Ask the Author: Steven M. Moore
Answered Questions (11)
Steven M. Moore
Jackal Lantern wanted legs and feet. He cut them off his victim.
Steven M. Moore
You're obviously asking about my reading and not my writing. While I read a lot of non-fiction, the fiction I read does transport me to different worlds. I can't say I have any preferences beyond sci-fi, mystery, and thriller stories, which I also write. We talk about the many worlds of quantum mechanics (an alternative to the usual Copenhagen interpretation); there are many worlds in fiction. I guess I'll just have to hedge on this question, but I can say that I prefer authors who do a great job creating their fictional worlds, whether in sci-fi and fantasy or in mysteries, thrillers, and other genres. That takes some skill and is the sign of a great storyteller.
Steven M. Moore
I'm planning to finish both Scattered and the Three-Body Problem plus a few other gift books I've received, mostly in my preferred genres of mystery, thriller, and sci-fi novels. With my new book, Rembrandt's Angel, about to be released by Penmore Press, I hope to have more time for R&R reading as well as reviewing for Bookpleasures. I can't stay away from the writing, though.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks for asking.
Steven M. Moore
There are several people I've been close to who seem to have disappeared from the face of the Earth--lots of mystery about what became of them. Also, my Mary Jo Melendez mystery #1, Muddlin' Through, contains a few mysteries I've come across in my travels. Of course, there are always those branch points in your life when you make a decision about what road to follow but wonder later how the other choice(s) might have turned out. If you ascribe to the Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, it would be fun to meet those Steve Moores who made the other choices...or even other ones who made the same choice but had things come out differently. Life is a wonderful adventure....
Steven M. Moore
Eric,
It depends, and a lot of the "depends" stems from external circumstances. The longest duration was probably for Survivors of the Chaos and Sing a Samba Galactica. Those initially were part of one long epic sci-fi novel that was repeatedly rejected by many agents and publishers. I went on and wrote and published Full Medical, The Midas Bomb, and Soldiers of God before I broke that epic into two parts, added a third, leading to today's "Chaos Chronicles Trilogy." The shortest was The Midas Bomb where I got in a zone (meaning Chen and Castilblanco sort of wrote their own story, taking me on a wild ride)--all the mentioned books now have second editions, by the way (I've been doing this a while).
Don't get me wrong. While my experience with publishing did an end-around the traditional route for the reasons above, I have nothing against traditional publishing--not even agents, because I know there are a few good ones out there. In fact, a forthcoming book, Rembrandt's Angel, will be published by Penmore Press, a traditional publisher (but small imprint, not one of the Big Five).
Generally speaking, the content flows pretty fast as I write a new book. I often take longer with the copy editing--my own, and reacting to my beta-readers'. There's a lot to publishing no matter how you do it--complete DIY self-publishing, traditional, or somewhere in between (Draft2Digital, for example). I like to publish at least two books per year. In 2016, I only did one, Rogue Planet (that went fast too--maybe two months for the content). But I don't like to rush things. On the other hand, writing is a wee bit like painting: If you overthink and overwork an oil painting, the colors become muddy and some of the original ideas get lost. Same goes for books.
I hope this answers your question. Thanks for asking it.
r/Steve Moore
PS. Some of the above is discussed in more detail in my little course on writing fiction, a PDF free for the asking--email me using the contact page on my website. There are other PDFs available--see the list on my webpage "Free Stuff & Contests." My website: http://stevenmmoore.com.
It depends, and a lot of the "depends" stems from external circumstances. The longest duration was probably for Survivors of the Chaos and Sing a Samba Galactica. Those initially were part of one long epic sci-fi novel that was repeatedly rejected by many agents and publishers. I went on and wrote and published Full Medical, The Midas Bomb, and Soldiers of God before I broke that epic into two parts, added a third, leading to today's "Chaos Chronicles Trilogy." The shortest was The Midas Bomb where I got in a zone (meaning Chen and Castilblanco sort of wrote their own story, taking me on a wild ride)--all the mentioned books now have second editions, by the way (I've been doing this a while).
Don't get me wrong. While my experience with publishing did an end-around the traditional route for the reasons above, I have nothing against traditional publishing--not even agents, because I know there are a few good ones out there. In fact, a forthcoming book, Rembrandt's Angel, will be published by Penmore Press, a traditional publisher (but small imprint, not one of the Big Five).
Generally speaking, the content flows pretty fast as I write a new book. I often take longer with the copy editing--my own, and reacting to my beta-readers'. There's a lot to publishing no matter how you do it--complete DIY self-publishing, traditional, or somewhere in between (Draft2Digital, for example). I like to publish at least two books per year. In 2016, I only did one, Rogue Planet (that went fast too--maybe two months for the content). But I don't like to rush things. On the other hand, writing is a wee bit like painting: If you overthink and overwork an oil painting, the colors become muddy and some of the original ideas get lost. Same goes for books.
I hope this answers your question. Thanks for asking it.
r/Steve Moore
PS. Some of the above is discussed in more detail in my little course on writing fiction, a PDF free for the asking--email me using the contact page on my website. There are other PDFs available--see the list on my webpage "Free Stuff & Contests." My website: http://stevenmmoore.com.
Steven M. Moore
Sounds like a Valentine's Day question. As an avid reader, I find it difficult to choose just one. Depends on what you mean by "couple," I guess. Are Deaver's two MCs a couple? They eventually are. Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple might be a couple because of their common sleuthing interests (an older woman can have a relationship with a younger man these days, but old Agatha never paired these two up). It might seem like immodesty, but the lesbian couple in my "Clones and Mutants Series" are admirable due to their devotion to each other. Of course, the couple with the most references is Adam and Eve, but people will probably argue whether they're fictional. But where would we all be without them? That's quite a potpourri of couples! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
Steven M. Moore
Hmm...there are so many. Series are easier. I'm most proud of the "Chaos Chronicles Trilogy," my version of Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. It goes from post-apocalyptic dystopia to space colonies and almost back and covers thousands of years of an alternate future. But The Collector in the "Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series" treats some serious themes in our society, but, then again, that entire series does that. #1 in that series, my YA book The Secret Lab, and my recent Rogue Planet were probably the most fun to write...the words just flowed as the characters took charge in telling their stories.
r/Steve
r/Steve
Steven M. Moore
What's writer's block?
Steven M. Moore
Entertaining readers. If I can entertain just one, I'm happy. Other than that, what could be better than telling stories?
Steven M. Moore
Learn the rules, pay attention to them where appropriate, and don't stress about your last book--instead, write the next one.
Steven M. Moore
Muddlin' Through will feature a new protagonist, Mary Jo Melendez. She's framed and has many adventures in Europe and South America before she finds out why. The Collector, the fifth novel in the "Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series," has the NYPD detectives chasing down villains in the sex trade. More than Human is a sci-fi project that is better left without spoilers.
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