27 March 2011

RT Convention Interview: P.N. Elrod on Worldbuilding in Urban Fantasy

RT Booklovers Convention starts on April 6th and if you’re going to be in Los Angeles, you won’t want to miss it. We paranormal fans are getting some series RT love with several dedicated panels including URBAN FANTASY: Worldbuilding in Urban Fantasy which features P.N. Elrod. If you’ve read her urban fantasy series featuring undead PI Jack Fleming, The Vampire Files, than you know that P.N. is an ideal panelist for this topic.

ATUF: How did you approach worldbuilding in your Vampire Files series?

PE: It was time and setting, not a "world" to me. The books are set in 1930s Chicago and I did my research at the library, going through newspapers and magazines of the period, watching a lot of gangster movies, and reading pulp mysteries. I didn't have to build a world, it was readymade. I changed one thing -- I put a vampire into it. A vampire with a smart lip and a sense of humor.

ATUF: What initially sparked the main idea for your world?

PE: I wanted to write a book set in that period. The idea of a vampire detective grew out of a gaming session for a role-playing game designed by Mike Stackpole--who got mentioned in the dedication. The main character, Jack Fleming--dealing with post-death amnesia--turns PI so he can solve his own murder. It's still a good read, the books are selling, so I must be doing something right.

ATUF: What comes first in your writing? The world, the characters or the plot?

PE: The characters, first and always. Good characters thrive in any plot and in any world.

ATUF: One of the topics being discussed at this panel is new directions in UF. Where do you see the genre a year from now? Ten years from now?

PE: I haven't the least idea. I know where *I* will be, and that's all that matters to me. I learned from Fred Saberhagen to not pay attention to trends. Write what you love, write the kind of story you want to read. Enjoy what other writers do, but do your own thing and stay true to it.

ATUF: What urban fantasy series world do you most wish was yours?

PE: The Vampire Files--oh, wait! That IS mine!

ATUF: How do you go about researching a world that isn't real?

PE: What I've already done, simply take an existing world/ time-place and extrapolate from there. One of this world's great resources is the fact that planet Earth has thousands of cultures to research and draw from. Many are quite alien to us in this century and in this country. You don't need to make up anything, just file off the serial numbers and have fun.

ATUF: What are the differences between creating human and non human characters?

PE: I consider all my characters to be human since it is my own best point of reference. My vampire heroes operate with a different set of rules, but that's what we all do in life. The rules I follow for my happiness in life are going to be impossible for say, a corporate banker to understand. To me, his lifestyle is as alien as that of any ocean-dwelling crustacean. That's more research than I want to tackle.

ATUF: What are the top three elements that are vital to establishing a vivid and detailed world?

PE: Geography/weather, tech level of the people, and understanding that it HAS to be logical and consistent. In other words--follow your own rules. If they become inconvenient to your plot, then rethink the plot to figure out the impact to your world should you break a rule. There should be an impact! But change is a good thing and keeps stuff fresh.

ATUF: How do you keep all the details of your world organized?

PE: Since my work is based on an existing world/historical period, I've no need. A trip to the library refreshes my memory and I put in enough touches in the book to give everyone a taste of the time. I'm not a fan of data dumps in my reading or writing. I put in just enough to get the job done.

ATUF: What is the best way to establish worldbuilding in urban fantasy without subjecting readers to info dumps?

PE: Find impatient beta readers who don't like the genre. Tell them to note when their eyes glaze over and they start skipping pages. That's where you tighten things up or trim out.

ATUF: What are you most looking forward to at the RT Conference this year?

PE: Hanging out with other writers and meeting readers.

ATUF: Which panel other than your own are you most excited about?

PE: I've not seen the schedule, so I don't know. I find all shop talk concerning the craft to be interesting, so this will be great fun. I'll learn a lot.

ATUF: Thanks so much for stopping by P.N. Come back anytime!

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P.N. "Pat" Elrod is the author of 24 commercially-published novels, more than 20 short stories, an editor and co-editor of several collections -- not bad, considering her incurable addiction to chocolate. She lives somewhere on another planet, but maintains a convenient citizenship in the state of Texas for tax purposes. In between the novel writing, Pat is polishing her script writing skills. Pat loves meeting readers of her books and guesting at Sci/Fi conventions all over the country--when she has the time!