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09-13-07: MilSciFi.com interviews author Patrick Thomas, contributor to the upcoming military science fiction
anthology "Breach the Hull".
MilSciFi: "Welcome. What was your inspiration
for your story?"
Thomas: "I was working on a story for a
zombie anthology at the same time I was working on a story for BREACH THE HULL
and I came up with the idea of combining traditional monsters with military
science fiction. DERILICTION OF DUTY grew out of that."
MilSciFi: "Do you have any future plans for
stories set in the same universe?"
Thomas: "Most definitely. I plan to write
at least several more stories with the 142nd Starborne and hopefully a novel. I
also just finished a pitch for two books set the 21st century of the same
universe although there won't be much by way of crossover."
MilSciFi: "What other upcoming works are on
the horizon for you?"
Thomas: "The next Murphy's Lore book will
be out in mid-2008 from Padwolf. Elder Signs Press has asked to do a
collection of my Agent Karver of the DMA (Department of Mystic Affairs)
stories. I have a novella in a Kali collection coming out in 2008 from Two
Backed Books. I'm in talks for a Murphy's Lore comic book mini-series as well
as writing another comic mini-series. And I have stories scheduled to come out
in multiple anthologies, including UNTIL SOMEBODY LOSES AN EYE."
MilSciFi: "How would you describe your
experience working on the book?"
Thomas: "Excellent. It gave me a chance to
branch out into what was for me a new genre."
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?"
Thomas: "Honestly these days, it would
probably be one of three novel ideas I've got sitting on the back burner
because I have so many other projects keeping me busy. Went I first started
writing, I tended to write just stuff that I wanted to. Now there's so much that
I want to write, I simply don't have enough time."
MilSciFi: "What is your favorite story you
have ever written and why?"
Thomas: "I find it hard to narrow it
down to just one. I've had somewhere between 75-100 stories published and there
are several that stand out. The top three that spring to mind are PINK
ELEPHANTS (in the Murphy's Lore series), SICK DAY (because it was the start of
my Terrorbelle series) and DERILICTION OF DUTY because it let me try something
completely different."
MilSciFi: "What are you working on next?"
Thomas: "I'm trying to finish up some
stories for anthologies so I can finish up two books in time for their
deadlines."
MilSciFi: "Give us the details on your
upcoming author appearances."
Thomas: "I'll be at Chiller, Philcon and
some others, but I'm also the author guest at the Bethel Woods Arts Center on 10/7/07 .It's built on the site of the original Woodstock. I recently went there for a concert and
while I was waiting in line for tickets there was a poster for Lynard Skynard
and next to it was a poster for author signings with my name on it, abet in
much smaller type. It was surreal and very cool. And I made sure I got a
copy of the poster."
MilSciFi: "What is the one thing you find the
most difficult about writing military science fiction?"
Thomas: "My Dad was a marine, but I've
never served in the military. I think that makes writing military
fiction of any kind a challenge, but challenges are what keep things
interesting."
MilSciFi: "Do you have any awards you would like
to share with us?"
Thomas: "The closest I've gotten to a
major award is being recommended for the Stoker. My story SOUL MAN was
chosen as one of the 2 best published in the modern version of Fantastic
Stories of the Imagination."
MilSciFi: "Do you write under any other
names?"
Thomas: "I've had 2 books published under
another name, but they're pretty much out of print and I don't use the name
anymore."
MilSciFi: "Is military science fiction the
only thing you write, or is there something else out there we should be looking
for?"
Thomas: "I actually write more fantasy than
science fiction. I write the MURPHY'S LORE series (currently at 7 books, 2 spin
off limited editions and a horde of short stories.) I have novellas in FLESH
AND IRON from the Two Backed Books imprint of Raw Dog Screaming and GO NOT
GENTLY from Padwolf. I write the syndicated satire advice column DEAR CTHULHU.
I have a GRAVEYARD ANGEL story in the (sniff) last issue of CTHULHU SEX. I one
day plan to complete the trilogy started with my novel EXILE AND ENTRANCE.
Although the first book didn't have much by way of military science fiction in
it, the next 2 books will."
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