Would you rather have critical acclaim, or commercial success?
What, I can’t be greedy and have both?
What was the first story you remember doing for the sheer joy of writing and how old were you?
I wrote a very bad science fiction story around the age of 12 called Take Out the Trash, Jon. The title really says it all. I wrote my first novel length manuscript, a fantasy, while in high school. Thankfully it was lost when my sister (who was editing it) moved from one apartment to another. The world is a better place for that.
What did you read that made you want to write your own fiction? Why do you think it had that effect on you?
I just recently had a long discussion with some friends about The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key. It was early juvenile science fiction that I checked out of the book mobile that came round to our tiny elementary school. Probably read it in the forth or fifth grade.
It dawned on me, during this discussion, that The Forgotten Door was probably the first book that really sparked my lifelong love of reading, and more importantly imagining possibilities beyond the possible. I developed a strong interest in science fiction, almost certainly, from that spark – not just an interest in reading fantastic stories, but in creating my own worlds to explore. To this day science fiction is one of my favorite genres for writing.
Looking at the fiction you’ve written to date, what kind of themes or elements does your work explore?
Most of my fiction is character based, and strives to tell tales of the human condition through interactions between characters. Oh, my. That sounds very pretentious when laid out in black and white like that, but I think it is true.
#5Do you write for a living or do you have a day job?
I have a wonderful day job, with bennies, which makes me quite happy. However, the siren song of writing is getting stronger every day. Luckily, I will be retiring before too much longer, at which time I can devote full time effort to my writing career.
Chinese Whisperings invites you to kick back with your favourite beverage and Take Five with The Red Book's co-editor and contributing writer Paul Anderson.
The Red Book, Audio Trailer
