it is!—it will be this year. 

You can follow me on Twitter @ChristieGolden, on Facebook, and at my website at www.christiegolden.com. (I am going to try to be better at keeping it updated!) I hope to do more signings this year with two exciting projects out, and my Twitter is where I’ll be posting the latest info.

4. Do you have any advice for gamers who want to write?

It’s nearly impossible to break into any sort of media fiction if you don’t already have publishing credits. That’s because it’s very deadline driven, and the companies and publishers want someone who has already demonstrated they can handle that sort of thing. What you can do to start getting that “track record” is look into getting your own original fiction out there in reputable markets. A great resource is www.writerbeware.org. 

5. What’s next for you?

My next immediate project is doing a novel for Cryptozoic’s forthcoming HEX MMO trading card game. It’s exciting to be helping create so much of this world, as it is all so new. Then I’m doing another project for Blizzard, and in my copious spare time, I am working on seeing if I can’t get some original works published as well. I’m certainly busy, and I couldn’t be happier about that!