Captain Andrew Stewart was a superb pilot.
Possibly one of the best Lance Star had ever had the pleasure of flying with. And Lance had flown with many of the great ones. Despite his prowess in the cockpit, Lance knew it was only a matter of time before their opponent’s numbers got the better of them.
“I’m on your six, Drew,” Lance called as he fell into formation behind Drew’s fighter plane. Drew plane was smaller and more maneuverable, but the Nessie had more power. Together, they made a lethal combination.Drew opened fire on the closest bogey, splattering across the Hornet’s wing. The damage was minimal, certainly not enough to take the plane out of the fight, but it did slow it down.Lance swung wide, taking the Nessie in an arc around his wingman’s plane and opened up with the .50-calibers, destroying the wing. The Hornet dropped like a stone toward the water.The pilot leapt out of the doomed plane and Lance watched as his emergency parachute popped open. Angling away from the destroyed remains of his plane, the enemy pilot descended smoothly to the water.Lance banked left, following Drew as he lined up his next target. Before they could get a bead on the Hornet, the remaining Navy plane exploded as the enemy fighters shredded it with gunfire.All that remained was Lance and Drew. And they were severely outnumbered.The Hornets regrouped, circling around in opposite directions in an attempt to box in the pilots.
Lance felt his plane lurch as bullets peppered the Nessie’s side. The Hornets were focusing on the large seaplane. Lance took the Nessie into a dive, the pulled back quickly. The sesquiplane groaned in protest at the undo stress that her pilot was inflicting on her.Suddenly, Drew’s fighter was there, spitting fire at the attacking Hornets.
“Lance,” the Navy Captain’s voice called over the wireless. “Prepare for a quick port dive. I’ll protect your six.”
“I’m not leaving you up here alone, Drew!”
The Navy fighter slipped in behind the smoking seaplane, bucking and weaving as enemy fire rained down on them. “No time to argue, Lance! Your bird’s got more holes in her than I can count.”
“I can hold her.”
“Dammit, Star, don’t argue! I need you in one piece to get those divers!”
“The divers are covered, Drew. Just stay out of their sites.”
Lance angled his plane toward the water below.
Drew’s fighter followed.
The Hornets remained in pursuit.
Then, miraculously, Lance heard the three greatest words he had ever heard spoken with a Boston accent. “We’re here, Boss!”The Skybolt came out of nowhere. One second the sky in front of Lance was empty. The next he saw his pride and joy coming straight toward him only to pass by overhead like a rocket. The Skybolt shot toward the Hornets, unloading a massive barrage from the .50-calibers and the 37mm. Automatic engine cannon.The Hornets, caught off guard, broke off their pursuit.
Can you sum the books up in one sentence?
If you’re looking for a grand adventure let Lance Star: Sky Ranger be your guide.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Lance Star is probably my favorite because he is the character whose head I spend the most time inside. Lance is a hero, but he’s also an every man. He is as much at home up to his elbows in grease while building his latest plane as he is out chasing down Nazi spies or searching for lost treasure.
Which comes first for you – characters or plot?
It depends. I’ve certainly had stories that start off with one or the other. Since Lance Star: Sky Ranger is an on-going series of books I now start with plot and then determine how these characters will react to the situation I drop them into.
Who is your publisher and where are your books available? Are there e-books and hard copies available?
Lance Star: Sky Ranger is published by Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Books. Cornerstone is a traditional publisher so Lance Star: Sky Ranger, as well as the entirety of the Airship 27 pulp line, are available to bookstores and on-line retailers everywhere. There is also an Airship 27 on-line edition that is made available through http://www.gopulp.info/ for those who prefer to order their books on-line and direct from the publisher.
Are there any upcoming signings or appearances you’d like to mention?
I will be appearing at the Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con on December 4 – 5, 2010. I am currently setting up my convention and signing schedule for 2011 and will post that to my website soon.
Do you have an agent, or have you gone alone?
Up until this point I have not had an agent. I am currently trying to find an agent using a novel I recently completed. I don’t do much self-publishing. The Lance Star: Sky Ranger comic book was published by my company as a supplement to the pulp anthology series.
What marketing have you been doing to help sales?
I do a lot of marketing in addition to what is handled by the publisher. I do a good deal of on-line marketing with websites, blogs, forums, and social media outlets. I also use postcards, flyers, press kits, and press releases to promote books to bookstores, comic book shops, magazines, and local newspapers. I also attend/present at conventions, writers conferences, and book signings, and local fairs and festivals. I talk with bookstores and comic book shops directly and I also have a comprehensive email list that I use for marketing purposes. I have fun with marketing and promotion.
It varies. I am not a morning person so anytime after noon and throughout the evening is productive. The hardest part is making myself sit down and get started. Once I start writing I’m usually good to go.
Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?
All on the computer. When I first started I would use pen and paper, but now that I’ve been doing this for awhile I can simply sit down at the computer and get to work.
What do you draw inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from everywhere and nowhere. Sometimes ideas appear fully formed and other times I have to work at it and pull bits of story from here and there until the story gels together.
Do you set yourself goals when you sit down to write such as word count?
Not really. Obviously, when I’m on a deadline that requires a certain amount of work to be accomplished each day. If I’m not on deadline, such as with the novels, then I’m free to let the story flow organically. On average I write between 1,500 and 2,000 words a day, although some days I write more.
What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?
Good question. I love telling stories. Even if I weren’t working as a writer I would still have to tell the stories just to get them out of my head. My brain is constantly pulling ideas from my daily life, things I see, people I meet, movies, TV, you name it. I love writing so thankfully I’ve been able to share my stories with readers.
What are you working on now that you can talk about?
I always have several projects going at any given time. Currently, I am finishing up a 15,000 word Lance Star: Sky Ranger novella for volume three of the pulp anthology series, I’m working on a full-length Lance Star: Sky Ranger novel called “Cold Snap,” which is currently at 23,000 words. I’m doing edits on a recently completed novel called Games! There are also two thriller novels in process. Blood Shot is currently at roughly 62,000 words and Evil Intent (the sequel to my first published novel, Evil Ways) is currently at 30,000 words. I plan to finish both of those in 2011.
What is your writing process like? Do you do a lot of background research? Do you plot every detail or do you prefer the characters to move the story in new directions, or a combination of both?
At little of both, I’d say. I do research as needed. With the Lance Star: Sky Ranger books, research is important because I’m writing about a timeframe that I am not personally familiar with. Keeping historical accuracy is important with this series. On the thrillers I research investigative techniques, forensics, weapons, and other elements that are important to the plot.
I do not write detailed plots. I have general plot points for each story, but I like to allow for room for the story to grow in organic ways as I follow the characters as they sometimes veer off in unexpected directions. I’ve heard this style of writer referred to as a Pantser. Not sure if I agree with that as I have a rough idea of where I’m going, but writing this way has led me to some interesting plot twists.
Do you belong to a critique group?
I don’t belong to a critique group. I have in the past, but there is not one very close to where I live so I was attending as often as I liked. I do have a small group of readers that read my work and give me feedback so I have that.
How long does it take you to write a book? Have your written other books?
It varies depending on the book and deadlines. I always have multiple projects going at any given time so I’m never concentrating solely on one story at a time. The fastest I ever wrote a novel was my second, Fantastix: Code Red (currently out of print), which was based off a comic book script I wrote. Using the script as an outline I wrote the novel in three months. It was a daunting task, but I did it. I do not want to write one that fast ever again if I can avoid it.
I’ve been writing prose and comic books since 1992 so I’ve a few books out. You can see a full list at http://bobby-nash-news.blogspot.com/
How did you get into writing? Did you always want to become a writer?
I did not always want to be a writer. I started out with the goal of being a comic book artist. I started writing stories so I would have something to draw. Then other artists started asking me to write for them. Eventually, after taking the advice of a friend, I realized that my writing skills were better than my artistic ones and I began to focus on writing, which led to paying work. And then one day I got the urge to write a novel. Ron Fortier, the publisher/editor of what was to become Airship 27 read the novel and brought me on to write some pulp stories for his new imprint. The first book we did was Lance Star: Sky Ranger. One thing leads to another.
Are you working on another book? Possible to have a preview snippet or blurb of that?
Always. There is always another book in production. I recently finished a novel called Games! Games! is a thriller about a madman’s obsession with games. After six years in prison, Darrin Morehouse takes his own life and sets into motion one last game against those he felt were responsible for his arrest and conviction.
Here’s a snippet from the opening page of Games!:
Fulton County CourthouseAtlanta, Ga.December 21The circus was back in town.Cameras surged as reporters jockeyed for position on the steps of the Fulton County Courthouse building, each one vying for that perfect angle, the one shot that would catch and hold the attention of their viewers. Despite the bone-chilling thirty-four degrees and light drizzle, the crowd outside continued to grow as the moment grew closer.Fabian Alexander shrugged off his warm coat, which his shivering assistant then cradled to her chest in an effort to salvage any leftover body heat. She knew that the reporter must have been freezing, but she also knew the man. It was always better to look good than be comfortable.“You ready?” Alexander asked as he straightened his tie and flicked a piece of lint from the front of his tailored sport coat.“We’re live in,” Mike Greenway, the cameraman said between chattering teeth. “Four… Three…” He mouthed the words two and one before the reporter started speaking.
In his ear piece, Alexander heard the anchors in their nice, warm broadcast booth introduce him. “We go now live to Channel Ten’s own Fabian Alexander who is on scene outside the Fulton County Courthouse on this frigid December morning.” She turned to look at the monitor where the reporter waited on the scene. “How are you doing out there, Fabian? Are you staying warm?”“It is very cold outside the Fulton County Courthouse today, Monica,” he started. “But you’re right. It has been a very busy morning here. Today, in what is being referred to as a bold move by the Atlanta Police Department, suspected head of a large, and as yet unnamed criminal syndicate, Darrin Morehouse was arrested and charged with a list of charges ranging from murder to conspiracy to commit murder.”The television monitor switched to file footage that had been shot earlier of the accused, Darrin Morehouse, at one of the many political fundraisers he attended.“From what we’ve been told, John and Monica, it appears that the District Attorney will indeed be, as they say in the movies, throwing the book at the man. Information received earlier tells us that this extensive investigation into Mr. Morehouse has been ongoing for the last three years.”One of the anchors interrupted with a question. As much as the reporter hated it when the guys in the booth did that, he knew it was good for the show and he rolled with it even though it meant standing out in the freezing cold for another minute. “Has the district attorney’s office given any indication of which specific charges they plan to bring against Mr. Morehouse?”“Not yet, John,” Alexander answered. “The Atlanta Police are being tight-lipped about this case for the moment, but we expect to hear from a police department spokesperson before long. We will, of course, keep you up to date on any further progress. For Channel Ten Up To The Minute News, Fabian Alexander reporting. Back to you in the studio.”“And we’re clear,” Greenway said as the light winked off his camera.
“Thank God,” Alexander said as he retrieved his coat and put it on. “It’s fucking freezing out here.”
“Coffee?”
“It’s too early in the morning for stupid questions, Angela,” the reporter said. “Just get me the damned coffee. Quicker is better.”
“Yes, sir,” she said and ambled off toward the Starbucks across the street.
“I swear, that girl is worse than useless,” he complained as he got into the news van that was only slightly warmer than outside. What little warmth there was inside was welcoming and he felt a tingle creep back into his fingertips.
“Yeah, but at least she’s hot,” the cameraman said with a knowing smile.
“If only that’s all that was necessary to do her job,” Fabian sighed. “Anyway, as soon as I defrost we can shoot the coverage. I want some face time with Bartlett before our next pickup.”
“He’s not going to like that.”
“Do I look like I fucking care what he likes?”
“Not especially,” Greenway said, still smiling.
“Just keep an eye out for him. We move as soon as he exits the building.”
“Will do.”
What advice would you give aspiring authors?
If you want to write for a living then you have to treat it like a job. There is nothing wrong with writing as a hobby and if that is what you want to do then that’s great. However, if you are considering writing as a career then you have to remember that it is a job and treat it as such. Writing is a great job and I love it, but at the end of the day it is still a job.
What is your website and/or blog where readers can learn more? Can they friend you on Facebook or Twitter?
Of course. I have a large presence on the web. Here are just a few of the places you can find me.
http://www.bobbynash.com/ (currently under reconstruction)
http://bobby-nash-news.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/bobbyenash
www.twitter.com/bobbynash
http://www.lance-star.com/
www.myspace.com/bobbynash
www.comicspace.com/bobbynash
And more. I’m not hard to find.
Novels by Bobby include Evil Ways and Fantastix: Code Red.
Here's the question I wish the interviewer would've asked.
“Are you able to support yourself entirely from the proceeds of your writing?”
Just wondering, because as James Michener once said, “A writer can make a fortune in America, but he can't make a living.”
So, just wondering if it is possible and too what degree to support yourself entirely from writing, if you're not as famous as John Grisham or Tom Clancy.
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Thanks For blog with valuable informations.
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hello there thanks for your grat post, as usual ((o:
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Thanks again for the great interview, Louise. Much appreciated.
Bobby
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