Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired Air Force officer who hasn’t yet decided what to do when I grow up, so I write science fiction and fantasy novels instead! Actually, I’ve been writing since some time back in elementary school, third grade for sure, when I wrote a one-act play based on the Mercury space missions (yes, I’ve been around that long).
I’ve written and published the first two books of an SF trilogy: The Eternity Plague and Chrysalis. Book #3 is in work. More on that below.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest published book, Chrysalis, is the sequel to The Eternity Plague. In Chrysalis, the Eternity Plague viruses (naturally mutated viruses that have infected everyone) cause most of humanity to, over a period of a few months, become encased in chrysalis-like shells. Once encased, their bodies mostly dissolve but then are reformed so that when people hatch, they are transformed–still identifiably human but with new capabilities, including not only an enhanced empathic sense, but the ability to transmit those feelings too.
There wasn’t any one particular inspirational event that kicked off this book (other than needing something more for the viruses to do to humanity!), although clearly the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly was an influence.
The main thing with this whole series is that I wanted to get away from the “evil scientist unleashes a deadly virus to get revenge” cliche. Dr. Janet Hogan, the scientist-heroine of the series, is much put-upon, but anything but evil.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Because I write in the afternoons and my mornings are spent doing lots of other stuff, I’ve found it helpful to spend the first 20-30 minutes of my writing time in what I call “napitation,” a cross between napping and meditation. This lets me calm my mind down and get it ready to write, edit, or whatever is on the schedule for the day.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hard SF writers like Michael Crichton for weaving real science into SF, and Ray Bradbury for stretching the boundaries of the imaginable.
What are you working on now?
Book #3 in the trilogy, tentatively titled Guardians. I’m finishing up draft 2 but there will be at least one more before I think it’s ready to be sent to an editor.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
BICFOK. No, that’s not a swear word. It stands for “Butt In Chair, Fingers On Keyboard.” That novel’s not going to write itself, Jackson! Oh, and by the way, you’d better be there on a regular and frequent basis. I write five days a week at the same time every day unless something unavoidable gets in the way.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
From Anne Lamott: “Give yourself permission to write a shitty first draft.” Man, is that powerful advice! Your first draft is NEVER your final draft (unless you die before starting draft 2), so feel free to stink up the page. The work WILL get better in drafts 2 and 3 and… 4 and….
What are you reading now?
Kristen Lamb’s Rise of the Machines, Human Authors in a Digital World.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Book #4, something completely different from the first three: an SF/fantasy mash-up featuring a character whom I’ve loved since I first met him in a short story that almost got published in Fantasy & Science Fiction a decade ago.
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?
How about a satellite-receiver equipped ebook reader so I could read all the books I wanted. (Oh, yeah, and a solar battery charger for it too.)
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