Can you tell us about yourself?
I am a new father, a happy husband, a Weiner dog aficionado (we have a lil guy, Milton). I am also a hobbyist cook, hiker, reader, and writer.
What made you write your book?
I was writing my thesis in grad school, in organic chemistry, and was searching for jobs in 3D organ printing. Hearts, lungs, kidneys are in research phases. My ethical side struck me, what if the worst were to happen? All my novels deal with brains at the intersection of high technology, power, and ethics.
How many hours a day do you write?
I write for an average of 2 hours a day (4AM – 6AM), when on a project. I do not write everyday. If I finish a novel, I take a little mental break. I don’t force myself to power through words on the daily, which is a very common thing in the writing world. A lot of people focus on making words happen no matter what. I don’t like it and am no proponent of that. I write when I want to, and you should too.
What is the most difficult part of the artistic process?
That’s a tough one. Artistically, I think it’s creating the next best thing for yourself. How does one best themselves? That’s tough. But for the entire process of publishing books, marketing books, selling books is the real hard part. I’m a writer, not an ad guy.
What do you need in your writing space to help stay focused?
QUIET. Seriously. I wake up at 3:45AM most days to write before my day starts, before I have thoughts, before anything else can make me think about anything. The blank slate mornings make me prosper.
How do I celebrate with I finish a book?
The Hank Moody way, whisky and weed. Whisky whenever I finish, even if just a few drops (as it’s generally in the morning) and then maybe some weed that night to stay strong on the celebratory side.
What is your writing process like?
I mull, think, brew for a long time. A long time. Months and months I jot down notes, thinking, do I have something here? Yet? What is the story? Who are these characters? They need to fill out. I also do plenty of research, a lot. I am a scientist, and keep it that way. Science Fiction that doesn’t follow the rules (physical laws) or is ridiculous or illogical is not my cup of coffee. You need to skeleton, and then you add the meat. Once I am mentally prepared to start, I wake up early like I said, and jam that keyboard until my brain is tired.
What part of the book was the most fun the write?
I think the most fun part to write was Brian’s point of view. He’s amazing, hyper-intelligent, closed off from the world, and immensely powerful in himself.
Which characters do you relate most to and why?
Well, I would say Ellie. She’s a hardened scientist that doesn’t take shit from people. I don’t either. But I’m a bit nicer than Ellie. And she’s a LOT smarter than I am. She’s severely logical but emotional, I try to be more of the former, but I am also human. We err.
How long did it take to write your book?
Brian, Created Intelligence took me 6 years to write. From creation as I was writing my thesis in graduate school for organic chemistry, to just about 2 years ago, and then I hired an editor and he helped polish this story to what I think is as perfect as it could be, for me and my story.
What do you hope your readers take away from your book?
I hope anyone who reads Brian, Created Intelligence is aware that technology is fast, and corporations will stop at nothing to gain power and capital. No matter if a single human or a city is to be harmed. I write books of ethics. Brian should have never been created, that’s what I want people to understand most. Would you want to have no body, and be told to compute for some powerful entity with no option to do otherwise? That’s slavery, and no, your answer is no, and mine, and everyone else’s.
How did you feel when you first published your book?
I’ll tell you a raw answer. I was nervous, but also hurt. Not a single friend of mine who I have known longer than ten years was interested at all in my book. So it was a mix. People, if you have a friend who’s writing a book, be supportive, it means everything to us and doesn’t take a whole lot either.
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?
Absolutely. My next novel deals with a heavy-tech brain implant and all the horrible things that can and will happen if that comes to existence. You can find out more and read some of the first chapters on my website. DreamState is publishing January 01, 2024.
Do you read your reviews?
Unfortunately, yes. Even if some reviews are not very clear or sensical. Oh well!
After writing, what advice do you have for people who want to become writers?
Just write. You don’t need to know all the perspective types or have the vocabulary of Fitzgerald, you just need to write your heart out. You’ll figure out what works. And one more, don’t feel the need to stay within some made up boundary. Literally everything is made up. Break that boundary and be creative.
AJ Pagan IV Media Links
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