Ask the Author: P.G. Sundling
Answered Questions (11)
P.G. Sundling
The mystery for my life would be a medical mystery around my sister Katrina. It turned out that my sister had an immune deficiency, just like the one featured in the John Travolta movie about the boy in the bubble.
In real life, the mystery was not solved in time. She died at four years old, while I was seven. If the mystery had been solved, a bubble would have bought precious years with Katrina.
Of all my life experiences, Katrina's death hit me the hardest. It made me a more sensitive and introspective person, traits that I use as a writer. The survivor's guilt led to a lifelong battle with depression and suicidal thoughts. Those struggles have allowed me to be there for friends in dark places. There will always be a part of me missing until I join her in the afterlife. She is the reason that I know that love transcends death.
In real life, the mystery was not solved in time. She died at four years old, while I was seven. If the mystery had been solved, a bubble would have bought precious years with Katrina.
Of all my life experiences, Katrina's death hit me the hardest. It made me a more sensitive and introspective person, traits that I use as a writer. The survivor's guilt led to a lifelong battle with depression and suicidal thoughts. Those struggles have allowed me to be there for friends in dark places. There will always be a part of me missing until I join her in the afterlife. She is the reason that I know that love transcends death.
P.G. Sundling
There are so many possibilities. If I was still in my own body I'd pick Star Trek, where I would visit the cosmos. Their medical technology would extend my life so I could write more stories. It's a post-scarcity society where people are focusing on their own potential. That's appealing because I prefer my drama on the page, not in my life.
If I could be the main character, then I'd be Paul Atreides from the Dune Universe. I'd ride spice worms and use my voice to blow stuff up. The spice must flow.
If I was only going to be somewhere temporarily, then I'd pick someplace whimsical. I'd party with the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland like it was 1899. Or I'd explore Terry Pratchett's Discworld universe, which is a fantasy comedy setting.
If I could be the main character, then I'd be Paul Atreides from the Dune Universe. I'd ride spice worms and use my voice to blow stuff up. The spice must flow.
If I was only going to be somewhere temporarily, then I'd pick someplace whimsical. I'd party with the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland like it was 1899. Or I'd explore Terry Pratchett's Discworld universe, which is a fantasy comedy setting.
P.G. Sundling
I started with 1984, by George Orwell. It's an important book I've meant to read for a long time. It lives up to the hype.
Most of my summer reading will be research for my next novel, Hot Nights and Cold Wars.
There will be a lot about artificial intelligence and Cold War 2.0/military stuff:
The Intelligent Universe: AI, ET, and the Emerging Mind of the Cosmos
Ray Kurzweil books about AI and the Singularity
AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War
Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era
I also plan to read some writing and marketing books.
For myself, I'm reading books on health and meditation. Retiring to write full time has lowered the stress level a lot, but I still have a tendency to "run hot" as a person.
Most of my summer reading will be research for my next novel, Hot Nights and Cold Wars.
There will be a lot about artificial intelligence and Cold War 2.0/military stuff:
The Intelligent Universe: AI, ET, and the Emerging Mind of the Cosmos
Ray Kurzweil books about AI and the Singularity
AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order
Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War
Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era
I also plan to read some writing and marketing books.
For myself, I'm reading books on health and meditation. Retiring to write full time has lowered the stress level a lot, but I still have a tendency to "run hot" as a person.
P.G. Sundling
What a great writing exercise!
I'll go with the first thing that came to mind:
"A chill, a cold breath on your neck. Behind you."
The first thing I wrote with my terse cinematic style was a short story. It took place on underground caverns on an alien planet with Cthulu imagery. With novels, I worked different mental muscles, so it was fun writing something so short.
I'll go with the first thing that came to mind:
"A chill, a cold breath on your neck. Behind you."
The first thing I wrote with my terse cinematic style was a short story. It took place on underground caverns on an alien planet with Cthulu imagery. With novels, I worked different mental muscles, so it was fun writing something so short.
P.G. Sundling
The chapter "Gallows" from the novel The Internet President: None of the Above includes shocking history and shares an unconventional perspective on the immigration debate. There's a lot of satire in the book and I wanted to warn readers before laying down some uncomfortable truths that have a bit more gravity.
The following warning begins the chapter:
Warning: This chapter covers controversial topics: immigration and race relations. It recounts historical events and terminology that may be upsetting to some readers.
This is what's known as a trigger warning. It's probably unnecessary in the world of today and reduces some of the shock value of the chapter. However, I also see the world shifting toward affirmative consent, acknowledgment of microaggressions, and trigger warnings. The Me Too movement is the most recent example of this long-standing societal trend toward requiring greater respect to all members of society and deeper consideration of how our actions affect others.
What is acceptable behavior changes with societal perspectives. As a result, some books do not age well. I might be too far ahead of my time on this, but I expect trigger warnings will spread over time in books that include uncomfortable content. For example, legal disclaimers weren't always as common as they are today.
For those who want to inquire more about the content of "Gallows", read the books Driven Out and The Chinatown War from my "the-internet-president" bookshelf on Goodreads.
The following warning begins the chapter:
Warning: This chapter covers controversial topics: immigration and race relations. It recounts historical events and terminology that may be upsetting to some readers.
This is what's known as a trigger warning. It's probably unnecessary in the world of today and reduces some of the shock value of the chapter. However, I also see the world shifting toward affirmative consent, acknowledgment of microaggressions, and trigger warnings. The Me Too movement is the most recent example of this long-standing societal trend toward requiring greater respect to all members of society and deeper consideration of how our actions affect others.
What is acceptable behavior changes with societal perspectives. As a result, some books do not age well. I might be too far ahead of my time on this, but I expect trigger warnings will spread over time in books that include uncomfortable content. For example, legal disclaimers weren't always as common as they are today.
For those who want to inquire more about the content of "Gallows", read the books Driven Out and The Chinatown War from my "the-internet-president" bookshelf on Goodreads.
P.G. Sundling
The best thing about being in any creative profession (and I'm including coding software here) is when you are in the flow. These are when you have the breakthrough ideas or create something that's never been done before. This is when everything just connects and it FLOWS out from you seamlessly. It's the closest you can get to euphoria with your clothes on without mind-altering drugs.
P.G. Sundling
"Sit your butt in the chair" is the only cure for writer's block. When I depended on inspiration, I'd have ideas, but not finish writing anything. Nothing teaches like finishing things. It took me 19 years to figure that out. Hopefully, it won't take as long for those reading this answer.
P.G. Sundling
When I was younger I always depended on inspiration. Forget inspiration. The real key is a skill I developed later that I call "sit your butt in the chair."
You have to power through resistance. I'm one of those writers that has to screw around for 2 hours before I can begin. Make your own process, and stick to it. Inspiration will find you.
When you're not writing, jot down ideas and save them for later.
You have to power through resistance. I'm one of those writers that has to screw around for 2 hours before I can begin. Make your own process, and stick to it. Inspiration will find you.
When you're not writing, jot down ideas and save them for later.
P.G. Sundling
Read everything you write out loud. If you have someone willing, have them read your book to you out loud. It's a great way to detect unwieldy prose and bad dialogue. If your friend stumbles, so will a reader. Our brains auto-correct, so having someone read it will sidestep you skipping errors.
P.G. Sundling
There's an entire section called "Fact Versus Fiction" after the ending that goes into the specifics on what inspired the book. I can't go into specifics without revealing spoilers.
P.G. Sundling
After I clear the deck of everything else, I'll be working on my next novel, Hot Nights and Cold Wars.
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