Click Here To Purchase From Amazon After The Rain

Author: John Beowulf

ISBN: 1425129064

Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, John Beowulf, author of After the Rain.

Good day John and thanks for participating in our interview. 

Norm:

Please tell our readers a little bit about your personal and professional background. 
  

John:

Well, I guess my life ambition was to simply enjoy all that life had to offer.  As for my professional life, I received a B.A. from the University of California back in the 1980s in microbiology. That is why the science fiction of the novel is more science, than fiction.  When I did my research for the book I was amazed at not only how easy making biological weapons of mass destruction had become, but I also discovered that quite a few nations had spent considerable sums of money in this research. 

Norm: 

What made you choose science fiction as your means of expression?

John:  

I think the great thing about science fiction is that it always asks the question: what if?  Science fiction I believe, is the quest for understanding all of the possibilities.

Norm: 

As you novel zeroes in on the shortcomings of academia, I was wondering if you personally have had an experience with Academia similar to that of your protagonist, John Stevic? And as a follow up, how much real-life did you put into After the Rain? Is there much “you” in there?

John:

I have spent about 18 years of my life in the research university environment.  I personally witnessed a lot of the human drama that comes with academic life and I wrote some of what I had personally observed and experienced into the book. 

Norm: 

How did you come up with ideas for After the Rain and was it improvisational or do you have a set plan?

John:  

I just sat down at the keyboard one day and started writing the story.  I didn't even know how it was going to end until I wrote the last chapter.

Norm: 

How has your science background influenced your writing of After the Rain?

John:  

Well, I was really impressed with the Tom Clancy novel Sum of all Fears in that he spent an entire chapter describing the first nanosecond of the detonation of a terrorist built hydrogen fusion weapon at the Superbowl.  He is a master of research.  In fact, I understand that the Pentagon used to drop by and question him on how he got all this classified information.  It was simply a matter of doing research.  It helps though, having a science degree under your belt when discussing WMDs.

Norm: 

How did you create John Stevic and Dr. Stoole in After the Rain?

John:  

Well, I really enjoy creating composite characters.  In fact, his love interest Kimba Rommel is just a blend of all the women I ever dated.  The things she says, the way she looks, her thoughts, they all come from girlfriends and lovers.

Norm: 

What did you enjoy most about writing After the Rain?

John:  

I had always wanted to write a novel.  However, I never found the inspiration.  Then one day I just felt this overwhelming need to put this story about academia and weapons of mass destruction out.  I ended up working day and night and getting a serious case of carpel tunnel syndrome.  Ouch.

Norm: 

Do you agree that to have good drama there must be an emotional charge that usually comes from the individual squaring off against antagonists either out in the world or within himself or herself? If so, please elaborate and how does it fit into you novel?

John:  

I remember once watching an interview with the brilliant creator of the Star Wars universe, George Lucas.  He was defending the level of violence in his films saying "human drama, is conflict.  Without it, you have no story."  My protagonist John Stevic ended up in conflict with all of humanity on behalf of nature.  He was also deeply conflicted with himself.  He had always tried to do the right thing and was rejected by people he cared about the most.  Then he tried to become the greatest mass murderer in history.  The human story has always been one of conflict with our environment and competition with others.  The quest for fire to keep warm and survive the night, to triumph with weapons in a battle with a rival tribe, to find a mate and procreate.  This is why stories of survival, murder, war, and love will always be so popular in our culture.  They are the human story.

Norm: 

What has your experience been like with self publishing and as a published author? Do you recommend it over traditional publishers? 
  
John:

Well, we are seeing a revolution in the publishing industry due to the arrival of the digital age.  For example, only ten years ago the whole concept of print on demand publishing was created and now it is being adopted by the big publishing houses.  This is good news for book lovers because books will never go out of print.  Furthermore, big retailers like Amazon are embracing this new technology and very willing to sell books from less traditional publishing houses.  The internet is changing everything.

Norm: 

Is there any recent research in the sciences that you find particularly interesting or exciting?

John:  

I actually touched upon the failure of biotechnology to fulfill its potential in the novel.  The science of genetic engineering has been heavily oversold to a naive public by academics looking to raise money.  The Human Genome Project was supposed to cure every disease known to man and ate public funds like a pig at a picnic.  Meanwhile, a private company ended up sequencing the human genome faster and without wasting taxpayer dollars.  And now California taxpayers are subsidizing a massive stem cell research program through public bonds.  We have people dying on emergency room floors in California because doctors can't even diagnose a simple bowel problem, and yet we are spending billions of dollars on stem cell research which has no proven potential to cure human disease.

Norm: 

Do you worry about the human race?

John:  

Every minute of every day.

Norm: 

Where can we find out more about John Beowulf?

John:  

From here on out: I'm publishing under a pen name.

Norm: 

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered and what is next for John Beowulf?

John:  

Well Norm, I have to say those were some really thought provoking questions.  I have not put together a plot for my next novel yet but I have the title: Harry Potter and the Microbiology Laboratory.  I predict a bestseller!

Thanks once again and good luck with After the Rain.

To read Norm's Review of After the Rain CLICK HERE

Click Here To Purchase From Amazon After The Rain