Getting to know T.M. Hunter

What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?

I'd say the most challenging aspects are far more plentiful. Constant rejection, a long generative process with little reward along the way, an ever-moving target for what your customers (in the case of writing, publishers and editors) are looking for...it's rather depressing if one stops to think about it.

All that being said, the most rewarding aspect of writing is knowing that a reader enjoyed your story enough to continue reading your other works. Readers are definitely what makes writing worth pressing through, despite all of the challenges.

Tell us about your latest/upcoming release. What inspired it? Is it part of a series or is it a standalone title?

My latest release (Champagne Books, January 2010) is Friends in Deed, the second novel in my Aston West series of books and short stories. The inspiration for this one came from a brief mention of some bit characters from my first novel, Heroes Die Young (Champagne Books, September 2008), Lars and Elijah Cassus. These twin brothers caught my attention during Heroes Die Young, and I began to wonder what they were like and what they'd been up to since Aston last saw them. Unfortunately for him, they'd been up to a lot of no good.
 

What are your top 3 favorite paranormal books and movies?

I'd say that my top three are all in the movie arena. Not sure if it would be classified as a paranormal in the strictest sense, but I loved Ghostbusters (the first one...the second not so much). Another good one would be Beetlejuice, and a third would be Sixth Sense.
 

What character (s) in any of your books is most like you?

I'm not sure that any one character is most like me in all aspects, as much  as a part of me goes into every character I create. Aston, as my main character, does share some similarities with me, but not enough to where I'd say he's like me.
 

What is the most ridiculous thing that you have thought about doing to any of your characters but never did?

Wow...have never really thought about that before. In fact, most of the time, I get my way (it's good to be the master of one's universe, writing-wise) when I want to do things to my characters. But on the flip-side, I'm a fairly benevolent dictator and have never tried to do anything too ridiculous. I would say that I've never forced Aston to settle down with someone, but that might just be because I haven't gotten around to it yet.

In fact, I'd say there are possibly many ridiculous things that I've thought about doing, but just haven't gotten around to yet. The thought of Aston's ship's computer (Jeanie) have a holographic image around the ship has bumped around in my head from time to time, and might just make this list...and then again, it might just happen in the future.
 

How do you keep track of your world building?

I generally use 3x5 notecards for a lot of the specific details of worlds, characters, etc. I also use spiral notebooks for plots of my novels and loose sheets in a master notebook for my short stories. I'm terrible at keeping track otherwise,  and even then,  there are far too many times when I'll have to pull out an old story or manuscript file to do some research on what I'd done in the past.
 

What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle 2 or Sony Digital Book Reader to the environment?

I do think that eReaders will become the new standard for reading books, just like MP3 players have for listening to music. I believe that their full potential still has yet to be reached, because of the high price point, and once the companies selling these devices realize this, a waterfall effect will be seen, just as with MP3 players. The ability to transport several books on a single device, versus lugging around all those paper copes...it'll be like a writer creating several manuscripts on a computer versus typing them all out (and editing) on a manual typewriter. People will look back and wonder how we ever did it before having eReaders.

What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?

It all depends on the contracts an author has in place, as well as the promotion an author does. If an author is receiving 15% of cover price on a $30 hardback, then obviously they're going to balk at the idea of receiving even 30% of a $10 e-book. But time and again, we've seen evidence that a lower price point (including under $6 for an e-book) drives more people to try new authors, and if an author is selling 40 e-books a day at $6, receiving 30%...that's going to be more money coming in versus even 15% of a $30 hardback even if it might be selling 15 copies a day (which would be extremely ambitious, especially in this economy).

So, all that to say I believe electronic readers are going to prove a huge positive impact on an author's bottom line. A lower price point will drive more readers to buy, and in greater quantities than expensive hardbacks. Add in higher royalty percentages to offset these lower prices, and it's a win-win for authors.
 

What other jobs have you had besides being an author?

Being an author is my part-time job. During the day, I work for an aircraft company designing aircraft...which is good, because writing is not something to go into if you're looking for something to pay the bills.

Which authors works do you enjoy reading and do you have any other authors that you bounce ideas of?

I have several authors I enjoy reading...though I hesitate to list any here, as I'll likely omit someone and cause ill feelings. The best way to catch these authors is by following me over at Twitter, Facebook and Myspace where I generally give shout-outs to these authors for their books.

As for other authors I bounce ideas off of, I am part of a critique group here in town which I attend each month. Besides those, I communicate with several authors I've met through the years (both in person and over the internet) and have grown to trust and respect. Again, no lists as I'll definitely end up forgetting someone...

What is your favorite way to relax after a hard day of work/writing?
Sleep usually works...and is about all I have time for. ;-)

I also have several spots in town I like to eat or dine at, but more often than not, I'll end up taking my writing with me, and just end up getting more done if possible.

Are you working on anything new that you want to tease the readers with?I do have several new pieces in work, including my third Aston novel, tentatively titled Death Brings the Victory. Another piece (The Cure), which is set in Aston's universe (but doesn't contain him) is a tale of one woman's desire to bring her dead family back to life by finding a cure for death. And of course, I'm always working on several short stories along the way...and have many which are out on submission or under contract for publication.

If we asked your muse to describe you in five words, what do you think they may say about you?Methodically driven, stubborn writing masochist

Where can readers find you on the net?

I have a home over at AstonWest.com which is where readers can find out about my latest news, releases, and events, as well as links to my published stories and novels. As I mentioned, I also exist on Twitter (@astonwest), Facebook and Myspace (both under Aston West). And of course, one can also see me from time to time at my usual internet writer's websites (which one can get to through the links page over my site).

Heroes Die Young

Available in E-book and Print 

Champagne Books/Amazon

Aston stumbles across a derelict freighter and is drawn into the intrigue surrounding its fate as well as the ship's beautiful, yet mysterious Captain.

I lifted the left sleeve of my black jacket up and spoke through the embedded transmitter. “Can you get me through the airlock hatch?”

“Negative.”

Green indicator lights above the inner circular hatch told me the pressures had already equalized. I stooped over to the left and looked at my reflection in a dark computer screen mounted in the wall. My face was rugged, covered with a few lines and weathered by experience. My once bright blue eyes were dim from the passage of time. I quickly grew tired of looking at myself and pulled the screen from the wall, where it dangled from a large jumble of wires.

It was a mystery which ones controlled the locking mechanism, so to save time, I yanked all of them out amidst snapping sparks and rancid fumes. The screen dropped to the floor and smashed. The door popped loose, just enough where I could put my fingers around the edge. The muscles in my arms bulged slightly as I strained. Finally, the door hit a point where it rolled out of the way on its own and I ducked through the entryway.

“I’m in,” I announced to Jeanie.

“Be careful.”

Inside, I broke into a sweat, from both the physical exertion and the climate controls on-board the freighter. Rulusians were from an extremely warm and humid jungle planet, and liked to make their ships feel like home. My heavy jacket didn’t help matters. Lines of sweat made their way down my face, as I stepped away from the airlock hatch.

I turned my gaze down the entry corridor and saw carnage I wouldn’t soon forget. Rulusian bodies lay on either side of the hallway, burn marks from energy weapons as black patches on a background of dark green skin. The putrid scent of scorched flesh was in the air. I passed an open doorway on my left, and looked inside at crew quarters. More Rulusian corpses lay amidst sparks and clouds of smoke.

I lifted the transmitter again. “You’re sure there isn’t anyone on this ship?”

“Affirmative. All scans show nothing but yourself.”

“This damage is far too recent for my liking.”

“Did the crew abandon ship as we had thought?”

I grimaced. “Doesn’t look like it.”

I continued down the corridor toward the bridge. Dark blast marks lined the doorframe and floor, where an access hatch had been blown open. Smoke particles lingered in the air and I detected a faint chemical odor while my eyes watered. I took slow, cautious steps through the opening and became witness to even more carnage. Ten more Rulusians were collapsed against the wall or slumped over consoles, all roasted by weapons fire. I definitely didn’t need to meet up with the people who had done this. I didn’t get into the scavenging business to be a hero. Everyone loves heroes, but heroes have a tendency to die young.