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Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed author Bruce McCandless about his new novel, In The Land Of Dead Horses. He describes his creative writing process, inspiration, and the advice he has for others.
I’m a sixty-year-old writer and editor who lives in Austin, Texas. I practiced law for 25 years before retiring in 2019. I grew up in and have spent most of my life in Texas, but I’ve also lived in Reading, England; New York City; and Hong Kong. I like to read and write, as one might imagine, and I try to hike, bike, and play my guitar whenever possible.
As a fourth grader, I wrote a long story—a “novel,” I guess—about me and some of my friends, whom I imagined as being members of a World War II fighter plane squadron.
I’ve been writing for so long that I really can’t remember, but I suspect it was right after practicing my multiplication tables one day in fourth grade.
Not counting “The Adventures of the World War II Rainbow Squadron,” above, three years.
It took me a little less time to complete In the Land of Dead Horses, but not much. I’m pretty slow!
In the Land of Dead Horses is a follow-up to a novel I wrote in 2010 called Sour Lake. It wasn’t really a Western. It was more sci-fi/horror, but midway through the novel a character showed up who immediately bent the narrative his way. That character was Texas Ranger Jewel T. Lightfoot, an irascible and plain-spoken lawman who has a habit of forcing the action—any action. The story headed west from there, and indeed Dead Horses is about as far west in Texas as you can get. Lightfoot’s a charismatic character, and he just took everyone with him—including me.
This is going to sound weird, but it’s a lot easier to be scary in a swamp or a dark house, with rain dripping and night falling, than in an empty and usually very sunny desert.
When I was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas, I worked with an alcoholic beverage commission agent who provided the inspiration for my protagonist, Jewel T. Lightfoot.
The principal antagonist is inspired, visually at least, by the gargoyles of Notre Dame. Other influences: Dracula; “Alien”; and the Indiana Jones movies.
The murder of a middle-aged Irishman after he helps a trio of Mexican nationals to find an ancient sarcophagus.
A powerful and horrifying ancient evil vs. a valiant but very mortal set of human beings.
A little of both. I try to have a rough idea of where I want to go, but otherwise a lot of it comes together as I proceed. For example, I know I want to drive from Austin to the beaches of California, and I know I need to head west, but I pick the route depending on which roads look interesting at the moment.
I received substantial editing support from both my publisher and several friends. Editing is basically organized criticism. Sometimes it makes sense and sometimes it doesn’t, and it’s tough to figure out which pieces to accept and which to ignore (politely, of course). Over-editing is a thing.
Be patient with yourself. Writing anything good can be a long, difficult process. I’ve only ever had one story come to me more or less fully formed, just begging for me to write it down. It was great, but I’ve learned to count on perspiration more than inspiration.
Sure thing. I’m currently working on a non-fiction book—a short book, but a book nonetheless—about the hypothesized “Planet 9” and the way astronomers are searching for, and arguing about, it.
Yes, I’m proud of it. I think it moves pretty well. Of course, I’ll be happier if other people like it as well as I do, but regardless, it was worth the effort.
Personal Website: https://brucemccandless.com/
Amazon Author Central Page: https://www.amazon.com/Bruce-McCandless-III/e/B004FJPT8U%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4993225.Bruce_McCandless_III
Publishing Company Website: https://www.ninthplanetpress.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bruce.mccandless.92
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