A:    This one is hard to answer in fifty words or less.  Basically, the editorial direction changed while the book was being written. My mandate was to create continuing, shared-author characters -- Bronwyn and Ebenezer Stoneshaft -- and introduce a conflict/conspiracy that would be continued in other novels and game products. When these plans fizzled out, Thornhold was left with a head-scratching conclusion and a lot of loose threads. The ending would have been fine, if there had been a preview for the next story following it. As things stand, it's a bit perplexing.  Am I happy about this?  Well, no. But on the positive side, I had a great time with the Ebenezer and the dwarves, and the experience really impressed upon me the need to write self-contained stories, even within a series. 

UPDATE:  WotC plans to release a collection of my short stories in 2007 as part of the Best of the Realms series.  I'll be writing a new story that will pick up some of the threads from Thornhold.  I'm very pleased with this new development, as I didn't expect to have the opportunity to resolve some of the issues left unanswered by this book.

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