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08-20-07: MilSciFi.com interviews author CJ Henderson, contributor to the upcoming military science fiction
anthology "Breach the Hull".
MilSciFi: “Welcome. What was your inspiration for
your story?”
Henderson: “I wanted to have one of the best
stories in the anthology, but I've never written a single sci fi military story
before. My motivation to not look like a horse's ass forced me to look for a
way to pull all of these ex-Navy, molecular engineers who write the bulk of
this genre's stories into my sandbox. I might not know much about the military,
but I know a crateload about old musicals. So, my inspiration ... Gene Kelly,
Frank Sinatra, and all the other guys who sang and danced their way through
movies about sailors on leave.”
MilSciFi: “Do you have any future plans for
stories set in the same universe?”
Henderson: “Yes ... Rocky and Noodles, my two
stars, have become quite popular just through my doing readings of my story at
conventions. So, I'm thinking since Rocky was more the star of this one, I have
to do at least one more where Noodles gets his turn to shine.”
MilSciFi: “What would your ideal project be if you
could plan your own anthology?”
Henderson: “I've been doing a lot of comedies
lately, and I think a lot of other serious genre writers would like an
opportunity to do the same. An anthology that gave us a chance to do funny
horror, sci fi and fantasy stories I think would get a lot of submissions from
unexpected places.”
MilSciFi: “What other upcoming works are on the
horizon for you?”
Henderson: “My Kolchak: the Nightstalker novel just
came out, I'm starting a two-book deal for Tor right now, I'm putting the
finishing touches on a collection of Blakely and Boles stories with my partner,
Bruce Gehweiler for Elder Signs Press, I only have a couple of stories to
finish for Steampowered Love, my steampunk sci fi collection, ... oh and a few
more things here and there. My wife like me to keep busy.”
MilSciFi: “How would you describe your experience
working on the book?”
Henderson: “Fear, at first, desperately looking for
an idea, then acres of fun after I got my idea and sat down and brought it to
life.”
MilSciFi: “If you had a chance to write one story
just because you wanted to, and didn't have to worry about if it would sell or
not, what would it be about?”
Henderson: “I would take the time to finish
"Leave Your Friends and Go," a massive novel about a vigilantee who becomes
president.”
MilSciFi: “What is your favorite story you have
ever written and why?”
Henderson: “Impossible to pick one. Too many of my
novels and shorts, and even some of my comics, have given me intense amounts of
satisfaction. I've had hits with so many pieces editors and publishers told me
were complete wastes of time it's hard to pick the one that allowed me to give
out with the loudest horse laugh.”
MilSciFi: “What are you working on next?”
Henderson: “I'm working on a action novella that's
going to be so heavily illustrated it will look like a novel. It's an expansion
of my short story "A Sandy Beach," and it stars my "action
babe," Kate Monroe of the Suiciders. I probably won't get it finished
before I have to start the first Tor novel, but it will still be done this
year.”
MilSciFi: “Give us the details on your upcoming
author appearances.”
Henderson: “Check the news section of my website, www.cjhenderson.com.
I try to get out to see the public at least three weekends a month, so I'm
always going somewhere.”
MilSciFi: “What advice would you give the aspiring
military science fiction writer?”
Henderson: “Come up with a clever dodge like I
did, or don't try it if you don't know the material. The real writers who have
dedicated their careers to this genre, who have my complete and total
admiration, have served on subs, walked the decks of aircraft carriers, and not
just as watchers. They've taken orders, know how to turn off their fear and
react to commands. They've lived lives of sacrifice and duty. It's not
something you can fake your way through. Honestly, I'm honored to be appearing
with some of the people in this book with my little musical comedy.”
MilSciFi: “Who is your single-most influence in
science fiction and what impact have they had on our own work?”
Henderson: “You keep asking these "gimme one
answer only" questions. I can't do it. I've had the chance to chat
about the craft with Cliff Simak and Joe Halderman and Alfred Bester. I've read
massive amounts of Brunner, Anderson, Dick and two score others. After half a century of taking
in it from their writing and from themselves, how could I pick. There's nothing
like spending the afternoon with guys like Frank Herbert of H.R. Giger to make
that simply too hard to answer. Sorry for being such a punk.”
MilSciFi: “What is the one thing you find the most
difficult about writing military science fiction?”
Henderson: “Not having the slightest idea what it
really takes to live the life of a soldier, sailor or airman. Not just those
who sign up to get money for college, but those for whom this is a career, a
way of life, you know ... not just a job, but an adventure. This is one genre
where I'll stick to comedy to not end up looking like the big horse's pa-tootie
I would if I tried to fake it.”
MilSciFi: “Do you have any awards you would like
to share with us?”
Henderson: “Yes, I probably proudest of my GAMA
award, because I know that there's no way political pull or anything but being
the fan favorite could have gotten it for me. At the time I didn't know anyone
in gaming, and won by having a good story in the right place at the right time.
I know much more about gaming now, but then I was a complete outsider. So,
that's the award I really feel I earned.”
MilSciFi: “Do you have a website where our readers
can go to fine more information about your work?”
Henderson: “Yep--the one I mentioned above.”
MilSciFi: “Do you write under any other names?”
Henderson: “Not anymore.”
MilSciFi: “Is military science fiction the only
thing you write, or is there something else out there we should be looking for?”
Henderson: “Yes, please go out and look for my
Teddy London novels, that's my supernatural detective series, or my hardboiled
private eye, Jack Hagee, or my Kolchak work ... or, you know, just go to the
website. It will tell you all about what I do, give you some free short stories
to read, and a place where anyone can contact me and ask questions I might not
have already answered.
Oh, and thanks for the asking. Here's hoping everyone out there
likes what they read of me and goes looking for more. Checks coming in helps me
keep my wife from changing the locks. Thank you one and all for helping me keep
her tool box under the dresser where it belongs. Thank you one and all for
that, and for all the books you've bought and read and enjoyed over the years.”
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