| 50 Book Pledge | Book #16: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster |
I’m thrilled to be hosting Ursula Poznanski on The Pen Stroke today for a stop on her whirlwind Erebos Blog Tour.
Welcome Ursula!
What inspired the world of Erebos?
On the one hand, I had watched some YouTube videos of current games and I had played myself (Diablo, for example). I wanted the “look” of the game to be recognizable and attractive to gamers. On the other hand, I had something very real to inspire me, something very crucial to the plot. This element needed to be hidden inside the game, so in a certain way it formed the world of Erebos, too.
How important was it that your characters be able to practice free will?
I wanted to give them the possibility to stop playing whenever they wished to—not without obeying the rules that are connected with backing out, of course. The game needs enthusiastic players, not forced ones.
How difficult was it for you to tow the line between the virtual world of Erebos and the real world of London?
That was pure fun, no difficulty at all. I loved switching between the worlds, accompanying Nick and Sarius by turns. I really loved to write everything that took place in London—I had a city map on my desk and Google Maps opened in my browser, so it almost felt like being there myself.
Why did you choose Greek mythology for the foundation of Erebos and its founding characters?
I was looking for a dark deity with an impressive name, so I came across Erebos. It would have been a terrible waste not to use all the cross connections that offered themselves, once I had found the “name of the game” and so I happily integrated them into the plot.
Were you ever hesitant to employ such incredibly dark imagery in Erebos?
No. I really felt that the game had to be dark. It had to have a threatening look and to be appealing and mysterious at the same time. Erebos doesn’t pretend to be an innocent amusement—it shows its spirit from the very beginning, but of course the players do not take that seriously.
A special thanks to Ursula for dropping by The Pen Stroke!
Erebos Blog Tour Schedule:
March 25: YA Bookshelf, www.yabookshelf.com
March 26: Bookosaur, www.thebookosaur.com
March 27: GreenBeanTeenQueen, www.gree
