Ask the Author: John R. Bruning
Answered Questions (7)
John R. Bruning
Hi Art!
Thanks for the question. I start with some basic research, then go on research trips to gather more information. With Race of Aces, I came home with thousands of pages of documents that I had copied with a Canon 1DX digital camera. I organized those files back into their original documents by pulling them into .pdf files. That way, I could do key word searches, which proved to be extremely helpful.
All the files for Race of Aces took up about 15 terrabytes on a RAID Array hard drive system--sort of a mini server. That includes the scanned photos and photos I took during my research trips.
It took weeks to sort and read through the material, which revealed some surprising information that changed the original outline for the book. In fact, the research material contradicted my own original view on how the ace race in the SWPA developed, and I had to restructure the book as a result.
From there, as I started to assemble the chapters, I'd go in and delve deeper into the material as needed. At times, I would stop writing for hours as I sought out a specific fact I needed, or was cross checking something. If you go to my Instagram feed, or find me on FB, you'll see some of the photos of that process, and my research assistants, Sylvie and Leilu (they're felines!).
Hope that helps, and thank you for the question!
Regards,
John Bruning
Thanks for the question. I start with some basic research, then go on research trips to gather more information. With Race of Aces, I came home with thousands of pages of documents that I had copied with a Canon 1DX digital camera. I organized those files back into their original documents by pulling them into .pdf files. That way, I could do key word searches, which proved to be extremely helpful.
All the files for Race of Aces took up about 15 terrabytes on a RAID Array hard drive system--sort of a mini server. That includes the scanned photos and photos I took during my research trips.
It took weeks to sort and read through the material, which revealed some surprising information that changed the original outline for the book. In fact, the research material contradicted my own original view on how the ace race in the SWPA developed, and I had to restructure the book as a result.
From there, as I started to assemble the chapters, I'd go in and delve deeper into the material as needed. At times, I would stop writing for hours as I sought out a specific fact I needed, or was cross checking something. If you go to my Instagram feed, or find me on FB, you'll see some of the photos of that process, and my research assistants, Sylvie and Leilu (they're felines!).
Hope that helps, and thank you for the question!
Regards,
John Bruning
John R. Bruning
Had a bad case of this a few years back. Long conversations with my agent, his exceptional guidance and ability to kick me in the rear when I need it played a crucial role in overcoming it. Bourbon helped too, along with AC/DC tunes. :)
John R. Bruning
My office staff here in Oregon consists of three dogs and four cats. The office politics generally consist of who gets to sit on the printer next and who gets the larger dog bed in the library when I am working late. :)
Actually, it is hard to pick the best thing. I've been in the biz since 1996 and have totally lost the ability to work a normal 9-5 cycle. I write in the morning, then late at night. I've written books on the beach in Capitola, California (Mr. Toots is where I first started writing in public as a kid), and spent six months on and off in the Willamette National Forest writing Indestructible in a little remote cabin. I love that serenity and flexibility to work wherever best suits the current book.
Actually, it is hard to pick the best thing. I've been in the biz since 1996 and have totally lost the ability to work a normal 9-5 cycle. I write in the morning, then late at night. I've written books on the beach in Capitola, California (Mr. Toots is where I first started writing in public as a kid), and spent six months on and off in the Willamette National Forest writing Indestructible in a little remote cabin. I love that serenity and flexibility to work wherever best suits the current book.
John R. Bruning
Steve Young became a great NFL quarterback because he threw himself into learning the position. He worked at it with relentless dedication, kept an open mind and watched other great quarterbacks in order to absorb every possible lesson. That is a great path to success in writing as well. Be humble, don't let your ego impact your ability to learn and grow, and always, always, always be studying the craft and writing.
John R. Bruning
These questions :).
John R. Bruning
Bourbon? No just kidding. I get inspired by taking morning and afternoon walks with my dogs and cat, Sylvie, who believes she is a canine as well. We're sort of an odd sight: One writer, one Aussie shepherd, one papillon, one Jordanian orphan dog rescued from an American base outside of Amman, and one little white cat who pretty much bosses us all around. We hike in the Coast Range or the Cascades and I photograph their interactions. The artistic and technical process of photography gets me focused and in a creative mood, so when I get home, I can sit down with some good tunes and bang away on the keyboard.
John R. Bruning
Race of Aces dates back to a grad school term paper I wrote about Gerald Johnson and the young men from his neighborhood in Eugene, Or. prior to and during the war. I later wrote my M/A thesis on Gerald, then Jungle Ace, a biography of him. While doing the research for those projects, I talked to many veterans of the 5th Air Force who also knew and flew with Tommy McGuire, Richard Bong, Charles MacDonald and Neel Kearby.
I always wanted to revisit the friendships and rivalries among those five men, which I didn't get into in Jungle Ace. In 2010, I was in Afghanistan and came up with a mental bucket list of books I wanted to write if I got home. The first became Indestructible, the second is Race of Aces. My awesome agent, Jim Hornfischer, heard me talk about these five remarkable Americans and convinced me that this should be my next book. Hachette gave me the opportunity, for which I will always be grateful. They are a wonderful group of people to work with, and Race of Aces is truly a collaborative effort between the folks at Hachette, Jim and myself.
I always wanted to revisit the friendships and rivalries among those five men, which I didn't get into in Jungle Ace. In 2010, I was in Afghanistan and came up with a mental bucket list of books I wanted to write if I got home. The first became Indestructible, the second is Race of Aces. My awesome agent, Jim Hornfischer, heard me talk about these five remarkable Americans and convinced me that this should be my next book. Hachette gave me the opportunity, for which I will always be grateful. They are a wonderful group of people to work with, and Race of Aces is truly a collaborative effort between the folks at Hachette, Jim and myself.
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