The next author I’m interviewing as part of my Interview Series is science fiction writer James Murdo., author of Siouca Remembers and the Wanderers Series.
What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?
James Murdo: So many authors and genres, both fictional and factual, but the book that has influenced me the most is The Algebraist, by Iain M Banks. The earliest epic I read was LOTR (Tolkien), whose imagination is incredible, as is the backstory for why he started writing the books.
Alexis: I’ve never read The Algebraist, but it sounds really interesting! I also love LOTR.
What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?
James Murdo: I prefer to ignore the tropes and let a story tell itself, because for me, that’s more organic (and therefore “realistic”). I don’t think it’s correct that every story needs a villain, or a romance, gratuitous sexualization, etc. Maybe I’m wrong, but those are my thoughts.
Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them?
James Murdo: In my novels, I have different classes of artificial intelligence, and I have the most fun with “data-lects”. They are hyper-smart machine intelligences that guard the data exchange portals of the Wanderer civilization.
Alexis: I always find AI characters fascinating. I think it’s interesting to imagine what a completely different entity, a non-biological organism, would think or feel.
What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend?
James Murdo: Exercise! Recent sunburn has thwarted my recent attempts, but the burn has almost worn off, and “I’ll be back”.
Alexis: I’ve also tried to exercise to stay calm. Since it’s boiling hot in Texas right now, I’ve mostly been doing online yoga videos.
Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).
This isn’t so much from my hometown as my mother’s. When she was younger, she shared a bed with one of her sisters, and every night they’d take it in turns to turn off the room light, then jump back onto the bed as quickly as possible to avoid “Sam Sam the Mad Axe-Man”!
Do you like playing board games or role playing games like D&D? If so, which games do you like best?
James Murdo: Articulate – try it if you haven’t, but be prepared for arguments! It’s a game where you describe as many words as you can to a teammate in ~60 second turns. I have a twin, so when we play at Christmas time and we’re on the same team, we smash it.
What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?
James Murdo: Find critics (harsher the better), proofreaders (multiple) and invest in an editor. It’s important to have a solid foundation to build on, and readers always pick up on bad spelling/grammar first. Read as much about the process of publishing as you can before deciding whether to go self/indie/trad. Kboards is an invaluable forum website for help. Finally – marketing. Learn it. Unfortunately, that’s an important aspect of selling books. You could write the best novel in the world, but if nobody knows its there, you’re publishing straight into a black hole.
How do you choose what books you want to read?
James Murdo: More and more via suggestions from friends, however it depends on the genre.
Do you like Greek/Roman/Norse/Asian/African mythology or folklore? What’s your favorite myth?
James Murdo: Greek/Roman myths are my bread and butter. I have read quite a bit of Norse and varied Asian mythology too, and would like to find out about African mythology. My favorite myth – Prometheus giving us fire! I also like some of the earlier Greek myths about the Titans. A lot.
Alexis: Prometheus giving us fire is such a complex myth. I often think of it as a metaphor for scientific advancement and perhaps how we often treat innovators, inventors, and scientists.
If you write scifi, what technology or innovations or scientific discoveries have inspired your work?
James Murdo: I keep relatively up to date with scientific developments, and I come from quite a tech-savvy family, so all of that funnels into my psyche, for better or worse.
Author James Murdo, Interviewed by Alexis Lantgen of LunarianPress.com