Please welcome new author Travis McBee

Please give a warm welcome to author Travis McBee. He has answered some questions for us and will be telling us a little more about him and his works. 

What brought you to this genre?

I don’t really pick genres, either when I’m reading or writing. I get ideas that come to me and I start writing them. I don’t really ever stop to consider what genre it is until I’m done and I need to classify it so that I can query it. It’s the same way when I pick up books to read, I just look for a good story. I guess I’m weird that way.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Not very often, but occasionally. When I do I like to go for a long drive. I live in the mountains so the view is always beautiful and for some reason it makes me start to think about all kinds of things, which always lead back to a story.

Can you tell us a bit about your book?

My book is about a boy whose parents are from a different planet. They are humans just like you and me, they just grew up somewhere other than earth. Well they never tell the protagonist that they’re not from earth until a man shows up and offers him a scholarship to their old school in space. He goes there and discovers that the universe is a very big place, but not quite as strange as movies always made it out to be. In fact, it’s so similar it’s quite terrifying.

Who is your favourite character and why?

My favorite character is Abby. She’s a sweet girl who is almost naïve at a first glance, but as the story progresses you realize that she’s an extremely intelligent girl who is not all she seems to be. She also speaks with a French accent when she’s on earth—she’s actually from outer space—and I find that hilarious for some reason.

What are your current / future projects?

I just finished up the sequel to Bridgeworld and it will be out in July. At the moment I’m working on a middle grade novel about a boy who turns a bullies prank back onto him.

What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?

How it takes something so odd and mysterious, and makes it relatable.

What would you most like readers to tell others about this book?

That it’s a fun read. That’s the reason I write, to entertain people.

How did you decide on your books Title?

I knew writing it that it would be the name of the school. The problem was figuring out what the name of the school would be. I decided on Bridgeworld because it was a school that bridged two worlds.

Is there anything in your novel that would embarrass you if your mom read it?

My mom has read it, and she found that one thing in a hurry. She has this strange addiction which I poke fun at all the time and I gave it to a character in the book. She found it and recognized it instantly as being her. She wasn’t too pleased with me. I’m sorry mom, you’re just too entertaining not to put into fiction. I love you!

What is the craziest question you have ever been asked in an interview?

I got asked on a date while doing a signing one time. I’m not even sure how I answered, it just took my by surprise.

How much time did you spend researching for your latest book?

I spent about a week doing hard research alone before I wrote it.

What has writing made you learn about yourself?

That I get distracted very easily. I have to turn off the internet when I work.

How do you react to a negative review of your book?

I try to take it in stride. It hurts of course, but sometimes there are very valid points that the reviewers make, and when there’s not they’re usually just trolls anyways.

You are leading 100 people in a survivalist situation, when suddenly your lives are in danger and you must choose between two courses of action. One would cause 10 of the people to die and everyone else would live, the other would have a 70% chance of saving everyone but were it to fail then everyone would die. Which would you choose and why?

I’d have to sacrifice those ten people. A thirty percent chance of everyone dying is just too high to me.

If I asked you to include the phrase ‘A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.’ Somewhere in your next book, would you?

I like that phrase. I can see one of my characters using it. Yeah, I can try to use it.

Would you consider yourself adventurous?

Very much so. I backpack all the time in places that aren’t very safe to be. I wakeboard, scuba dive, rock climb. I’m kind of an adrenaline junky.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

It’s hard work, don’t quit and don’t give up.

Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)?

My books are all available on Amazon. For more information you can go to my website: www.TravisMcBee.com

Chocolate or ice cream?

Icecream.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I like to let my grass grow high and then cut it short. I’m not sure why and my neighbor hates it.

If you could have dinner with anyone famous, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Julius Caesar, because he’s the original JC.

Who is you’re favourite fantasy character, either from a book or a movie and why?

I love the Weasly twins from Harry Potter. They still make me laugh even though I’ve read the books a million times.

If you could marry any character from any book, who would it be and why?

Charlie Mcgee, because I love fire.