Interview with Coy Kissee and Geoff Habiger, Authors of Dr. Gnoll

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

We enjoy doing genre mash-ups, and we thought that writing a fantasy spy thriller could be very challenging, so instead, we threw a semi-competent Bond-like protagonist into our existing fantasy world and wrapped him up in parody, puns, and inside jokes about D&D.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?

Coy: Flint would absolutely pick “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred, although I think we would prefer something like “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers. I like “Tennessee Stud” by Johnny Cash for Marty, but he’d probably pick something like “Ride of the Valkyries” by Richard Wagner.

Geoff: Dr. Gnoll would pick “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones. Maxine Charisma, the beautiful agent that Flint is forced to work together with, would pick “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Coy: I’m all over the map, which is probably why I lean toward mashing genres together.

Geoff: Like Coy, I read a lot of books in a lot of different genres, fiction and nonfiction. Whatever catches my eye.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Coy: I just finished A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman, so I’m back to rereading The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher so that I can start on Twelve Months.

Geoff: I just finished An Immense World by Ed Yong, and I am finishing up Retribution by Max Hastings. With two nonfiction titles, I will probably pick something that is fiction. I have Pendergast by Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston at the top, so I will pick it up next.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Coy: Any scene with Marty. I love Marty.

Geoff: Marty is always fun, but I really enjoyed writing scenes where Flint is at the Ministry of Unorthodox Natural Talents and Information-Nabbing (M.O.U.N.T.A.I.N.) to show his interaction with his boss “D,” D’s secretary Miss Copperpiece, and the Ministry’s head of magic Kew. I always enjoy seeing James Bond getting his gadgets from “Q” and really wanted to capture that feeling in the scene in the book.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Coy: I do not, sorry. I’m no fun. I know.

Geoff: I listen to a specific playlist—for Dr. Gnoll, it was all music from and inspired by spy movies. That might be quirky to some, but I have to have music to get in the mood. The only other habit (not sure I would call it “quirky”) is that the first draft for Dr. Gnoll (and all of our books) was written longhand. I feel that I am more creative when I write by hand.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Coy: I wish I had something deep and meaningful to say here, but I’ll just fall back on Galaxy Quest: “Never give up. Never surrender.”

Geoff: That is a good one. I have always tried to live up to the philosophy of Bill and Ted: “Be excellent to each other.”

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Flint Dagger will return…