Teel James Glenn
ACROSS THE WASTELAND
The Exceptionals #2

05-05-2009: MilSciFi.com interviews Teel James Glenn author of the military science fiction novel The Exceptionals #2 :"Across the Wasteland".

MilSciFi: "What was your inspiration for your story?"

Glenn: "I'm not quite sure where this one came from except that I wanted to create the feeling of a classic western in a modern setting without being cliché about it. That and I noticed hat when people hit a dropout zone for their cell phones it seemed to paralyze some people so I took those two concepts and well—in my twisted mind that somehow became this book…"

MilSciFi: "Do you have any future plans for stories set in the same universe?"

Glenn: "The next book "On the Good Ship Caligula" is already out and number 4 is in the works."

MilSciFi: "What would your ideal project be if you could plan your own anthology?"

Glenn: "I like alternate history stories and I suppose that would be a choice…"

MilSciFi: "What other upcoming works are on the horizon for you?"

Glenn: "I have a series of Victorian adventures I am working on called Gaslight Occurrences."

MilSciFi: "How would you describe your experience working on the book?"

Glenn: "Across the Wasteland was the most exciting book I've ever worked on—it has a breakneck speed and I tried to write it straight through with the energy the story deserved."

MilSciFi: "What was your favorite part, the concept that just really gets you going?

Glenn: "I always start from characters; often the idea of a fish out of water and my stories go from there."

MilSciFi: "Is this book a part of a series? Tell us a bit about it."

Glenn: "My Exceptional Series is about a realistic projection of both technology (as in implants and augmentation) and politics (terrorism, oil-and narco robber baronism) but with the sensibilities of an old western in many ways. I wanted to make the point that it is still the man (or woman) and not the weapon /tech system that will make the difference in the future."

MilSciFi: "If you had a chance to write one story/novel just because you wanted to, and didn't have to worry about if it would sell or not, what would it be about?

Glenn: "I would love to write a story of one of my literary heroes: Holmes, Tarzan or the Lone Ranger but only if it was sanctioned and part of 'cannon'."

MilSciFi: "What is your favorite story/novel you have ever written and why?"

Glenn: "I'd have to say its hard to chose between one's 'children' but if I had to make a Sophia's choice I'd have to say this one—Across the Wasteland has a lot of what I look for when I want to read a book."

MilSciFi: "What are you working on next?"

Glenn: "I'm actually working on a pirate story—I like to keep it 'fresh ' for myself—past and future and even contemporary action stories."

MilSciFi: "Do you have a lead on your next storyline? Care to share a hint?"

Glenn: "There are some storylines that are woven into Across the Wasteland that will play out in later Exceptional novels, both in the changes in the world and personal issues in the characters."

MilSciFi: "What advice would you give the aspiring military science fiction writer?"

Glenn: "Don't let it become a science lecture but don't think you can gloss over the science either; someone will call you on it. But they may forgive you a minor gaff is the characters are true and you make the reader care about them."

MilSciFi: "Who is your single-most influence in science fiction and what impact have they had on our own work?"

Glenn: "I'd say it was a toss up between Richard Matheson and Robert Heinlen. The first because of his skill at characterization and the ability to make the fantastic seem completely normal with telling detail and Mr. Heinlen for his grounded science that never looses sight of human motivations."

MilSciFi: "What is the one thing you find the most difficult about writing military science fiction?

Glenn: "Staying ahead of the curve; that is, making the science actuate and yet completely human and believably near future."

MilSciFi: "Do you have any awards you would like to tell us about?"

Glenn: "Aside from some tournament medals from when I did Hwa Rang Do, and some good reviews of my other books I 'm very proud of my novel Sister Warrior being named to a top one hundred (at 91) Fantasy books."

MilSciFi:  "Is military science fiction the only thing you write, or is there something else out there we should be looking for?"

Glenn: "I have another Science Ficiton series that has military elements in them "The Mensorsa Saga- the first of which is The Vision Quest Factor from Epress-Onlne.

I have a fantasy series of four Altiva novels, and a series of 1930's mystery/adventure novels about Dr. Shadows from the same publisher launching this July.

And a tech heavy mystery-adventure novel The Escape Artist is coming out from Whiskey Creek Press in October."

MilSciFi:  "Do you find it difficult finding a home for your military science fiction work? What challenges do you face?"

Glenn: "Actually, I was very lucky with the Exceptionals—two publishers passed on the first book but Whiskey Creek Press was very enthusiastic and supportive.

MilSciFi:  "Do you write under any other names?"

Glenn: "So far just my real name—though I've been told I should use different names for the different genres I write so as not to 'confuse' my readers."

MilSciFi:  "Give us some details on your upcoming author appearances."

Teel James Glenn's website is:
Theurbanswashbuckler.com
theurbanswashbuckler.blogspot.com