Today, we have the pleasure of talking with N.Y.
Times and USA Today best-selling author Hugh Howey. He is the author of the
award-winning Molly Fyde Saga and I, Zombie, but is perhaps best known
for Wool.
Wool
introduces readers to the Silo Saga and a ruined
and toxic landscape, where a community exists in a giant silo underground,
hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a society full of
regulations they believe are meant to protect them. Sheriff Holston, who has
unwaveringly upheld the silo’s rules for years, unexpectedly breaks the
greatest taboo of all: He asks to go outside.
His fateful decision unleashes a drastic series
of events. An unlikely candidate is appointed to replace him: Juliette, a
mechanic with no training in law, whose special knack is fixing machines. Now
Juliette is about to be entrusted with fixing her silo, and she will soon learn
just how badly her world is broken. The silo is about to confront what its
history has only hinted about and its inhabitants have never dared to whisper.
Uprising.
Wool
is available in hard cover, paperback, eBook and audio book. It is on the fast
track to be a major motion picture and, at last count, has been picked up by 28 countries for translation. Amidst this whirlwind of success, Hugh was nice
enough to answer a few questions about the man behind the books.
Mark
Miller: In meeting other authors, I have found that our life story can
sometimes be as interesting as the ones we create. Can you tell us a little
about your life? What did you do before you were an author? How did that help
you become an author?
Hugh
Howey: I’ve had numerous jobs and careers. My main gig was as a yacht
captain, which allowed me to see quite a bit of the world, meet fascinating
people, and get in some wild predicaments. I think each of those helped me be a
better writer. Roofing for two years was a great way to daydream and also a
great job for wanting one where you worked from home in your pajamas.
MM:
Roofing in your pajamas probably doesn’t work too well, but you might be able
to get away with it on a yacht. Life experience is key to writing and it sounds
like you’ve had some good ones. What about your hobbies, pajama-clad or not, do
they add to your writing in any way?
HH:
I’m a nut for photography. It definitely adds to my writing. It teaches you to
see the details in the world. You also learn to tell a story with a single
snapshot.
MM:
I believe you share some of your photography on Facebook. You definitely share
your life. Being a world traveler and best-selling author, how different is that
life now versus about a year ago?
HH:
Not so different when it comes to work. But a year ago, I was living in the
mountains of North Carolina. Last June, my wife and I moved to south Florida
when she took a different job. So that’s changed quite a bit. I now see more
sand and far less snow!
MM:
Less snow is always good. I will say, at least snow melts. Sand always seems to
be hanging around and winds up in some odd places. You traded the beautiful
mountains of North Carolina for the beautiful waters of South Florida. Even
with the move, it sounds like you are traveling as much as ever. With all the
travel and book tours, like Germany and Australia, what do you miss most from
your old life? Does your wife have
any thoughts on the subject? Does it affect her in any way?
HH:
I miss the steadiness of my writing routine. Travel makes writing difficult. I
think my wife gets worn out from me being away from home so much. Since I work
from home, I normally keep up with the cleaning and food prep. I also watch and
entertain the dog. So it’s a lot more work for her when I’m gone. Plus, I think
she misses me. A little.
MM:
That is a very familiar routine to me, except for the globe-trotting. Maybe you
should try adding some children to the mix…but let’s change the subject. Many
consider Wool a must read.
When you open a book, what do you consider a must read? What elements are you looking for to make it a must read?
HH:
For me, I have to learn something. It has to expand my mind. I mostly read
non-fiction, but I read a work recently that blew me away with its prose and
plot. It’s called Lexicon by Max Barry, and it comes out in June. One of those
books you want to read a second time.
MM:
Max is an Australian author and is also known for his online political simulation game Nation States. It
sounds like he will be making his mark soon. There are so many up and coming
authors these days with changes in independent, digital and self-publishing.
There are also a growing number of authors and aspiring authors that write fan
fiction, Amazon recently made an announcement about it. You have even posted
about Wool fan fiction and seem to encourage it. How do you feel
about other writers creating stories in your world? Have you written any fan
fiction? If so, can you name the franchise?
HH:
I fully support it. Of course, I would never ask or expect anyone to write fan
fiction in my world, but when people approached me about it, I gave it my full
blessing. The idea of charging money for the fan fiction came from me. I just
feel like artists should be bold enough to ask for a dollar for their hard
work. And a lot of the fan fiction is better than the source material. I
haven’t written any fan fiction, but it’s something I’m keen on now that I’ve
seen it work the other way. My first foray might be a Dr. Who episode, just for
fun. Maybe I’ll shop it to the studio and see what they have to say. :)
MM:
I can picture it now – the TARDIS materializes in a cave; the Doctor and his
companion walk out and discover they are at the bottom of an enormous spiral
staircase. Or maybe Firefly? After all, you are a captain. Also, don’t think I’ll
let your “fan fiction is better than the source material” comment go unnoticed.
It is something I have seen from you on more than one occasion: you appear to
be a modest, genuine person. It is refreshing. You are as much an author as you
are a fan. Allowing for a fanboy
moment, are there any established authors that you would like to see write a
story in your franchise? Any with which you would like to co-write anything?
HH:
Oh, I would hate to suggest that anyone write stories in my franchise. That
would have to be up to them. If I co-wrote something with another author, it
would ideally be my wife. I’m trying to convince her to publish some self-help
shorts. She’s a psychologist with a gift for helping people, and books could
reach a much wider audience.
MM:
There’s that modesty again. You wear it well and you seem to have a great
relationship with your wife. Isn’t that every husbands’ dream to write with his
wife? Or at least every husband that is an author? I even have a concept when I
can convince mine to join me. We have covered quite a bit already, but I wanted
to rewind a little and ask have you always wanted to be an author? And looking
forward, where do you see yourself in five years? Still writing or pursuing
another goal?
HH:
Yeah, this has always been a dream of mine. In five years, I see myself on a
sailboat, sailing around the world. Writing as I go, of course.
MM:
With Shift
climbing the charts, it looks like your long term goals are coming sooner
rather than later. As you try to hold your laptop steady, bobbing on the
Caribbean waves, can readers expect more stories from the silo? What others
stories are you looking forward to sharing with the world?
HH:
There’s
one more book coming out in the series entitled Dust. It will be out August 17th of this year. And then it’s on to other stories.
MM:
Every good story deserves to be a trilogy, at least. Whatever those other
stories might be (hopefully one Dr. Who episode), this is only the
beginning for you. Congratulations on everything so far and thank you for
taking the time to be here today. I would like to end with a fun question: If
you could be any fictional character, who and why?
HH:
I’d be Han Solo. It’s everything I knew from being a yacht captain, but in
outer space. That’s the job for me. With a Wookie for a best friend, which is
like a dog, but better. A dog you can talk to and play chess with. Sign me up!
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