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Okay, back for page 22…have a weekend break here before heading back out on the road. It was wonderful seeing some of you folks out there, by the way…and Marge, if you're reading this, STOP and get back to work!

Okay, off and running:

Aulduron: You're touching my heart with those old EQ reminisces. There were some special times on Norrath.

WolfGirl: Drizzt is pretty reserved, so he doesn't often embarrass those around him. Now, Pwent on the other hand… I don't know how much I'll be able to get into the "wedding" of Drizzt and Catti-brie, because the Realms are moving so fast (forward), it's getting harder and harder to look back at all.

Make sure you and your sister read Stowaway - I think she'll love it.

Laethyn: Or, his family embarrassed him by having it!

Anushanne: It's always hard to start writing. There are always doubts about story, character, your ability, whatever. I still feel that with every book! Responses to writing are always so subjective - you know you'll never please everyone! - that it's hard to hold a level of confidence. You've got to fight through it, though!

My sister went to New Zealand and absolutely loved it. Someday I'll go, for certain. I remember going to Scotland, Isle of Skye, and coming home to write the first Spearwielder's book. I couldn't stop writing after seeing Duntulme. Also, the volcano on Hawaii (the Big Island) makes an appearance the first and second DemonWars novels.

I doubt Wotc would ever conflate our world with FR. They kind of went that way a long time ago (Maztica) and it didn't work out very well.

All of my books contain material relevant to the time at hand. The Orc King certainly did (there's one review I've posted here that nailed it exactly) and so too does The Pirate King. I'm searching for relevance without being preachy, and that's a tough balance to hold. And certainly I try to challenge the reader to ask questions - there's a scene in Longsaddle in the new book that speaks of torture as policy, for example (but in Harpell style!).

I'm proud of all my work, and thrilled that I've been able to create such a huge amount of material. Some books stand out, and certainly the work with the drow has been something that I think will keep my mark on the genre for a long, long time.

Sargai: Hehehe.

Laethyn: Be very afraid.

Wolfgirl: Not that I can think of, off the top of my head.

Anushanne: Think "cutting room floor."

Maniac: Hello Mike - it was great meeting you, as well. The book tours remind an author of why he writes. Internet communication alone skews the relationship between writer and reader, and not in a good way.

Lokken: By the way, I LOVE Europe. I mean that. My trips there have been amazing - the people have been warm and generous, the food incredible, and oh, the wine!

Arrevanthas: I can be.

Jay1987: Nothing much with Drizzt, but there has been some interest in DemonWars. Too early for any excitement, though. I'm hoping that I can stay nearer to home next year on tour. Nothing this year, however.

Medweasel: Well met and thank you for those kind words. I always like hearing from people who moved through my non-Drizzt books first (because it's rare!). it does kind of allow those books to stand on their own merits, for good and for bad. I remember when writing DemonWars, certain segments of the science-fiction community weren't receptive, because they hate everything TSR. My editor at the time told me she wished she could send them to these reviewers without my name attached. Ah well.

I'm glad you've jumped in and more glad that you're enjoying the ride! Oh, and I know all about your condition, as a friend of ours suffers. Have you tried doing some Yoga? I highly recommend the Living Arts series' with Rodney Yee, particularly the very gentle "AM Yoga." Good luck.

Nightwolf: Spelljammer? And Bouldershoulders? Oh, you bet.

Laethyn: Loved Holmes, and Bond - I mention that because these are the series on which I've patterned the Drizzt books. Notice how series like Wheel of Time grow from book to book, but with the Drizzt books, I've taken the Homes and Bond approach of self-contained tales.

Benetelmarini: Yeah, well, Jarlaxle took it personally. j/k

Nightwolf: Still. Won't. Happen.

Teacher: Use the e-signing! If you missed it, we'll be doing another for Christmas with both Stowaway and Pirate King. That's the best way. I hate having books go through the mail, as I've had a couple of bad experiences (with the e-signing, we have contingencies to fix that!).

And yes, Laethyn and Slim, this is a good idea. If you contact the book stores on this week's tour, they might have them signed and mail them to you. I'd suggest Powell's in Oregon, as they're an independent and have more leeway and most. But again, we will have a Christmas e-signing.

Pandorascurse: Hi Jenny! Yeah, it was great to see Pam again - unfortunately my schedule on this tour is so packed that I didn't 9and won't) have much time for socializing. But we did get to say howdy.

Jay1987: more likely, we'll see these guys back in Drizzt's books. But yeah, expect more.

Exar: I expect that you can count on it, since so much trauma is now hitting the Forgotten Realms (via the game products). So much of the foundation will change, and times like that require spiritual growth. So, yeah!

Okay, I caught up, and now, unfortunately, I have to close the thread down for a bit. I have a new book out, in case you haven't heard, and I REALLY need to avoid message boards like the plague at this time. I know the slew of "This one sucks" and "I'm done with Drizzt" threads will begin any day now, and honestly, if I happen upon anything like that, it makes it hard to open the computer and start writing again (and I have no spare time to waste).

So shut it down please, Lae. I'll be back from the tour on Saturday and I'll dig in hard on getting Ghost King done. Hopefully, we can chat again in November.

Until then, peace!

Bob