An Interview with Brandon Author Daniel McMillanBY RENEE CRONLEYDaniel McMillan is a busy man, but he was gracious enough to meet with fellow members of the Brandon Writers’ Collective Wednesday evening for a couple of hours to talk about his book and writing process. His debut dystopian science fiction novel, Eve of Ascension, has received a great deal of attention since being released June 1st, 2019.
Thanks for meeting with us, Dan. Tell our readers a bit about yourself. Well, I'm a lifelong lover of sci-fi and fantasy, but I have a deep appreciation for any story that is well told, regardless of the genre. I grew up reading comics and novels, and was captivated by the elements that make up a story—the portrayals of the characters, the unexpected plot developments, or just the way the story came together in the end. I believe it was that fascination that led me to develop my own ideas for telling stories. How long have you been writing? I started writing when I was a kid. I had teachers who were very supportive of me in that area. When I was about 12, I spent an entire summer putting together what turned out to be a retelling of Star Wars. Many of my friends were obsessed with the visuals or the weapons from the story, but my obsession was with the fact that someone created that story. Someone manufactured a brilliant story in their mind, wrote it down and brought it to life. I thought maybe I could do that too. Can you describe your writing process? It really varies with the project. When I get an idea for a story, I start by breaking it into scenes and visualizing the events playing themselves out in my head. Depending on how my internal narration handles telling that story, it becomes a short story, a novella, or a full out novel. Then I use the appropriate process for each of those. Short stories and novellas get handled similarly, but I have a whole different process for producing a novel. Novel outlining is much more involved as there are a lot more characters and events to be woven together. I use recipe cards to outline each scene, including the character and whose point of view will be used. When I plot a novel, I usually end up with several pages of written notes and can easily go through 300 recipe cards as I alter and refine the story. A short story or novella is much more streamlined and can usually be put together on a single page. I outline everything though, no matter how long or short I expect the finished product to be. |
|
An interview with brandon author daniel mcmillan
Renee Cronley
Daniel McMillan is a busy man, but he was gracious enough to meet with fellow members of the Brandon Writers’ Collective Wednesday evening for a couple of hours to talk about his book and writing process. His debut dystopian science fiction novel, Eve of Ascension, has received a great deal of attention since being released June 1st, 2019.
Thanks for meeting with us, Dan. Tell our readers a bit about yourself.
Well, I'm a lifelong lover of sci-fi and fantasy, but I have a deep appreciation for any story that is well told, regardless of the genre. I grew up reading comics and novels, and was captivated by the elements that make up a story—the portrayals of the characters, the unexpected plot developments, or just the way the story came together in the end. I believe it was that fascination that led me to develop my own ideas for telling stories.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing when I was a kid. I had teachers who were very supportive of me in that area. When I was about 12, I spent an entire summer putting together what turned out to be a retelling of Star Wars. Many of my friends were obsessed with the visuals or the weapons from the story, but my obsession was with the fact that someone created that story. Someone manufactured a brilliant story in their mind, wrote it down and brought it to life. I thought maybe I could do that too.
Can you describe your writing process?
It really varies with the project. When I get an idea for a story, I start by breaking it into scenes and visualizing the events playing themselves out in my head. Depending on how my internal narration handles telling that story, it becomes a short story, a novella, or a full out novel. Then I use the appropriate process for each of those. Short stories and novellas get handled similarly, but I have a whole different process for producing a novel. Novel outlining is much more involved as there are a lot more characters and events to be woven together. I use recipe cards to outline each scene, including the character and whose point of view will be used. When I plot a novel, I usually end up with several pages of written notes and can easily go through 300 recipe cards as I alter and refine the story. A short story or novella is much more streamlined and can usually be put together on a single page. I outline everything though, no matter how long or short I expect the finished product to be.
Most writers are readers. Who did you grow up reading? Which authors inspired you to be a writer?
When I was a kid, I read a lot of comic books. Superhero stuff, mostly, but a lot of the stories happened in space and I really liked the sci-fi elements in those. Later, I read The Vandarian Incident by Martin Godfrey and fell in love with written sci-fi and fantasy. I started reading the Doc Savage books, Conan the Barbarian and stuff like that, then went through the James Bond Novels and such. The writers who inspired me to write, though, were Robert A Heinlein, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and some independent authors who were turning out good stuff.
Tell us about Eve of Ascension.
Eve of Ascension is a book I've always wanted to read but couldn't find anywhere, so I wrote it. It encompasses a lot of ideas I think are important and I like that a lot of readers have seen parallels between the world of the Ascendancy and our current existence.
Where did you get the idea for Eve of Ascension?
It comes from a story I started a long time ago. I was going through some old notes and found it and I fell in love with the premise. I knew there was something in it that made it worth pursuing.
Why did you choose to write science fiction?
I like the openness. I can come up with a story about anything without being constrained. All of my work is character and plot driven, not science driven like what they call “hard sci-fi,” but by having a story take place in the future, or another dimension, or in some alternate reality means that I can let my imagination run wild. I like that a lot. I like coming up with things that aren't supposed to happen.
If you could be one of your characters for a day, which character would you be? Why?
Definitely Laena! I love her confidence and that she does not need anyone else's approval. She's a force of nature.
Who has been the most difficult character for you to write? Why?
I enjoy writing all my characters, whether they have a good or bad disposition, but I find it hardest to put the characters I really like into emotionally trying circumstances. I tend to feel their pain, and I sometimes come away from writing those scenes needing some time to recover.
What are you working on now?
I have two short books: Deceptive Visions, which is now available for purchase, and Ethereality—my first foray into the horror and suspense genre is currently out being Beta tested. I'm also working on Rise Of The Sylvans, which is the follow-up to Eve of Ascension. I'm having a lot of fun with that.
Do you believe in Writer’s Block?
I believe that sometimes it is harder to write than others, but you can always do something to move a project ahead.
What advice would you give a new science fiction writer?
Finish your projects. Don't start one and get hung upon it and then move on to another project and then yet another. Get something done from start to finish. It gives a sense of completion, and it also reveals ways that you can do better next time. Don't expect your first work to be brilliant, but get it finished anyway. You'll thank yourself.
How do you see the future of science fiction literature?
There is a beautiful relationship between science fiction and science. Writers come along, dreaming up possibilities for things that could exist or ways that things could be done, and scientists get inspired and attempt to make those things happen. I think the future of sci-fi literature depends on how far science advances, because the writers and dreamers of the future will have to push beyond whatever science is able to accomplish.
You are a self-published author. Can you explain a bit about that process and why you chose to go in that direction?
Self-publishing means doing all the work yourself—from writing to marketing and advertising. You have to learn about all aspects of the publishing world and come as close as you can to mastering each of them. It's a load of work, but it also means that you keep your independence as a writer and mastery over your eventual destination. It's worth it.
Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?
When I look at where humanity is right now, I can see how a lot of people might think we are doomed. I get it—I really do. But what I see more and more that makes me optimistic is people waking up to the nature of reality – what they perceive to be true within themselves as opposed to what they are told is true by influences outside themselves. More and more people all the time realize that they are unified with everything around them. Fewer people are confident in what they hear from the mass media. More people are seeking their true purpose and deepest selves. I think it's just a matter of time before we, as a race of people, move past this phase of our existence and become something extraordinary. It will be rough for those who are most ingrained in the current dogma, but I think we, collectively, can rise above our fears and complacency. We'll get there.
What are your future plans/goals for your writing?
I just want to get more work out there and expand my readership. I'm very happy with the responses I've had so far. I want to share what I've created with as many people as I can. I want my writing to continue to be fresh and exciting—myself and to my readers. I want to catch readers off their guard and entice them to read on.
Tell us something about yourself that we’d never expect.
Okay, I'll give you a guilty pleasure of mine. I love The Gilmore Girls. I thought it was funny, unexpected, and well put together. I watched every episode and the Netflix Specials...
Do you have a secret talent?
I do character voices—from Bugs Bunny and most of the Looney Tunes characters to Darth Vader and Peter Griffin. Yeah.
What is your writing style in five words?
I write what I like.
Thanks for meeting with us, Dan. Tell our readers a bit about yourself.
Well, I'm a lifelong lover of sci-fi and fantasy, but I have a deep appreciation for any story that is well told, regardless of the genre. I grew up reading comics and novels, and was captivated by the elements that make up a story—the portrayals of the characters, the unexpected plot developments, or just the way the story came together in the end. I believe it was that fascination that led me to develop my own ideas for telling stories.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing when I was a kid. I had teachers who were very supportive of me in that area. When I was about 12, I spent an entire summer putting together what turned out to be a retelling of Star Wars. Many of my friends were obsessed with the visuals or the weapons from the story, but my obsession was with the fact that someone created that story. Someone manufactured a brilliant story in their mind, wrote it down and brought it to life. I thought maybe I could do that too.
Can you describe your writing process?
It really varies with the project. When I get an idea for a story, I start by breaking it into scenes and visualizing the events playing themselves out in my head. Depending on how my internal narration handles telling that story, it becomes a short story, a novella, or a full out novel. Then I use the appropriate process for each of those. Short stories and novellas get handled similarly, but I have a whole different process for producing a novel. Novel outlining is much more involved as there are a lot more characters and events to be woven together. I use recipe cards to outline each scene, including the character and whose point of view will be used. When I plot a novel, I usually end up with several pages of written notes and can easily go through 300 recipe cards as I alter and refine the story. A short story or novella is much more streamlined and can usually be put together on a single page. I outline everything though, no matter how long or short I expect the finished product to be.
Most writers are readers. Who did you grow up reading? Which authors inspired you to be a writer?
When I was a kid, I read a lot of comic books. Superhero stuff, mostly, but a lot of the stories happened in space and I really liked the sci-fi elements in those. Later, I read The Vandarian Incident by Martin Godfrey and fell in love with written sci-fi and fantasy. I started reading the Doc Savage books, Conan the Barbarian and stuff like that, then went through the James Bond Novels and such. The writers who inspired me to write, though, were Robert A Heinlein, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and some independent authors who were turning out good stuff.
Tell us about Eve of Ascension.
Eve of Ascension is a book I've always wanted to read but couldn't find anywhere, so I wrote it. It encompasses a lot of ideas I think are important and I like that a lot of readers have seen parallels between the world of the Ascendancy and our current existence.
Where did you get the idea for Eve of Ascension?
It comes from a story I started a long time ago. I was going through some old notes and found it and I fell in love with the premise. I knew there was something in it that made it worth pursuing.
Why did you choose to write science fiction?
I like the openness. I can come up with a story about anything without being constrained. All of my work is character and plot driven, not science driven like what they call “hard sci-fi,” but by having a story take place in the future, or another dimension, or in some alternate reality means that I can let my imagination run wild. I like that a lot. I like coming up with things that aren't supposed to happen.
If you could be one of your characters for a day, which character would you be? Why?
Definitely Laena! I love her confidence and that she does not need anyone else's approval. She's a force of nature.
Who has been the most difficult character for you to write? Why?
I enjoy writing all my characters, whether they have a good or bad disposition, but I find it hardest to put the characters I really like into emotionally trying circumstances. I tend to feel their pain, and I sometimes come away from writing those scenes needing some time to recover.
What are you working on now?
I have two short books: Deceptive Visions, which is now available for purchase, and Ethereality—my first foray into the horror and suspense genre is currently out being Beta tested. I'm also working on Rise Of The Sylvans, which is the follow-up to Eve of Ascension. I'm having a lot of fun with that.
Do you believe in Writer’s Block?
I believe that sometimes it is harder to write than others, but you can always do something to move a project ahead.
What advice would you give a new science fiction writer?
Finish your projects. Don't start one and get hung upon it and then move on to another project and then yet another. Get something done from start to finish. It gives a sense of completion, and it also reveals ways that you can do better next time. Don't expect your first work to be brilliant, but get it finished anyway. You'll thank yourself.
How do you see the future of science fiction literature?
There is a beautiful relationship between science fiction and science. Writers come along, dreaming up possibilities for things that could exist or ways that things could be done, and scientists get inspired and attempt to make those things happen. I think the future of sci-fi literature depends on how far science advances, because the writers and dreamers of the future will have to push beyond whatever science is able to accomplish.
You are a self-published author. Can you explain a bit about that process and why you chose to go in that direction?
Self-publishing means doing all the work yourself—from writing to marketing and advertising. You have to learn about all aspects of the publishing world and come as close as you can to mastering each of them. It's a load of work, but it also means that you keep your independence as a writer and mastery over your eventual destination. It's worth it.
Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?
When I look at where humanity is right now, I can see how a lot of people might think we are doomed. I get it—I really do. But what I see more and more that makes me optimistic is people waking up to the nature of reality – what they perceive to be true within themselves as opposed to what they are told is true by influences outside themselves. More and more people all the time realize that they are unified with everything around them. Fewer people are confident in what they hear from the mass media. More people are seeking their true purpose and deepest selves. I think it's just a matter of time before we, as a race of people, move past this phase of our existence and become something extraordinary. It will be rough for those who are most ingrained in the current dogma, but I think we, collectively, can rise above our fears and complacency. We'll get there.
What are your future plans/goals for your writing?
I just want to get more work out there and expand my readership. I'm very happy with the responses I've had so far. I want to share what I've created with as many people as I can. I want my writing to continue to be fresh and exciting—myself and to my readers. I want to catch readers off their guard and entice them to read on.
Tell us something about yourself that we’d never expect.
Okay, I'll give you a guilty pleasure of mine. I love The Gilmore Girls. I thought it was funny, unexpected, and well put together. I watched every episode and the Netflix Specials...
Do you have a secret talent?
I do character voices—from Bugs Bunny and most of the Looney Tunes characters to Darth Vader and Peter Griffin. Yeah.
What is your writing style in five words?
I write what I like.
Coles hosts local author's book signing
Renee Cronley
Saturday, July 6th Coles in the Brandon Shoppers Mall hosted a book signing for local author Daniel McMillan at 12:00 p.m.
McMillan’s premiere dystopian science fiction novel, Eve of Ascension, tackles abuse of government power and the devastating consequences it has on the populations of the Sylvans, Luminants, and the Ascended.
Eve of Ascension is available in paperback and digital download at Amazon and Chapters. Copies will also be available at local bookstores in Brandon, Manitoba including George Strange’s Bookmart, the Brandon University Bookstore, Coles in the Shoppers Mall, and the Friendly Neighborhood Comic Shop. Copies are also available at Poor Michael’s Emporium in Onanole, and at Indigo Kenaston Common in Winnipeg.
.
Daniel McMillan’s Vector 11 Facebook Page and Website
McMillan’s premiere dystopian science fiction novel, Eve of Ascension, tackles abuse of government power and the devastating consequences it has on the populations of the Sylvans, Luminants, and the Ascended.
Eve of Ascension is available in paperback and digital download at Amazon and Chapters. Copies will also be available at local bookstores in Brandon, Manitoba including George Strange’s Bookmart, the Brandon University Bookstore, Coles in the Shoppers Mall, and the Friendly Neighborhood Comic Shop. Copies are also available at Poor Michael’s Emporium in Onanole, and at Indigo Kenaston Common in Winnipeg.
.
Daniel McMillan’s Vector 11 Facebook Page and Website
Winnipeggers’ gather for Manitoba author’s book launch
RENEE CRONLEY
On Saturday, June 1, 2019, Daniel McMillan, was met with interest and support in launching his new book, Eve of Ascension (The Fall of the Ascendancy Book 1), at Indigo Kenaston Common 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.
In Eve of Ascension, a failed attempt to establish a World Government is revived through a shocking means of population control. The global elites relocate comfortably to a space station, then crash an asteroid into the Earth. Once the world is healed, the elites return and establish The Ascendancy. The government offers the survivors a life of comfort in exchange for doing everything they can to better the new government.
Baxter Clarke lives a life of luxury thanks to his father’s contributions to the government. His perfect world is disrupted when he discovers that life in the Ascendancy is not what it appears to be. With the fate of the Ascended attached to a stolen device from a government agency, Baxter has a choice to make…
McMillan was thrilled by his successful launch, “I've been overwhelmed with the response to the book. It was wonderful to have so many people enjoying the book and wishing me success. I was very grateful for the encouragement.
“Thank you to Michael D Harley, author of the Ryan Moar Mystery Series, for coming to hang out with me at my table for a while and special thanks to Neil and the staff at Indigo Kenaston Common for making my launch day easy and memorable.”
McMillan was born in Scarborough, Ontario, and grew up in Iroquois Falls, Ontario. He lives in Brandon, Manitoba, with his wife Tahera.
Eve of Ascension is available in paperback and digital download at Amazon and Chapters. Copies will also be available at local bookstores in Brandon, Manitoba at George Strange’s Bookmart, the Brandon University Bookstore, and Coles Shoppers Mall.
Daniel McMillan’s Facebook Page and Website
In Eve of Ascension, a failed attempt to establish a World Government is revived through a shocking means of population control. The global elites relocate comfortably to a space station, then crash an asteroid into the Earth. Once the world is healed, the elites return and establish The Ascendancy. The government offers the survivors a life of comfort in exchange for doing everything they can to better the new government.
Baxter Clarke lives a life of luxury thanks to his father’s contributions to the government. His perfect world is disrupted when he discovers that life in the Ascendancy is not what it appears to be. With the fate of the Ascended attached to a stolen device from a government agency, Baxter has a choice to make…
McMillan was thrilled by his successful launch, “I've been overwhelmed with the response to the book. It was wonderful to have so many people enjoying the book and wishing me success. I was very grateful for the encouragement.
“Thank you to Michael D Harley, author of the Ryan Moar Mystery Series, for coming to hang out with me at my table for a while and special thanks to Neil and the staff at Indigo Kenaston Common for making my launch day easy and memorable.”
McMillan was born in Scarborough, Ontario, and grew up in Iroquois Falls, Ontario. He lives in Brandon, Manitoba, with his wife Tahera.
Eve of Ascension is available in paperback and digital download at Amazon and Chapters. Copies will also be available at local bookstores in Brandon, Manitoba at George Strange’s Bookmart, the Brandon University Bookstore, and Coles Shoppers Mall.
Daniel McMillan’s Facebook Page and Website