Gregg R. Overman - When the Fates of Three Worlds Collide
Gregg Overman is a graduate of LSU with a degree in Zoology and a minor in Chemistry. Writing has been a lifelong passion for him, although he initially pursued it as a hobby while earning a living through other means. Despite the demands of his day job, he managed to write and publish a novel in 2011. At the time, he held the naïve belief that a good book would generate enough income to allow him to quit his day job—a notion he now looks back on with amusement. He currently resides in a house in the woods outside of Hernando, MS, with his wife, three dogs, three cats, seven chickens, and an indeterminate number of mice, thanks to his lazy cats. Now, free from the constraints of a day job, he enjoys a good life. As our Author of the Day, he tells us all about
Please give us a short introduction to what Blue SunRise is about.
Superficially it’s about a race of aliens who are so frightened of the universe around them that they seek to destroy any and all intelligent life forms. They have been aided in this quest by technology they stole from a race of intelligent “Trees” that they enslaved. These aliens have found Earth and begun a process of destruction that has served them well for thousands of years. Hopefully, on a deeper level, it’s about how people, and aliens, can act in ways that we might find to be impressively insane, but that are logically consistent within the framework of the other people’s, or alien’s, viewpoint.
Blue SunRise features a diverse set of characters, both human and alien. How did you approach the development of these different species and their unique characteristics?
Blue SunRise started after reading an article in a science magazine (I can’t remember which one) that talked about how humans, as diverse as we might think ourselves, are still hunter-gatherers at heart. I remember walking out on the porch and wondering, Well, what if we hadn’t arisen from hunter-gatherers? What if we had arisen from, I don’t know, scavengers? This was the genesis of the Koombar, a race of genocidally paranoid aliens bent on the annihilation of all other sentient lifeforms. The Trees are the adult form of a race of sessile aliens. It was a tremendous amount of fun exploring the evolutionary mindset of an alien race rooted in the ground and dependent on food just walking by.
The book deals with a mission to Mars facing both psychological and physical threats. What inspired you to set the story on Mars, and how did you ensure the depiction of its environment was realistic?
For plot purposes, I needed some kind of buffer between the incoming missiles and Earth. If I had to do it over again, I might set them on a moon of Jupiter or maybe in caves on Mars. I appreciate that you think it is realistic. The fact is, I’ve never been there—would love to go. I did spend a great deal of time researching the air pressure, temperatures, etc., etc. It helps that I’m a Chemist and a bit of a (huge?) science nerd. Luckily none of the discoveries of the various Mars rovers have refuted anything in the novel, at least as of today.
The plot involves a genocidally paranoid alien race. How did you balance the elements of suspense and action with the deeper philosophical questions about the nature of existence?
To me, the deeper philosophical questions support and buttress the suspense. I hope that some readers might actually be a little uncomfortable with some of it. One of my ad copies read something to the effect, “If evolution leads you to fear and destroy other species, are you evil, or are you just born that way?” I think that’s a fascinating question.
The crew on Mars is placed in a situation where they might have to sacrifice themselves for Earth. Why did you decide to include themes of sacrifice and survival in the story?
There is nothing more human than the struggle for survival and the search for glory. We survive because we have no real choice, but glory is a method of ensuring our inclusion in human society. Sacrifice in the service of the greater good, and therefore glory, is one of the oldest stories ever told. There’s an old saying: “Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die to get there.” It’s like that.
Ben Allspot’s struggle with addiction adds a personal and human element to the sci-fi narrative. What motivated you to include this aspect of his character, and how does it influence the overall story?
Well… They say you should write what you know. My hope is that this part of the story shows that a man’s love for his family can push him to superhuman accomplishments and even the banishing of his personal demons. The story needed a savior. I have a soft spot for unlikely saviors.
The book has been described as reminiscent of cinematic space epics by James Cameron or Roland Emmerich. Were there any specific films or directors that influenced your writing style or the story's structure?
Kirkus Reviews said this about cinematic space epics, and I have to say, it felt pretty good to read it. But it wasn’t films that influenced me, it was books. Lot and lots of books. Mountains of books. At the tender age of eight, my dear Aunt Betsey gave me five “Tom Swift Junior” books for my birthday. They had titles like “Tom Swift and His Ultrasonic Cycloplane” and “Tom Swift and the Caves of Nuclear Fire.” It changed my life. I hope my work will reflect, however dimly, the genius of Isaac Asimov, Larry Niven, Arthur C. Clarke and so many fantastic authors of the last century.
Blue SunRise is the first book in the Blue Sun Space Opera series. Did you always envision this story as part of a series, and how did you plan the overarching narrative across multiple books?
In a word, no, and no I didn’t plan anything. I just couldn’t completely finish the story in one book. I brought it in for a soft landing, but it wasn’t really done, and some of my readers complained about it. The sequel banged around in my head for years until I was forced to sit down and let it out. Fortunately, I am now at a point in my life that I can devote more time to writing. Book #3 is well underway.
The book includes both intense action scenes and quieter, introspective moments. How do you strike a balance between these two elements in your writing?
Everybody needs a break from time to time. I, as a writer, need a break every now and then. Even Dan Brown (a master of furious pace) gives his readers some breathing room. I hope that the quieter chapters are interesting in and of themselves and give a much-needed respite from massive explosions and people dying.
How did you approach the research for the scientific and technological aspects of the book to ensure accuracy while maintaining the story's pace and excitement?
Gotta love that google machine. I’m a bit of a fanatic for scientific accuracy. In Blue SunRise, I actually went to the trouble of ensuring that the planets were in the proper positions for the dates of the events. Yeah, might be just a bit OCD there, but I don’t think scientific accuracy needs to be sacrificed for the sake of pace and excitement. It might take a little more time and effort to get the science right, but there’s no reason it should get in the way of plot or pace.
The book has garnered praise for its character development. How did you go about crafting these characters to make them relatable and compelling for readers?
I know these characters. I can hear the cadence of their speech. I understand their motivations. They’ve told me all about their childhood sweethearts and their shattered dreams. I know what pisses them off and what makes them happy and why. When I write from the viewpoint of a character, I am solidly in that person’s, or alien’s, head. I see the world through their eyes and can appreciate how they understand the world around them. I guess some of us never gave up on our imaginary friends.
The book has received rave reviews for reigniting readers’ passion for science fiction. How has the positive reception of Blue SunRise impacted your approach to writing the subsequent books in the series?
Like the song says, “You gotta believe.” I started writing because I read a lot of books, and, sadly, a lot of them are just awful. I thought, and still believe, that my books are pretty damned good. The positive reviews are a fantastic motivator to keep going. It’s not always east to sit down and write for four or five hours straight when I could be watching Seinfeld reruns. The reviews are telling me that I’m not crazy. My books really are pretty damned good.
Some readers have commented on the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by the crew. How do you hope these aspects of the story resonate with readers?
Oh, geeze. Moral and ethical dilemmas are a daily occurrence. Just this morning, I was divvying up the dog food and thinking, Well the little dog needs less, but the big dog has been a bit of an asshole lately. Should I give the little dog more food? It took me fifteen minutes to get it right, and meanwhile the dogs are looking up at me like, “WTF, dude. Are we ever going to eat?” But seriously, life is complicated. The way forward is never completely clear. If you want to write a real story about real people, moral and ethical dilemmas will be a necessary part.
What are you working on right now? Can you give our readers a sneak peek on what to expect next?
The sequel to Blue SunRise, titled “Blue SunSet” (isn’t that clever) is available now on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKRSS627/. It’s my opinion, and the opinion of pretty much everyone who has read both books, that it’s much better than Book #1. I’m working steadily on Book #3 and hope to have it done by the end of the year. I am REALLY happy with the characters and the storyline in Book #3. It is in the same universe as Books 1 and 2 but jumps ahead about 200 years. Things have changed. Book #4 is starting to bubble up and exert some influence even as I’m in the middle of Book #3. It is soooo annoying. I’m going back to Tom Fielder and the gang from Books 1 and 2 in Book #4. Gotta keep those readers on their toes.
Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?
Blue SunSet, the sequel to Blue SunRise, can be found at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RIH9S2/
I can be reached through my websites https://greggoverman.com/ and https://www.bluesunrise.net/
Or just email me at [email protected]
I’m not as active on social media sites as I’m told I should be, but…
https://www.facebook.com/BlueSunriseNovel
Thank you so much to all who have made it through this ridiculous conglomeration of weird thoughts and ideas. Good job! I’m proud of you.
