The year was 1994, the summer was hot and boredom ran high. A friendly challenge was issued between two friends. The challenge was to see who could read the most books in one year. It has been almost a decade since then and I don't remember who won, but out of all the books the only book that I still remember was "Igniting the Reaches" by David Drake. This is the book that started my fascination with Drake's works. Even now, everytime I go to a bookstore I check to see if he has a new book out. Mr. Drake was kind enough to agree to answer some questions for me.

What inspired you to start writing in the first place?
I liked storytelling assignments back in grade school. In 8th grade speech class we were told to retell stories to the class. I used Bradbury and Charles Beaumont. That's really good training in what stories work. And in 11th grade my English teacher wrote professionally on the side (under the name Brad Steiger) which proved ordinary people could do it.

Which novel did you enjoy writing the most? Which book when writing it impacted you the most? In your opinion, what is your best book?
Golly,enjoy. Well, possibly With the Lightnings. Redliners was the book that made the greatest impact on me--it got my head out of the place it'd been for 25 years and allowed me to write books like With the Lightnings. And it's far and away my best book in the sense that it's helped other people whose heads are in bad places. (It stands up as a story too--don't mistake what I'm saying.)

What's you favorite book? Favorite Author? Which writer has influenced you the most? Who do you read for pleasure?
The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett; Ovid; Tacitus (probably) for influence; and among contemporary writers I read Vance and Pratchett with enthusiasm, but I've got a very extensive collection of pulps and digests. Right now I'm working through the 1931 Weird Tales.

How many stories are you working on right now?
Always one at a time. I'm plotting the next RCN novel.

Since the latest in RCN series, The Far Side of the Stars, was just released. What's your next project? Will be be taking a short break or jump right into the next book?
Oh, goodness--I just turned in the latest Isles fantasy and immediately started thinking about what would go into the next RCN space opera. Which I'm getting together now. I'm defined by my work.

How complete do you make the plot of a story before you write it?


Very complete. The longest plot outline was 26K, which is absurd; but still about 7,500 words per plot.

You write both sci-fi and fantasy and all your storylines are really well-thought out and interesting. Where do you get your story ideas from?
Jeepers, everywhere. I have eclectic tastes. Whatever I happen to be reading will generally spark the next plot when I need one. A fan mentioned the Hermione mutiny (which doesn't interest me), but I grabbed some of my material on the Somers mutiny and immediately had a setting for the next space opera.

Which genre do you enjoy writing in the most?
I love both fantasy and SF. Right now I'm looking forward to writing an SF novel.

How do you write your storyline? From beginning to end? On average how many drafts do you go through?
I generally work from beginning to end,though there've been exceptions. And I guess I do about four complete drafts. More on some chunks. (That's not counting the outline.)

On average how long does it take to write a book?
Depends on length. 6-8 months, I guess.

Do you ever get writer's block or stalled on a storyline? What do you do to move past it?
No, I don't. That's like talking about getting blocked while putting together a jigsaw puzzle. You keep moving pieces around till they start to fit again.

Any ideas when Hammer's Slammers Handbook: Vehicle designs & technical specifications plus an easy play gaming system is going to be released in the US?
Well, I think it's supposed to be launched at Salute at the end of April 2004 in London. I suspect it'll be a special-order item in the US, where miniature wargaming isn't as big as in England.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Jeepers, you mean beyond 'Don't quit your day job'? Don't do it unless you love to do it; and then don't complain if other people don't love the result. It's our choice to do this.

What do you like on your pizza?
Pepperoni, Italian sausage, onions, green peppers and mushrooms. (Well, cheese and tomato sauce too.) I remember fondly the restaurant/bar in Iowa City when I was an undergraduate with the George's Special: onions and green pepper with a single ball of excellent sausage in the middle of each square-cut piece.

For more information about David Drake please check out his official Website