After nailing Jim down to his chair, we managed to pry out of him the questions he gets most often. He actually decided to supply us with the answers before we had to get out the bamboo slivers to shove under his finger nails.

How did you start writing for White Wolf?

I've been a gamer for years. I like roleplaying. When I met the folks at White Wolf I was working for the now defunct Game Shop News as an ad weasel. I'd never heard of their games, but because they were local I went out to meet with them in person. They gave me copies of their games, the newest at that time was Vampire: The Masquerade, and I read them and got hooked. They had some great ideas, truly innovative concepts on not just interacting with the monsters, but actually playing them. Before long I was having ideas for stories in their universe, and I managed to convince Andrew Greenberg, the Vampire Developer at that time to give me a chance.

What's your work area like?

Chaos. I've got a computer on a desk, and the desk is surrounded by notes to myself and research materials. It would probably be condemned by the Board of Health if they ever saw it. I've got a few knick knacks sitting in various spots just to look at or play with when I'm thinking.

How about your room?

Organized chaos.

You help a lot of people break into writing. Why is that, and what is included in the Jim Moore Advice Pack (tm)?

I got a lot of help breaking into the field, it's only fair to reciprocate. I'll sometimes give advice on someone's writings if they request it, I'll also recommend very heavily that they sign up with the Horror Writers Association. The HWA was extremely beneficial to me.

What does the HWA do and what did you do for them?

At various times I was the secretary and the vice president of the HWA. The organization exists primarily to aid writers in making connections and to remind the populace at large that horror is alive and well, contrary to what the doomsayers might want you to believe.

Behind many great men there is a great woman. Who's the great woman in your life?

My wife, Bonnie. She's been incredibly patient with the strange hours I keep and very tolerant of the fact that I'm a terminal slob. She has also been my best critic. She keeps me properly rooted to the ground and reminds me that a little success in writing is not good cause for a swollen head.

A lot of horror writers and fans get a lot of guff for their love of horror. Do you? If so, how do you handle it?

Sure. I don't let it bother me. I'm not fond of war movies, nor am I heavily into soap operas. If I can forgive those who watch them, than they can either forgive me my odd notions or they are not worth the trouble of considering.

How would you advise kids with less-than-understanding parents to handle it?

Those whose parents don't understand should make a deal with their parents. Switch books. Read one of their parents' book and have one or both of the parents read one of theirs.

With the trend of traditional monsters being written into roles as an anti-hero or protagonist, you introduced a monster's worse nightmare...Sam Haight. How did he come about?

I've always felt there should be a predator for the predators. Sam is the result of a closed society that accepts only certain standards and my mind toying with what happens when an outcast in that society is pushed too far. I just wanted to see what would happen with a story like that, so I wrote it.

How did he impact the world of Werewolf?

He made a mess. I think it was a mess most people liked, but he definitely made a mess. Sam could do what no one else could, he got too powerful too fast, and in the end he paid the price. He's an example of good intentions gone very, very wrong.

What clan/tradition/tribe would Jim Moore be as a: vampire, werewolf, mage and faerie?

Samedi, Red Talon, Euthanatos, Red Cap. Groups that help soothe my more violent tendencies.

What horrifes you?

Everything. Mortality, not my own but that of the people I care about. I loathe the idea of losing loved ones.

During the course of your professional career, you moved from being a fan at conventions to being a guest. How has that changed the way you approach those you admire?

Substantially. I realised after meeting a few of my idols that they are only people too, and that they would rather be treated as such.

How do you like being approached when a fan sees you?

Please, God, don't regale me with tales of what your characters accomplished. An anecdote or two is fine, but I don't need to hear life histories. Other than that, I'm open for conversation or discussion. Naturally, if anyone wants to give me money, I have no objections.

How do you see the role of gamemaster/storyteller? What responsibilities does that include?

The gamemaster is the person writing the story. It has to be interactive, and it has to be fair. Everyone gets equal time and everyone should follow the same rules. The GM is also a mediator, so patience is a plus.

What's your ideal project?

A multimillion dollar movie based on my first best selling novel. And while I'm dreaming, I'd like to have a pony.

Which of the writers you've met have had the greatest impact on your life, professionally and personally?

H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, Clive Barker, Robert R. McCammon, Harlan Ellison, Thomas Monteloene, Charles L. Grant, Joe R. Lansdale, F. Paul Wilson, Rick Hautala, Brian Lumley, Peter Straub, Ira Levin, Lisa Cantrell, Graham Watkins, Richard Chizmar and a few dozen others.

How do you deal with writer's block?

I like to work on several projects at a time. Normally I just switch projects and work on something else for a while and that does the trick.

Is there something you'd like to ask Jim? Just email the webmaster and we'll include it here, or you can email Jim directly.