Author Interview – Brian Guthrie

Based out of Germany, Brian Guthrie is a serial author of science fiction and fantasy. He is currently writing and publishing his Future Worlds series on JukePop Serials. He has plans for another science fiction novel, a bit of historical fiction, and many short stories set in the Future Worlds universe. Please welcome him to No Wasted Ink.

My name is Brian Guthrie. I’m a husband, father of one, Christian, owner of two cats, lover of all things science-fiction and fantasy, a cosplayer (Trip Tucker, Captain Proton, Luke Skywalker – Jedi Academy era, Captain America Winter Soldier, and Steve Rogers, army class dress), linguist, gamer, and much more. I also spin and eat fire and love to travel (20 countries and counting).

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing as a kid because I wanted a world I could control. I’ve had issues with this most of my life and certain traumatic events during my pre-teen and teenage years exasperated this. At first, it was a form of therapy, of coping. My imagination provided an escape, a place I could go to get away. Eventually, it blossomed into this wonderful thing that gives me ideas.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Last year when I began serial publishing on JukePop Serials.

Can you share a little about your current book with us?

This is the blurb for the entire Future Worlds series, which contains four novels: Rise, Fall, Shatter, and Unite

On a shattered world protected from the cold of space by a water shield, the people are dependent on Ancient technology to survive. Now, that network is breaking down and the water on one shell is running out, setting the inhabitants on a path toward war. The search to find answers brings four complete strangers, each struggling with their own inner turmoil, together to prevent the destruction of the world as they know it.

What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve enjoyed creating this world and filling it with characters for over two decades now. It’s nothing like what it started out as, but the draw is still there: to tell a story that can both entertain and change lives.

Do you have a specific writing style?

If by style you mean voice, then no. I’ve fallen in love with First Person because it creates a limiting factor on POV in a narrative. If by style you mean the actual process of writing, I tend to get bogged down in the behind the scenes preparation and have to just make myself writing. Dramatica helped me a lot with story-boarding.

How did you come up with the title of this book?

I wanted something simple that would stand out. Something that on a book cover would draw the eye. Also, I wanted to give hints into what was going on in the story. Each title for the books gives you a hint into what is coming in that book.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

If I have to pick one, then: Never give up hope, for it will always triumph over fear.

Are experiences in this book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

As this is an entirely made up world, the characters are all fictional. That said, the main characters are modeled after significant people in my life and many of the events, both on a character level and on a grand world-wide level, draw from events in my personal life.

What authors have most influenced your life? What about them do you find inspiring?

That is a loaded question. Influence can be good or bad. Authors I have read that helped me in a positive way would be Timothy Zahn, Patrick Rothfuss, Tracy Hickman, and Stephen Lawhead. Zahn always redeems someone in his stories, Rothfuss showed me that a narrative first person story could not only work but be amazing, and Lawhead and Zahn both expanded my world when I was younger beyond the limited Fantasy realm I knew existed. Authors who are a negative influence in that I read them to remind myself what not to do: Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, George R.R. Martin.

If you had to choose, is there a writer would you consider a mentor? Why?

Tracy Hickman. He, literally, taught me in an online writing course he ran for a full year.

Who designed the cover of your book? Why did you select this illustrator?

Christopher McElfresh, friend from my previous home. He became my sounding board for ideas, sketching out what he saw as he read to help me visualize what I wrote. When the time came for a cover, he was the first one that came to mind. The idea to make it simple to catch the eye was originally his before I came up with the idea for what we actually put on there.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write. Every day. Treat yourself like a professional. What do professionals do? They do what they are professional in. A lot. Get training. Take critical advice and give it a fair shot. And just write. Pretend you’re the reader when you write. Would you believe what you just wrote? Why not? Did I mention write? Every day. You’d be shocked how easy it is to hit 100-300 words in just a few minutes. You’re never going to have that big writing session (although I’ve found mixing writing with 4X turn based strategy games makes for a lot of writing) to just rip off 5000 words. But you can easily squeeze 15 minutes in here or there and write a lot of content. Just look at this paragraph. Shooting from the hip, I spit off 140 words in 5 minutes. Easy.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you. You challenge me to be the best at what I do. I hope I can keep on exceeding your imaginations and taking you to places you couldn’t think of before. Even in a familiar place.

Brian Guthrie
Frankfurt, Germany