Workin’ for the empire: 5 Wisconsin authors who write for established fantasy properties

Media tie-in authors have careers similar to those of movie stars—many write for big-name properties or brands (Star Wars, Star Trek, DC, Marvel) so potential readers will take a chance when one of their original works pops up in the wild. These efficient freelance machines turn out the content for the novels, toys, video games, and comic books that power these vast media empires, and many of them make their home right here in Wisconsin.

The A.V. Club tracked down some local authors and asked how they’ve affected world-famous worlds, created some of their own, and what they’ve had to shake to put money on the table.

Matt Forbeck
Location: Born in Milwaukee and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Best known for: The bestselling Guild Wars: Ghosts Of Ascalon, a novel that gives fans of the Guild Wars MMORPG something to read and argue about when they’re not playing the actual game. Forbeck also just released a book detailing the Beatles vs. Stones-equivalent argument of many a geek generation, Star Wars vs. Star Trek.
Personal project: Two novels through Angry Robot Books: Amortals and Vegas Knights.
Strangest gig: Forbeck wrote the script for the talking Star Trek Starfleet Command Mission Utility Belt toy. It may not sound that impressive, but he got to read the Star Trek script a year early in J.J. Abrams’ offices.

Stephen Sullivan
Location: Racine County, though he lists his hometown as Frosthaven, Wisconsin, the fictional setting of an upcoming series.
Best known for: Sullivan has worked on junior tie-in novels for Marvel’s Iron Man and Fantastic Four. His truly best-known work, however, is one he’s contractually obligated not to mention. (Sleuths can Google “1927 boys detective series” and solve the mystery.)
Personal project: Sullivan is releasing a series of stories in the gothic horror vein involving his “hometown” of Frosthaven, Wisconsin.
Strangest gig: The author ghostwrote Twitter messages for a millionaire CEO. What, you think Kanye doesn’t have a writer’s room?

J. Robert King
Location: Burlington, Wisconsin
Best known for: Edge Of Destiny, a novel set in the Guild Wars setting. He also wrote a handful of Magic: The Gathering novels for people that didn’t spend enough money on cardboard crack.
Personal project: Death’s Disciples and Angel Of Death, a pair of thrillers that mix angels, demons, and mythology in modern Chicago.
Strangest gig: King worked on an unauthorized companion to the Left Behind series that never saw the light of day. Was it the act of a devilish conspiracy?

John Jackson Miller
Location: Waupaca, Wisconsin
Best known for: Miller wrote the Knights Of The Old Republic comics for Dark Horse’s Star Wars line. The series does a great job at adhering to the things that fans love about Star Wars, while also slyly poking fun at them as well. He’s also moved on to another big space opera setting with books and comics set in the Mass Effect universe.
Personal project: ComiChron.com is a living history and document of the comic book industry. The health of the industry is looking good, thanks to high-profile comic-book films and the rise of the graphic novel.
Strangest gig: Before writing about Jedi and blasters, Miller was the editor for a lumber magazine.

Margaret Weis
Location: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Best known for: Weis and her writing partner Tracy Hickman are most famous for Dragonlance, a Dungeons & Dragons setting that became its own media tie-in property. Dragonlance has spawned multiple New York Times bestsellers, comics, short story collections, and a cartoon adaptation nobody likes to talk about.
Personal project: Weis’ most recent project, Dragon Brigade, trades in the standard medieval castles-plus-dragons setting and substitutes it for an age of sailing, navy-plus-dragons setting.
Strangest gig: Margaret was in talks to work on a Star Wars novel, but couldn’t come to terms with George Lucas. Must be awesome to look up at George’s throne on his mountain of cash and go, “Eh, no thanks.”