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03JAN2012: MilSciFi.com interviews Anthony Bourne,
author and artist of the military science fiction graphic novel series GEN-EG.
MilSciFi: "Welcome. Please tell us a little
something about your novel."
Bourne: "I have a military series called
Gen-Eg. So far I have book one and two on sale on Amazon.com with the third
well underway. Gen-Eg is a story about a genetically engineered race of super
soldiers who were created to do covert/ black ops for a repressive advanced
regime called Westfor. The "Gen-Egs" have to deal with the hardships
of being secretive operators and living within a cruel dictatorship. At a very
defining tipping point for the Gen-Egs they are called on to save their country
from a hated powerful enemy the Bloc Alliance. The world is tossed into a
massive global war mankind has never experienced before. How can you have blind
allegiance to a government that doesn't even consider you human? That is the
main character's question."
MilSciFi: "Is this part of a large series or
universe?"
Bourne: "The series has evolved from a
comic book, to book, and currently into a illustrated novel. I have several
comic book scripts I wrote over the years involving this story and characters.
It has truly taken on a life of its own."
MilSciFi: "What inspired you to write this
story?"
Bourne: "I've always had a interest
in everything sci-fi and military so the blending of the to forms is
irresistible. The Gen-Eg series is inspired by the role African Americans had
within the US Military. Stories like Glory, the Buffalo Soldiers and
experiences my father and uncles had while in uniform compelled me to
write."
MilSciFi: "Does science and technology play
an important role in this story (or in your work in general), or is it
secondary to the story telling and characterization?"
Bourne: "Science and technology does play a
role in my books, as it does in everyone's life. As you know not everything
works when it should or how it should. As a former infantry officer I know once
out in the field, equipment can help or hinder you. I try to involve tech and
science in my books but the main focus is the characters."
MilSciFi: "Do you have plans to expand upon,
or write other works based on this novel?"
Bourne: "I really don't know where this
story is going, right now I have some really cool ideas I want to get out. The
third book is probably about 10 to 15% written so I still have a ton of work to
do. I write these books in a grouping of supporting shorts stories which carry
the main story along. It might not be correct but I like it."
MilSciFi: "Who is your single-most influence
in science fiction and what impact have they had on our own work?"
Bourne: "I don't have one influence, I have
probably too many. Creatively my influences come from different but similar
fields. There is the comic book greats, Moebius, Richard Corbin, and Michael
Golden. From film, Ridley Scott, James Cameron, and Paul Verhoeven. I love
movies and for me all these things are linked. Some of the obvious movie influences are:
Blade Runner, Starship Troopers, Aliens, Predator, and Robo Cop. Then there was also great Sci-Fi TV shows,
Star Trek, Twilight Zone, Space Above and Beyond, Firefly, Farscape, and of
course Battlestar Galactica."
MilSciFi: "What advice would you give the
aspiring military science fiction writer?"
Bourne: "My advise (not that I'm anyway
successful) is to just write what interest you, something you love, something
that fires your passion. Also don't let anyone tell you can't or shouldn't. NO
woulda, shoulda, coulda…just do it."
MilSciFi: "Is military science fiction the
only thing you write, or is there something else out there we should be looking
for?"
Bourne: "No I have two other books out. One
is a traditional Graphic Novel…The Smashed Infants. The story is about a fictional
rock band and their struggle being the most popular band in history. The other
book is a illustrated pin up book…women with guns….Gunchicks."
MilSciFi: "Please tell us about your
publisher, and how did you came to chose them?"
Bourne: "I am published through
Createspace. It is a self publishing company that has been completely great to
deal with. Anything printed with them ends up on Amazon.com which has worldwide
appeal. It is very fortunate time to live in where you can create your own work
and have it published without any
restrictions or demands from a published. I'm trying to push more comics
through Createspace, it's a great resource. The only drawback is that they do
not do any marketing, that's on you the artist. This has proven to be just as
hard as creating the art itself."
MilSciFi: "Thank you for your time."
Bourne: "Hi Guys, thanks for interviewing
me, it really means a lot! MilSciFi.com is a great website for this genre."
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