INTERVIEW: Modern Fantasy Author Bruce Nesmith

Bruce Nesmith

USA

 

Good morning, Bruce, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site for art and authors. It's pleasure to have you here this morning. You are a big deal in the gaming industry. We feel lucky to have you with us. So now we hear you've taken on the title of author, too. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?

I’ve published two novels, Mischief Maker and Odin’s Escape. Book three of the Loki Redeemed series is due out in March 2023. Prior to that, I was the lead designer for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim video game, and was a senior designer for Daggerfall, Oblivion, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, and Starfiedl. Before entering the video game industry, I wrote D&D games for TSR, most notably the Ravenloft campaign setting.

 

What is your favorite genre to write?

I’m very fond of fantasy set in our modern world, like my Loki Redeemed series. I very much want to write science fiction and will likely try that next.

Favorite food.

I have a weakness for anything sweet and baked. I love to grill and like to think my ribs are pretty good.

 

Tea or coffee?

Diet Dr. Pepper. I never picked up either the tea or coffee habits.

 

Pizza or ice cream?

Why choose? But if I had to, ice cream.

 

Wine or beer or soda or what?

Soda. My kids say if you cut me, I’d bleed Diet Dr. Pepper.

 

Where would you like to visit?

Krak des Chevaliers. It’s an amazing crusader castle located in Syria that has always fascinated me. Unfortunately, Syria is a war zone and likely will be for years to come.        

 

Favorite musical artist.

Led Zeppelin, One Republic, 

Fleetwood Mac  

 

Do you listen to music when you write? 

Music would distract me. I’m able to tune out background noise, so I don’t need total silence, but I end up paying too much attention to music if it’s on.

 

What makes you laugh?

Babies laughing, silly pet stunts, my wife’s improvised songs.

 

Favorite work of art or sculpture.

There is a bust of John F. Kennedy in the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Viewed from one side he is a young man, from in front more mature, and from the other side, older. I’ve always admired that.

 

How old were you when you started writing?

I wrote my first published work at twenty-five, an adventure for the Marvel Super-heroes role-playing game. I’ve only started writing novels much later in life.

 

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? 

Or just write?

I write an outline and character descriptions. Sometimes neither survive to the end of the book, but I can’t write without having some idea of where I’m going. I admire those who can write without a plan, but I’m not one of them.

Describe your perfect evening.

Steak dinner, a great stand-up comedian, Netflix and chill, then soak in the hot tub.

 

Where do you get your inspiration?

I read voraciously and watch all kinds of fantasy and science fiction movies and TV. 

Combined with my long career in gaming, and I no problems with inspiration. It’s all around me. I like to take accepted ideas and twist them whenever possible.

 

What do you do when you get a writer's block?

Move on. I got blocked about three quarters through my first book. I skipped over the section I couldn’t figure out and wrote the ending. By then I knew what had to fill the missing piece and wrote it.

 

Who is your favorite author?

Roger Zelazny, James Butcher, Iain Banks, Holly Black, Alastair Reynolds, Seanan McGuire, Adrian Tchiakovsky

 

Best book you ever read.     

Roger Zelazny’s Lord of Light

 

Last book you read.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

 

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?

I was fortunate enough to already do my dream job. I wrote role-playing games and video games.

 

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?

My wife, Laurie. She took an awkward nerd and turned him into a well-rounded person.        

                                              

 

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

Robin Williams. I’ve never laughed so hard as I have at most of his appearances.

 

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?

Write because you like doing it. Fame and fortune may not follow, so do it for fun. It also happens to be a good path to turning it into a career.

 

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065304827763

Thank you, Bruce, for taking time out of your busy video game development and your writing schedule to interview with Vision and  Verse.  

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