Q1: What are you working on?
I'm usually working on more than one thing at a time. Right now:
*I'm nearly finished with the third book in the Mankind's Redemption series, titled Mwalgi Justice.
*I'm writing a Sojourner Tales module in the Mankind's Redemption universe (or five systems) titled Hologames.
*I'm preparing for my Noble Ark launch party next week, which takes more time and preparation than I ever imagined.
Q2: How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I enjoy YA fantasy and it shows in my New Adult science fiction. My books have less techno-babble, less military strategy, and less time focused on ships moving through space than many similar sci-fi books. I focus on the interpersonal relationships and personal struggles of my characters, while they not only struggle to survive the physical challenges surrounding them, but struggle to resolve deep personal conflict. Most good stories do that, but I tend to spend less time on the technical accouterments.
Q3: Why do you write what you do?
I think this answer has come up before on other blogs in this series. Because I'm strange. But really, I enjoy exploring the fantastical and how ordinary people might respond to it. When young, I used to have dreams of flying. It was so realistic, my stomach would drop and I would wake out of breath. Now, my dreams are of magic--whether supernatural or technological. Many people call my version of sci-fi space opera, but I call it galactic fantasy, because I delve into worlds that are fantastical. And imagining people moving through those worlds, with challenges that hold parallels to what we face in our contemporary world, is what I love most about writing.
Q4: How does your writing process work?
That's a loaded question, and definitely subject to interpretation. My brain is constantly playing with stories, and scenes within stories. Aprilynne Pike said something similar to this once, "The stories that stick,are the ones I bring to life." That's how it is for me.
I usually outline my stories, especially novels, though I'm still playing with the degree of outline I engage in. There's a lot of research that has to take place, some of it before the outline, some during, and some in the process of writing. That research process seems to work best for me. I write during the day while my kids are at school, so usually mornings are "writing time," and early afternoons--when I'm drowsy and trying not to fall out of my chair--is when I handle other aspects of the writing business. If I'm lucky, I get some time to write in the evenings, which is usually when I'm the most creative. With a family, that doesn't always happen, but we work it out so everyone gets the time they need.
Participating in this tour has been a lot of fun. Thanks you, Scott. I now pass the baton to three supremely talented writers:
1. Brad R. Torgersen is a multi-Hugo award nominee, is a Writers of the Future award winner, and has also won the Analog magazine AnLab readers’ choice award. A regular in the pages of several magazines, Brad’s first novel, THE CHAPLAIN’S WAR, comes out from Baen Books in October 2014.
Discover Brad's Writing Process next week at: http://bradrtorgersen.
2. Freelance writer, novelist, award-winning screenwriter, editor, poker player, poet, biker, roustabout, Travis Heermann is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop and the author of the Ronin Trilogy, The Wild Boys, and Rogues of the Black Fury, plus short fiction pieces in anthologies and magazines such as Weird Tales, Historical Lovecraft, and Shivers VII. As a freelance writer, he has produced a metric ton of role-playing game work both in print and online, including Legend of Five Rings, d20 System, and the MMORPG, EVE Online. He enjoys cycling, martial arts, torturing young minds with otherworldly ideas, and zombies. He has three long-cherished dreams: a produced screenplay, a NYT best-seller, and a seat in the World Series of Poker.
For interviews about the Writing Life, and for his Writing Process blog next week, check out his Author Interview Series at the Ronin Writer: http://travisheermann.com/
Q3: Why do you write what you do?
I think this answer has come up before on other blogs in this series. Because I'm strange. But really, I enjoy exploring the fantastical and how ordinary people might respond to it. When young, I used to have dreams of flying. It was so realistic, my stomach would drop and I would wake out of breath. Now, my dreams are of magic--whether supernatural or technological. Many people call my version of sci-fi space opera, but I call it galactic fantasy, because I delve into worlds that are fantastical. And imagining people moving through those worlds, with challenges that hold parallels to what we face in our contemporary world, is what I love most about writing.
Q4: How does your writing process work?
That's a loaded question, and definitely subject to interpretation. My brain is constantly playing with stories, and scenes within stories. Aprilynne Pike said something similar to this once, "The stories that stick,are the ones I bring to life." That's how it is for me.
I usually outline my stories, especially novels, though I'm still playing with the degree of outline I engage in. There's a lot of research that has to take place, some of it before the outline, some during, and some in the process of writing. That research process seems to work best for me. I write during the day while my kids are at school, so usually mornings are "writing time," and early afternoons--when I'm drowsy and trying not to fall out of my chair--is when I handle other aspects of the writing business. If I'm lucky, I get some time to write in the evenings, which is usually when I'm the most creative. With a family, that doesn't always happen, but we work it out so everyone gets the time they need.
Participating in this tour has been a lot of fun. Thanks you, Scott. I now pass the baton to three supremely talented writers:
Discover Brad's Writing Process next week at: http://bradrtorgersen.
2. Freelance writer, novelist, award-winning screenwriter, editor, poker player, poet, biker, roustabout, Travis Heermann is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop and the author of the Ronin Trilogy, The Wild Boys, and Rogues of the Black Fury, plus short fiction pieces in anthologies and magazines such as Weird Tales, Historical Lovecraft, and Shivers VII. As a freelance writer, he has produced a metric ton of role-playing game work both in print and online, including Legend of Five Rings, d20 System, and the MMORPG, EVE Online. He enjoys cycling, martial arts, torturing young minds with otherworldly ideas, and zombies. He has three long-cherished dreams: a produced screenplay, a NYT best-seller, and a seat in the World Series of Poker.For interviews about the Writing Life, and for his Writing Process blog next week, check out his Author Interview Series at the Ronin Writer: http://travisheermann.com/
3.D.T. Read is the author of The Sergey Chronicles, a military science fiction trilogy. The Sergey Chronicles is the story of a military family caught at the center of politics during an interstellar war.
Diann is currently working on Running from the Gods, the first book in a new young adult space fantasy series, The Seventh Shaman.
Diann served for 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, a career that included tours of duty in South Korea, Bosnia, and Iraq, and that indelibly influenced the stories she tells. She learned her craft from such mentors as Orson Scott Card, C.J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Moon, and David Farland, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Diann is married to NASA scientist and martial artist Jon Read. They live in Houston, Texas.
You may reach her at:
Website: www.DiannThornleyRead.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DiannTReadDiann served for 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, a career that included tours of duty in South Korea, Bosnia, and Iraq, and that indelibly influenced the stories she tells. She learned her craft from such mentors as Orson Scott Card, C.J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Moon, and David Farland, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Diann is married to NASA scientist and martial artist Jon Read. They live in Houston, Texas.
You may reach her at:
Website: www.DiannThornleyRead.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/d.t.read.author
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dianntr
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7092084.Diann_Thornle
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