Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
So far, I’ve completed one novel: The Farthest City. I’ve also published a few short stories (Lonely, Lonely in Lore (available for free on Smashwords, B&N, and iTunes), and Space Tagger in Neo-opsis).
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Farthest City is a hard science fiction novel inspired by movies like the Terminator where machines wage war on the human race; however, The Farthest City flips that idea around and asks: what would happen if machines saved the human race?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do most of my writing on the train to and from work, during lunch when I can step away from work, and at the library when I can escape there. I also like to write on Steno pads where I can draw arrows connecting ideas and even sketches from time to time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Steinbeck, Haruki Murakami, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Tim O’Brien, J.R.R. Tolkien, Joe Haldeman, Ursula K. Le Guin, Cormac McCarthy, James Patrick Kelly, George R.R. Martin, James Harriot (James Alfred Wight).
What are you working on now?
I’m in the plotting and world-building stage of a series of novels set throughout the Milky Way Galaxy (or at least our part of it). The series starts with the idea the galaxy is occupied by alien species much older than humanity, including some beings that have evolved to the point of being god-like. Developing alien cultures, and even different human cultures as humanity expands into space, is proving to be a lot of fun.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve had a lot of success using Reddit, but I’m now experimenting with various promotion sites (such as Awesomegang.com!).
Do you have any advice for new authors?
In today’s super-saturated fiction market, it can be hard to get attention for your work, but don’t give up.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve heard a lot of great advice over the years, but I would point to this as a good example: http://www.hughhowey.com/so-you-want-to-be-a-writer/
What are you reading now?
I just finished Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My goal is to just keep writing, improve, and have fun.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Count Zero (Gibson), James Harriot’s “All Creatures Great and Small” series, The Diamond Age (Stephenson).
Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Swenson Website
Daniel Swenson Amazon Profile
Daniel Swenson Author Profile on Smashwords
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