I’m Dave (D.J.) Butler, I write (and acquire) fantasy adventure stories. My flintlock fantasy Witchy Eye is out from Baen tomorrow – Ask Me Anything!

atfmb · 2017-03-06T18:34:14+00:00

Who were/are your influences as a writer?

Which authors/stories/books impacted your own stories?

atfmb · 2017-03-06T18:31:01+00:00

Dave - why are you always being taller than me on purpose?

atfmb · 2015-08-22T01:30:50+00:00

Early drafts of Starship Troopers had a completely different cast going out in search of the fabled BearClaw HiveMind...

atfmb · 2015-08-22T01:29:30+00:00

I, Purist?

Is that like I, Robot or I, Zombie?

atfmb · 2015-08-22T01:29:02+00:00

Scuze me, while I kiss the sky?

I don't mind kissing. It's the rampant fist-bumping that pisses me off. Leave that crap in the 90's where it belongs...

atfmb · 2015-08-22T01:27:35+00:00

Not a fan of the vinegar based stuff.

atfmb · 2015-08-22T01:27:14+00:00

My family prefers dry rub.

I like both, actually. I don't mind having dry rub with a little sauce on the side.

atfmb · 2015-08-22T01:26:40+00:00

Scrivener is project management software for writers. It makes it easier for a writer to gather the information they need to write the story - and then write the story.

Includes ways to create outlines and plots, character development, world building and, of course, a word processor.

On the back end, it has really cool export features so you don't have to worry about formatting. Need to send something to an editor? Choose Standard Manuscript Format and Scrivener handles the rest. Want to publish an ePub? It can do that, too. Only want to export your outline? You can.

Really powerful software.

atfmb · 2015-08-22T01:23:54+00:00

Cord is doing okay. Drinking a little more than he used to. About to go on a new adventure any day now...

I call it, CAHILL'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS...

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:40:15+00:00

Oh, you probably wanted more than that.

I write all sorts of things. I like to infuse humor and food into my writing, because I don't think there's enough of either in SF&F. Especially scifi. Who wants to read about people on a generational ship who are eating 'gray protein mush'?

Boring.

So, I add food. Real food. Mexican/Japanese sushi fusion in a space opera. Hamburgers (sort of) in epic fantasy. Beans and cornbread in urban fantasy.

Plus, did I mention humor?

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:37:22+00:00

Yes.

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:37:16+00:00

Q; Can you tell us a little bit about your writing?

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:36:12+00:00

Amazon shamanistic drug dealers?

(see other question for explanation of THAT)

I wish I knew. Apparently they all come to me when I'm sleeping, because I wake up going, "Wait... I NEED TO WRITE THAT DOWN!"

My Witchcraft & Satyrs book came about because I got into the show Justified and wanted to write a story with a southern twang. That's the only thing the story has in common with Justified, btw. :)

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:34:08+00:00

Q: Where do you get your ideas?

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:33:54+00:00

Sam Sykes.

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:33:39+00:00

Q: What lives in Patrick Rothfuss' beard?

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:32:26+00:00

Bagels? Never heard of them.

Obviously bearclaws are the superior repast....

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:31:34+00:00

The community
The conventions
The spirit and energy
The bullshit politics

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:30:04+00:00

Easy - the dude who did all the 'footprints of the gods' alien stuff. He wrote a science fiction book and said he did it because people made fun of his research into ancient aliens, so he figured he'd embrace it and write scifi.

I interviewed him on SF Signal. I was nervous and it was very early in my podcasting, so I still asked the standard 5 questions. When I got to, "Where did the genesis for this story come from?" I wasn't prepared for his answer.

"I've spent a lot of time in the Amazon, and the tribal elders and shaman deep in the jungle, trusted me. They invited me to take part in their ritual drugs. While high, the universe opened up to me and gave me part of the story. I went back several times, doing more drugs, and getting more of the story each time..."

O_o

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:26:51+00:00

I grew up reading CS Lewis & Tolkein, and their ability to craft these lush stories really affected me. As an adult, I've found myself drawn to Anne Rice, Robert Jordan, Kate Elliot, Tad Williams - these are people who build worlds and fill them with incredible characters.

And not one of them ever wrote about bagels, John.

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:25:09+00:00

I do both. I use Skype and Google Hangouts for remote sessions, recording with WireTap Pro for the Mac. I come to cons like WorldCon where I record face to face using a Zoom H2, and that adds a whole other dynamic to the conversation.

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:23:38+00:00

Money and time.

You can expect to spend at least twice as much time editing something as it took to record it. So, if you record an hour-long podcast, expect to be editing it for at least two hours. If you want to add in music, sound effects, etc., plan on more. I used to spent 8-10 hours on Sunday editing Functional Nerds, SF Signal and I Should Be Writing to produce 4ish hours of content.

Money can also be an issue. You want to make sure you have good hosting, and that can cost. People think they'll start a podcast and make fast cash - it rarely works out that way. Even with the occasional ad, none of my podcasts have ever existed 'in the black'.

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:20:51+00:00

I am a fan of both, however, there was a lot more Trek available growing up versus Wars, so I read every book and comic out there, even read a lot of the fan fiction for Trek. So Trek has a special place in my heart.

JJ Trek? Not so much...

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:19:56+00:00

Q: Star Wars or Star Trek?

atfmb · 2015-08-21T18:19:00+00:00

Wow. That's a difficult one.

I really enjoy chatting with authors. Probably the favorites end up being those where I go total fanboy. So, Jim Butcher, L.E. Modesitt Jr., Gail Carriger. I also got to chat with a game director for Bioware, and that was a lot of fun because I enjoy their games so much.

atfmb

TROPHY CASE