An Interview with L.B. McGrimm
L.B. McGrimm is an American space fantasy author who lives a quiet life in Indianapolis with his wife and dogs.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
Horrible things happen to us sometimes. Fantasy was always my way of dealing with the horrors, and I’ve been obsessed with fantasy since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Being a writer was all I ever wanted to be. I started writing seriously fifteen years ago.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I’ve had a lot of jobs in three careers. I’m a US Marine veteran. I’ve worked in the restaurant business, stood posts, and delivered packages – anything I had to do to support my writing habit.
Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
I wanted to write a story about the journeys we all basically take – the slog through suffering, and the way out. The Awful Odyssey came to me when I wrote the second edition. I thought the title easily illustrated the story’s purpose.
What part of publishing your book made it feel real for the first time?
There is nothing like the feeling of getting paid for something you created. Being treated like an author at book signings is also very rewarding.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
Instrumentals. Space fantasy is an alien genre, and big, instrumental, and interpretive music helps convey the emotional weight of a cosmic adventure. I like music by Carbon Based Lifeforms, Hello Meteor, Fourge, Solar Fields, Tripswitch, and Sync24, to name a few.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
My ultimate dream has always been to take readers to spectacular new worlds, because that’s what saved me and that’s what I love.
What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?
Seeing my book published online is rewarding, but the real reward is knowing the journey is over, and it’s on to the next project. I’m exhausted by the time I finish a story, and moving onto the next one is a relief.
What creative projects are you currently working on?
My next book is about an alien chef who has to cook her way out of being devoured by an empire of junk food restaurants. It’s been a fun project.
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