Ask the Author: Jack L. Knapp
Answered Questions (15)
Jack L. Knapp
Outdated propulsion system--rockets, perhaps? So far, it's the only practical way to reach space.
I wrote a series based on an 'antique' idea (Nikola Tesla had bunches of them, and many worked, starting with a high-frequency coil that Marconi used to build the first radio communicator, and going on to create the AC power system that is the standard now for electrical power), a takeoff from a turbine he was never able to finish. At the time, materials science simply hadn't developed far enough for his turbine to work.
Amazon liked The Ship, and the rest of the series. The company promoted The Ship at no cost to me, and three times during March 2016 I made it into the top 100 SF authors publishing on Amazon.
To answer your question: the concept doesn't trigger any ideas for me, but it might for you. Why not try writing a book yourself?
I wrote my first novel, Combat Wizard, because I was bored with sitting at home. Retired twice, stuck in the house, and there was that Apple computer with Microsoft Word...
Ten years and twenty -four novels later, income ~$200k from Amazon, Audible, Apple, B&K, etc, working on #25. Not too shabby for an 83 year old "retired guy"!
Try it, you may like it! Butt in the chair, blank page, type in 'Chapter One', and you're on your way!
I wrote a series based on an 'antique' idea (Nikola Tesla had bunches of them, and many worked, starting with a high-frequency coil that Marconi used to build the first radio communicator, and going on to create the AC power system that is the standard now for electrical power), a takeoff from a turbine he was never able to finish. At the time, materials science simply hadn't developed far enough for his turbine to work.
Amazon liked The Ship, and the rest of the series. The company promoted The Ship at no cost to me, and three times during March 2016 I made it into the top 100 SF authors publishing on Amazon.
To answer your question: the concept doesn't trigger any ideas for me, but it might for you. Why not try writing a book yourself?
I wrote my first novel, Combat Wizard, because I was bored with sitting at home. Retired twice, stuck in the house, and there was that Apple computer with Microsoft Word...
Ten years and twenty -four novels later, income ~$200k from Amazon, Audible, Apple, B&K, etc, working on #25. Not too shabby for an 83 year old "retired guy"!
Try it, you may like it! Butt in the chair, blank page, type in 'Chapter One', and you're on your way!
Jack L. Knapp
I don't really have a reading list. I'm currently writing novel 18 and when I'm not writing, I'm researching.
I've read a number of books recently including several by Craig Johnson (the Longmire Series) in paperback format.
I've read a number of books recently including several by Craig Johnson (the Longmire Series) in paperback format.
Jack L. Knapp
I'm reasonably certain it's your computer setting, not something Goodreads has done.
I'd start with your browser. Easy to isolate this issue; try another browser. I personally use four on a daily basis, Google Chrome as primary, Opera for research, Safari for things like banking, Firefox for Amazon Ads and backup in case one of the others has a glitch.
So: log onto the site, see if the problem is still there.
If it's not, then check the browser setting for Goodreads. If it persists across all browsers, check the computer preferences. If that doesn't work, contact the Goodreads Librarians Group.
If none of this works, message me again; I'll try playing around with settings and see if I can duplicate your problem.
One question: Mac or Windows?
I'd start with your browser. Easy to isolate this issue; try another browser. I personally use four on a daily basis, Google Chrome as primary, Opera for research, Safari for things like banking, Firefox for Amazon Ads and backup in case one of the others has a glitch.
So: log onto the site, see if the problem is still there.
If it's not, then check the browser setting for Goodreads. If it persists across all browsers, check the computer preferences. If that doesn't work, contact the Goodreads Librarians Group.
If none of this works, message me again; I'll try playing around with settings and see if I can duplicate your problem.
One question: Mac or Windows?
Jack L. Knapp
I do; I'm on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Jack-L-Knapp.... I check in there at least daily and answer any comments, usually within 24 hours.
And of course I get any messages posted here.
Darwin 5 will be my next project, as soon as I finish Siberian Wizard. That's currently underway.
And thanks for the message!
And of course I get any messages posted here.
Darwin 5 will be my next project, as soon as I finish Siberian Wizard. That's currently underway.
And thanks for the message!
Jack L. Knapp
Thanks, Lee.
I binge-read between writing stints. I often put in 14 or more hours a day when I'm trying to finish a book. It leaves me drained, to put it mildly. I recover by reading.
I published MARS last Sunday, then started reading Monday. Since then, I've read two of yours added two more to my iPad, read two from a different series and started reading still a third series. In between I read two histories dealing with aspects of the Pacific campaigns of WWII.
But I'm already feeling the urge to dig into another project. Veil of Time placed fictional characters into the American west of the 1800's and have them interact with real characters. Until I started researching, I had never heard of Sarah Winnemucca, the first Native American woman to write a book and have it published (by friends).
I've been studying the history of the American Army force that went into Russia just before the end of WWI. Few know it even happened; it was a relatively minor campaign that got lost in the enormous casualty counts, the sudden collapse of Germany, and the scramble to demobilize.
That's enough to get me started.
I look forward to further conversation! I'm on Facebook and I often interact there with other authors if you're interested.
I binge-read between writing stints. I often put in 14 or more hours a day when I'm trying to finish a book. It leaves me drained, to put it mildly. I recover by reading.
I published MARS last Sunday, then started reading Monday. Since then, I've read two of yours added two more to my iPad, read two from a different series and started reading still a third series. In between I read two histories dealing with aspects of the Pacific campaigns of WWII.
But I'm already feeling the urge to dig into another project. Veil of Time placed fictional characters into the American west of the 1800's and have them interact with real characters. Until I started researching, I had never heard of Sarah Winnemucca, the first Native American woman to write a book and have it published (by friends).
I've been studying the history of the American Army force that went into Russia just before the end of WWI. Few know it even happened; it was a relatively minor campaign that got lost in the enormous casualty counts, the sudden collapse of Germany, and the scramble to demobilize.
That's enough to get me started.
I look forward to further conversation! I'm on Facebook and I often interact there with other authors if you're interested.
Jack L. Knapp
It's out now. Hope you enjoy it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZAW66N/...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZAW66N/...
Jack L. Knapp
Bet guess, Chris, six months. I've got one halfway finished, so I'll write that, then start on NEO. I have the title, cover, and climax worked out, now all I have to do is write 100000 words!
Jack L. Knapp
Absolutely not offended!
A reviewer this morning accused me of leaving a chapter or so out! I explained why I wrote the book the way I did, and pointed out that a lot of personal violence (as well as personal relationships) takes place offscreen, so the reader can supply their own imagination.
That's the way things happen nowadays.
Writers try to write books that involve readers; I think it's fair to say I've done that with The Ship! :D
A reviewer this morning accused me of leaving a chapter or so out! I explained why I wrote the book the way I did, and pointed out that a lot of personal violence (as well as personal relationships) takes place offscreen, so the reader can supply their own imagination.
That's the way things happen nowadays.
Writers try to write books that involve readers; I think it's fair to say I've done that with The Ship! :D
Jack L. Knapp
I'm writing book two now, title NFI. That stands for New Frontiers, Incorporated. A third book is also planned, title NEO (for Near-Earth-Object)
The Ship was about technical jargon, in a sense. While I never intended it to be for 'hardcore scifi nuts', I can see what you mean.
We know enough now to realize that while you can build a computer in your garage, you'll only get yourself killed if you try building a spaceship there. The story wasn't intended to be space opera, where a futuristic ship worked by pushing a button. It was more about the nuts and bolts of really operating in space.
As for the specific chapter you mentioned, the science isn't imaginary. It's just not as well known as Einstein's work. So why put it in? Because otherwise the impeller system violates too many laws of science. That real hardcore reader you mentioned would snort and toss the book aside.
There's science in the new book too, but different. For example, how would you build a habitat on the moon? Really? I could gloss over it, just have it appear, but that's not the level of detail I want. Real people will build that habitat; they might even use the diesel-powered bulldozer I designed. Diesel, in no atmosphere? Yes, really. And I think it would work. So I devote a few paragraphs to it. I also designed a power system, and that would also work. Imagination...
But at the same time, the new book is more about people. There's danger, parental concerns, injured people, characters evolve, much much more.
I don't have a mailing list, but if you're on Facebook, I have an author's page. I post weekly about progress, and the cover of NFI is already there.
I can't give you a completion date; six weeks, perhaps? I put a lot of work in my books, a lot of research too. It takes time, and sometimes things don't go smoothly. I have to backtrack and fix things.
Thanks for your interest.
The Ship was about technical jargon, in a sense. While I never intended it to be for 'hardcore scifi nuts', I can see what you mean.
We know enough now to realize that while you can build a computer in your garage, you'll only get yourself killed if you try building a spaceship there. The story wasn't intended to be space opera, where a futuristic ship worked by pushing a button. It was more about the nuts and bolts of really operating in space.
As for the specific chapter you mentioned, the science isn't imaginary. It's just not as well known as Einstein's work. So why put it in? Because otherwise the impeller system violates too many laws of science. That real hardcore reader you mentioned would snort and toss the book aside.
There's science in the new book too, but different. For example, how would you build a habitat on the moon? Really? I could gloss over it, just have it appear, but that's not the level of detail I want. Real people will build that habitat; they might even use the diesel-powered bulldozer I designed. Diesel, in no atmosphere? Yes, really. And I think it would work. So I devote a few paragraphs to it. I also designed a power system, and that would also work. Imagination...
But at the same time, the new book is more about people. There's danger, parental concerns, injured people, characters evolve, much much more.
I don't have a mailing list, but if you're on Facebook, I have an author's page. I post weekly about progress, and the cover of NFI is already there.
I can't give you a completion date; six weeks, perhaps? I put a lot of work in my books, a lot of research too. It takes time, and sometimes things don't go smoothly. I have to backtrack and fix things.
Thanks for your interest.
Jack L. Knapp
I consider myself a professional writer; I can't wait for 'inspiration'.
I have a schedule to keep, self-adopted; so I work at the profession of writing every day. For me it's a process; discuss the last chapter written with my editor, revise, produce new work.
But there's more to it than that. Marketing. Communicating with various people. Reading and reviewing (I've posted more than a hundred reviews on Amazon).
And sometimes, when I read a book by someone else, I think, "You know, I could write a different slant on that idea!"
I have a schedule to keep, self-adopted; so I work at the profession of writing every day. For me it's a process; discuss the last chapter written with my editor, revise, produce new work.
But there's more to it than that. Marketing. Communicating with various people. Reading and reviewing (I've posted more than a hundred reviews on Amazon).
And sometimes, when I read a book by someone else, I think, "You know, I could write a different slant on that idea!"
Jack L. Knapp
Haven't. I've never had it.
I sometimes write more than one book at a time, doing a chapter here, a chapter there; when I'm tired of one, let my subconscious gnaw on the problem as I write the other(s).
In between, write short nonfiction essays. They'll be a book one day.
I sometimes write more than one book at a time, doing a chapter here, a chapter there; when I'm tired of one, let my subconscious gnaw on the problem as I write the other(s).
In between, write short nonfiction essays. They'll be a book one day.
Jack L. Knapp
Writing's like reading, in that you can escape the mundane cares of life.
On steroids.
On steroids.
Jack L. Knapp
Write.
Write every day.
In between writing, edit.
Marketing is a necessity, even though it's a distraction.
For other advice, see http://jacklknapp.com
Write every day.
In between writing, edit.
Marketing is a necessity, even though it's a distraction.
For other advice, see http://jacklknapp.com
Jack L. Knapp
Home, the final installment in this segment of the Darwin's World epic.
Jack L. Knapp
It's part of the Darwin's World series; I imagined how humans would develop society and civilization if they had it to do all over again from the beginning. Not a dystopia, but a new beginning on an Earth from a parallel timeline.
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