Always fun to do these kind of things.
Christopher Lee Buckner Launches "Empire America"
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (10/19)- Sacramento author Christopher Lee Buckner has come out with a new novel titled "Empire America". To his friends, Buckner has said,"It is always great to have another person(s) in your life that care for you. I'm lucky to have a few. I don't need hundreds of people that are important to me, just a few is enough. But, most of all is my dearest Leona. She, everyday continues to teach me new lessons. I see that she doesn't have too much expectations on me, and knows how to reel me back when I place the bar too high on myself. It is simply enough to live each day for the day, and enjoy the simple pleasures, whether it is watching a movie together, sharing my writing with her, or cooking together as we often do. These are the joys that make everyday worth living, not if I sell a million books tomorrow or ever..."
Empire America is described as,"The year is 1929, New York City. Two hundred years ago the American Revolution failed, its founding fathers put on trial and executed for crimes against the crown. Now, as the Great World War rages without end, the American colonies of Great Britain are ripe for a new revolution. Empire America combines cyberpunk with the roaring 20s, filled with a world of advance technologies, machines and weapons beyond imagination, set against the backdrop of history’s greatest war, the war that would end all wars.... Designed as a Novelette, Part One introduces Cole Israel, an American-born war veteran, and inspector with Scotland Yard. When an elite New York police team is killed by a robotic GEAR, Inspector Israel sees the foundations for a new kind of war being fought on his home turf as the California rebels stand ready to ignite a Second American Revolution...."
We had a few minutes to speak with the author about his book, his inspirations, and his thoughts on the genre.
JRB: First off, what can you tell us about yourself?
CLB: I am a native of California, having lived most of my life in Sacramento. I have a passion for anything science fiction and history related. For six years I worked in the video game industry as a writer and game designer. I worked with three independent studios, but the bulk of my work came from the London-based developer Burning Man Studios. I've also worked as a video game journalist for a number of years
Currently I went back to college to further my education in video game design, and am also focusing more attention to my writing. I've published two books through Amazon: the first a historical novel called Swords of Rome, and the second Empire America. In 2013 my book series Conquest of Heroes will be released through Double Dragon Publishing.
JRB: Second, what you say was the inspiration for your latest book "Empire America"?
CLB: There was no serious inspiration for me to write Empire America – it more or less came to me pretty quickly. I had liked reading the book series Ghost of Manhattan, which probably first gave me the thought to write Empire America, but I have wanted to do something in the alternate history genre for a while now. I love history and enjoy writing anything history related whenever I can.
JRB: Third, what authors or mediums (e.g. comic books, television shows) would you say served as inspiration for the book?
CLB: As already stated, The Ghost of Manhattan was a literary inspiration to start development on Empire America, namely in its timeline and steampunk influence – although, I would say my book has more cyberpunk than steampunk. I’m inspired, always by Japanese Anime and certain comic books as well as general history, which I've studied extensively over the years.
JRB: Fourth, what kind of research did you do for the book?
CLB: I did not do too much research for this book – not a lot at one shot that is. I know a lot about history in general, namely Roman and American history, such as the American Revolution, so finding inspiration wasn't too hard. The bulk of my research comes from studying World War I and II weaponry and vehicles, as well as some study on smaller but still important things like British slang. The further books in the series will have more research.
JRB: Fifth, alternate history is a sub-genre that has grown in the past few years with main stream series such as Fringe (FOX-TV), American Dad (FOX-TV), Family Guy (FOX-TV) and Lost (ABC-TV) all using them in storylines. What would you say has led to this attraction?
CLB: I think people just like the BIG what-if questions, as to why alternate history as a genre has become more popular. People wonder what might have happen, in their own lives, in the world, if certain decisions were made differently. I think this is human nature to question these things, and alternate history serves as a safe window into what might have been – good or bad.
JRB: Sixth, are there any projects that you have lined up or have planned for the future?
CLB: Empire America is planned as a Novelette that I will be releasing periodically through Amazon. I plan to have Part Two out in a few weeks, with more to follow. I don’t know how long this story will continue – for as long as it can I guess. I like to let my stories grow organically, so, when it decides it is done, then I’m done.
JRB: Seventh, what would you say to potential writers about writing their own novel?
CLB: What I would say to potential writers is simple – just write. Don’t listen to other people who might say you can’t do this, or it is too hard, or there is too much competition, just do it, and do it for yourself. I would also say don’t set the bar too high. Don’t become a writer because you want to be rich and famous. I feel you should write because you love to tell stories, and enjoy other people reading them.
JRB: Finally, how and where can people get your book?
CLB: Empire America: Part One can be bought for Kindle on Amazon for $0.99
http://www.amazon.com/
Thank you for your time...
- Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc
Empire America is described as,"The year is 1929, New York City. Two hundred years ago the American Revolution failed, its founding fathers put on trial and executed for crimes against the crown. Now, as the Great World War rages without end, the American colonies of Great Britain are ripe for a new revolution. Empire America combines cyberpunk with the roaring 20s, filled with a world of advance technologies, machines and weapons beyond imagination, set against the backdrop of history’s greatest war, the war that would end all wars.... Designed as a Novelette, Part One introduces Cole Israel, an American-born war veteran, and inspector with Scotland Yard. When an elite New York police team is killed by a robotic GEAR, Inspector Israel sees the foundations for a new kind of war being fought on his home turf as the California rebels stand ready to ignite a Second American Revolution...."
We had a few minutes to speak with the author about his book, his inspirations, and his thoughts on the genre.
JRB: First off, what can you tell us about yourself?
CLB: I am a native of California, having lived most of my life in Sacramento. I have a passion for anything science fiction and history related. For six years I worked in the video game industry as a writer and game designer. I worked with three independent studios, but the bulk of my work came from the London-based developer Burning Man Studios. I've also worked as a video game journalist for a number of years
Currently I went back to college to further my education in video game design, and am also focusing more attention to my writing. I've published two books through Amazon: the first a historical novel called Swords of Rome, and the second Empire America. In 2013 my book series Conquest of Heroes will be released through Double Dragon Publishing.
JRB: Second, what you say was the inspiration for your latest book "Empire America"?
CLB: There was no serious inspiration for me to write Empire America – it more or less came to me pretty quickly. I had liked reading the book series Ghost of Manhattan, which probably first gave me the thought to write Empire America, but I have wanted to do something in the alternate history genre for a while now. I love history and enjoy writing anything history related whenever I can.
JRB: Third, what authors or mediums (e.g. comic books, television shows) would you say served as inspiration for the book?
CLB: As already stated, The Ghost of Manhattan was a literary inspiration to start development on Empire America, namely in its timeline and steampunk influence – although, I would say my book has more cyberpunk than steampunk. I’m inspired, always by Japanese Anime and certain comic books as well as general history, which I've studied extensively over the years.
JRB: Fourth, what kind of research did you do for the book?
CLB: I did not do too much research for this book – not a lot at one shot that is. I know a lot about history in general, namely Roman and American history, such as the American Revolution, so finding inspiration wasn't too hard. The bulk of my research comes from studying World War I and II weaponry and vehicles, as well as some study on smaller but still important things like British slang. The further books in the series will have more research.
JRB: Fifth, alternate history is a sub-genre that has grown in the past few years with main stream series such as Fringe (FOX-TV), American Dad (FOX-TV), Family Guy (FOX-TV) and Lost (ABC-TV) all using them in storylines. What would you say has led to this attraction?
CLB: I think people just like the BIG what-if questions, as to why alternate history as a genre has become more popular. People wonder what might have happen, in their own lives, in the world, if certain decisions were made differently. I think this is human nature to question these things, and alternate history serves as a safe window into what might have been – good or bad.
JRB: Sixth, are there any projects that you have lined up or have planned for the future?
CLB: Empire America is planned as a Novelette that I will be releasing periodically through Amazon. I plan to have Part Two out in a few weeks, with more to follow. I don’t know how long this story will continue – for as long as it can I guess. I like to let my stories grow organically, so, when it decides it is done, then I’m done.
JRB: Seventh, what would you say to potential writers about writing their own novel?
CLB: What I would say to potential writers is simple – just write. Don’t listen to other people who might say you can’t do this, or it is too hard, or there is too much competition, just do it, and do it for yourself. I would also say don’t set the bar too high. Don’t become a writer because you want to be rich and famous. I feel you should write because you love to tell stories, and enjoy other people reading them.
JRB: Finally, how and where can people get your book?
CLB: Empire America: Part One can be bought for Kindle on Amazon for $0.99
http://www.amazon.com/
Thank you for your time...
- Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc
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