Interview With Author Stephen B. Anthony
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have over 30 years of experience in strategic IT management, with a strong background in writing technical documents throughout my career. Outside of IT, I’m a tenor with a rich history in community theater. Earlier in my life, I worked at the NSA and even appeared in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.
As an author, I’ve published one novel, am currently working on its sequel, and am also developing a modern fantasy series alongside it.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Transmigrant: The Niruku Conspiracy is the first in a planned trilogy set in the Terra Nova cluster, a region of space within 100 light-years of Sol.
Inspired by Asimov’s Foundation series, I envisioned a fledgling interstellar civilization—what might an empire of ten thousand worlds look like when humanity has settled just five, all relatively close to Earth? From this idea, the setting emerged.
The challenge was explaining how humanity reached these worlds. Generation ships, while central to the concept, are notoriously prone to failure. In my universe, early attempts were disastrous, wasting precious centuries as Earth teetered on the brink of overpopulation. To ensure success, humanity turned to absolute control: genetic engineering, strict population management, and indoctrination. Thus, the Transmigrant program was born—a system that conditioned colonists to serve as tools for expansion.
The story follows one such colonist, the first human to set foot on Tellarius. Tasked with harvesting resources and constructing a jump gate to connect the planet back to the Solar system, his mission is vital. But when the birthing lab fails—and evidence suggests it was intentional—he uncovers a horrifying truth: the colonists, designed to live short lives, were never meant to thrive. They were disposable, their purpose ending with the gate’s completion. Now, he must decide whether to expose the grim reality of colonization or accept his role in the system’s design.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if it’s unusual, but I think every writer has their own approach, and we don’t always know what others are doing behind the scenes. Personally, I don’t outline much—some writers swear by it, but I lean heavily on a stream-of-consciousness style. I throw words onto the digital page and sort them out later.
This process is messy but effective for me. For example, my 120,000-word novel likely involved writing over half a million words. Most of it was discarded or served to deepen my understanding of the setting, almost like my own version of The Silmarillion.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and J.R.R. Tolkien have been major influences on my writing. Asimov’s The Caves of Steel had a profound impact on me, shaping how I view storytelling. It was through this book that I realized science fiction isn’t a genre—it’s a setting. The story itself can be an adventure, thriller, mystery, romance, or a blend of these elements.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on Transversant, the sequel to Transmigrant, and am about halfway through the novel. At the same time, I’m in the planning stages for Transcendent, the final book in the trilogy.
In addition, I’m writing a modern fantasy series inspired by the Nephilim—the children of angels and human women described in the Bible. In my stories, the Nephilim are the true origins of the world’s heroic myths, embodying figures like the Greek and Norse gods.
But what if the Nephilim had children? Could their angelic essence have passed down through generations? And what might happen if that essence became dominant in one of their descendants? These questions form the foundation of the series.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Don’t know the answer to this. Still trying to figure it out. Goodreads, so far, has been the most useful.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write—every day. Set a goal of 1,000 words, and don’t worry about whether they’re good or not. The next day, spend ten minutes reviewing what you wrote, learn from it, and then keep going—whether you continue the same piece or start something new. Just keep writing.
When you write, you create a storm. Let it gather strength, build, and churn. And when lightning strikes, seize it—ride that flash of brilliance and let it take you somewhere extraordinary.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t buy sandwiches that contain mayonnaise from gas stations.
What are you reading now?
Dewey, by Dwight Evans. He happens to be my favorite baseball player of all time and a great human being. I hope he will read my book in exchange.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish up Transversant and move on to the next novel.
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?
Robinson Crusoe, for the commiseration; the Bible, for my spiritual needs; The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, for the humor; and an empty journal and five pens, to write my next book.
Author Websites and Profiles
Stephen B. Anthony Amazon Profile
Stephen B. Anthony’s Social Media Links
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