Interview with sci-fi novelist Lynn Steigleder

Novelist Lynn Steigleder has stopped by today to chat a little bit about his new sci-fi fantasy, Terminal Core.

Welcome, Lynn. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in Virginia. I spent most of my young adult life as a supervisor in the field of construction and fabrication. When my department was outsourced within two months of my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, I realized the need to transition into a new career path.

During a fishing trip, my son suggested I consider writing as a career having enjoyed short stories I had written in years past. I agreed to the challenge and my first novel, Rising Tide, was accepted for publication. I have continued to work on the Rising Tide series. Eden’s Wake is the second book and Deadly Reign the third in the series published by Christopher Mathews Publishing. My fourth offering, Terminal Core is a stand-alone sci-fi/fantasy hybrid. There are two more novels in the draft stage close to completion. Number four in the Rising Tide series and another stand-alone hybrid.

Please tell us about your current release.

Aon, a solid core planet made from the priceless and most dense element in the galaxy (caladium) is under silent attack. Plans are made by off-worlders to dissolve the unbreakable core using crude oil obtained from 19th century earth. Once the oil is refined, the byproduct, gasoline will soften the caladium, allowing it to be collected. Separate alliances unwittingly come together in the dead city of Baine. Their objective; preserve the planet. The core is fashioned from living beings, these indestructible creatures prepare to defend their domain. Disregarding all else, the would-be thieves continue to process the pilfered caladium. Once the coalition melds into a solid force, a battle for life and world begin.

What inspired you to write this book?

I have enjoyed Science Fiction and action adventure since I was a young boy. The old movies with stop motion animation were amazing in their day, but left a lot to be desired after go-motion hit the silver screen in 1993 with Jurassic Park. Everything I read pertained to Science Fiction or one of its sub-genres. I guess that pretty much set the stage for subject matter when I began writing. As far as Terminal Core, there is no particular reason for penning this novel other than an idea popped into my head and the story evolved into what it is as I wrote.

Excerpt from Terminal Core:

CLAY STEPPED UP onto the raised walkway.

"I hate this place," he mumbled, patting his sidearm. He grabbed the door handle and prepared to enter.

Clay was a bounty hunter. His latest skip (if you want to call him that since Clay had spent the better part of two years chasing empty leads) was Sal Ricky—a career criminal with a taste for refined women, as he would consume certain body parts of his victims after performing whatever atrocities piqued his fancy.

Clay stood tall, six foot five. He almost always wore black, except for his blue jeans. He felt it more intimidating.

He stepped into the brothel. A dozen pair of eyes turned his way. Clay removed his sidearm from its holster.

"I'm looking for Sal Ricky," he announced. After a slight pause, he repeated the phrase. "I said, I'm looking for Sal Ricky."

"If you want me, all you gotta do is ask," came a smug response. The voice emanated from a dark corner. In it stood a six-foot tall figure. Instead of legs, it sported four eight-foot-long appendages. These members would shoot forward landing on the ground and allow the rest of the body to move over them like treads on a tank. He could move surprisingly fast when necessary.

"So?" Sal Ricky asked. "What can I do for you?"

Clay moved closer toward the corner and cocked his weapon.

"Don't play stupid, you ball of snot." He raised his free hand and pointed a finger. "I've been looking for you for almost two years now." Clay cocked the second hammer on his handgun. "This time you're all mine."

Sal Ricky was a hydrak. He lived up to his name, constantly oozing fluid and leaving a trail similar to that of a slug when he moved.

"Ya think so." The creature lit a cigarette with two human-like hands. The hydrak inhaled deeply, burning up half the smoke in one drag.

"Better men have tried," he said, finishing his cigarette with a second drag and dropping it into a puddle of slime; the butt hissed as the glowing ashes died.

Clay tightened his grip.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I get just as much for you dead as alive." Clay smiled out of one corner of his mouth. "It makes no difference to me."

Sal Ricky crossed his arms which were anything but human. They were muscular with a lizard-like texture and a green color to match. His lower half was bulbous and horizontal to the ground, turning vertical at mid-thorax until it formed his head.

"Don't you tire of the same old clichés?" Sal Ricky snickered. "Easy way, hard way, alive or dead, blah, blah, blah. After two years, you should know I do nothing the easy way." His head was square with a round circle on each side. Sal Ricky could spin his neck three hundred and sixty degrees if need be. He had a set of eyes at the upper portion of each circle. One side contained an orifice with which he spoke and took in nourishment. One big tuft of green hair sprang from the center of his scalp, climbed vertically, about a foot, and then flopped over on all sides.

"Have it your way," Clay said.

Just then, two dark humanoid figures appeared on either side of the slug. The first figure made a move and then slipped on his boss' excretions, landing flat on his back.

Clay rolled to his right behind a steel column and fired one barrel, removing most of the second figure's head. The first man, still floundering in the goo, was an easy take out.

Sal Ricky moved toward Clay knocking him to the floor as he passed by.

Clay moved to one knee and steadied himself. He would have but one shot.

Sal Ricky could easily burst through the wall, and that's what he had a mind to do, Clay surmised. He made sure both hammers were cocked. Cocking them was one thing; firing both at the same time was something you didn't do unless you had to.

Clay took a deep breath and pulled both triggers.

What exciting story are you working on next?

A thriving world is sent spiraling into the depths of degradation along with its inhabitants. Dalon Con along with several like-minded factions attempt to bring Burrus Plax back to normality. The twentieth century type world has but three cities. Two are dead on the surface and the third nearly gone. Time travel brought by the odobi play a part in the destruction and recovery of Burrus Plax. Whether the former or latter will be determined by the temporal vortex. Deadly exotic creatures abound making every step the ones primed to save this world make the potential to be their last. 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’m not sure at this point I consider myself a writer. I feel a certain measure of success comes with the title.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I write full-time. I have a caregiver/personal assistant who types and tries to keep me straight, which is a job in and of itself. We usually start around 8:30 a.m. each week day and complete our day around 6:30 p.m. The first half of the day is devoted to marketing. I also post a weekly blog, a monthly newsletter and an occasional short story. The second portion of the day is devoted to the current manuscript I am writing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I make no preparations before I begin a new manuscript. I grab an idea and fly by the seat of my pants. In this way the novel tends to write itself.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A paleontologist

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I write because I love to write. If I take a day or two off I find myself jonesing to get back at it. There is no offensive language or sexual situations in any of my novels; however, when you have to dispose of demons and vice versa the violence can get a little intense. In addition, the majority of my writing could also be classified as action adventure. I tend to pack my books with action and very little down time.

Links:

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook

Thanks for being here today, Lynn!