Today we are sitting down with Ryan Matthew Harker, author of The Werewolf Chronicles series, available for reading free onsite or by download from his profile on BookRix.com at www.bookrix.com/-countzero.
Here is a little background information about Mr. Harker.
A proud citizen of the United States of America, nevertheless, Ryan Matthew Harker is a high school dropout who has challenged the system at every turn. Feeling his teachers were unable to teach to his potential he quickly became disillusioned with the slipshod manner in which public educators are allowed only to teach children in a fashion that caters to the masses- instead of the needs of the individual- and left school to seek his education in the world. Having hitchhiked across much of America and some of Baja, Mexico he learned the best teacher is a combination of reading and life experience. Self-education is very important to him.
Here is a little background information about Mr. Harker.
A proud citizen of the United States of America, nevertheless, Ryan Matthew Harker is a high school dropout who has challenged the system at every turn. Feeling his teachers were unable to teach to his potential he quickly became disillusioned with the slipshod manner in which public educators are allowed only to teach children in a fashion that caters to the masses- instead of the needs of the individual- and left school to seek his education in the world. Having hitchhiked across much of America and some of Baja, Mexico he learned the best teacher is a combination of reading and life experience. Self-education is very important to him.
Though but a few of the trades he has mastered, as a 'Jack of All Trades', since age 17 Ryan has taken employment from everything as a convenience store clerk to a lumber delivery driver, a HVAC installation tech to a custom home builder. Though now residing in the state of Washington he also splits his residency in Colorado where he spends much of his time with his daughter, Sativa.
Though always willing to build houses, currently Ryan spends much of his time writing his novels. Author of The WerewolF Chronicles series (The Quantum Prophecy, In Harmony We Trust, The Werewolf King) Ryan has also started his own publishing company- Harker Meadow Handcrafted Books- through which he has published his own novels, crafting each one himself individually by hand.
Though always willing to build houses, currently Ryan spends much of his time writing his novels. Author of The WerewolF Chronicles series (The Quantum Prophecy, In Harmony We Trust, The Werewolf King) Ryan has also started his own publishing company- Harker Meadow Handcrafted Books- through which he has published his own novels, crafting each one himself individually by hand.
When or why did you start writing?
Oh I've been writing since I was just a wee lad, about knee high or so. Always did enjoy creating worlds, stems from an overactive imagination and a powerful lust for reading. But I finally got serious about it in 2003 when I had a dream that I was a werewolf being chased by immortal mercenaries; that's when The Werewolf Chronicles were born.
What kinds of books do you write?
I'm a diehard sci/fi-fantasy fan, so my writing tends to go along these lines more often than not. Though I find my writing tends to stray into the land of science fiction more these days, must be the mad physicist in me.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I've done a lot of traveling in the past, hitchhiking acros large swaths of the U.S., meeting tons of people, and experiencing crazy adventures so bits of my life usually end up influencing my writing. Was it Hemingway that said a writer finds inspiration from experience?
Do you read in your free time, and if so what do you enjoy reading?
I do, though not as much as when I was younger (time constraints afford me a choice and I tend to want to write more than read these days) but when I do it's a wide range of generes, topics, and subject matter. Fiction- I love science fiction and fantasy but over the years I have dwelled in many worlds spanning many genres- Terry Brooks, Terry Pratchett, David Eddings, Roger Zelazny, Larry Niven, Douglas Adams, Stephan R. Donaldson, Samuel R. Delany, Stephen King, Robin Cook, Clive Cussler; really the list goes on and on. Nonfiction- I love anything pertaining to Physics, Quantum Mechanics, BioChemistry, Mathmatics, Horticultural Science, Rustic Living, Art, ect. Again, I could go for a while. Ive got very eclectic taste in reading material. At the moment I'm reading Roger Zelazny's Madwand, Bill O'Reilly's Killing Lincoln, and a college textbook on Power Generation and Generator Construction.
What project(s) are you currently working on?
I'm currently deeply engrossed with several projects at the moment. I'm three books deep into my series The WerewolF Chronicles, of which the third (The Werewolf King) is still a work in progress. I've actually just started my own publishing company (Harker Meadow Handcrafted Books) through which I've published and am distributing the first book (The Quantum Prophecy) and through which I'll publish the sequel (In Harmony We Trust) sometime this year.
Do you have any other projects in the works?
Oh yes indeed. Besides writing (The Werewolf King), which is admittedly on the back burner as of late, I'm also writing two fantasy novels (also simmering on the back burner) A Power Beyond Man and Death's Apprentice. But my pride and joy, the book I'm completely engrossed in at the moment, is a time travel book which I've tenatively titled Out of Time (I think I'm going to rename it The Possibility Paradox though). This is a fun and fantasic story about a young clepto (compulsive thief) named Davey Jones who, after a run of bad luck, steals a time machine and the incredible adventures he has trying to stay afloat in the tumultuous waters of the timestream. A must read for any time travel buff, I'm trying to explore time travel from the scientific stance of Physics and Quantum Mechanics but from the funloving and carefree perspective of Davey, which (I believe) will make it appealing and easy to follow for the average layperson.
If you could give a new writer any advice, what would it be?
Tips for new writers, yeppie, edit, edit, edit, and if you're absolutely sure- edit some more. I went through and edited The Quantum Prophecy six times on my computer before thinking it was ready, only to find out from someone far more savvy than myself that I had a huge mistake on the first page. I couldn't believe it so when I started my Harker Meadow Handcrafted Books the first thing I did was print a proof copy and meticulously comb through it, then a second and a third proof as well, before concluding it was good enough to publish; and frankly it could probably use some more editing.
Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to sit down and chat with us. Please feel free to come by again, any time you'd like.
Ryan Matthew Harker can be found on the web at:
Books- www.bookrix.com/-countzero
Publishing Company- www.harkermeadow.jimdo.com
On Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Matthew-Harker/100000548472649
Via email