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Christopher W Wilcox Sr., author of Whiskey Creek Press’ best-selling Science-Fiction/Fantasy series AETHEREAL, AETEHREAL REVEALED, AETHEREAL’S CLANS, and AETHEREAL’S PRIDE, was interviewed recently by WCP author Beverley Bateman, author of the mystery thriller JUST LIKE YOU.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Let’s see …
• married (two times, currently for over 25 years)
• six children (three in each marriage)
• at last count, 13 grandchildren
• retired from the Air Force after over 24 years
• Presently a regional IS manager for a Fortune 500 company, covering 14 locations in seven states from Florida to New Jersey, with Wisconsin and Minnesota thrown in for good measure

2. How long have you been writing and why did you start to write?

Back in 2004, I became friends with Bob Fischer, who is a screen writer (13th Juror, Winter Heat). He challenged me to try writing a novel. After three weeks, the first draft of Æthereal was born.

3. I know you write Science Fiction. Why did you choose this genre? Do you write in any other genres?

Although I enjoy a wide range of fiction, I have always had a special affinity for Science Fiction and Fantasy novels. While my series has been classified as Science Fiction, it really is a blend of both Sci-Fi and Fantasy. In addition to the Æthereal series, I have also been working on another set of tales set more firmly in the Fantasy genre.

4. Tell me a little about AEthereal’s Pride? I understand it’s the fourth novel in the AEthereal series.

The Æthereal series is based upon the premise that immortal dragons live among us and they are much smarter than we are. What impact would such a revelation have on humanity? Æthereal (Jan 2006), the first book in the series, deals with two FBI agents who are brought in on the secret of the Æthereal in order to both protect that secret and to keep the dragons from wiping mankind from the face of the Earth. The second book, Æthereal Revealed (May 2006), focuses on the ramifications of the revelation of the existence of the Æthereal. The introduction of another guardian species, the Ursars, occurs in the third novel, Æthereal’s Clans (Oct 2006), while Æthereal’s Pride (Jan 2007) introduces the Pride, a race of lion-like guardians. There are two more books planned in the series; Æthereal’s Children (Jan 2008), which focuses on the next generation of humans as they come of age, and Æthereal’s Destiny (Jun 2008) will wrap up the arc.

5. This is probably a question most people ask - but what comes first for you - character or plot?

Without any question, my books are character driven. In fact, it is the characters themselves that determine my plots. When I get really into writing, the whole story develops as I type, with the strengths and weaknesses of the individual characters determining what happens next. I have a vague idea of where I want the story to go, but sometimes they surprise me by leading me in a completely unexpected direction. It becomes an adventure for me, as well, and I find myself eager to see what will happen next in the lives of my characters.

A few of my characters are patterned after specific people in my life. For example, the character of Spyder, the irreverent cyber-punk turned de facto ambassador to the Ursars, is based on my youngest son. My son gets a real kick out of being the inspiration for the this particular character, although he was a bit upset with me with what I did to Spyder at the end of the third book.

6. What's your biggest challenge when writing - hooks, sagging middles, other?

I would guess my biggest challenge is recognizing when the story has taken a dead end turn and then deciding what to scrap and what to keep. I spent weeks working on a great section in one of my books, only to scrap the entire thing one day when I realized it did nothing to advance the plot in the direction I intended.

The other thing I struggle with in naming the characters. I know that sounds like something that should be relatively simple, but names help shape the image of the character in the reader’s mind. Fortunately, I can usually count on my better half for some worthy suggestions.

7. Do you have a routine for writing? And if you do can you share it with us?

I know that every good author should have a routine, but unfortunately my real world occupation interferes with that a lot. For example, I spent 115 days traveling for business this year. One would think that I could get a lot of writing done in all those hotel rooms, but I have found that not to be true because the business needs usually meant that I would spend many hours each night working on company correspondence or reports. It was only when I was stuck in a hotel room on the weekend that I was able to make the time for writing.

The rest of the time – at home – I would sit in the den, my laptop perched on the side table next to my chair, and pound away for four or five hours every night. Some days, I would write up to twenty pages.

8. How do you fit in reading, research, online lists, etc.?

Balancing all the various tasks can get a little overwhelming. Fortunately, since I write fantasy and science fiction, there really isn’t a lot of research to it unlike your historical fiction genres require. Oh, I need to make the science plausible and such, but it’s not that big of a factor for me.

9. What kind of books do you enjoy reading? And who are your favorite authors?

I love all kinds of books. We have a library of well over 1,500 books (and growing) plus hundreds of ebooks. Obviously, lots of science fiction from authors like David Weber, John Ringo, Eric Flint, Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, just to name a few. Fantasy authors like Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffery, RA Salvatorre, Terry Brooks, and Naomi Novik. Mainstream authors include, Tom Clancy, Dale Brown, Dan Brown, James Mitchener, W.E.B. Griffin, and Clive Cussler. Even a few authors who get classified as romance, such as J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) and Kathy Reisch – and yes, even Bertrice Small, the absolute Queen of the bodice rippers. I have even enjoyed an exchange of emails with Bertrice Small and can tell you she is a warm and kind individual who answers each email personally.

10. Do you spend much time marketing? And what do you feel works best for you?

This is probably my weakest area as an author. Since I am not published through a house with distribution channels to the brick & mortar bookstores, I am solely responsible for marketing. I have a web presence with both my web site (ChristopherWilcox.wcpauthor.com) and the MySpace site (www.myspace.com/aetherealguardians). I do book signings at the local bookstore shortly after each book comes out. I also talk about writing to anyone that will listen. I struck up a conversation with someone at a hotel bar recently and ended up selling him copies of the first three books!

11. For all those aspiring writers out there who are looking for that magic formula - do you
have any suggestions for them?

There is no “magic formula” other than persistence. Write what you know. Be ruthless when you edit. Polish it until it shines, and then give it to someone you trust to read. Take their feedback and incorporate it into your work and then polish it some more. But above all, don’t give up. I spent a year sending out query letters without a single response. For all the good they were doing, I could have just thrown them straight into the trash. One day, my wife suggested I contact Whiskey Creek Press – one of the publishers listed at Ebookwise.com. I sent out a query at 8:30 in the morning and received a request for the manuscript at 4:00 that same afternoon, followed by my first contract ten days later.

12. What do you do for fun and relaxation?

Aside from reading, not much. I’m a computer geek by trade but have grown weary of surfing the Internet for fun. I love old movies, so I watch a lot of those either on TCM or AMC, or on the DVD.

But to be honest, I find writing actually relaxes me. Surrendering to the Muse usually lets me escape whatever problems I’ve been dealing with.

13. Is there something about yourselves that you'd feel comfortable sharing with your readers
that maybe, not many people know?

One thing I rarely make a big deal out of is the fact I have MS. I’ve apparently had it since I was 16 but it wasn’t diagnosed until well after I completed over twenty four years in the service. It mainly affects my legs but every once in a while, it attacks my vision, leaving me blind in one or both eyes for an uncertain period of time. I’ve spent a great many years dealing with both the pain and uncertainty this disease creates, but it has made me appreciate the gifts my life has also brought me – loving and supportive wife, healthy and happy children, and the joy of grandchildren.