A Conversation with JC Bybee, a promising Science Fiction Author

JC Bybee has always wanted to be a writer. He spent most of his childhood dreaming up wild adventures for him and his friends. There wasn’t much else to do in the small town where he grew up. He’s tried many things, from engineering to massage therapy, but the only career that has stuck has been writing. Now, as a stay-at-home dad, he gets to raise his kids and work from home as an indie author. Hero Unit was his first book, and the beginning of what he hopes will be a long-running series. He currently lives in Idaho.

Let’s get started with a quick rapid fire.

Q1.If you could be transformed into one animal, which one would you choose?

A Bear.

Q2. Finish the phrase “the way to my heart is…”

Books.

Q3. Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert.

Q4. Do you watch shows one episode at a time or binge whole seasons?

A little of both.

Q5. Would you rather travel to the past or to the future?

Past.

Q6. What is your last Google search?

Elden Ring guides.

Q7. What object do you misplace or lose the most?

Nothing.

Q8. What is the kindest thing someone ever did for you?

Gave me a hug when I didn’t know I needed it.

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Q9. If given the chance to start your life over, would you take it?

Maybe.

Q10. What is the best present you have ever received?

Sword.

Q11. Describe your style in one word.

Simple.

Q12. If you were to devote the rest of your life to philanthropy, what cause would you choose?

Education.

It’s time for a more detailed conversation, JC.

You’ve answered our rapid fire brilliantly, JC. Now, it’s time for our readers to know more about the person behind the book.

Q. There’s a grand stage surrounded by fifty thousand people listening to authors introducing themselves. They are bored and restless of listening to introductions all day. It’s your turn. How would you introduce yourself?

The last thing you want to hear is my life story.  I write crime novels because my mom always watched Perry Mason when I was a kid, and I put in superheroes because I’ve always like Superman.

Q. Well, that will keep you in our thoughts. So, what books did you grow up reading?

I grew up reading mostly fantasy, the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, The Dragon Riders of Pern, The Wheel of Time are the big ones.

Q. Interesting. Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself? 

Not really.  I’ve wanted to be a writer, taking the path of self-publishing put things more into my hands.

Q. Would you share something about yourself that your readers don’t know (yet)?

I hate flying.

Q. Now comes the most anticipated question that every author must answer. How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?

Poorly.  I’m working on not taking them personal, but I still struggle with them.  Which is why I generally don’t read reviews, positive or negative.

Q. What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?

Usually, a general plot idea comes first.  I use the characters to fill in the details.

Q. How do you develop your plot and characters?

I have a rough outline of the plot, but the characters get developed as the story progresses and they interact with the situations, and other characters.

Q. What does literary success look like to you?

Being able to support myself and provide for my family.

Q. Let’s talk about your book. Tell us about it. No major spoilers.

Runaway is the first book in my newest series the Collinsworth Case Files, which is a spinoff from my major series, Hero Unit.  It follows Jessica Collinsworth, and Exceptional (superhuman) who has just started out as a PI and she gets a huge case that she doesn’t quite feel ready for.

Q. What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?

Not to sound vague, but the middle.  I knew were the book was going to end well before I got there, so filling in the gap between the beginning and the ending was hard, because it had to stay interesting, but not feel bloated.

Q. If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

I’m sorry?

Q. What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

I tend to write point to point.  Which is occasionally a problem if I can’t figure out where to go.  That’s probably why I have two or three projects going at once.

Q. Let’s talk about the process of writing. When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?

Music.  I always write with music playing.

Q. What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book? 

Staying calm and using a routine, has both helped and hindered me.  Any break in that routine can throw me off.

Q. It’s been fun. Now, before we wrap this up, do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Have fun with it.  There are two quotes from two authors I respect.  Brandon Sanderson has his laws of writing, but his Zeroeth Law is “Always err on the side of what is awesome.”  And Dan Wells said, “Chapter One is the promise you are making.”

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