John Coon is an accomplished author and journalist. As a journalist, he has written for the Associated Press, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and many other distinguished publications worldwide. John has covered many major sporting events including March Madness and the NBA Playoffs. As an author, he has published multiple popular bestselling novels including Alien People and Pandora Reborn.

John is a graduate of the University of Utah and currently resides in Utah.

Hi John

Me – sorry to send you the questions when you are busy with the NBA. Not being American I was unaware of this. Let’s get the questions started.

Which aspect of the writing process do you enjoy the most? And why?

John - World building is probably the most exciting part of story creation for me. I love digging into the backstories of my characters and figuring out their histories and personalities. I enjoy exploring the history, culture, geography, and other key elements related to the settings where these characters live. My imagination gets a chance to run free and wild and, through world building, I can create characters and settings that feel unique, original, and alive.

Me – Imaginations do like to run free and unfettered.

What part of the story pushes itself into your imagination first? Story premise, character, setting, plot, ending?

John - I always start out with a story concept or premise that I find unique. It might be a simple question or scenario, but it is a starting point to something larger. My focus always quickly shifts to characters. I start pondering which characters relate to initial the story concept and what makes them fit with that idea. What drives the characters to act and think the way they do? How does this, in turn, drive the key plot lines within the story? My creative process always ends up focusing primarily on character development because characters bear the greatest responsibility for bringing a story to life.

Me – I understand this thinking as I too am a character driven writer.

What is the inspiration behind Alien People?

John -Alien People grew out of a simple question. What would first contact with Earth be like from the aliens' point of view? We always see those stories from the Earth perspective. The aliens are mysterious and dangerous beings within the narrative. I thought it would be fun to turn that trope in the other direction, so that Earth is the mysterious planet filled with dangerous “aliens” from the perspective of extraterrestrial visitors.

Me – An interesting perspective to take.

What was the most difficult part when writing Alien People?

John -For me, the most difficult part when writing any novel is cultivating enough time to focus on fully developing the story from rough draft to final draft. I work as a sports journalist for my regular job and do novel writing on the side. I cover college football, college basketball and the NBA for the Associated Press, so my work schedule can get really hectic for large chunks of the year. You become mentally and physically drained in that situation. I have to push through that fatigue on many occasions to give my stories the proper attention they deserve.

Me – Yes life and other commitments can distract from writing fiction.

Do any of the characters reflect your personality? If so, was this deliberate?

John - I make an effort as an author not to insert myself in stories or model characters on my own personality. Still, if you spend enough time exploring and developing a character, they will occasionally pick up a trait or two from you. Calandra's persistence in Alien People and Dark Metamorphosis, for example, probably reflects in a minor way how I approach life's challenges. When I create a character's personality, I take a melting pot approach that takes them far away from me as the author. I think about various people I know or have encountered in real life and blend aspects of those personalities together to form a brand-new personality for my character. I don't want my characters to think and feel the same as me. I want them to have their own experiences.

Me – I like the idea of character’s picking up a trait or two from their creator.

What is it about Horror and Science Fiction that tempts you to write in these genres?

John - Exploring the unknown fascinates me. Being a journalist for so many years has left me with a desire to search out new and unusual stories. Science Fiction and horror share a common thread in being a gateway to the unknown. They are also the genres that ask big “What if?” questions more than any other genre. You can face fears, examine humanity through a lens of exotic alien worlds, or settings filled with creepy monsters. It is like having unlimited paint to fill a giant blank canvas.

Me – I am plagued with ‘what if’ questions and idea, maybe I should try some sci-fi.

I see you write a blog, how useful is this for your writing?

John - My blog on my author website (johncoon.net) is a fun outlet to explore the writing process and share the stories behind my stories. I enjoy sharing my writing journey with others who may feel inspired or motivated from my knowledge and experiences. Recently, I started a Substack newsletter called Strange New Worlds (https://newworlds.substack.com) devoted to my writing. I have posted a pair of original short stories so far and other articles devoted to the craft of writing.

Me – I’ve not heard of Substack, I’ll take a peek thank you.

Do you have a writing tip you can share?

John - Cultivate your own voice as a writer. Don't worry about checking off boxes on a list that tell you to write to specific markets or include specific tropes in your story. Focus on telling the story you want to share with the rest of the world and develop your writing skills enough so that you can share the best possible version of that story. You are the only one who can tell that specific story.

Me – lovely advice, thanks John.

If you’d like to find out more about John Coon or her writing please visit the links below.

Author website: http://johncoon.net

Newsletter: https://newworlds.substack.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johncoonsports

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jcoon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcoon312

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/John-Coon/e/B07DVWV3L3

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-coon

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18159853.John_Coon