Interview with sci-fi novelist Gardner "G.M." Browning

Welcome, Readers. Today’s special guest is sci-fi novelist Gardner M. Browning. He’s chatting with me about Karma City.

During his virtual book tour, Gardner will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops, and enter there, too!

Karma City will be $0.99 during the tour.

Bio:

Gardner Michael Browning is an award-winning author and professional wrestler. In addition to receiving a New Hampshire Literary Award, two of his novels were part of an international English literacy program for middle grade readers. Gardner enjoys classic literature, fishing, playing guitar and spending time with his family.

Welcome, G.M. Please share a little bit about your current release.

A micro-predator has crippled humanity; but when Dr. Marcus Graves’ engineered cure evolves to a greater threat, it falls to mercenary, Luna Briggs, and the shotgun toting drifter she loves, Jameson Shoals, to stop this new killer-elite before it supplants mankind.

Excerpt from Karma City:
Though the degradation in society perpetuated by the Malady parasite crippled advancements in industry and commerce, coal mining prevailed in the mountains and parts beyond Karma City, producing abundant fuel for steam engines and thermal power plants. As a result, the railroad had become the people’s last lifeline. Two 4-8-4 steam locomotives, antiquated yet reliable engines, wheeled along cardinal tracks transporting people, medicine and goods back and forth from Karma, Rime, Lobos and many other unnamed stops in the endless Void Lands. The masters of these locomotives were the rifle-bearing men and women sworn to a life on the

tracks— the cold-hearted, Iron Tribe.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am currently writing two science fiction stories: the sequel to Karma City and a near future thriller set on one of Saturn’s mysterious moons!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I first considered myself a writer after I read a eulogy I wrote for my grandfather at the age of 20. I always enjoyed writing stories for fun throughout my childhood and teenage years, but on the day my hero was laid to rest, many attendees of the service approached me and expressed how deeply moved they were by words. One older man who I did not know met me in a hallway and asked, “are you a writer, young man?” I didn’t know how to answer and before I could, he said, “you ought to be, son.” After that, I thought about it long a hard and I came to the realization that a person can “be” something and also “become” something. I understood then that, yes, I was a writer. I was born a writer. But could I become a published author?

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 wish I was a full-time writer. Truth is, there isn’t much money in it unless you break out with a huge launch title by a major publisher or score a large advance for a project. Those instances are rare. Writing is a fantastic hobby and it can generate some spending cash. Some freelance writers can toil away and take on all kinds of writing assignments under contract, but even then, the writer is paid mere cents per word. It’s also been my experience that many companies or clients do not want to pay writers fairly for freelance work.

I find time to write on weekends and early mornings. (I start my days extremely early)

I am a seventeen-year veteran of the US Dept. of Homeland Security. I have working in counter terrorism and aviation security since the events of 9/11 dedicated to doing my part to prevent another such tragedy. It has been an absolute honor to serve and work beside so many wonderful people and do what I can as a civilian to protect our beautiful country and American families.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My quirk is that I am big re-writer. I am constantly working over entire pages to tighten up prose, layer in better description or make scenes more cinematic. I also cut out any and all areas of my story that do not directly move the plot forward. I’ve pulled out entire characters and all traces of them to strengthen the story.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion!

Links:
Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Amazon buy page During the tour the e-book is $0.99

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

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