Q and A with Chris O’Kane

Q and A with Chris O’Kane

Questions to the Author: Chris O’Kane

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a kid who grew up in Glasgow during the space age. Inspired by space exploration, astronomy and science fiction. I have worked in many guises over the years, but still have that space-age, glint of wonder in my eyes.

    Who are your favourite authors?

I have lots of favourites, some dead and some living. Love H. G. Wells, no one writes like that now, it just flows off the page into your mind and stays there. Lots of SF writers, Joe Haldeman, David Brin, Allen Steele, and many, many more.

What is your favourite book?

That’s difficult to say. There are books I go back to that I enjoy reading again.  I’m often asked to recommend an SF book by readers who don’t read SF. I always tell them to read “Far From Home” by Walter Tevis. It’s a collection of short stories that will make you laugh, cry and despair.

Music tastes?

Rock, Celtic, Classic, Folk, Film, Various.

What first piqued your interest in Mars?

I recall the fuss about the Mariner 4 pictures of Mars, very fuzzy, I couldn’t make out anything, then the Mariner 6 & 7 photos, two craters looked like a giant’s footprint on Mars. Then in 1970 I read War of the Worlds, shortly after I saw the 1953 film version, I was hooked from then.

Where did the Idea for Journey to Cydonia come from?

The idea came from the project I started, as soon as I took an interest in the issue I kept a journal, knowing that I would, some day, write a book about it.  By 1996 I started writing the book, as I knew it would be important as a record of what took place.

What’s the most important thing you have learned about the art of writing?

Get off your butt and do it, or it will never happen.

Michael

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