Ask the Author: Max T. Furr
Answered Questions (11)
Max T. Furr
Driving the dirt road through the woods to the abandoned Lockshire house by the bay one evening, I passed the ruins of a structure nestled among scraggly, leafless trees off to my right upon which a multitude of crooked-necked vultures roosted, their eyes staring ominously at me as I passed; a chilling beginning for my experiment.
A diehard skeptic but one willing to test all beliefs, that night I set about testing the Spirit-board I'd brought for that purpose when, to my right, a large, paper map of the bay area that covered the wall, fell to the floor and immediately there came several loud knocks from inside the fire place behind me, the origin of which I'll never know as, with skin crawling, I promptly fled, leaving my skepticism behind.
A diehard skeptic but one willing to test all beliefs, that night I set about testing the Spirit-board I'd brought for that purpose when, to my right, a large, paper map of the bay area that covered the wall, fell to the floor and immediately there came several loud knocks from inside the fire place behind me, the origin of which I'll never know as, with skin crawling, I promptly fled, leaving my skepticism behind.
Max T. Furr
Thank you for your question. Any fictional book? I would love to go to the world I describe in the Epilogue of "The Empathy Imperative."
Max T. Furr
Thanks for the question. "COLLAPSE: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed," by Jared Diamond and, "This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class," by Elizabeth Warren.
Max T. Furr
The mystery in my own life that empelled me to write my novel was the deep desire to know what is objectively knowable about life.
Once I realized that the only thing I knew was what I'd been taught by my parents and church--what I'd been TAUGHT to belive--and that other people of other cultures had been taught quite differently, I placed my own beliefs in abeyance and enrolled in college to study world religions, philosophy and paleoanthropology (biological evolution).
I must say that it was a mind opener. Thus, because society normally rejects philosophies critical of religious belief, I decided to write a novel based on biblical literality, but with a huge twist in part two--a twist that leads the reader to understand what the world would be like if a truly benevolent god were to appear and what might take place in a trial of the Old Testament god in an ethereal court of ethical justice.
Once I realized that the only thing I knew was what I'd been taught by my parents and church--what I'd been TAUGHT to belive--and that other people of other cultures had been taught quite differently, I placed my own beliefs in abeyance and enrolled in college to study world religions, philosophy and paleoanthropology (biological evolution).
I must say that it was a mind opener. Thus, because society normally rejects philosophies critical of religious belief, I decided to write a novel based on biblical literality, but with a huge twist in part two--a twist that leads the reader to understand what the world would be like if a truly benevolent god were to appear and what might take place in a trial of the Old Testament god in an ethereal court of ethical justice.
Max T. Furr
Sorry to have been so long in response.
The idea and inspiration for writing "The Empathy Imperative" was a result of my own experience as a de facto religious fundamentalist and my subsequent journey to reason. My evolution from faith to reason is laid out in the preface of the book. You can read it at http://maxfurr.com/rationalwriter-blo... .
The idea and inspiration for writing "The Empathy Imperative" was a result of my own experience as a de facto religious fundamentalist and my subsequent journey to reason. My evolution from faith to reason is laid out in the preface of the book. You can read it at http://maxfurr.com/rationalwriter-blo... .
Max T. Furr
It isn't difficult. I'm rather eclectic in my interests and do a lot of reading in non-fiction. Thus, I become inspired by current discoveries in science and arguments in philosophy and religion.
I've a number of short stories I've not attempted to publish, but plan to at some future date. Currently, I'm working on my next novel, a science fiction dealing with human speciation. It was my first novel that inspired my current novel.
I've a number of short stories I've not attempted to publish, but plan to at some future date. Currently, I'm working on my next novel, a science fiction dealing with human speciation. It was my first novel that inspired my current novel.
Max T. Furr
Sorry to be so long in response.
Currently I've finished my first rough draft of a science fiction novel having to do with human speciation. It was inspired by a book I read many years ago; Arthur C. Clarke’s "Childhood's End."
Currently I've finished my first rough draft of a science fiction novel having to do with human speciation. It was inspired by a book I read many years ago; Arthur C. Clarke’s "Childhood's End."
Max T. Furr
That's a good question. I'm not sure I have advice for them other than to live within your characters. Once you identify their personalities, you will know their responses to different situations. Make them and their situations believable.
Max T. Furr
Sorry to take so long in response. It's been a very busy year.
What do I like most about being a writer? Living life vicariously through my characters--or at least the main characters.
What do I like most about being a writer? Living life vicariously through my characters--or at least the main characters.
Max T. Furr
Sorry to have been so long responding.
I have frequent writer's block, but most often I simple begin reading something of interest or simply rethink the scenario. I consider my characters' personalities--the ones about whom I'm writing at the moment of block--and listen to them formulate their next words or actions.
As well, I often go back to an earlier part of the manuscript and begin editing. That often breaks through the block.
I have frequent writer's block, but most often I simple begin reading something of interest or simply rethink the scenario. I consider my characters' personalities--the ones about whom I'm writing at the moment of block--and listen to them formulate their next words or actions.
As well, I often go back to an earlier part of the manuscript and begin editing. That often breaks through the block.
Max T. Furr
The fictions I've read (many years ago) did not deal with couples. During and since college, I've read only non-fiction. Thus, I have no favorite fictional couples.
This is why The Empathy Imperative contains a lot of basic but very understandable and true political history, science and philosophy.
This is why The Empathy Imperative contains a lot of basic but very understandable and true political history, science and philosophy.
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