Rick Taubold Interview

There are the big names of science fiction that everyone has heard of: Orson Scott Card, Frank Herbert, and others. But if you only scan the bookshelves for those few names, if you only grab those series with which you are familiar, you run the risk of missing out on something you might really enjoy. Author Rick Taubold’s first novel, More Than Magick, isn’t strictly science fiction (though it definitely contains many familiar elements from the genre), nor is it completely fantasy (see previous parenthetical), but it is certainly something that fans of either (or both) genres may find an entertaining read. Rick agreed to answer some questions I had about his book, his career thus far, and his future plans.

Where did More Than Magick come from? Where did the idea emerge and how did it grow?

That's an interesting story by itself. Back when I was into role playing games, and Dungeons & Dragons in particular, I put a lot of time into creating my characters. At some point I'd created several interesting ones and realized it was such a shame to do all that work only to discard them at some point. That's when I got the idea to craft a novel featuring them. I thought about story lines and finally came up with the concept of the three kinds of worlds: Magick, Psi, and Tech (or technology, the absence of any powers). Earth was a Tech world. Later, I created a third power called Pneuma (the spiritual force). The quest for the obligatory alien artifact that had fallen into the wrong hands gave me the main plot line. You have to understand that this whole process took me a couple of years before I began the actual writing.

Then I got married and a year later started writing the novel. It took me two and a half years, writing mostly on weekends, to finish the first draft of the novel. The original concepts changed and matured during that time. I cranked out roughly a chapter a month and ended up with about 700 double-spaced pages. Once I realized the novel needed serious editing, I took several workshops over the next three years. During that time I had my first short story published. With my writing skills somewhat validated, I launched myself into a serious edit of the novel -- condensing and refining, changing the story line where necessary. I expunged the overt Dungeons and Dragons elements that inhabited the original. The final, edited manuscript weighed in at 550 pages and 115,000 words.

As a side note, I came up with the "gates" in my novel several years before Star Gate came out. While my concept is similar, the "science" (or science fantasy) behind the two is significantly different.

There are a lot of characters in the novel -- with which do you most closely identify?

"A lot of characters" is being kind. My wife says it has too many. I happen to like character-rich novels, so I write what I like to read. What can you do when a fascinating new character comes up, introduces himself (or herself), and demands to be in your story?

In Magick, the character I most closely identify with is the one who was never role-played -- the main character, Scott Madison. There's a bit of me in Scott and vice versa. Scott and I share a sense of humor and a couple of life experiences (the small plane ride, for example), but that's about it. Scott is really more unlike me than he is like me, but he's my mouthpiece and creative outlet, and I did my best to confuse the poor guy.

I'm rather fond of Jen-Varth as well. He wasn't role-played either but came from a short story I wrote for an English class back in college. Again, he's nothing like me -- he's an alien, after all -- but he's something of the studious loner that I was in my teen years.

Your book is classified, at least by the publisher, Medallion Press, as "Science Fantasy." Do you agree with that classification? What other books do you think are similar to More Than Magick?

That's another interesting thing. Actually, I was the one who suggested the classification. Hardcore sci-fi folks claim that true science fiction must deal either with known scientific principles and the laws of physics or logical extensions of those. Anything else is science fantasy. By those definitions, "Star Trek" would be science fantasy because the technology and physics that would allow faster-than-light travel and the transporter aren't even on our scientific radar. Magick also includes a couple of clear fantasy elements, like guest appearances by the two smartass dragons.

What other books are similar to Magick? When I wrote the novel, I wasn't aware of any (or I would have written something different). I suppose the Harry Potter novels, as different as they are from Magick, have some similarities. Harry has no idea what he is at first (like Scott Madison in mine), and both are thrust into worlds they never knew existed and into adventures they never asked to be a part of. J.K. Rowling's novels are character-rich like mine, and she gives her characters personal issues they have to deal with.

I make NO claims that my novel is even on the same level as Rowling's novels (I have only one novel to her seven). Nevertheless, they share some common themes, like you are more than you think you are. Another similarity is how Rowling nicely fits her world into the middle of our "known" world. I expand the world and universe that Scott and Jake know without disrupting current Earth history. The movie Star Gate also worked its story line into current Earth history without needing to alter it drastically.

What is most appealing about being a writer? Why did you choose to pursue writing?

Hands down, the answer to both questions, is the freedom to let my imagination roam and to share my mental wanderings with others. Add to that the thrill of creating new characters and being a part of their lives and life is indeed good.

Who are your biggest influences (both in terms of writing and, in general, storytelling)?

When I was a teen there weren't a whole of lot of sci-fi novels to choose from, even fewer Young Adult ones. One author, sadly no longer with us, who has influenced me is Andre Norton. Unlike many other sci-fi authors of the time (fantasy didn't really exist back in the 1960s), she made her stories about people, not ideas. Ms. Norton had the ability to take you to other worlds in a way that few other authors did. What I find interesting is that much sci-fi today still falls short of the mark she set. One of the few modern authors, from who I've had the pleasure of taking several workshops, is Nancy Kress. Her novels are firmly rooted in their characters, with the ideas being secondary. She taught me to delve deeper into my characters and to let them drive the story, not vice versa.

Role-playing games played a strong part in my writing because you not only have to create characters, but you have to BECOME them in the game. Unlike actors who follow a script, YOU are driving the story and actions of your character in reaction to the characters and situations created by the others in the game. The good part is that you don't have to be an actor -- and I'm definitely not an actor.

Describe your writing process -- do you write every day? How much time would you say you spend writing in a week?

I try to write every day, but real life and the Internet too often interfere. The best answer I can give is that I write several hours a week, and not as much as I should. I'm trying to discipline myself to crank out at least two novels a year. Currently, I'm not an efficient writer because I go for quality over quantity. Some writers do quantity first then add the quality later. I'm too anal. I can't sweep something under the carpet to deal with later.

I've proven to myself that I can write a full novel in 3-4 months once I have it outlined and the characters created, so I'm trying to discipline myself to make that a regularly achievable goal.

Many writers also agree that it's better to write a little something every day than a burst in one or two days each week.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Take several (as in more than one) GOOD workshops. When possible, live ones are preferable to the online kind because the live interaction is so much better.

Join a critique group, either locally or online. Look for ones that have experienced writers in the mix. You won't learn much from a group of all beginners.

Attend some writers' conventions. These are where you make contacts that will serve you well when it comes time to market your writing.

There are a lot of really good books on writing. Buy some and READ them. I highly recommend that you subscribe to "Writer's Digest" magazine. It contains a lot of great information.

Be willing to accept -- and act on -- serious criticism of your work. Successful writers listen to critiques and learn and grow from them.

Tell us what you're working on now.

I have several projects in various states of completion. At the moment I'm focused on the "Mortal Vampires" trilogy, being written in collaboration with Chris R. Hosey, a gentleman I met in an online venue. The first novel, Vampires, Inc. is completed. The second, Vampires Anonymous, is just a few chapters away from completion. My co-author and I are currently seeking a new publisher for the series. Check out my website www.ricktaubold.com for news and updates and to learn more about me and my work.

I welcome email from readers and writers. Feel free to contact me through my website with comments and questions and I'll do my best to answer them. But please don't ask me to read and critique your manuscript. I highly recommend joining www.zoetrope.com (it's free!). A lot of talented writers, as well as beginners, hang out there and help one another with all aspects of writing and getting published.

Thanks, Rick, for taking the time to answer my questions. I’ll be waiting for Vampires, Inc.