Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve done a number of things, traveled widely, gotten to know people from around the world. I’m an internationalist with correspondents from Australia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Europe, and China, plus of course many in the US. As a result, I’ve ‘reinvented myself’ a number of times during my life; I’ve also written of the process on my blog.
I’ve been a professional soldier (now retired), a teacher of middle-school science (retired from that too), a hobbyist with an astonishing number of interests. I’ve been a horse trainer and breeder (I’m in the AQHA book as a breeder), a photographer, woodworker and carver, a builder of armor that I used in fighting, so much more! I’m insatiably curious. Currently, I’m an amateur musician who performs once or twice a week, a birdwatcher, and an amateur scientist. I hope to publicize my solution to global climate change this summer; I’ve been cleared to set up the experiment at a school in Albuquerque and with luck, the media will come out and see what we’re doing. I also intend to publish an essay, with latest results, on Amazon.
I’m a grandfather and husband; my wife and I have been married almost 50 years and we’ll celebrate that anniversary in June.
I’m a member of Mensa and the Society for Creative Anachronism.
I blog on writing at http://jacklknapp.com; my other blog, http://jlknapp505.com is for everything else, including comments on science, math, economics, politics, and current events. I also post daily on Facebook. All of my activities are done using either jlknapp505 or Jack L Knapp.
I’ve written six novels, three in one series, three in another, a novella, and a short story. The short is free on Apple, B&N, Kobo, and other places. All my books are available on Amazon, most are on those other sites.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest is Home, the third book in the Darwin’s World series. A number of things caused me to write about this, my own studies involving geology and paleobiology, the books and movies in the Jurassic Park series, Heinlein’s Tunnel in the Sky, and the realization that if I wanted to read a book about modern humans in the Pleistocene Epoch, the age of sabertoothed cats, mammoths, dire wolves, and shortfaced bears, I was going to have to write it myself. I also noted the increasing trend to personal isolation, the texting rather than talking, videogaming rather than coversing or interacting, that sort of thing. So I asked the age old question, “What if…” and came up with Darwin’s World. The series takes a main character from being totally alone, totally free, to realizing he needed to be part of a family, then a larger group, finally part of a community.
To avoid preachiness, I used various adventures and challenges that the characters could confront. But to illustrate the danger, not all will make it through the series. It’s only dangerous if bad things happen. I tend to be tough on my characters!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really; I write a LOT. Most of it is nonfiction, much of it is on Facebook. My longer FB posts end up on my blog.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Heinlein, too many others to count! I’ve been a lifelong reader with a wide range of interests. I look at Baen’s publications each month. A number of writers who publish through Baen are favorites. I like WEB Griffin, most of the time. I also follow a number of Indie writers now. I correspond with a number of other writers as time permits.
What are you working on now?
Two new novels, working titles The Ship and The Veil of Time.
The Ship is standalone but may eventually become a series. It deals with the difficulty in bringing a truly revolutionary discovery to market. How would you manufacture a spacecraft using a totally new propulsion system? Would rocketry manufacturers buy it, or would they be hesitant? They have projects ongoing, money invested, patents, financing, boards of directors…what about all of those? Will they accept disruption, or go with the status quo?
The other is a fourth novel in the Wizards series. What was a trilogy is about to become a series, exploring the concept of paranormal abilities such as telepathy and others. There are serious efforts to develop such by major universities as well as the CIA and similar agencies. Some results, not released, have been described as ‘mind boggling’. I asked “What if…” and went from there. My protagonist is no superman, however; he’s a former soldier with PTSD, an ordinary fellow who would just as soon be left alone. The fourth book will explore the concept of a child with paranormal abilities, lost in the past.
Both books will require extensive research; I don’t mind, I love learning new things!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still working on that. Current, by far is produce more books of the highest quality you can manage. The second best is to use selected email promoters. Passive promotions don’t work, listing books on a site and hoping someone will wander by and discover them, but active email promotions can work, depending on the promoter.
I’m doing an analysis of each such promotion. Currently one delivers strong value for the money invested, one is just above break-even, others are a waste of money. Most such promoters can provide downloads of free books, but asking readers to pay as little as 99¢ reveals that free downloads give a false impression. Many of the freebies don’t get read. I’ve got a couple of hundred on my iPad, waiting. Some have been waiting for more than a year. What I download today will be replaced by new ones tomorrow…get the idea?
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write.
Every day.
Writing is a profession. Treat it as you would any other job.
Learn grammar and spelling. Learn the ins and outs of formatting. Get an editor you can work with.
Learn to promote your work. Amazon has more than 3 million books available. Promote, to make your book stand above the herd.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ll skip this one. Nothing stands out.
What are you reading now?
Nothing at the moment; I’ve got a few hundred books waiting, when I have time. I’m just too busy to read.
Such a strange statement from a lifelong reader who ALWAYS had a book handy!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Write more.
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?
I might not. I might end up writing a new book in the sand! Yeah, I’m that driven.
I caught the writing bug late, but it’s a terminal disease!
Author Websites and Profiles
Jack Knapp Website
Jack Knapp Amazon Profile
Jack Knapp’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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