An Interview with John Egan

John Egan is a sixty-three-year-old ex-sign-writer, now living on a disability pension. Racked with constant pain, he writes in his favorite genre, science fiction, and has three books written thus far.

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

American author Steven Coonts with the Saucer series and Australian author John Flanagan with the Rangers Apprentice. These two writers inspired me greatly to take pen to paper.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

The unique event that caused my imagination to go into overdrive transpired late one night while star-gazing on my balcony on a crisp and cold night in Tasmania close to the end of the twentieth century. While watching a satellite orbit our planet, a bewildered visitor too busy gazing down failed to see the fast-approaching satellite until drastic maneuvers were necessary. Thus displaying its underbelly when dodging the oncoming projectile. Giving me a glimpse of a UFO no one had ever drawn or discussed. Because when it misses the satellite, the sun reflects off its hull and what I will never forget is the texture, shape, size, and capabilities of the spacecraft. It moved so swiftly in zero gravity when it turned, but mostly when its stealth ability failed during the event, it didn’t seem like anything budding UFO watchers claim is the norm. Its shape was roughly square, with rounded corners and an orange skin-textured surface.

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

It didn’t take me long to put myself in an alien’s shoes or perspective. Up in orbit, looking down, gave me the book title immediately. It was obvious—The Watcher Above.

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

When writing The Watcher Above, I listened to various science fiction movie themes and music, finding my favorite to be from the soundtrack, Tron Legacy.

Describe your dream book cover.

Having a slight graphic art background from my sign-writing days, I believe a traditional cover would suit my book best. One where the main alien character (pictured center) has clawed hands resting on his chosen human companion’s shoulders, with the book title above.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

For ten years, I worked on epitaph inscriptions at a local stonemason, sand-blasting headstones for the entire Tasmanian island and specialized orders for the mainland.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

That’s the beauty of my great imagination. I didn’t need any outside stimulation.

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

To say you want a perfect reader is a little too presumptuous for my liking. All I hope is after someone reads my book, they ponder the existence of extraterrestrials.

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