Interview With Author Gary R. Beebe Jr.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written two books. The first is an autobiography, but told more like a fictional story with me as the primary character. I wrote the book because enough people asked me to write my story. It was written while living in the seclusion of a yoga ashram in southern India over a period of 6 months and is a journey of the soul. The second book is a science fiction novel examining the comedy and tragedy of the human condition through the eyes of sometimes benevolent aliens trying to save their reality television series about the Earth.
My wife tells me I have a vivid imagination, and I guess that is true. I enjoy playing ice hockey and practicing yoga and also referee hockey from time to time. I also play guitar. My favorite pastime is trying to expand my spiritual self-awareness, which I have found to be a never ending journey.
I have spent my working life in the exciting business world of accounting and finance for technology companies, but I would much rather be telling funny stories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Caution Earth is my latest book. It was inspired by my observations of the human condition combined with many years of in depth self study. We humans are all the same, yet we allow our circumstances to drive us into a perception of terminal uniqueness. I have found through experience that every problem I have had in my life can be attributed to one problem, and that issue just manifests itself in many different circumstances, blinding me to the truth. I thought this theme could be explored through the eyes of more advanced aliens, who have a detachment from the human condition.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. My process is usually that anything I write is written in my head well before it hits the computer screen, making the writing process a manner of following a pre-determined story arc. Caution Earth had been in my head for about 6-7 years before I sat down and wrote it. A couple of the scenes in the book are adapted from blog posts or short stories that I wrote 12-15 years ago.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading mostly the fantasy genre. I love Tolkien. I also love Douglas Adams and the Hitchhikers Guide. Well, all his books for that matter. I love his sense of humor and how he uses absurdity to point out the human condition. I read and study philosophy and loved Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Pirsig. I am a student of the ancient teachings of Yoga and the specifically the underlying philosophy. I have read so much throughout the years that it is hard to keep everything sorted in my head.
What are you working on now?
I am about to start working on 20,000 Oms and a Cup of Chai, which is my first book. I am going to give it a re-read and release a version two of it next year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am new to book promotion so I am not sure I can give a good answer to this question.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write for the love of creating the story. Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do it now. My yoga teacher in India ran around saying this all the time. Take action.
What are you reading now?
I am reading a book on the psychology of stock options trading called The Mental Game of Trading by Jared Tendler. The psychology of the stock market and trading has always been fascinating to me.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have some ideas floating around in my head. I am not yet a full time writer so I have to write when I have the space to do so.
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?
The first book I would bring is “How to Escape from Being Stranded on a Desert Island” – I am not sure if this has been written yet but it would be useful.
Then I would bring Hitchhiker’s Guide, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
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