Quantum Gate by Jane E. Hawkins, published by Prima Publishing, novelization of CD-ROM interactive move created by Greg Roach of Hyperbole Studios, book available through Amazon Booksellers.
I've done lots of scribbling, and some of my stories are pretty good, but fiction writing isn't exactly a way to expand your ego. There might 100 publishable stories written for every publishing slot that exists. Among novice authors, a rejection letter that isn't a badly copied form gets waved around like a badge of honor. I read once that the average successful fiction writer makes $8K a year off it. Some folks do make decent money - my upstairs housemate, Vonda N. McIntyre, has done very well, thank you and folks like Stephen King have gotten outright rich. Still, if you try doing this sort of thing for money or even to get published, you are going to get pretty sad after a while. I was never silly enough to think I could make money, but I sure did want to see some of my stuff in print. Some writers are happy to produce for the closet, and if you don't really enjoy the process you aren't going to get far, but I still longed to have someone besides a close friend read my stuff.
I was past sad when a good friend of mine asked if I would consider doing the novelization of a CD-ROM movie. She had the job of finding an author, and the producer of the movie hadn't gone for some of the prospects she had offered. She thought he might like me.
I was intrigued, and looked at the movie. Pretty cool! Not precisely a story I would have written, but I could see getting into it. Besides, the medium fascinates me. Interactive movies often don't work - not as much story satisfaction as a regular novel and not as much flexibility as a game. Yet, the possibility is there of making a story that combines the pleasure of both, and Greg Roach clearly had a good approach.
So, I sent him a couple of my stories, he agreed to meet me, and we had a wonderful time. I think he threw away his prepared question list about five minutes in. ;) I'd love to talk with that guy some more, and we planned more meetings, but his company got real busy so that fell through.
Anyway, writing it was a tough job with short deadlines, but I had great fun and think I did a decent job. I sure wish there had been time for one more solid pass through it - I flinch at some of what made it in.
So, I won't claim Quantum Gate is the best thing since sliced bread. Still, it's a book with my name on it. I keep a copy close to me all the time, and it always makes me feel good.
Be sure to check out the folks that produced the movie: Hyperbole Studios. The web site is fun, and they are doing really hot stuff, and each new issues gets better. The novel still seems to be available through Amazon Booksellers, though I expect that won't last much longer. Paperbacks don't stay on the market very long. For a while, they had the author listed as Felicia Mitchell, who sure was surprised when I told her she had written my book. As far as she knows, her books are mostly about quilting. ;)
Last modified: 4/10/97