An Interview with Fred Falcón, Author of The Box

Fred Falcón believes that the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships is the greatest sporting event in the world. He still collects music CDs (1,255 at last count), is amazed that the same albums he bought as a kid for $5.99 at the Warehouse now sell for five times that much, and still brags about seeing Queen when he was a teenager. Still the best concert he has ever seen, and he’s seen plenty. He has run 28 marathons, is a terrible swimmer, has somehow morphed into a “cat-guy,” and enjoys debating top five lists with his brother. The Box: A Time Travel Sci-Fi Thriller is Fred’s first novel. He lives in Utah with his wife, kids, two cats, and his Great Dane, Dan.

You can buy The Box here.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I remember when I was in third grade writing stories about Godzilla versus King Kong. I would write on lined paper and bind the punched holes with pieces of shoestring to form a book. I guess those were my first self-published novels.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title was actually quite simple to come up with. The story revolves around a box that allows certain individuals to time travel while providing a sense of enlightenment to those it is temporarily gifted to.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

I was blown away when I saw the cover for the first time. It was so close to what I had envisioned. It was truly an exciting moment. The same was true when I received my first copy in the mail. Very exciting. I was also surprised at how thick it was.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

In some ways the book is similar to a road movie. So, I guess songs that remind me of driving or continuously moving. Golden Earing’s “Radar Love” or Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.” Some George Thorogood sprinkled in there as well,

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope that readers find it compelling. That they look forward to book two. I also hope that they enjoy the different elements of the story. From sci-fi to action to thriller with historical fiction thrown in for good measure.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

I am currently working on book two of The Box, tentatively titled The Equation. I am also working on a YA romance involving a female wrestler and the head coach’s state champion son, who is returning to the mat for his senior year after stepping away from the sport for a year to deal with mental health issues. The story is told from the perspective of Claire and the Coach/Father.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.