BookHuntersBlog.com

BookHuntersBlog.com: Did you study the craft of writing or dive right into it?

Michael G. Munz: Oh, a little bit of both, really. I first discovered that I liked to write stories when I was a kid, though obviously my first efforts were hardly professional. As I became an adult, I sought out more formal instruction in the form of classes, writing conferences, books, and direct advice from more experienced writers. Of course, as the saying goes, “Writing can’t be taught, but it can be learned.”

BHB: What do you think about the future of books with all the new technology coming out (like Kindle and foldable screens)?

MGM: Without knowing too much about Kindle, I’d say I’m of two minds on the subject. On the one hand, my geekish leanings often have me interested in new technologies, both in practical terms (I can’t imagine how difficult revising a manuscript was before the word processor) and in terms of the general coolness factor. I’m sure such tech will also make books more accessible to some people. On the other hand, I love to write, and because I love to write, I want to be able to do that while making a decent living. Electronic books tend to worry me in that sense as I wonder how easily books can be copied. In making the book itself more accessible, does the author who put in the work of writing it lose his or her ability to be compensated? I’m sure we’ll find ways to deal with this issue, though. Neither the publishing industry nor the new technology is going away, and I suppose I look forward to seeing how they co-exist. Personally I still much prefer holding a book in my hand and turning pages.

BHB: How difficult was the publishing process for you?

MGM: “Was?” How about is? So much of the process is about marketing it seems (to agents, to publishers, to the public). Marketing isn’t my strong suit and I continually struggle with it, using energy I’d rather devote to the writing itself. To quote Peter De Vries, “I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork.”

BHB: How much of your own promotion do you do?

MGM: I’d say about 90%, give or take 10.

BHB: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

MGM: My first tip is to immediately figure out something to say when someone asks you if you have any tips for aspiring authors, because I’ve recently found this question comes up a lot! Actually at the moment two spring to mind. First, develop a thick skin and don’t expect instant success unless your father happens to own a publishing empire. It’s a lot more competitive out there than it may first appear, but the struggle is part of what will hone your writing skills. Secondly, have someone you trust to give you their unvarnished opinion read your writing. Sometimes it’s hard to be sure you’ve gotten what’s in your head onto the page, since when you read it yourself, your mind will fill in the blanks. Sure, it’s a blow to the ego when they tell you it’s not as good as you thought, but that should also help you to figure out why it isn’t so you can then fix it. It can be a single person or a writing group, but find someone.

BHB: What are your future plans?

MGM: For the moment I’m working on finishing up my second novel (a sequel to A Shadow in the Flames tentatively titled Legacy of Memory). I’m down to the last few chapters now, but I still have a lot of revising and polishing to do. After that I’ve got one more book in mind that will follow LoM, and then I’m not entirely sure. That’s not to say I don’t have further ideas, I just don’t quite know which one I’ll pick to develop. I may go on to write books that will take place in the same “universe” but centuries later, or I may decide to write an entirely different story altogether that I’ve got on the back burner.

BHB: How do you juggle writing with the rest of your life?

MGM: Often by neglecting my writing more than I’d like to. I manage to make time to write during evenings and weekends (and sometimes during the day if I have time at lunch from my “other” job), though some days that works better than others, depending on my energy level. On the other hand, I write in cafés as much as possible (hey, I’m from Seattle), so not writing as much as I’d like at least has the benefit of lowering my caffeine intake.

BHB: Do you have any methods or rituals to your writing?

MGM: Aside from the café thing (which is more a preference than a ritual), the only thing I really have is using a particular pen that I’ve had for years. It was actually given to me by my dad, and I’ve almost always got it with me. On the few times I didn’t have it and tried to write, the words didn’t flow as well. I’ve only recently started writing directly on a laptop (before I’d write by hand, then make my first edits as I typed up the handwritten pages), but I always at least have the pen with me on the table.

BHB: How do you find inspiration?

MGM: Often what seems to inspire me most is thinking about how a reader might enjoy what I write once it’s written. This could be just some abstract hypothetical reader, or it could be someone whom I’ve got reading my work as I go along. I consider it a good thing when they want to throttle me when they get to the end of the last chapter that I’ve written and find they have to wait for me to write more. (I love when that happens. I’m a sadistic bastard.) Seriously, though, I love to tell a good story. Oh, and caffeine always helps.

On Science-Fiction and Our Future

BHB: How do you prepare for your books? Do you read a lot of scientific publications?

MGM: I wouldn’t say I actively seek them out, but I do keep my eyes open for interesting articles in the news and other places (such as the occasional peek at Scientific American) that might spark an idea. I am currently reading a book by a Harvard physicist about other dimensions purely because it sounded interesting. I may get some ideas from that, though I’m not reading with the particular goal of preparation. I will usually do some research if there is something specific that I’m writing and I feel I need to know more about, though story trumps hard science with me.

BHB: In your book you deal with cybernetics and “hover” cars. What do you think technology will be like in 2051?

MGM: To be fair, the floaters aren’t TOO common in the book’s world, and it’s much more about the characters than the technology. That said, I expect technology in the real 2051 will surprise me. Just look at what many people thought the year 2000 would be like, with everyone living in space and each home having its own computer (which of course took up an entire ROOM). I don’t pretend to predict the future so much as just grab ideas that I think would help the story I’m telling. Aside from supposing the Internet will be absolutely everywhere, I’m honestly not sure. Realistically, I don’t expect cybernetics to be nearly as common as they are in the cyberpunk genre, and I seriously doubt we’ll ever see those flying cars they’ve been promising us for the past fifty years. They do make for an interesting setting, however.

BHB: Do you like the unlimited possibilities that you have in writing speculative fiction? Is this what drew you to this genre?

MGM: Definitely. I’m less interested in the technology than I am the flexibility it provides. (Most of my short stories, in fact, aren’t even sci-fi but more about the fantastic intersecting with the mundane, such as someone meeting the Greek god Apollo in a college café.) I’m a dreamer, and it’s the dreaming that makes me want to write. We (most of us, anyway) live pretty normal lives already. Why read about what’s normal?

BHB: Do you sometimes go “No, I can’t do that, that’s too far fetched”?

MGM: I’m sure I must, though I can’t think of any particular instances at the moment. They say the reader/audience will accept one major coincidence per book/movie. I think that’s debatable in either direction, but I do at least try to keep coincidence to a minimum. As for things like technology (in my novels) or magical “stuff” (in my stories) being too far fetched, mostly I draw the line at what I think I can make the reader accept. How that acceptance is achieved depends on what the element in question is.

BHB: Do you think that eventually our advanced technology will cause more harm than good? Do you think that movies like “Terminator” and “The Matrix” are a look at what’s in store for us?

MGM: I think knowledge of late seems to be growing faster than wisdom. One could argue that advanced technology is already doing more harm than good (one man with a club typically can’t cause as much damage as one man with a bomb, for instance, and then there’s the global warming thing), but I’m hopeful that further technology will be able to help us solve some of those problems (again, the global warming thing). I’ve always liked the thought that just because we can do a thing, it does not necessarily follow that we SHOULD do a thing. As for whether or not machines will rise up and destroy us, I suppose it’s possible. One could say that if machines of our own creation do wipe us out, we rather deserved it, though I guess that’d be small comfort for those not directly responsible. Of course, some post-humanists would likely argue that humanity is destined to become obsolete, but that idea doesn’t exactly make ME feel comfortable. And then there are those who think we already are in the Matrix…

BHB: Your favorite sci-fi movie?

MGM: I’m terribly wishy-washy when it comes to choosing favorites, so it really depends on my mood. Some sci-fi I enjoy for depth, some I just enjoy for pure fun, so my tastes are all over the map. Blade Runner, Serenity, and The Prestige all come to mind immediately. Terminator 2, Aliens, and 2001 (much better when one has read the book) also pop in there. Perhaps even Robocop. I’d mention the original Star Wars saga, but I suppose that’s more sci-fantasy. I’ve also got a soft spot for the long version of Dune (Lynch’s version), despite how…different, shall we say, it is. I hear they’re adapting Hyperion for the big screen. If they can pull it off, I’m sure it’ll join the favorite. I’d say that’s a big “if” though, and I’ve already blogged about just why the very attempt worries me.

BHB: This has got to be asked: Star Trek or Star Wars?

MGM: Why do people always have to put an “or” between those? Both are now such expansive settings, what with films, TV, books, etc. that there’s a wide spectrum of good and bad in each, and both have appealing elements. I’m taking a stand here and refusing to choose. Take that, Internet vs. discussions!

BHB: What were your influences?

MGM: Dan Simmons because of the masterful way he weaves his tales together. Terry Brooks because Elfstones of Shannara was the book I was reading when I decided that I wanted to give others the same sort of enjoyment I was experiencing (plus he also gave me some direct advice on A Shadow in the Flames). Frank Herbert and J.R.R. Tolkien because of the depths of their worlds. Douglas Adams because he had a fantastically entertaining writing voice. I’m sure I’ve also been influenced by other media such as Twin Peaks, Farscape, Babylon 5, and Firefly.

Thanks you for this opportunity. Best of luck with your career!

To find out more about Michael G. Munz and his work, please visit his Profile on AllTheseBooks.com, his official website http://www.MichaelGMunz.com, and read the full review for A Shadow In The Flames.

Posted on Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 8:38 pm under Author Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed and leave a response, or trackback from your own site.