Welcome to Bibliophile’s Retreat.
1. Who do you want to meet and why?
A. Nelson Mandela (unfortunately, that opportunity has passed). I spent 10 months in South Africa during and after college. His presence was everywhere in that country. I cannot think of a more strong-willed or universally beloved human being.
2. Is there anyone who has influenced / encouraged you to write? Who and how/why?
A: I had a great creative writing teacher in high school who helped stoke my interest in writing. I had enjoyed writing stories before that time, but in her class I really dedicated myself to improving my work. She was the first teacher who suggested keeping a writing journal to collect ideas and notes. In fact, I jotted down my initial musings about Our Dried Voices in that first journal.
ABOUT GREG:
Greg Hickey was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1985. After graduating from Pomona College in 2008, he played and coached baseball in Sweden and South Africa. He is now a forensic scientist, endurance athlete and award-winning writer. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Lindsay. You can visit him at his website, Greg Hickey Writes
3. What else have you written / are you currently writing (including unpublished works)?
A: I’m currently editing a second novel entitled The Friar’s Lantern, which is a gamebook (a fancy word for choose-your-own-adventure story) that addresses various questions about free will and determinism. The story centers around a philosophy problem called Newcomb’s paradox and a murder trial in which you are a jury member. I’ve also written a film screenplay called Vita, which is about two intelligent, successful, young men with everything going for them, until one is paralyzed in a car accident, discovers his wife is having an affair, and then comes home to find her murdered in an apparent home burglary. It earned some recognition in a couple screenplay contests, and I’m currently working on an option agreement to have it produced. I also blog on fitness and philosophy at KineSophy (http://kinesophy.blogspot.com).
I loved CYOA books when I was younger. An adult version of them would be cool! I’ll have to check your book out when it releases.
4. What inspired you to write in this genre/world?
A: I was a philosophy major in college, and I enjoy reading fiction with a philosophical subtext. I wanted to write an entertaining story that had a few more levels below the surface, and the science fiction and dystopian genres are great vehicles for philosophy.
5. What else would you like to share with readers about yourself or this book?
A: I’ve been working on Our Dried Voices for a long time, so it’s extremely rewarding to see the process come to fruition. Being able to hold a copy of Our Dried Voices, a tangible finished product that I created, was an amazing experience. I’m thrilled to be able to share this story with readers, to know that other people have immediate access to something I wrote, something they can engage with and that will hopefully spark a new idea or dialogue in their lives. And if any reader has questions or feedback about the novel, I’d love to hear from you at
greghickey5@gmail.com.
ABOUT OUR DRIED VOICES:
Our Dried Voices by Greg Hickey
Scribe Publishing Company (November 4, 2014)
In 2153, cancer was cured. In 2189, AIDS. And in 2235, the last members of the human race traveled to a far distant planet called Pearl to begin the next chapter of humanity. Several hundred years after their arrival, the remainder of humanity lives in a utopian colony in which every want is satisfied automatically, and there is no need for human labor, struggle or thought. But when the machines that regulate the colony begin to malfunction, the colonists are faced with a test for the first time in their existence. With the lives of the colonists at stake, it is left to a young man named Samuel to repair these breakdowns and save the colony. Aided by his friend Penny, Samuel rises to meet each challenge. But he soon discovers a mysterious group of people behind each of these problems, and he must somehow find and defeat these saboteurs in order to rescue his colony.
(234pp, ISBN#9781940368931)
Purchase at:
Amazon $2.99 Kindle, borrow on Kindle Unlimited or $12.53 Paperback (Prime Eligible)
or Scribe Publishing, in Print $10.00
6. What quote or saying is deeply meaningful to you in this season of your life? And how does it influence your writing and life?
A: I don’t know about deeply meaningful in a personal way, but lately I’ve been trying to memorize my favorite poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot. There are a lot of great lines in there. “Do I dare / Disturb the universe?” leaps out so suddenly from the text. I dare, but I’ll settle for small disturbances to start.
And “I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. / I do not think that they will sing to me.” is perhaps the saddest couplet in all of literature.
7. What’s your favorite character / scene from this book/series (so far)?
A: I think my favorite scene is Samuel’s trek through the snow to reach the mountains in Chapter XXIII. It’s a big dramatic epic scene, which is always fun to write. Plus it’s the culmination of a long journey, and there’s always satisfaction in bringing things to an appropriate end.
Thank you for taking the time to share with my readers.
And thank you!
