ISBN: 0976620200

The following interview was conducted by:   NORM GOLDMAN:  Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW  Norm Goldman's Reviews       

To read Norm's Review of The Cattle CLICK HERE

Today, Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Greg M. Sarwa, author of The Cattle.

Good day Greg and thanks for agreeing to participate in our interview.

Norm:

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

Greg:

I was born and raised in Poland. After graduating from the high school, I entered the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy in Krakow, Poland to pursue Geology degree. While still in college I got married and shortly thereafter we immigrated to the United States. After handling many different jobs, I finally realized that my unfulfilled passion is writing. I was writing when I was in college, but it was nothing major. Short stories, some poems, and few sketches – I didn’t get anything published. Since we started our new life in the States, there wasn’t really time to think about writing. We got caught up in the prose of the day-to-day life and any excursions from this reality were strictly forbidden, until about recently. I can blame only myself for this situation. I should have tried earlier.

Norm:

Why did you feel compelled to write The Cattle? Why do you think this is an important book at this time? What are your hopes for this book?

Greg:

“The Cattle” comes mostly from the fear. Fear of something that most people can’t or don’t want to see, yet. Growing up in a communist country I have seen what too much governmental power can do and how it affects people’s lives. So, when I was confronted with the remote possibility that microchip implants can be implemented in real life as a security measure now, and who knows what kinds of other measures later, the book just happened by itself. I hope that “The Cattle” will give readers something to think about.

Norm:

How many Americans realize the potential danger of the federally approved ID Card, and could you elaborate on what are the ramifications?

Greg:

I don’t think there is a problem with an ID Card itself, even that there was no national identification system in USA history. European countries have such systems for decades and nothing happened, yet. In my opinion the real danger starts when abilities of ID system, information stored in our files, power of the government, implemented by Patriot Act are combined with the recent “out of this word” technology. The “Big Brother” slowly transforms itself into a “God”. That’s the real danger. And my question is: who wouldn’t want to play a “God”, if there are adequate “resources”? I probably would, too.

Norm:

How has the feedback been so far?

Greg:

I can’t complain. Readers who wrote to me were really moved by the story. I’d like to thank them for their opinion and at the same time apologize to those I couldn’t answer right away. I’ve also made contact with groups and individual readers who participate in various anti-microchip movements and I really appreciate their help in “spreading” the word about “The Cattle”.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?

Greg:

The only real challenge for me was to put the story on the paper. Literally. I had it all broken down, researched and summarized, but the problem was to find the time and the courage to put all the pieces together and write the story. I am not the best-organized person, and even if I am planning ahead, I am not always sticking to it. But if and when I am writing – I am doing it without the breaks, the whole day (or night). So, the most important thing for me was to somehow trick myself to get to that point, when I felt like I wanted to start. Fortunately, I have overcome this problem and finished the book.

Norm:

How would you respond to potential readers who might be sceptical about the subject matter of the book, i.e. is it possible for the Department of Homeland Security to inject a microprocessor implant for verification purposes?

Greg:

My advice is: watch the news. Not only watch, try to understand what are “they” talking about. Look around yourself and you are going to be amazed at what is going on. Just a quick example: Recently, I went to the Jewel Food Store and on my way out through the automatic, unattended register line I’ve noticed a small device hooked up to the register. I starred at it for a little while, not being sure if I’m seeing correctly. It was a tiny scanner. I’ve made an inquiry and found out that this is a fingerprint scanner for customer’s convenience. It allows paying for groceries with the single scan of the finger. All what you need is a bank account and Jewel Customer Card. They will take scan of your finger and store the print in their database together with the bank’s information. At the time of your purchase your fingerprint scan at the register will be compared to the image in the database and if matched, your bank account will be properly debited. Convenience? Thanks, I’ll pass. What’s wrong with the cash? Someone can ask what this has to do with the microchips? On the surface – nothing, but if you look behind the curtain; it is a small step in the “right” direction. For now this sounds like the great idea, it is optional and supposedly for one’s convenience. Yes, but what’s next?

Norm:

Tell us more about the title of the book – The Cattle. What does it signify? 
 

Greg:

Let me answer by quoting the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary description of the word Cattle:

1: domesticated quadrupeds held as property or raised for use; specifically: bovine animals on a farm or ranch
2: human beings especially en masse 

No comment.

Norm:

You include some very detailed dialogues in the book, between the various characters. Where did that dialogue come from?

Greg:

I’ve never really thought about that - I just wrote the dialogs. I think I can hear my characters speak and I feel like a middleman – I hardly transfer their words.

Norm:

Any unique ways you'll be marketing your book that is different from how others authors market their books?

Greg:

I don’t like marketing. Don’t get me wrong please; I hate the business part of it. I’d rather be meeting and making conversation, than selling. But unfortunately I found out that being an author is more like being the used cars salesman with a little more imagination (no offense to used cars salesmen). I don’t think there is a foolproof strategy to market any book, so I’m trying everything what I can. I actively search for the new ways to improve the visibility of my book. I’m trying to borrow some ideas from other authors and implement them into my “marketing plan”; then I have some ideas of my own. Some of them work better; results of others are not quite what I’ve expected.

Norm:

How did you approach writing the characters of Jacob Reed and Trevor Clifton? Did you plan them out or did they evolve as you wrote the book?

Greg:

Jacob and Trevor, both evolved as I wrote the story. Jacob showed himself as a person who can handle the weight of bearing the load of the action. And Trevor…Trevor is a man on duty, a person who is doing his job on the other side of the table. He has his priorities set and he blindly follows orders.

Norm:

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

Greg:

I really do believe that sooner or later, the hard way or more sublime one, but we will face the problem of use the micro computer chips in our life. In the “holy” name of security, or so-called convenience, microchips implants will be a hot topic in the future. I’d like to address all people with “I have nothing to hide” attitude. Me neither. Most of us have nothing to hide. But it doesn’t mean we have to accept everything someone is feeding us with. I’d rather not experience a feeling when computer generated voice coming from some kind of device implanted in my body would say: “Mr. Sarwa, you have exceeded your cigarettes limit for today, please refrain from smoking…” or even better “Mr. Sarwa, you forgot to flush the toilet, again, please go back and…” Both announcements are reserved for my wife. Only for my wife! Exaggeration? Let’s wait and see.

Thanks once again and good luck with The Cattle.