Creating the Dragonlance World
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GB: Give us an idea of what it was like to create the Chronicles and Legends series as a team. Did the two of you work on separate areas simultaneously and then combine them into one cohesive storyline afterward or did you instead focus on one particular section at a time? Any memorable experiences or heated arguments you can tell us about? Margaret: Tracy and I always work together on the story line. Then I do the writing and he develops the world, background, etc. I always called him (now I email him!) with questions. For example (spoilers ahead), when the fiery mountain is about to fall on Tasslehoff at the end of the first book, I called Tracy and said, "Well, we've just killed off Tas because I can't see how on earth he's going to survive this." Tracy came up with the answer and Tas was saved! The funniest time was when I was writing the third book in Legends. We were facing a horrendous deadline and I'd just come to the ending and realized that we'd made a terrible mistake. In this scene, Caramon has to enter the Abyss. Now, Tracy and I had made poor Raistlin go through all kinds of hell trying to enter Hell (including traveling back in time) and now what was I going to do--just have Caramon stroll right through the Portal? I called Tracy and I was almost in tears. "What are we going to do?" Tracy said, "Calm down. I have the answer." I picked up my pen. Tracy went on: "There is a little known fact about Caramon that enables him to enter the Abyss." I was writing feverishly. "Yes, what is it?" Tracy replied solemnly, "Caramon always carries American Express." We did finally find a way to get Caramon where he needed to be, but I still laugh when I recall that.
Tracy: Margaret and I have developed a deep and abiding friendship built on a foundation of great respect. It's a joy for us to work together whenever a project comes along that interests us. We are currently working on a new six-book project together called '˜Dragonships' ... a fantasy-meets-vikings epic ... and it's still just as fun as ever.
GB: How would you compare your writing style in the 80's to the present day? Do you think the Chronicles and Legends series, specifically, would be significantly different if you started working on them now?
Margaret: I hope that I've grown as a writer in twenty years! I can't ever read anything I've written because I want to go back and rewrite it to make it better. One reason we wrote the Lost Chronicles series is to fill in the gaping holes that exist in the Dragonlance Chronicles.
Tracy: That's true! When we first discussed Lost Chronicles, one of our concerns was the difference in our writing styles from back then to the present. We decided that it was best to just use the craft that we had now rather than try to mimic our younger selves.
GB: When did you first learn that a movie based on Dragons of Autumn Twilight was going to be made and how much input has the two of you had during its creation?
Margaret I was in a restaurant in Galveston, Texas, with my sister and nieces when Cindi Rice called me to tell me that a movie deal had been made and was underway. Now, I have to admit that I was a bit nervous. Over the years, I'd heard about various DL movie proposals. One was from a Japanese anime company. They even sent along artwork. I still remember a Raistlin with big eyes looking about twelve, holding a little bird in his hand. Yeah, right! I also remember a truly horrendous DL script for Autumn Twilight in which there was absolutely nothing recognizable left of our story. I can't tell you how great it made me feel to read George Strayton's script and to discuss it with him and find out how truly dedicated he was to maintaining our vision of the book. And then to work with the director on the art and the composer on the music! And then to find out that some of the voice actors are fans. I can't thank the producers and Will and Karl and George enough. It's been such a wonderful experience.
Tracy: I recall that when I first heard of the production, it didn't make a big impression on me. There has been so many rumors down the years and false hopes raised that this just felt like it would be another dead end. But it turned out to be the real deal and, much to my amazement, the producers, writers and director were all willing to invite us in and let us help. They listened to us, to the extent that they were allowed, and I like to think that we helped.
GB: What challenges are involved with telling the Dragons of Autumn Twilight storyline in less than 2 hours? Are there any particular moments from the story that needed to be cut in order to fit into the movie's timeframe?
Margaret: Of course, lots had to be cut, but that's okay. That gives people a reason to read the book! :) One of my favorite scenes was cut, however, and I persuaded the producers to put it back in. That was Raistlin's farewell scene to the little gully dwarf, Bupu. This scene is important to me because it shows us a tender side to Raistlin's dark character, a side of him that is essential to understanding him and his actions later on in what we hope will be two more movies! I had a chance to hear Kiefer Sutherland reading this scene and I was moved to tears.
Tracy: You may find it shocking but I would have actually had them cut a good deal more! I would have preferred it if the first movie closed about mid-way through Autumn Twilight but Wizards of the Coast insisted that the entire book be in the first film. George Strayton did an absolutely magnificent job of dealing with the tightrope walk of getting the story in and creating solid screenplay. I've spoke to George recently on this ... we're both sorry to have lost the scene with the wicker dragon.
GB: It has been over 15 years since we played The Dark Queen of Krynn, which ended up being SSI's final Dragonlance video game. Now that a movie will be bringing the setting even further into the spotlight, what is the chance that we might see a new video game based in the Dragonlance setting?
Margaret: Second to a movie, a video game is high on the fan's wish list. I'd love to see one. I guess you'll have to ask Atari that question.
Tracy: I'm looking more toward the second and third movies before we start thinking video game. If the first movie is a financial success then we can make an even better second film. A better second film means an even better third film and that means the possibility of computer or console games. For me, this first film is the start of a wonderful journey ... not a destination.
Thanks for your time, Margaret and Tracy. Keep up the amazing work!
Dragons of Autumn Twilight will be released on DVD on January 15, 2008. Click here to pre-order a copy now.
