Jeremy Robinson is the author of the award winning novel The Didymus Contingency. He has also landed a big-budget movie seal for his novel Antarktos Rising with a 2010 scheduled release date. We are pleased that Jeremy has taken time out of his busy schedule to provide some insight into his writing for our readers. You can also read more about Jeremy’s upcoming projects here.
What first inspired you to write?
I can’t say there was ever something specific that inspired me to write. It’s really just the way I’m wired. My imagination is hard at work whether or not I want it to be and I just have to get the stories out of my head and on paper, which is something I love to do (thank goodness). I started out telling stories visually, as an artist, and slowly shifted into writing as I wrote and illustrated comics, then moved to screenplays and finally to novels.
What inspires you now?
In a general sense my inspiration, what motivates me to write, is other people’s creative works, whether it be a good movie, novel or song. When I experience something moving, it’s like adrenaline to the imagination. In a specific sense, what inspires my stories is science, mythology, the Bible and the desire to come up with new and scarier creatures.
What advice would you give to a new writer?
Expect to be a new writer for a long time. I’ve just recently got my big break and it took thirteen years! The average time for a writer to break into the business is ten years. So if you want to be a writer, you have to be in for the long haul. It IS worth it. But it’s not easy. Not at all.
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading the advance reader copy of MEG – Hell’s Aquarium, by Steve Alten. I’m about half way through. Great read! Before that was CONTAGIOUS by Scott Sigler (fantastic) and next is BLASPHEMY by Douglas Preston. What’s funny is that I now know all three authors and they’re all fantastic guys.
Who is your favorite literary character?
This is tough…I’m not prone to picking favorites of anything, but I suppose the credit would have to go to the main character in the book I have deemed my favorite, THE DESCENT by Jeff Long. The main character, Ike, goes through an amazing and painful transformation the likes of which are not seen in any other novel I’ve ever read. On a side note, Jeff Long is ALSO a fantastic guy! I was honored to have my #1 favorite author provide a blurb for my upcoming novel, PULSE, just a few days ago.
What future projects do you have planned?
I have a three book series coming out from Thomas Dunne, an imprint of St. Martins’ Press. The first, PULSE, comes out on May 26 (2009) in hardcover and can be pre-ordered now! The second book tentatively titled INSTINCT is slated to be released winter, 2010 and the third, untitled book in the series sometime in 2011. The series is beyond fast-paced and follows the exploits of The Chess Team, a team of Delta operatives known as King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight and their handler, Deep Blue. It’s military meets mythology and high technology. The first book has already got rave reviews from James Rollins, Steve Berry, Scott Sigler, Steve Alten, Stel Pavlou and Jeff Long. After that, we’ll see. The Chess Team could continue on, but I’d also like to do more solo titles, too.
How do you see the current condition of the short fiction market as it relates to horror, fantasy & science fiction?
I have to say I don’t know a lot about the condition of the short fiction market. My focus has always been on novel length stories!
What interests do you have outside of writing?
Right now, I only have time for writing and family (three children under five year old can do that) but I’m an avid PC gamer (in COD5 friend me as Germ-X, in Left 4 Dead veago87) and movie lover. Winter is hard, but in the summer you’ll find me fishing, canoeing and on the ocean as much as possible.
Antarktos Rising is scheduled for a big budget movie release. How is it progressing and have you been involved in the production process?
I haven’t heard anything in a little while, which is pretty normal for a movie. It’s currently in development, but beyond that, I don’t know where they are! We’ll see.
The Didymus Conspiracy was a turning point for you. Of all the projects you have been involved in, which holds the fondest memories?
That’s a tough question, too. They all have grueling memories (spending more hours on boring and monotonous marketing) mixed with high points. With Didymus, the high point was hitting the B&N.com bestseller list and a day later hearing from an agent (who I’ve been signed on with since). But the biggest moment had to be when the editor at Thomas Dunne e-mailed me thanks to the sales of Raising the Past. That was the moment that really changed my career.
Any chances that you’ll write another screenplay?
Maybe. But I’d have to have a really good reason to. Having been down that road I know that the odds of selling a screenplay are astronomical. Seriously. Almost impossible. I’ve had more success and interest from movie studios by writing novels! So far, novel writing has proven a quicker and more reliable way of getting a movie made than writing a spec screenplay. Odd, but true.
Any last words of wisdom?
If you’re a writer, be professional. This is something that takes a lot of practice. It means taking criticism and applying it to your writing, with a smile. It means not badgering publishers. If they turn you down, thank them for their time and any hint of what they didn’t like. If you ask an author for a blurb, and they decline because they didn’t like the book, thank them, apply their comments and don’t send a death threat. It happens. The point of all this is: be friendly and receptive. So many writers are desperate and it shows. Being cool, collected and kind opens a lot of doors. It requires the growth of a thick skin, sometimes taking years (it did for me) but it will help your career in the long run…and a writing career IS a long run.
©2009 The Absent Willow Review
