Random 10 No 4: The James Palmer Interview.

The Random 10 - No: 4 The James Palmer Interview

Hi Robert. Thanks for the interview. I am an award-nominated author, editor and publisher best known for the alternate history giant monster anthology series Monster Earth. I write science fiction and pulp adventure, and my work has been published by Airship 27, Pro Se Productions, White Rocket Books, and Moonstone. For more info on me and my stuff, visit www.jamespalmerbooks.com and www.mechanoidpress.com.

How did you first get into writing?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, even before I knew what a writer was and did. I’ve been writing with an eye toward doing it professionally since I was in high school.


Who or what were your early influences?

The comic books and science fiction I read as a kid, with a smattering of Saturday morning cartoons. Starting with guys like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, then moving on to SF writers like Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and Harlan Ellison. Modern writers like Robert J. Sawyer, Cory Doctorow and Charles Stross continue to amaze me with their intelligent futurism and wild imaginations.


Where do you draw your ideas for stories from?

I get ideas from all sorts of places. Old comic books or cartoons, a science article, a snippet of a television show. Anything. Sometimes ideas just pop into my head full formed, others I have to work at them, often combining two ideas before I get a sense of what the story is about. The other day a visual popped into my head of a group of mercenaries and a woman breaking into a mountain crypt, and I wrote the story to figure out why. Two nights ago I finished it. Ideas are weird like that.

Not all ideas will never make it to the page

What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

I love all aspects of the writing process, but I hate what comes after, like editing and the production aspects that go along with writing in this new world of indie publishing, like cover design and formatting.

If you could write a story using any character which one would you choose?

That’s a tough one, because there are so many. I’d love to write a Godzilla novel or comic. A pulp character like The Shadow or The Spider would also be fun. I’d probably want to team up multiple characters against some big huge menace.

Your books have some wonderfully designed covers, who designs them and what’s the process on getting the cover you want?

Thanks! I’ve had different people help me over the years. An artist from Singapore named Karl Comendador has done a lot of covers for me, and writer and tattoo artist James R. Tuck has done some of the cover design. I recently got Mark Maddox to start work on a cover for a book that I didn’t write, but am publishing, so I’m very excited about that, and I can’t wait to see it. I’ve just been very fortunate to be able to network with so many super talented artists and cover designers I’ve met at conventions and online on Facebook. I think the process for getting the cover you want just comes down to communicating it to the artist. I’m not an artist, but I know what I like when I see it, and I usually have a vague idea that a good artist can make even better than it was in my head. I think another good point is to not do it yourself unless you know what you’re doing. I don’t, so I try and find others who can do it for me.

You use twitter, conventions and other social media to connect to fans. Do you consider this to be an important part of your work?

Absolutely. Writing is very solitary, and it helps to get out and meet with other like minded creators and fans, even if only online. It’s also great for networking and learning about different publishing opportunities, finding cover artists, that kind of thing, as well as marketing yourself and your books.

Do you have any upcoming books or projects you wish to talk about?

I have several in the immediate pipeline. I just published a short novel called ARCHER OF VENUS (http://www.amazon.com/Archer-Venus-Planetary-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0118LI0U6/), which is kind of a John Carter of Mars type tale with time travel. It’s the first of a planned trilogy. I have stories coming in a few anthologies, including LEGENDS OF NEW PULP, featuring a new female character I created. It’s coming from Airship 27, and proceeds benefit fellow pulp creator and publisher Tommy Hancock, who is dealing with some medical issues.

My story “Slow Djinn” will appear in another benefit anthology that White Rocket Books is doing. I don’t have the title yet. I also have a story in THE AMAZING HARRY HOUDINI, coming soon from Airship 27, and a story in THE BLACK BAT RETURNS from Moonstone.

As if that wasn’t enough, I’m working on the sequel to ARCHER OF VENUS, called SWORDS OF MARS, and getting some original stories together for a new quarterly project I’m creating called MASKED ADVENTURE DIGEST, which will feature several of my stories and one complete novel, and will be available for print and e-book. I hope to have the first issue out by the end of September. Fingers crossed.

How do you like to relax when you’re not writing?

I like to read, spend time with my family. I like watching Godzilla movies with my daughter, who loves them as much as I do. And of course working my way through Daredevil on Netflix.

Where can you be found for anyone who wants to check either you, or
your past and present work?

I’m on Facebook and Twitter (www.twitter.com/palmerwriter). And my websites are www.jamespalmerbooks.com and www.mechanoidpress.com. And for news of my upcoming releases, they can visit either site and sign up for my newsletter. It’s free, and they’ll get a free e-book.

Footnote:

I had the pleasure of meeting James on a resent visit to a convention in the states, James is not only a wonderful writer he is also a great person to meet and talk too. I would encourage anyone who is at a convention that James is attending, to go up and talk with him. I would also like to thank James for taking time from his busy schedule to do this interview, and I wish him well in all his future endeavors. 

On a final note I am currently reading Archer of Venus and its a fantastic story.