Monthly Archives: August 2026

An Interview with Author John White

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Author John White is a Certified Professional Geologist who worked for over twenty-five years in the mining industry and over twenty years in heavy civil construction. He has served in a variety of roles in city, state, and university sectors, as well as volunteer positions in many organizations including local churches. His April 2026 release, Building My Faith: My Journey to an Abiding Relationship with God in Christ Jesus, reveals how “a worldly geologist, well-armed with the scientific explanations of how the earth and the life forms on it evolved through time” came to “recognize God’s hand at work in his life.” Look for John on his website CrossStonePublishing.com and his Amazon author store.

When readers turn the last page in the book, what do you hope they will take away from it?
This is a great question because it gets directly to why I wrote the book. There are four take aways that I hope for. First, God is real and active in our world. The stories I share in the book illustrate some of the many ways whereby a sincere Christian faith in God can result in experiencing God’s presence and interventions: direct answers to prayer, Providential protection, life-changing events, and divine inspiration, guidance, vision, and peace. Second, I hope this motivates the reader to seek or grow a relationship with God in Christ. In the last chapter of the book, I share the lyrics from three songs that I wrote. One of the songs titled “Real” talks about how the things I have experienced are the same as things I read about in the Bible. Rather than being some old difficult-to-understand or hard-to-believe-in book, the things I describe in my life are directly relatable to what I read in the Bible. The same life-changing power and faith we see in the lives of the first followers of Jesus are available to us today. This leads into the third take away, that upon reading the book, readers may reflect on their past with a heightened perspective that enables them to recognize times when God clearly was at work in their own lives.

Kiki, the lady I originally hired to help coach me through editing and publishing, did a final proofread after I finished fine-tuning the manuscript with my copy editor. Reading the book revived her dormant faith and moved her to reflect on her past. During that time, her father grew deathly ill and was lying in a hospital located in another state with an uncertain prognosis. She traveled to see her father and, motivated in part by the book, spent a week praying by his beside. To the surprise of everyone, at the end of the week he suddenly and remarkably recovered and quickly regained his strength to return home. She began to see in her past as well as in her present, instances of God’s activity and presence.

My fourth hope is that readers see their lives with an enlarged perspective and will be led to write down their own stories to share with others; and perhaps, publish them for the world to read.

What challenges did this work pose for you? Were you surprised by any aspect of the project as it unfolded or did it meet your expectations?
Writing for me has become a passion, something I feel compelled to do. The only challenge I experience with writing is finding periods of uninterrupted time. The greater challenges for me come in the process of publishing and promoting the book. Building My Faith is the second book I have self-published. In each case, I hired people to help with editing and formatting to place the books on Amazon, and in both instances, someone engaged somewhere in the process was unable to complete their task. These challenges led me to learn to do things that I had avoided and relied on others to do in the past. Beyond publishing, the next challenge is promotion of the book to make potential readers aware of my book. For me, this challenge is an ongoing learning process. As for surprises, I don’t think I was surprised by anything because I can’t say that I ever had any great expectations, largely due to how I was led into publishing the book.

When did you know you wanted to write and share your stories? What prompted the push to begin?
This book evolved over the course of many years. The starting point was in an adult Sunday school class meeting at the First United Methodist Church of Truth or Consequences on June 30, 2002. That day we were studying Psalm 78, particularly verses 5–8 that talked about teaching the stories of God to children of the next generation. During this lesson, one member of the class spoke up and said with enthusiasm, “We should write a book!” This started a project in the church encouraging people to write their stories of how they experienced God in their lives. Several people did so, including me. Most of those people have passed away by now, but their stories survive because of that project. A few years passed and I moved to Albuquerque and began attending another church. I had an opportunity to give a sermon one Sunday about my personal testimony. In preparation for my talk, I began to think of the many times and ways when I experienced God. I began to write them down and continued to do so long after that sermon. By 2014 I had a collection that constituted a small book. In March of 2015 I posted the book online at a site I created where you could read it for free at www.buildingmyfaith.net. During that time, I had also been collecting articles I had written as commentary on the political economics and morality in our American society. This had grown into another book by itself that I was not sure what to do with, but ultimately published as the book To Concerned Americans in 2022. Having gone through that process, I decided I should publish Building My Faith to make it more broadly available.

How is the book organized? What kind of process did you use to decide which stories to share?
The book is roughly organized chronologically. The things included in the book are stories when I could see God was clearly involved, or instances when I was inspired to say and do things motivated by my faith.

Did you ever worry about revealing too much about yourself or your loved ones through your writing?
There were times in the past when I was concerned about my image, what people would think of me, but I have come to be more concerned about being truthful, open, and honest about myself. When I tell my stories my goal is to be as accurate and descriptive as possible, avoiding embellishments and hyperbole. When it comes to loved ones, I am much more circumspect. Some of the more powerful stories include close family. I limit myself to tell just enough that involves them so the story can be understood and appreciated without speculation, judgment, or opinion. I seek to be truthful while avoiding any negative portrayal of anyone else.

Tell us more about how the book came together.
The writing process started 24 years ago. At that time my thoughts were not focused on writing a book of my own. My collection of stories grew with the building of my Christian faith. The collection that is in the book is from my life up through the year 2014, which is when I posted the book on my first website. The only editing done up to that point apart from myself was a read through by Jean Waszak, a friend from church who is a writer. She provided useful comments and encouragement. The manuscript lay dormant for several years until I got serious about publishing after I had completed publishing my first book. The editing took several months due to my editor Jennifer Bisbing taking extra interest in pushing me to clean up several passages for better reading, details, and clarity. I appreciate the care and time she took. The cover of the book I ended up doing myself. I had engaged the same lady that had done the cover for my first book. I had worked with her on the design. She had it drafted and nearly ready, but unfortunately, she developed a medical condition that prevented her from completion. She had also planned to be the person to format the manuscript and place the book on Amazon. I waited for a year to see if she would be able to recover and want to finish it all but eventually learned that was not going to happen. The drafts of the design were not in a useful format I could use, so I used the picture I had from my website for the cover. During the time I was waiting, I became aware of SouthWest Writers at a presentation at my church by several authors of Unbreaking the Circle. I joined SWW and at a monthly meeting I met Rose Marie Kern who coached and helped me get the manuscript and cover formatted and onto Amazon.

What was your favorite part of putting this project together?
I enjoy telling the stories of when I experienced God’s active presence in my life. Times when prayers of mine were clearly answered as well as when I became the answer to someone else’s prayers. Heart-changing events accompanied by indescribable peace and joy; occasions of life-preserving Providential intervention. I have had the privilege to share my story verbally and sometimes even dynamically with individuals, small groups, larger gatherings and congregations. With the publication of the book, these stories become available to anyone and are preserved for posterity.

Do you have a favorite quote from Building My Faith that you’d like to share?
“After praying at the altar I arose and ran toward home, following the trail along Cabezon channel north of the Westside Boulevard bridge. As I passed the pedestrian bridge at the Park Above, I praised God and felt moved to joyous tears. A little further on, I was completely overwhelmed with a joy I cannot describe. I perceived an instantaneous glimpse into paradise, a glimpse of who God might be. In those moments, I sensed an absolute love for my wife, Mabel. I recognized a level of love for her that I had never had before. I was completely awed and amazed. The sensations I experienced were beyond me, and they felt as if they came from outside of me. I hardly noticed the trail as I continued to run home. Since that day, I have more dearly loved my wife. I tell her I love her more often. I joyfully prepare her little healthy snacks because I want her to be well. Although she does not share my deep faith in Christ, I pray for her daily. I recognize how God has put her into my life, and how He has used her to deepen and grow my faith in Christ. I thank God every day for Mabel.”

What writing projects are you working on now?
I have a website, CrossStonePublishing.com, on which I periodically post articles and blogs on topics related to those of my two books. I also have a couple other books I am working on. One is written, titled Choices, that I need to format, the other is still being developed which right now has the title Love Truth & Spirit.

KLWagoner150_2KL Wagoner loves creating worlds of fantasy and science fiction. Her current work in progress is The Last Bonekeeper fantasy trilogy and short stories in the same universe. A member of SouthWest Writers since 2006, Kat has volunteered as the organization’s secretary, newsletter editor, website manager, and author interview coordinator. Kat is also a veteran, a martial art student, and a grandmother. Visit her at klwagoner.com.



Author Update: Sharon Kayne

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Before retiring to pursue writing historical romance, author Sharon Kayne had a 30-plus year career as an award-winning writer/editor of non-fiction, working as a journalist for print and television broadcast, as a humor columnist, and as a communications director of a nonprofit advocacy organization. Her newest release, Variations on a Romance: A Second-Chance Historical Romance (December 2025), is set in 1898 Colorado and “takes readers on a journey through loss, uncertainty, perseverance, and ultimately—second chances. It’s a reminder that while love may be tested, sometimes it leads us back to exactly where we need to be, however unexpected.” Look for Sharon on her website SharonKayne.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Substack, and her Amazon author store. Read more about Sharon’s work in her 2025 interview for SouthWest Writers.

What would you like readers to know about the story you tell in Variations on a Romance?
Variations on a Romance is a historical second-chance romance because the main female character has a riding accident that gives her partial amnesia, with her memory loss covering the entire time she’d known her husband. As she works to accept her situation—and a marriage she doesn’t remember entering into—the story asks where the roots for romantic love are planted: in that first meeting; in getting to know one another; in the life a couple builds together?

What sparked the story idea for the book?
The book is inspired by a true story, which I read about in a newspaper back when it happened (so in the 1990s, probably). The woman had been in a car accident and woke in the hospital with partial amnesia. The story was poignant because she ended up falling in love with her husband again even though she never recovered her memories. (That story is also the basis for the movie The Vow.) It always stuck with me because it’s both heart-wrenching and heart-warming. Once I started writing historical romance, I thought it would make a great plot—especially when it’s set before the 20th century. Waking up with amnesia would be very different for a woman who lived out on a ranch in the late 19th century. She has no transportation and can’t communicate with her parents until she’s well enough to be taken into town.

Who are your main characters and what do you like or respect most about them? Will those who know you recognize you in any of your characters?
The main characters are Lily and Peter Cavanaugh. I respect her willingness to give this strange marriage a chance and his willingness to give her the time and space she needs as she finds her footing in this odd situation. The characters are really nothing like me. I did, however, name them after a young couple on my family tree. The real couple had a tragic story—he died in France fighting in WWI but, before the news of his death reached home in Chicago, she died of influenza. Even though the book isn’t at all about them or their lives, I liked the idea of giving their names a bit of a new life.

Why did you choose 1898 Colorado as the main setting for the story?
I’ve always loved the late 19th century, and I always set my novels in places I’ve actually been to. Also, I wanted Lily to be in a remote place—a cattle ranch, in this case—when she awakens with her memory loss. I find the late 19th century interesting because it’s on the cusp of so many changes that are ushered in with the 20th century, not the least of which is suffrage for women. I’ve also always loved the clothing from that era, particularly for women. The corset and long, heavy skirts, both of which had stifled women for centuries, are in their final throes and I find that rather nostalgic (although I’m very happy I don’t live in that time period). Not only are the fashions that constricted women changing at that time, but social roles are finally changing too.

Tell us how the book came together.
I don’t recall exactly, but I think I wrote the book in a fairly short amount of time, although I had not retired yet, so I only wrote on the weekends. A few months, maybe? Having a plot to follow really helped, as that is usually the hardest part of writing a novel for me. Coming up with a title was also difficult, but once I did, it helped inform the look of the cover. I don’t recall offhand what the original title was (although I did briefly consider In Sickness and In Health, which would have been perfect, but there are already dozens of books with that title!). When I hit on the idea of having the story grounded in music, which is a throughline in the book, that really helped with the cover. Unlike many writers, I really enjoy the editing process—I’m always keen to improve my work, and I love working with beta readers.

Did you discover anything surprising while doing research for Variations on a Romance?
Women’s rights are always an undercurrent in my novels, and I do that by making them important to my main female characters. I was surprised to find out that women already had the right to vote in Colorado in the late 19th century—at least in state and local elections. I still made suffrage on the national level of importance to Lily, though, as it would have been to any woman who understood the value of having a voice in electing the lawmakers in Washington who would work on their behalf.

Were you surprised by any aspect of the project as it unfolded?
What surprised me most was one of my beta readers. I only expected him to catch typos and maybe make a few small comments, but he actually had some great, in-depth responses that really improved the book. He’s now my go-to beta reader, especially for my new rom-com series.

What is the greatest challenge of writing for the romance market?
Everyone says romance is a hot market right now—and I think that’s true—but it’s also a very flooded market. And, unless you’re writing in series, it’s really hard for a new author to attract readers. Romance has so many niche sub-genres, which gives writers a lot of leeway, but it also means readers have very specific expectations.

Do you have any writing rituals or something you absolutely need in order to write? What does a typical writing session look like for you?
Although I consider myself a pantser, I absolutely need to daydream a bunch before I sit down to write. I generally have a scene laid out in my head, with dialog even, before I write it. I think if I sat down without that preliminary thought process, I’m not sure where my writing would take me! And I’m afraid I’d end up rambling all over the place. I don’t always know exactly where the book will go when I begin writing it (except for a few key plot points), but I always like to know where the scene is going when I begin to craft it.

What writing projects are you working on now?
I’m currently looking for a publisher for my rom-com/romantasy series An Unfettered Fairytale, for which I have three completed manuscripts. Set in Medieval England, it makes fun of the fairytale genre (without retreading the actual fairytales). I’ve always enjoyed writing humor, so it made sense to switch to that genre.

KLWagoner150_2KL Wagoner loves creating worlds of fantasy and science fiction. Her current work in progress is The Last Bonekeeper fantasy trilogy and short stories in the same universe. A member of SouthWest Writers since 2006, Kat has volunteered as the organization’s secretary, newsletter editor, website manager, and author interview coordinator. Kat is also a veteran, a martial art student, and a grandmother. Visit her at klwagoner.com.



Author Update 2026: Cassie Sanchez

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Award-winning author Cassie Sanchez writes fantasy stories whose characters wrestle with forgiveness and search for redemption. Her newest release, Battle Beyond the Veil: An Urban Fantasy Where Angels and Demons Collide (April 2026), draws readers into a “battle for humanity’s future—a story of loyalty, temptation, and the fragile line between light and shadow.” Look for Cassie on her website CassieSanchez.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, and her Amazon author store. Learn more about Cassie’s work in her 2022 and 2024 interviews for SouthWest Writers.

What is at the heart of the story you tell in Battle Beyond the Veil?
At the heart of my story is the battle between good and evil, darkness and light, where a spiritual war is unfolding all around us—a war our human eyes can’t see. Alongside that cosmic conflict, I explore the deeply human themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and love.

After writing a traditional medieval fantasy setting in The Darkness Trilogy, what kind of challenges did you face tackling an urban fantasy?
Switching from a medieval fantasy world to an urban fantasy was surprisingly refreshing. I didn’t have to worry about inventing systems for electricity, plumbing, or long‑distance communication. But writing about real places like Iraq, Boston, and Las Vegas meant I had to do more research to get the details right. Another unexpected challenge was language. In the trilogy, modern slang was off‑limits, but in an urban fantasy I had to strike a balance: using enough contemporary language to feel authentic without letting it overwhelm the tone of the story.

What was the process like to create a new set of characters? Who are Zahra and Kyden, and why will readers enjoy following them as the story unfolds?
Letting go of Jasce, Kenz, and Kord tugged at my heartstrings, but creating a new cast for Battle Beyond the Veil was genuinely fun. Zahra, an assistant museum curator addicted to Dum-Dums lollipops, shares a lot of my personality, which means she gets to say out loud the things I usually keep to myself. Kyden, on the other hand, is my brooding warrior angel who loves 80s rock and coffee — and yes, he has a few traits pulled from me as well. Readers will enjoy following them because they’re flawed, funny, stubborn, and deeply human, even in the middle of a spiritual war.

Tell us about the journey from inspiration to completed book for this first in a new series.
I like to blame my husband for the inspiration for this story, but in truth, I’ve always been fascinated with the spiritual realm. I wanted to write a book that reflected the truths of that world while still giving myself room for creative interpretation. From idea to finished book, the process took a little over a year. It’s a standalone, but I already have plans for future spin‑off stories.

As with all my books, the first draft is the hardest part. Once that’s done, the real magic begins in the editing and rewrites. When I’m comfortable with the story, I send it to my trusted beta readers, take in their feedback, and continue refining until it’s ready for my editor. While the manuscript is with her, I finally get to breathe and start brainstorming the next project. After the editing comes the cover design, interior formatting, and everything else involved in launching a new book.

What makes this novel unique in the urban fantasy genre?
A lot of urban fantasy stories that feature angels and demons tend to center on angel–human romance, or they flip the script and make demons the heroes. I knew from the beginning that I didn’t want to take either of those routes. I wanted to write a story that respected the spiritual realm and stayed grounded in certain Biblical truths, while still giving myself room to imagine and explore. That balance of reverent but creative, supernatural but not sensationalized, is what sets Battle Beyond the Veil apart in the genre.

When did you know you had taken the manuscript as far as it could go, that it was finished and ready for publishing?
I remember Jerry Jenkins once saying that, during editing, you have to recognize the difference between making changes that make the story better and changes that simply make it different. I knew I’d reached that point with Battle Beyond the Veil. The revisions I was making weren’t improving the story anymore, they were just shifting it sideways. That’s when I knew it was ready. Of course, it’s always scary releasing your book baby into the world and hoping you caught every typo, but eventually you have to trust the work and let it go.

How and why did you choose the title of the book?
The idea of a thin veil separating the human realm from the spiritual kept circling in my mind from the very beginning. Beyond the Veil was the first title I came up with, but one of my beta readers pointed out how common that title was. Adding Battle not only made it more distinctive, it perfectly captured the heart of the story — the unseen war happening just beyond what our human eyes can perceive.

Now that you have your first series behind you, is the pressure to “perform” as strong? Do you still suffer from imposter syndrome?
I think I’ll always struggle with imposter syndrome, especially when I’m drafting a new story. With Battle Beyond the Veil, I had to keep reminding myself that I’d already written three award‑winning books, I could do it again. And now I have fans, which is an incredible feeling, but it also means there are expectations. So yes, the pressure to perform and to meet readers’ hopes is still very real.

Do you think your writing style has changed since you wrote your first novel?
I do think my writing has improved since I first wrote Chasing the Darkness, though there’s still so much to learn. My grammar, especially commas, continues to be a work in progress, but that’s what my fabulous editor is for. I’m also pushing myself to strengthen my metaphors and weave a bit more mystery into my storytelling. Every book teaches me something new, and I love that the craft keeps evolving.

Do you prefer the creating or editing aspect of writing? How do you feel about research?
I love the editing and rewriting phase. Once the pressure is off to get the words on the page, then I feel free to let my creativity flourish. As for research? There’s a reason I don’t write historical fiction.

What writing projects are you working on now?
I’m currently working on Prince Nicolaus Jazari’s story. He appeared in the second and third books of The Darkness Trilogy and quickly became a fan favorite. I actually wrote his book back in 2024, but I disliked it so much I shelved it for an entire year. Now I’m back at it with a completely new twist — think fantasy rom‑com with teeth. It’s been refreshing to rebuild his arc from the ground up and let him step into a story that finally feels worthy of him.

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
If you’d like to learn more about my books or what I’m working on next, please visit CassieSanchez.com. And come hang out with me on social media @cassiesanchezauthor. I love connecting with readers, sharing updates, and giving little peeks into my writing life.

KLWagoner150_2KL Wagoner loves creating worlds of fantasy and science fiction. Her current work in progress is The Last Bonekeeper fantasy trilogy and short stories in the same universe. A member of SouthWest Writers since 2006, Kat has volunteered as the organization’s secretary, newsletter editor, website manager, and author interview coordinator. Kat is also a veteran, a martial art student, and a grandmother. Visit her at klwagoner.com.



Author Update: Sharon Vander Meer

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Retired journalist Sharon Vander Meer is a poet and an author of contemporary fiction and futuristic novels. Her newest release is the second edition of Future Imperfect (December 2025), a fast-paced, dystopian novel that “delves into the conflict between good and evil after a scientific breakthrough produces catastrophic consequences.” Look for Sharon on her website VanderMeerBooks.com and on Facebook. Future Imperfect is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Read more about Sharon’s work in her 2019 interview for SouthWest Writers.

What is at the heart of Future Imperfect?
Nothing in life is perfect or predictable. Yes, we can plan for the probable, but we can’t predict what will happen tomorrow or even a heartbeat from this moment. Future Imperfect answers the what if question with sci-fi suspense, a villain with something to hide and something to prove, a woman determined to regain her identity, and a man seeking justice and to serve honorably in a changing world. Thought-provoking and hauntingly vivid, Future Imperfect explores a near-future transformed by self-interest and suspicion. More than an environmental disaster, the story delves into the conflict between good and evil after a scientific breakthrough produces catastrophic consequences.

Who are your main characters? What are their most endearing qualities?
Hana Evans, wary and distrustful, navigates a world she doesn’t understand and a painful block where her memories should be. Commander Stone Walker battles a crumbling system that hinders his every move. Escalating political and environmental chaos conspire to drive a wedge of mistrust between Hana and Stone as the world spirals toward ruin. Although her past is out of reach, there is sturdy resilience in Hana that keeps her moving forward. Stone follows a long tradition of service, integrity, and courage. Together they seek peace, understanding and justice.

Describe one or more of the main settings.
Following the plague war that decimated society, those who could went to ground, literally, creating a warren of underground habitats, air kept pure with elaborate filtering systems and heavily guarded entrances. Above ground existed a broken society, trying to survive in a world gone mad and an environment under siege by plague infested vegetation that can only be controlled by fire. The problem is that the vegetation grows back and with it spread of the plague.

This is the second edition of Future Imperfect. What kind of revisions did you make to the first edition, and why did you feel they were necessary?
I found a serious plot hole in the first edition and errors in grammar and spelling. It made sense to fix them.

Tell us more about the book.
Future Imperfect is a cautionary tale. Not everything painted as “good” turns out to be, in fact “good.” The scientists who developed inoculated saplings intended to create fast growing forests to eliminate or control global warming instead introduced an environmental disaster that led to a devastating plague that decimated entire cities. It’s the question every politician and policy maker should ask before making decisions about the future of our environment, of our world: Will the decisions we make today have a negative impact on tomorrow and all the tomorrows that follow?

How did you go about choosing the title of the book?
Future Imperfect was the title from day one. Everyone’s future is imperfect, but it’s our imperfect future to do with what we will.

What did you learn in writing/publishing Future Imperfect that you can apply to future projects?
Trust the process and write from your heart first. Your head will fix what is broken in the editing process.

Your writing takes many forms — articles, essays, short stories, novels, poetry. Is there one form you’re drawn to the most when you write or read?
My husband passed away in May 2024. I didn’t realize how much of an inspiration he was and how much I relied on his encouragement. I feel like it’s time to get back at it, with my husband’s magical smile spurring me on. After all, writing is what I do; being a writer is who I am. At the heart of that is being a lifelong reader of just about everything (except horror!), sorry Stephen King.

What do many beginning writers misunderstand about telling a story?
Characters are real people, as weird and flawed and funny and foolish as your nextdoor neighbor.

What is the greatest challenge of writing for the speculative fiction market?
World building.

KLWagoner150_2KL Wagoner loves creating worlds of fantasy and science fiction. Her current work in progress is The Last Bonekeeper fantasy trilogy and short stories in the same universe. A member of SouthWest Writers since 2006, Kat has volunteered as the organization’s secretary, newsletter editor, website manager, and author interview coordinator. Kat is also a veteran, a martial art student, and a grandmother. Visit her at klwagoner.com.



Author Update: Roger Floyd

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Author Roger Floyd writes science fiction about regular people who use their wits to find a way out of difficult situations. His newest release, Traveler: Part II of the Anthanian Imperative Trilogy (September 2025), follows Leos on “a journey of honesty and deceit, friendship and enmity, peace and violence, even love and hatred that carries” him to other worlds “inhabited by friends and foes who will shape” his future. Look for Roger on his website RogerFloyd.com. Traveler is available in most bookstores and on Amazon. Read more about Roger’s work in his 2025 interview for SouthWest Writers.

Distill the story you tell in Traveler into a few sentences.
Leos is a college-age student who is kidnapped from his home planet of Anthanos by visitors from a strange planet. He is taken to live on their planet, and from there he begins a series of travels to other worlds and to increasingly difficult lifestyles. It’s up to him to learn to live in and accept each of the worlds he goes to. Very little help is given to him, especially on the last world he encounters. He’s on his own; he must reach deep into the depths of his own character and bring up the resolve, the persistence, the perseverance he needs to extricate himself from numerous difficult situations. That’s the only way he will ever get back to Anthanos.

What was the most difficult challenge of continuing the story you started with book one of the Anthanian Imperative Trilogy?
For me, the most difficult challenge of starting a new book is putting aside the old and switching my thinking and mindset to a completely new story and new characters. After spending so much time on the first book, Explorer, I had to take time off and think about what I needed to do, to develop the plot and characters. Starting Traveler wasn’t quite as difficult as starting a totally new story since it followed directly from the first and contained some of the same characters, and I already had built the world of Anthanos, though new characters had to be created as well. Interesting and stimulating.

Who are your main characters and what do you like/respect most about them?
The main characters in Traveler are Leos, as mentioned above; Esmerelda, a young woman he meets on the first world he’s taken to and who [Spoiler Alert!] accompanies him to the second world; and Jad, [another Spoiler Alert!] a character from the first book he meets in later travels.

What makes this novel unique in the science fiction market?
Hard to say. I’ve read so many sci-fi stories of many different themes and tropes and motifs and subject matter that it would be difficult for me to say how my novel is unique or how it fits into the world of science fiction. All I can say is that it is unique to me.

How did the book come together?
I started Traveler around 2005. I had been attempting to get Explorer represented by an agent, but wasn’t having any luck, so in between attending meetings and sending out queries, I began Traveler, as well as continually making changes and revisions to Explorer, so really, I was working on the two at the same time. I didn’t do any serious editing until I moved to Albuquerque in 2010, when I managed to finish and self-publish Explorer in 2024. (If you’re wondering why the long lag between arrival and publication, I was also working on the third volume of the trilogy, Warrior.) So, Traveler fell into place right after publication of Explorer. I got several beta readers and had the interior illustrations and cover designed around 2025. It was self-published in September, 2025.

Was there anything surprising/interesting you discovered while doing research for this book?
As far as interesting things about Traveler, keep in mind these books are almost entirely a figment of my imagination, and research was minimal. (I actually did much more research for the first book, Explorer, having to do with Earth climate and geography and weather of about 15,000 years ago.) There was little of that in Traveler. All the planets Leos goes to are fictitious.

Do the novels in your trilogy lean more toward hard science fiction (science and technology that makes sense scientifically) or soft science fiction (focusing on social sciences)? Does the writing fit into a particular subgenre?
I work with soft science fiction—sometimes called space opera—almost exclusively. My stories are about people, regular people, the standard man-on-the-street type of person. People of an everyday nature put in difficult situations from which they must use their own skills and knowledge to get out of. (See Explorer for a good example of this.) Leos is a prime example. He’s not a superhero. He doesn’t fly a huge, sophisticated, highly weaponized, galaxy-traveling, planet-destroying spaceship that he can use to get out of any situation. He’s asked to do the impossible with only what he knows and can do himself. As to why I’ve chosen to write in that style, I think it’s that I’ve seen so many shows of superheroes, or of characters that utilize big, brutal inventions that serve the main character, and, admittedly, I have enjoyed them, but they’re not my style.

What did you learn in writing/publishing Traveler that you can apply to future projects?
Traveler is only my second book. In writing the first, Explorer, I had to start at the most basic level to learn to write fiction. I read about writing, went to lectures, talked to other writers, and so forth, as new writers are encouraged to do. (And I do, too.) It took me almost twenty years to write that book to get it to a point where I was satisfied with it. Traveler took a much shorter time, about twelve years, and now the third book in the trilogy has taken even a shorter time. Writing is a continuous learning process. The more you write, the more you learn. I hope that within those twenty years I’ve developed my own unique style.

You have decades of experience as a virologist. How has this experience benefited your fiction writing?
Virology was my bread and butter (and bacon) for almost fifty years, but, and this may seem odd, I’ve put very little virology into my writing. Virology is a scientific discipline as much as any other branch of science, and the basics of science are applicable in all other scientific disciplines as well, whether biological or physical. The only difference between writing fiction and writing scientific papers is that it helps to be a reasonably good observer of human nature to write fiction, which in its most obvious character, is greatly unscientific. Science is good and necessary, yes. But so are flawed human beings.

Who are a few of your favorite authors, and what do you admire most about their writing?
I think my favorite science fiction author is Connie Willis. I’ve read several of her books, and I have been impressed by her organization and the research she does for some of them. I wouldn’t want to try and do as much research as she had done.

What are your strengths as a writer?
I’m not sure I have any real strengths as a writer. I’ve written only two books which together don’t make for a very strong record. I’m still working on it.

What writing projects are you working on now?
I’m working on the third installment in my Anthanian Imperative Trilogy, called Warrior. As you read this, it is just about to be self-published.

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
I write mainly from a desire to be entertaining. I’m not trying to project a specific theme or moral, I just want to provide characters who can continue to exist in the presence of very difficult circumstances. These are people we can admire; people we can look up to. There is no nod to current events in my books. I’m not trying to teach a moral or elucidate a universal truth, and I don’t purposely put them into my stories. All my books were written well before the current administration took office. None are allegories. They are adventure stories the reader can immerse him/herself into and escape into an alternative lifestyle. And admire the characters while doing it. Traveler is an adventure that I hope the reader can relate to.

KLWagoner150_2KL Wagoner loves creating worlds of fantasy and science fiction. Her current work in progress is The Last Bonekeeper fantasy trilogy and short stories in the same universe. A member of SouthWest Writers since 2006, Kat has volunteered as the organization’s secretary, newsletter editor, website manager, and author interview coordinator. Kat is also a veteran, a martial art student, and a grandmother. Visit her at klwagoner.com.



Author Update: Gency Brown

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Author Gency Brown’s down-to-earth take on life influences her stories and the characters she creates for her contemporary women’s fiction. In her newest release, Light in the Dark Forest (The Wild Rose Press, November 2025), a newspaper reporter seeking clarity for her life finds her “path to the future is illuminated by friends.” Look for Gency on her website at GencyBrown.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, and her Amazon author store. Read more about Gency’s work in her 2024 interview for SouthWest Writers.

What is at the heart of the story you tell in Light in the Dark Forest?
A woman’s search for answers about her life/future while on a sabbatical to finish her second novel. The reader gets to experience her adventure and the people she meets at a mountain retreat.

Who are your main characters, and why will readers connect to them?
Ava Hardy is a down-to-earth newspaper reporter and novelist who yearns for more in life. Marvin Cameron, a man she meets at her mountain retreat, who deals with PTSD. Gerald Rainwater, Ava’s new love interest. The characters are all different but share the love of their mountain and each other.

Why did you use Oklahoma as the setting for the story?
I am from Oklahoma and wanted to share the beauty of the southeastern mountains, the people and their culture.

Tell us how the book came together.
This novel took the better part of two years including the creation, research, and publication. My research was extensive into the ravages of PTSD and the Choctaw Nation of her friend Gerald. I used sensitivity readers to ensure accuracy and respect for some difficult topics.

Why did you title the book Light in the Dark Forest?
The darkness is the uncertainty of Ava’s life and of some around her. She becomes the light for those she meets. I struggle with titles and this one was no different. Finally my editor suggested this one and I thought it fit the bill nicely.

What was the greatest challenge of putting this project together?
I call it a novel within a novel. While reading what I wrote about Ava, the reader is occasionally given a scene or chapter of the novel Ava is writing. By the end, they seem to merge.

What did you learn in writing/publishing the book that you can apply to future projects?
The handling of numerous stories in one was a good exercise to expand my writing skills.

What does a typical writing session look like for you?
I work better in the early morning with soft music playing in the background. I sometimes go out of the house to a park, café, or library to work using paper and pencil instead of my laptop. The change in atmosphere seems to open creativity that may have become stifled.

What writing projects are you working on now?
I have a story percolating, again set in Oklahoma, which will feature a main character involved in the Red Dirt Music genre which was started there in the 1970s.

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
Whenever I do book signings and events, and someone asks questions about how to start or improve their writing, I always suggest SouthWest Writers.

KLWagoner150_2KL Wagoner loves creating worlds of fantasy and science fiction. Her current work in progress is The Last Bonekeeper fantasy trilogy and short stories in the same universe. A member of SouthWest Writers since 2006, Kat has volunteered as the organization’s secretary, newsletter editor, website manager, and author interview coordinator. Kat is also a veteran, a martial art student, and a grandmother. Visit her at klwagoner.com.



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