Richard A. Knaak
Richard A. Knaak is an American author of fantasy novels. He is the creator of the Dragonrealm series, but has also has written novels for the Dragonlance , Diablo, Warcraft and Age of Conan series. Knaak studied chemistry and rhetoric at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning his Bachelor’s degree in 1984. Following that, he worked in warehouse, wrote resumes and worked as an office clerk before becoming a full-time writer in 1988. Knaak became interested in science fiction and fantasy after reading Storm Over Warlock by Andre Norton, while he counts Roger Zelazny , Edgar Rice Burroughs and Edgar Allan Poe as his influences and Robert E. Howard , Glen Cook , Harry Turtledove , Laurell K. Hamilton , Harry Harrison and Robert J. Sawyer as some of his favourites. He splits his time living between Illinois and Arkansas.