How have these previous jobs helped you become a better writer? Yanes: You have an interesting background with many different jobs. I am so glad that I have been able to focus on exactly this, and full time since 2004. I was a P&P-roleplayer for years, which showed me even more worlds and possibilities. What can be better? My mind is always evolving new story ideas, which want to be told. There are no limits, without spending tons of money for special effects or CGI.

No, honestly and seriously, writing is incredible! All you need is imagination and some words, and if assembled in the right way, you can build every world you ever want. Heitz: As many other writers – from the beginning. Yanes: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career as a writer? Was there a moment this goal crystallized for you? I still like to read them, now as English originals, of course. So I changed slowly to the dark side and discovered Poe, Stoker, LeFanu, Lovecraft, Shelley and many others. I liked The Hobbit instantly, but also ghost stories and all kind of fantastic tales. Not my cup of very black tea (with milk & brown sugar, thank you). Markus Heitz: There were so many books and stories! We had a small library in my hometown, and I guess I read almost every book in it – except for the romance novels. You can learn more about Heitz by checking out his homepage and following him on Twitter at Growing up, what were some stories you loved? Are there any you still enjoy revisiting? Wanting to learn more about Heitz and his DOORS trilogy ( Waterstones, Amazon), I was able to interview him for ScifiPulse.

And as a winner of Germany Fantasy Award, Heitz is seen by many as one of Germany’s most successful and talented fantasy authors. While much of his work centers on dwarves – one of his best-known novels being 2003’s The Dwarves, which started a five-book saga – Heitz’s writings have also included dragons, vampires, werewolves, and parallel universes. Markus Heitz has been professionally publishing since 2002’s Das Zeichen des dunklen Gottes.

Aera Book 6 by Markus Heitz