FaceBook Interview with Bob Goddard

On By Andy McKellIn Uncategorized

I’ve been quiet for a while. Reason? My Long Covid returned with a vengeance – serious brain-fog and physical lethargy. I was zombified for weeks.

But here I am again, rising from the depths.

I’ve been mentally blocked from making creative redrafts following the developmental edit of “Revolt”, hence the beta-reader phase is postponed. But, as Arnie said, “I’ll be back!” with beta-reader calls in the New Year.

Meanwhile, here’s a post I should have made ages ago…

Author Bob Goddard featured me on his Science Fiction Novelists FaceBook page. A great place to find out more about your favorite Sci-fi authors. Here’s the transcript…

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This week’s SFN Author Interview is with Andy McKell from Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Europe

Q1 When and why did you start writing?

I was in a rock band in my teen years and wrote songs and poetry, encouraged by my Biology teacher. My English teacher put me bottom of the class until he was replaced and I rocketed up to the top 5 (!)

Thirty years ago, I wrote a fantasy novel – very “Dungeons and Dragons.” It’s gathering dust in a drawer.

In 2010, I sold my web design/hosting company and retired early, to write, act, and travel. I had wanted to follow my inspiration long before that and this was my chance!

Q2 What sort of SF do you write? Any other genres?

My SF novels are “hard-ish” space opera.

My short stories are “genre-fluid” (fantasy, mythology, slipstream…), some humorous, some tragic, and many have a twist in the tale.

I also started a classic/gritty 1950s Noir series of novels.

Q3 What have you had published?

NOVELS

SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS

I’ve also had many short stories in various anthologies.

Q4 What are you working on at the moment?

“REVOLT” and “Homeworld”, sequels to “EXODUS”, in the “Legends of the Imperium” overall series.

Q5 Indie or trad publishing? Why?

I started as Indie but was delighted when Elsewhen Press published “Galaxies and Fantasies” in 2022 and I became a Hybrid. I’ll be looking at more Trad opportunities.

I went for Indie first as my books would appear on the shelves much faster. Also, I wanted to see if my writing had traction and appeal before joining the treadmill of finding agents, then publishers, then waiting to see the results online.

Q6 Published as ebook, paperback, audiobook?

  • My early sci-fi novels are ebook only. (I MUST get around to paperbacking them!)
  • “Galaxies and Fantasies” is ebook and paperback.
  • “Private Vices” is ebook and paperback.
  • “Legends of the Imperium” series will be ebook and paperback.

When I get some breathing space, I’ll look at audiobooks.

Q7 Which authors have influenced you?

I was abducted by 1960’s/1970’s science fiction pulp magazines and fell in love with classic Noir in my teen years.

For sci-fi, that’s the giants of the genre: Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke, Dick… through to Zelazny.

I loved movies with Bogart, Cagney, and the rest, and lapped up novels by Chandler, Hammit, Spillane…

“Casablanca” is still my favorite movie.

Q8 What is your preferred writing software?

Scrivener

Q9 How many beta-readers, editors and proof readers do you have?

I currently have two development editors (one for SF, one for Noir), one line-editor, and two groups of beta readers (one for SF, one for Noir).

Q10 Do you use auto-editing apps such as Hemingway?

Scrivener has its own spell-checker. I also have Grammarly running in the background and run the chapters through AutoCrit before sending them to my development editor and again before publication.

ONLINE…

I’ll be back soon!