I am a retired Naval Commander with 24 published novels to my name. Ask Me Anything!

If you would be starting over today, would you still decide to join the navy? Was that a experience that shaped your life in any unexpected ways?

I absolutely would, but I would probably handle that slightly differently. I was actually offered a spot at the Naval Academy, but turned it down in favor of being enlisted. Why would I do that? Well, because I grew up listening to my Grandpa talk about the Navy and WWII. I wanted the experience and I knew just enough about myself to know I was too headstrong back then to be a good leader. I needed to learn how to follow first.

Today, I would probably do the same, but I might not stay for a whole career. The Navy has changed a great deal, along with our world and politics in general. Then, it was a much easier decision.

And yes, it changed me in ways I never thought would happen. I learned to embrace everything. Seems like a strange thing to learn to do in the military, but that's what happened. The world is amazing and beautiful and full of interesting people who are different than I am. I embrace them all.

What are your thoughts on the UAP conversation currently going on? In your time commanding, did you receive any credible reports of UAP activity?

Well, this is a good question and one that many a bridge officer will shy away from. But yes, there was one time something totally weird happened that we never fully explained. Middle of the night, bridge watch. I was OOD and we were on a break from some exercise I can't remember now. Anyway, we saw what looked like a green flare, but it didn't go up and then fall. It just sort of flared and went away. Everyone on any watch topside saw it. We thought it was an accident from another ship, or maybe a flare from a boat too small for radar. We looked, recorded it in the official log book, and spent hours trying to locate the source because we would never leave a boat or ship in trouble. Never figured it out.

Sounds like a classic meteor. They're often green, and depending on the angle could be passing away from you in a way that looks like it's staying in one place.

That's what we eventually guessed, but it was a super weird one. Must have been low angle to appear so static for so long.

Hi Commander, retired Rear Adm Gallaudet has spoken about UAP occurring underwater as well. He hasn't mentioned witnessing any himself but has confirmed hearing credible accounts and is currently looking to conduct a more robust survey and research study of Navy data.

Anyways, because you were also aligned to oceanography, have you heard about any similar reports of underwater UAP? Sonar signature or anything else? What's something you hope Admiral Gallaudet gets to take a closer look at in his proposed study?

Weird sonar is just a thing we all deal with. Schools of fish giving back odd returns, sharks trying to eat our tails, all kinds of stuff. But no, I've not personally seen or experienced anything of that nature underwater, and I did a SWO tour as an anti-sub officer on a burke.

Sorry, I should have clarified. Weird sonar returns in the form of underwater objects at excess speeds (several hundred knots up to Mach 1).

Thanks for your answer!

Not specifically that, but odd returns that give projected speeds that don't make sense, yes. That happens to everyone if they drag a tail long enough. It's the nature of sonar in a chaotic environment to do that, especially when you consider that we have to interpret those returns rather than simply accept them. I would say that I've never encountered anything that I couldn't eventually explain or correct so that it made sense. I can't speak of specific tactics, but we all use methods to alter what others interpret, or force a bad or confusing return.

Do you have hubcaps for a '72 Pinto hatchback?

LOL. Sorry, nope. :) Good luck finding them and congrats on having a Pinto! Rare as golden eggs nowadays.

Have you ever needed to go through pre-publication review, and if so how long did it take? I’m an aspiring writer that works for DoD, currently workshopping a book.

Since I write science fiction that was well outside the bounds of anything of DoD interest, I simply went down to the office of the folks in charge of that (I was stationed in D.C. at the time) and told them about my book, explained what it was. They asked a few questions and boom, they said no review was required.

The hiccup comes if you have anything real world in it. With mine so far beyond anything real, it wasn't a problem. Others have moaned that it takes forever. So, be prepared to wait or do what I do, and go hog wild and far beyond our world.

Sadly, the book I’m workshopping is an ISOT style book with a US military base dropped elsewhen.

Oh boy, you're going to wait a while then. Start working on the next book!

The hiccup comes if you have anything real world in it

What if it's taking place in the "real world," but no references to the military, but some sort of fantastical technology akin to time travel?

LOL...and what if you simply don't know it's real. ::insert scifi music:: No, in all seriousness, if any element of your book is taking place in the real world with real organizations or decision making, then they'll look at it carefully. It's best to go in person to talk with someone if you can and are in DC.

Is there a local authority that could make the decision, that is, if you were in New London/Groton, could someone there make the decision?

Talking about a short story....

No idea. None whatsoever. Things and locations change very frequently, so I just don't know. I believe they still have a hotline where you can ask the question.

While it seems incredibly unlikely there are aliens, the people coming forward seem extremely credible and have everything to lose by stepping forward and nothing to really gain. Do you also feel that while the claims sound outlandish...why would they lie?

Honestly, I have no idea. It seems incredibly unlikely that anyone else would physically come here. Human minds are wonderful and complex, and I can't say what goes on in any other mind. I'm not entirely sure I know what's going on in mine!

However, if you're asking what I think, then I'll tell you. I'm a scientist and I know math. The timeline of our universe and the galaxies that comprise it is vast, and yet it does have its ups and downs. While this period might be called a sort of downswing in terms of stellar life and the potential for stable life development, that doesn't mean it isn't happening all over the place. And probably happening a lot.

But, and this is a big but, the Earth is a rare sort of planet. The sheer number of things that had to happen in exactly the right way, against all odds, is staggering. And yet, it did happen. The kind of rapidly evolving, constantly jockeying, dynamic, and therefore, intelligent, life that this planet produces is probably the rarest form of life.

There are others out there. Math says there has to be, but if they are, and if they are smart, and if they have their own dynamic Earth style planet, they would probably never come here. They would know the danger of bringing their physical bodies to anyplace as dynamic as their own. Microorganisms evolve incredibly fast, and it wouldn't take long for them to find a way to feed on something, even if entirely alien. So...no. I don't think aliens come here...but I do wonder if someone isn't searching their sky for proof of us, just as we search for them.

I love this reply. The current thinking is that the commonly depicted Greys (👽) are essentially disposable drones that are manufactured for exploration. This thinking is echoed in that thread on /r/aliens from the exceedingly convincing 'whistleblower'. It's possible that it's BS, but at the very least it's some creative writing on the level of Crichton or Weir.

Very creative, but the basic theory is sound in terms of disposable bodies. My friends and I discussed this very scenario almost thirty years ago now. Lots of thinking people will probably come to the same conclusion, however the question of why is still the sticky one.

What's your go-to character in D&D?

What other TTRPG's do you play?

Easy one! I'm a fanatic for RPG and was one of those scary teens that holed up with my friends playing AD&D all weekend (we laugh about Stranger Things because that was us!) Back then I was a ranger. In modern video games (and I'm a Skyrim fanatic), I usually play something similar. Sneaky Ranger or Stealth Ranger style. And as to what I play...I'll play anything once. Seriously. Lester Smith (who designed a whole lot of fun stuff) is currently designing mini-RPGs on bookmarks, so you can sit at a bar and play with one die over a beer. I was one of the first to try it and man, that was awesome. Check him out if you love to game.

Best get playing Baldurs gate 3 then! Might be the best rpg I've ever played.

My next obsession. Great! Thanks.

In near-era SciFi (humanity transitioning to have a space navy for the first time) most Authors take the idea of the command legacies/traditions/institutions and such flowing out of the various submarine fleets of wet navies given the commonality of the contained environments. As a surface officer, what do you think about this? Do you think there's something that the surface navy might have to contribute that might be overlooked?

Thanks!

Personally, I spent my infancy and every day after school watching Star Trek, so that's the model I always look to, and it's loosely based on Navy traditions. I agree with that because it embodies the idea of living on a ship, rather than boarding a plane for a flight. That entire culture transitions well to space environments.

What I think is often overlooked in favor of having drama is discipline. The Navy has a culture steeped in discipline, of an almost cell-level of knowledge of what can and cannot be done or allowed. This is absolutely required in order to live in such an environment for the months, or even a full year, that you'll be underway. That is so often overlooked or downplayed that I find myself losing my suspension of disbelief. Or it's so overdone and without relief valves that it beggars belief in the first place.

I spent my infancy and every day after school watching Star Trek

Your thoughts on nuTrek?

I actually like it, to a point, depending on which one you're talking about. The first two seasons of Discovery were absolutely amazing. And I love Picard, but then again, I just love Picard. I like the movies too. Nothing will ever replace Nimoy, but I'm sure gonna watch them try!

Same question. And BTW, do you have any material completed past first-draft phase? I'd be interested in beta-reading your stuff or doing a critique swap.

Edit: LOL, sorry, to clarify, I was asking /u/Mazon_Del if they have beta critique material they're interested in swapping.

I actually have three books completed first draft. I do what I call, "checking the temperature" which means I leave a first draft alone for at least six months, but sometimes up to 2 years, so I can then start the review process with more objectivity.

As for beta readers, I don't do that. I do have ARC readers that come from my mailing list and are, mostly, long time readers.

How many times did you cross the equator? During a crossing, do you do anything special like ring a bell or enjoy a donut?

Oh wow. Well, I've crossed in many times and let's just say that the first time I crossed, the Navy was still a lot freer when it came to the Crossing the Line ceremony. It was gross, fun, horrifying, delightful, and everything else.

The uniform I wore was totally ruined, btw. And I was personally stained green and red for a couple of days after that.

LOL, one of Ian W Toll's books has a great recounting of a Line Crossing Ceremony, involving a "royal baby" and a senior officer getting his head shaved.

I remember the baby. I remember the king. Oh, I remember.

What's your #1 tip for aspiring writers who have just finished their first book or are about to and are looking at publishing options?

Think about who you are and what you really want before deciding what to do with your first novel.

If you try for traditional publishing, you may face years of rejection or flat-out being ignored. It's hard on the psyche. But once you make it through the door, you can focus a little more on the art of creating fiction, rather than the business.

If you go for self-publishing, you have all the control and all the freedom, but you also have all the responsibility. And the business end of that method is getting more onerous as time passes and the market matures, particularly in marketing. You'll have to do all of that or see yourself sink.

So, decide who you are and what you're capable of. What's the most important to you and what can you handle. Then move forward, always knowing you can change and follow a different wind whenever you want.

Favorite author besides yourself?

Favorite book of yours you would like to see get made into a tv series?

Tough one! I love so many! If I had to give an edge to anyone, it would be Margaret Atwood. Not because of Handmaid, but because of MaddAddam, though everything she has written is a masterwork. Brilliance simply doesn't come close to describing the MaddAddam trilogy.

And which of mine would be the best TV series? Hmm...tough one. My newest has already had a movie offer, but I'm holding out in hopes of Netflix, because honestly, it would be great if done well. I won't deny that Portals would be super fun, however. That is something I would pay to see, for sure.

You look too young to have spent nearly 3 decades in the military. 15 years, maybe.

That said what do you think of the Dark Forest theory. Is hiding inevitable for survival?

First, thank you! That's nice of you to say. I use lots of moisturizer. :)

And the Dark Forest theory is an ominous one that proposes that the natural state of intelligent beings is paranoia. Personally, I don't agree, though I do agree that any planet dynamic enough to evolve intelligent life that uses advanced technology *would* be founded upon the predator/prey ecosystem and would, therefore, be naturally inclined towards thinking of others in a predator/prey construct.

Bottom line: I think there are probably some like that, but those planets would also be more likely to avoid extensive colonization, expansion, or even exploration, because it would give rise to paranoia about those that leave and become "other" than those on the home planet. In effect, this would mean such civilizations are self-limiting.

how long do you take to write the average book?

It varies wildly. Like, super wildly. Examples:

The Never-Ending End of the World was a hammer hit of inspiration, and I sat down and pounded out 120K words of the first draft in 24 days or so. (Don't ask what I ate or my personal hygiene levels during that. LOL). After that was done, it took over 2 years to edit, refine, and revise what I created.

Portals took two years to write, but much of the editing was done as we went along. Between Life and Death took only 2 years to write 6 books!

So, my average extends a great deal when those factors are taken into account. If I had to give a number, I'd say it's about 6 months per book, with a variance of 600%!

What is your process like when you start on a book? Is it outlines, thoughts, general ideas that leads to you filling in the blanks? Or is it more like you have the basic story in your head and then just start writing? And also, how do you keep the story congruent throughout, do you keep meticulous notes about certain events in the book so you don’t contradict yourself?

Thank you from a fellow (former) member of the armed services :)

I'm a Plantser, which means I'm a natural Pantser who is struck by more complete stories before I know it. I tried to be a super-organized Plotter, but that took all the joy out of it. So, I made myself into a Plantser, which just means I find other ways to plot than traditional plotting. I hate fill in the blank.

Like with NEEW, I'm often struck hard and fast. NEEW came overnight while I was sleeping and I had most of the story in my head when I woke up. It started while I was brushing my teeth and saw a character, a young woman whispering in the middle of Manhattan that she no longer knew what her voice sounded like.

But, I needed to do research to muck about with the physics. So, I use campfire. It's super visual and allows me to plot more fluidly and in a way that doesn't take the joy out of it. I also find songs in my ridiculous music collection to match the mood or events of parts in the book. That way I can capture not just the action, but what that action should feel like. It's kind of complex, but that works for me. And since my books often make people ugly cry, complete with snot, I'm guessing it works.

That’s awesome. I appreciate the time you took to reply to my question. Thank you for doing this ama.

You're very welcome!

What did you do initially to get noticed by an agent/publisher?

This is going to sound bad, but the answer is nothing. I was offered contracts out of the blue several times when I first started publishing. I just got really lucky and Silo 49 was very popular. After paying my lawyer huge fees to look at the contracts and tell me to pass, I just started giving canned responses unless a certain minimal amount was on offer. I really liked self-publishing.

What I did like were the offers for magazines, anthologies, and the like. Things that were one-off and didn't compromise my ability to publish future books as I liked. I also worked with Samuel Peralta on the Future Chronicles several times over several volumes. That was more my speed.

Campfire offered me the contract for NEEW because I'm an avid Campfire user and I hit the share button when they had a contest for NaNoWriMo. It was sort of on a whim, but when I won, and realized what they were offering (I could still just get my prize and move on, but they had a much bigger offer), it was a no brainer. I really like Campfire and wanted them to get into the book business in a big way, so I was willing to do a whole lot to see that succeed.

As for the movie offers and so on, again, I didn't ask for them, they just came. So far, I've said no, but the truth is that I need to get back onto the traditional agent bandwagon so I don't just keep saying no and miss something big.

Ohhh so you began as self pub?? That's incredible that your stories then took off sort of on their own and publishers/agents came to you! I'm envious of that haha

I'm excited to get my hands on NEEW the little premise you have sounds massively interesting!

Thanks! I sure hope you like it. And if you do, come back and PM me because I'm always nervous when a new book comes out. And share! LOL.

Did you feel discriminated against as a woman in a mainly male profession?

That is a really complicated question and one that's hard to answer without sounding either calloused or whiny.

The truth is that when I joined the navy, things were very different. No social media, internet was rare, computers were still new and barely useful. And I was a young and pretty woman in her teens. So, yes, I dealt with some things that would absolutely never happen in a million years nowadays. But I was also raised to deal with that as an inevitable part of life for a young woman, so I dealt with them intelligently and sometimes, aggressively. I wouldn't be surprised if a certain Chief didn't become immediately sterile after following me down to a reefer unit so I could test a gauge.

But, the Navy did change much faster than the rest of the world. That I will give it. I felt safe and unmolested before I knew it. Seriously. It changed that fast.

How does one even go about getting anything published once it's been written? I have ideas, but I'm terrified of actually writing them down, getting ready to publish them, and then having to deal with publishers.

You have options and you have absolute freedom to publish without going through traditional publishers. You can become your own publishing house! Before you do any of that decision making, you first need to have that novel. It needs to be done so you can look at it with a critical eye and decide whether or not you should publish. Once you have that, everything else is mere paperwork.

So, my advice is to do the thing. Write it, see if you even like writing and if you're good at it and most importantly, if you can finish it. Then do the paperwork and get it out there.

Can you give some examples of the discipline the Navy teaches. This is really interesting to me. I like old school hard work and getting the job done right.

This was briefly mentioned in PBS's "Carrier" documentary. It was great. I also read, "Make Your Bed" which I also enjoyed. I try to incorporate these concepts into my own life. Speaking of which...

Are you an organized and disciplined person? I have lots of friends who were in the military however most of them are pretty ordinary in this sense. I asked a friend about this and he said, "That's mostly boot camp."

To answer the last question first: Yes and No. I still fold my shirts with almost mathematical precision, but my bathroom counter is cluttered with bottles and jars. I think many people take what fits them out of the Navy. The more time you spend in it, the more of those things start to fit you.

The kind of discipline they teach is one that forms a foundation for your own building. So, in the beginning, you get rigid rules of what can or can't be done, and a proper way to do every single thing in your life, including going to the bathroom. To that, they add the hard and fast rules on law and general orders, but from that, you must build your own fortress of self-discipline. If you're successful in the military, more than likely you build that fortress well.

Seeing how you wrote that you’re known for writing realistic characters (known by whom anyway?): what’s your process to create unique character voices?

Reviews, both individual and organizational, readers, publishers, all that stuff. It's just something I hadn't realized people really liked until others let me know.

I wrote an article on that, which should be out soonish, but to create real characters, I don't do the typical stuff normally used to create them. Instead, I create people. I build a person, not just a list of quirks to use in dialogue tags or that will facilitate their trip from A to Z.

It's complicated, and it takes time, but I build them from the ground up. And then I focus on how that person, as they are, would actually react to the situations I put them in. If it doesn't work, I change the way that situation resolves to that it's more realistic to the character, rather than force them to do something they would never do. (How many times have you read a book and found a character doing something out of character?)

Here's a snippet from that article, though it's just a snippet. There's a lot more to it.

"In building a character, I discover them. Specifically, I forget the story and focus on a person.

• What parts of their past made them want to react to events in my story the way they do?
• How else does that impact what they do in life? How would a person like that communicate?
• Who influenced them the most?
• What makes up their core personality and why are they like that?
• What flaws come from all of that and how does it impact their relationships and problem solving?

Only after I really know that person do I evaluate the story and see how that person would logically react to the situations I intend to place them in. Often, the process changes how I might approach the events of that book. Sometimes in really significant ways."

Thanks for the in-depth answer on that one!

Had to be rather thrilling to find out that that's something people actually take great pleasure in when reading your work. Cutting to the core of the human experience with fictitious characters seems like an art form in and of itself.

Follow up question: where is that article going to be published?

On Campfire Learn, https://www.campfirewriting.com/learn

I have quite a few articles up there already, and there's tons of other material too.

And yes, it was both surprising and wonderful to find that out. I think that's what makes so many people ugly cry and have snot bubbles when they read my books. It's not the story as much as the characters, though I do hope the stories are good too. LOL

Thanks again! Found some great book recommendations on writing on your page as well.

Will be sure to use your affiliate link to order those <3

Nah, I don't use that anymore. I can't keep up with that stuff. It's not even active, so use a charity's affiliate link. That's why I do.

Always wondered why there's so many ex-service members writing books. I know several ex-marines who are writers. How would you say your career informed your writing, if at all?

I write sci-fi and most of it has no real place in our current world. That said, seeing the world for what it is, and knowing how quickly things can end, shaped the way I see the world and everything on it. I think it gave me (and all those like me) a better sense for how fragile and beautiful and overlooked everything can be. So, I express that in my writing and that is definitely present in all my work.

Did you ever work with Navy SEALs, if so what was your experience with them?

Anything related to special forces is a no-go topic for anything detailed, but they are more than just gunslingers, for sure. They also aren't the only smart water travelers in the Navy. (Go EOD!) My answer would be best given as: Nothing that would be exciting to share or hear.

Whats the most transferrable part of your navy experience to your writing in your opinion?

That's a tough one, because the Navy also gave me all my physics education in a way, via Naval Postgraduate and so on. They made me as a whole being, if looked at in the right light.

I suppose the most obvious and beautiful answer is that they gave me knowledge of the world I would never have gotten any other way. Sights that left me absolutely breathless with awe or fear or disbelieving wonder. Those things touch you deeply, and once touched, it becomes something that must be shared. So, I write.

What's your opinion of the works of Tom Clancy?

I'm not a big Clancy reader. Can I leave that there? LOL

What was your favorite command in which to work? What was your favorite job in METOC?

Both are the same, JTWC (Joint Typhoon Warning Center) in Hawaii. The sheer challenge of the job meant that I had to use every brain cell in my head every single shift. JTWC has changed now, and because of funding, they don't do what we did during our heyday, but back then...wow. It was a thing of beauty. And the best part of the job was that it was entirely devoted to saving lives...entirely. No matter who they were or what part of the world they lived in, everything we did was to save people and their lands. That made it a pretty cool job and a great command to work in.

That sounds pretty intense, thank you for answering! Any particularly gnarly situations/warnings that you would be willing to share?

Also, congratulations on your writing career and I wish you continued success!

Tons. I could go on about specific storms for days. I still have t-shirts with different storms on them (the space station and shuttle used to snap pics from above for us so we could look down the throats).

Here's one that remains interesting even today. Vamei and though it's never mentioned here, I was the one who found it. I was just getting my final quals as the officer at the desk, and I saw it, but my quals officer didn't believe me because it was on the equator. He shook his head like I was a bad student, but I did the math, drew my pictures, got my readings and he had to believe me. I even called the ship near it and asked, WTH? (though in navy language)

I determined that it was likely cyclostrophic, rather than a true typhoon, but it still acted like one and the name was retired. And you can still find my initials on those archived warnings and discussions. :) Kind of cool. You can read more here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical\_Storm\_Vamei

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Separately, where do you find inspiration?

Take your inspiration wherever it comes from. It's a gift and gifts are rare. My advice is to believe and not be afraid. Just write. Do it and forget the voices in your head that have doubts. The only way to know for sure is to do it and see what happens.

And I'll give you one of my sources of inspiration. I was standing in Starbucks some years ago, and two actual soccer moms with kids wearing soccer uniforms were in line ahead of me. They were talking about the state of the world and one said something like, 'If they try to take away my rights, I'll start eating them. I will. I will be a man eater for real.' The other one laughed kind of uncomfortably, and they went quiet. Then the other one said something like, 'I would just die. I couldn't live like that. I would just die.'

By the time I got out of that Starbucks loaded up with a triple shot Mocha (nonfat, no whip) I was on fire. I wrote the book Bringing All The Bad from that short overhead conversation. It scares readers to death, and isn't very popular for that very reason. It's two dark novels, taking each of those women's' responses and turning each into a book.

What aspects of the oceans piqued your interest and love for them? What topics are you curious about now compared to when you were younger? How do you research topics in science and then apply them to your work (where do you start from, and how does that transition into something you want to incorporate?) ?

Thank you so much for your service! And congrats on your 25th novel! I am looking forward to reading NEEW!

My love for the ocean might be genetic (I'm only half joking here). I have no memory where the water and coastlines and oceans didn't inspire me to sit still for a moment and look, to listen, to wonder. And that's saying something, because I was a child that was wild from birth. My curiosity today is simply to go deeper and find more. For every single thing I learn, I have 10 more questions.

When researching a book, I fall back on the tried and true research techniques drilled into from the first day of college...and before. I ask the question, find out if anyone else has tried to answer the question, look at all the failed answers...and move on to design.

In fiction, this is a mutable process, because I don't have to adhere to principle with the rigor of my real science work. The whole point is to play with what is and make something new, but knowing what is (and sometimes, that's really difficult) is required to do that convincingly.

Thank you too! I sure do hope you like it.

Is the future of the Navy still aircraft carriers and carrier battle groups? Or is it something else - UAVs, Special Forces, Littoral Combat, Lasers, Subs, All of the above?

What are technological and geopolitical forces that affect the Navy - Chinese expansion, drones, AI, satellite warfare, cyber warfare, or something else? Any idea how the are or should respond?

Thank You

While it would be wrong for me to talk specifics, I can safely say that the Navy is doing all it can to be effective against a potential field that is expanding in scope rather than narrowing. That's a challenge when your budget is shrinking (when compared to inflation) and your manpower decreased. Small, agile, fast, and responsive is the name of the game in many situations, but the carrier and the amphibs still provide the means to move that small and agile force anywhere and do it faster. There's a need for all of it. Cooperation between the various forces will need to be more robust, and the air force is going to have to play a role in that cooperation to a much greater extent in the future.

Why was the Hood such a beautiful ship? (and yes, she was!)

Ah, but do you mean the NCC version or the HMS version or the Mount Hood. So many Hoods out there. My opinion on ships? I think they're all beautiful. My Navy self loves every single ship out there, even when they aren't technically beautiful in the traditional sense.

The Mighty Hood! (HMS)

The HMS Hood, in my opinion, presented a strong, yet elegant profile. That's the long and short of it. With the length, the sort of low slung look, that stepped profile of superstructures...well...it was unique. And beautiful.

Hello Commander - TY for your service!

I’ve read a few of your books and one of my favorite elements in your writing is the uniqueness of the world you’ve created.

What would you credit as the main influence in your world building?

Doubt.

That's it in a nutshell. I've been an avid reader since I was three and one of my biggest pet peeves is when I come across something in the created world that makes zero sense. So, I tend to view my books with eye-daggers when it comes to the world. I search hard for places to doubt, and I build the world as a whole entity, away from the story, so that it's complete when I start laying the story into it.

Hope that makes sense!

Since getting out, have you been on a cruise ship?

It took me over 20 years to go from submarine to going on a pleasure cruise. I was happy when I emotionally realized I did not have any oil to clean up or logs to take.

Not yet, but that's been a long running joke at my house. Can I actually go on a ship and not pay attention to how the bridge is running it? Honestly, I don't even know if I could do that.

ETA: The other joke is that I would spend the entire cruise stepping over invisible knee-knockers, because I sometimes did that after coming home from deployments.

Interesting story. I enlisted in 1985 and went to boot camp and BEE school in Orlando Florida then Great Lakes C school for fire control radars. Spent 4 more year in PH Hawaii on a Knox class frigate named USS Whipple.

What are your favorite duty stations?

I look forward to your book reading.

I knew the Whipple! It sounds like maybe we knew each other? Did we? I was at SIMA PH at that time. Hawaii, in terms of geography, was the best ever. A frigate (much like the Whipple, only a different one) for my first deployment (it was AWESOME). And for the pure scientific challenge, JTWC when a small group of us improved hurricane forecasting in radical ways that everyone uses now. Honestly...I have favorites for everything. Even my hate favorites are favorites. LOL

I spent most of my free time in Waikiki at the wave or various places like that. I had friends at hickam and some army and marines on occasion.

I eventually found an apartment on ala wai canal road that I shared with another shipmate. I can’t even imagine prices now.

Is sima the place I went to get special equipment for testing shipboard equipment. Or is it dry dock.

Yep, that's the place. You know, the chances of us having crossed paths is super high, which is weird when you think about it. Sounds like we hung out in similar places and I had a friend on the canal too. So weird. My first place was on Diamond Head, so yeah, can't even imagine what that would cost now!

Since you're a science fiction/speculative fiction writer with a background in science, I'm curious to know these two things as well:

1. Is there any specific field you worked in that has inspired any of your novels?
2. What are your favorite nonfiction/science books you've read recently or of all time—also any that have inspired your writing?

I think my entire background in science informs everything I write in some fashion. Once you have that foundation, research becomes almost second nature, and every book is researched.

My favorite books are easy! Black Holes and Baby Universes and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Alice in Quantumland for the sheer joy of it all. And Cosmos by Carl Sagan is a source of inspiration all the time.

What are your thoughts on your fellow naval-officer-turned-scifi-author Robert A Heinlein? He seemed fairly liberal for an ex military guy in the 60s, but he’s also got a bit of an r/menwritingwomen reputation as well. Starship Troopers seems very inspired by his time in the military as well.

Yeah, that's a tricky one. I read a lot of Heinlein as a kid, and it bothered me to no end the way he wrote women, even though there was no public bias against doing just what he did at the time.

Since the guy was born in the early 1900s, I try to look at it from the perspective of what he knew and what everyone around him did. The world was totally different, and at the time, he got a LOT of grief because he was too liberal with women. Go figure.

That said, I do not enjoy his writing at all anymore. It bothers me too much.

I have 100 beginnings and endings, how do I write the middle?

Then you have what almost all writers have. Creating that middle is the real job. The beginnings and endings are what our brains love to create, the rest is labor.

Hey Ann, long time no see! Hope you're doing well. :)

Seen the Silo series?

Hey Dave! I hope you're doing awesome. Would it be terrible of me to say I haven't yet? I know, it's insane, but I've been fighting against getting Apple TV. It's like an honor thing at this point. Which one of us will cave first, will they put stuff out to buy on other services or will I get their service. LOL.

Hint: It's me that's going to cave. Totally. I have to see the Silo series.

Have you met any other female Naval Commanders during your time in the Navy?

Lots! And more as time has gone on. When I first saw a female LCDR, I was young and that was a rarity. Everyone stared at her. By the time I retired, we were everywhere.

What’s a better setting for a romance novel; a submarine or a carrier?

Neither! That's against Navy policy.

The best location is on shore leave, near a beach, after a long shower to get rid of the ship stink.

If you were given the job of selecting 3 people to accompany you on a "first contact" meeting with aliens, who would you choose?

Neil Gaiman, Oprah Winfrey, and a really good bartender.

I figure if Neil can't wow them with words, and Oprah can't make them feel valued and understood, then at least the bartender can get them drunk enough that they'll forget they don't like us.

I once watched a documentary. There was a man called Sparrow who was stranded on an island, he made it back to the mainland with sea turtles roped together with rope made from the hairs off his back. Out of 10 what are you giving these survival skills?

I didn't see that movie, but I heard about that. I'm gonna say it goes into the so weird I can't even rate it category.

When was the last time you got caught talking to yourself and had to play it cool?

I don't even bother playing it cool anymore. Seriously. I don't. I'm constantly working out dialogue for my books, seeing how it sounds in the open air, so to speak. People just sort of know I do that now. Sometimes they give opinions.

How many times have you pretended to be a secret agent while talking on your Bluetooth headset?

None, but I might try that next time I'm waiting in a ridiculously long line at a checkout. I'll report back on how that goes.

How many times have you tried to subtly scratch an itch in a really awkward place in public?

You have some interesting questions. And I have no idea. I'm not subtle.

Did you ever serve with Adm. Lisa Franchetti? If so any juicy stories?

OR What's your favorite change the Navy has made since you enlisted?

Though I never served on the same platform at the same time, it's likely that our various platforms crossed paths more than once. It's entirely possible that I've met her and simply don't remember her. So, no juicy stories. She seems like she would be very good at her job.

My favorite change is, hands down, allowing females on combatants, and all the myriad changes that have come from that single decision.

How often do you talk to your pets and secretly hope they understand you?

All the time.

What are your thoughts on the Navy retiring the Ticos for the Flight III Burkes?

There are a lot of factors involved in that decision, but the Ticos were on their way out, regardless of what the Navy replaced them with. The newer Burkes ( I served on a Burke and it was an amazing collection of machinery and capability) have a much wider range of capabilities, response agility, and load. They can do more than one thing and that makes them more of a bargain. That might be why.

I feel that with the continued development of hypersonic ballistic missiles and drones, the era of surface ships may be nearing an end. In the era of precision munitions, a floating rust bucket just seems like a fat, juicy, target.

Perhaps the future of the Navy is robotic semi-submersibles that launch cruise missiles and drones. If you disagree, what do you think the future Navy will look like?

I think we are, as a military and world, in the midst of some major transitions, but getting from one phase to the next is not a smooth or sudden process. For the foreseeable future, ships still have a place. Because they move, targeting from a long distance is problematic and will remain so for some time. Stealth is improving as well.

1) Obligatory Brit question: Honest opinion of the Royal Navy?

2) What things did you most miss when at sea?

My love for the Royal Navy knows no bounds. Also the Canadians. Worked with both of them many, many times. True professionals...and then...

Quite frankly, the most fun you can have on a deployment full of absolute drudgery, long hours, no sleep, and water hours is winding up next to a Royal Navy ship when you pull into port. No need for going on land, just hop over to their ship.

My home. My own bed. SLEEP!

What kind of car do you drive?

Not sure I should answer this one! But, I'll bite. I drive a Hyundai and I should wash it more often. I'm big into not using resources that I don't need, and a big car replaced too often is a huge use of resources.

What’s the difference between a ship and a boat?

That depends on who you ask. For my purposes, a boat is something that is used along the coast or rivers, and not intended for worldwide ocean travel. A ship is. That is for military and commercial use, of course. Yachts are slightly different.

I have always found it somewhat amusing that these terms are subject to interpretation. I met a naval officer once and asked the same question, and I believe he said “ships carry boats”. Lol

That's a great answer! Also true!

Submarines are boats. All else are ‘targets’. :)

Do I detect a dolphin? :)

Guilty as charged. The steam burns have faded and most of the lumps have smoothed out on my head.

If only the scars from those knee knockers would fade off my shins, I'd be good to go too! LOL. TY for your service, because sub service is no joke.

What are your thoughts on sudden enlightenment with regards to UAPs?

I credit a couple of reasons for the sudden open conversations. One: Information. It's too easy for information to get out for it to be reliably held secret, and each individual now has the capability for worldwide reach via their cellphone. Anything can, and does, go viral. So, secrecy isn't as certain, so revelation is weighed differently in the equation.

Two: General Knowledge. With science so easily learned by so many, it becomes difficult to place Earth into the center of reality as the primary driver for all things. We're just one tiny planet in a universe of countless others. So, the idea that life develops isn't so foreign or unbelievable.

You ever work in Reactor Department?

Nope, thank goodness. They did try to get me to go with that specialty when I finished college and swapped from enlisted to Officer, but I backed away slowly and avoided touching any pens or paper.

We are pretty weird and depressed, so good choice.

Old Divo is being given command of a new ship next year, USS Beloit. Were you ever up for a captaincy?

I activated my option to go METOC as soon as I could. I loved being a SWO, but I loved science more. So, METOCs can't have command of operational lines, like ships. We get command mostly when we're captains, and that being a facility like the modeling center or space center or major weather station. Most METOCs never command at all, in favor of the back rooms of DC or development or science. They pay a lot for our education, so we have to make it worth their while. I retired before I could be put into the position of having to accept O6 or not. With us only making one a year, no more than three ever, it would have been wrong to take that spot. I knew I wanted to write, and I'd given so much time already. So, no. I was OIC, in charge of big things, but only within the scope of what's allowed for METOCs.

Engineering is not all bad. Well mostly not all bad. We are the friends you earn your friends about. “He is odd but mostly harmless and uses lots of colorful adjectives.”

Congrats on your writing career. I remember reading your SILO story a long time ago.

Awesome! There are four of them now. LOL. I've been busy. And yes, I was always very generous with my engineering friends when it came to my enormous stash of good coffee in the Balloon Room during deployment. Engineering is where it all begins and ends. :)

When was the last time you laughed so hard that you snorted?

Probably yesterday. I'm fostering some kittens right now and they are a hoot as they learn the world. But the last time I laughed so hard I almost peed myself, and definitely scared my dog out of his nap, was when I watched Jury Duty not too long ago. Seriously, I was all over my couch laughing at that.

Have you read many Clive Cussler books? Are they as "accurate" as they seem?

My go-to genres for reading don't generally include Cussler books. I'm SF and all speculative, some fantasy...and basically anything that's not real.

What's going on with that ridiculously low retention rate and shamefully high suicide rate in the Navy?

There's a lot going on with both of those. Suicide rates tend to wax and wane in all tense jobs, including the Navy, and I know they were looking into the effects of limited duty for part of that. I think there's something to that, because in today's Navy, getting put on limited duty for an extended period really does impact your ability to make rank, which also limits your longevity in the service and forces a sailor to think about what they'll do if they can't re-enlist.

For the retention rate, I think this one is pretty much a re-do of what happened the last time the Navy shifted how retirement and advancement work. Today's younger sailors no longer feel certain that the retirement program they signed up on will be the one that they get, and every time it changes, it changes less in their favor.

This may seem like not a big thing, because really, why should anyone get retirement at all, but it's a major thing. The Navy doesn't pay overtime. I can't even count the number 100 hour work weeks I had. That was completely normal out to sea. Having no more than one hour of sleep per day got almost normal. In the normal course of events, a person would have opportunities for creating their next life and next job, but when you're in a position of low contact, double time or more 7 days a week, not seeing family for a year or more...etc...retirement isn't about not working, it's about paying you back for some of the overtime you were never given and giving you a little room because your ability to earn has been severely impaired by the life you led in the Navy.

So, why risk spending 20 years and coming away with nothing? Young sailors are leaving because the calculus doesn't work for them.

A mustang eh? Those are rare.

I can't claim to be a true Mustang! I did a direct promotion from enlisted to officer, unrestricted line, with my clock starting over at that moment (which is how I stayed in 28 years and could still stay in another 10 if I wanted). To be a Mustang, you've got to take that restriction.

With the vast majority of military jobs now open to women: what are your thoughts on requiring them to sign up for the draft like men have to?

Thoughts on gendered fitness tests vs a single standard?

Tough one! I have always been in favor of the draft being for everyone or no one. So, that's easy.

Gendered tests are harder. Before I had a lot of education on how the body is built, I used to say they should be the same. For me, it was easy and I usually came close to the max for men as well as women. Once I learned a few things about ligament and tendon connections, center of gravity, etc, and then watched what happened when we put a tiny little ball on a man's leg to alter their COG, I changed my mind. It's weird, but if you force a male physical frame to have the same COG, then they can no longer do what they did in pushups. So weird. And the whole chair thing blew me away. No matter how hard they tried, only female born bodies could lift it.

So, I'm sort of in favor of those tests now, but only in that they make up for both male and female limitations in range of movement. Nothing more.

Okay, the most challenging part of writing for me is the blurb!! It seems like something that should be so easy, but it's such a different kind of thing to have to write compared to a whole novel... Any advice?

That's because blurbs are from the devil. Seriously! They are not easy, and they are particularly difficult for the author of a book, because you know all the nuances of your book. Blurbs are not nuanced. They are meant to convey what a book is so a person knows if they should buy it. That's all.

Here's a good article (even if I did write it) on how to write blurbs that takes some of that author baggage out and lets you focus on what a blurb actually needs. I sure hope it helps you.

https://www.campfirewriting.com/learn/writing-book-blurbs

As an E-2 in the Navy right now, any tips on making rank faster?

As an E-2, it's largely out of your hands for E-3, but just make sure you don't do anything that would make them stop you making E-3. That's number one.

Next, I would say that E-4 through E-6 is a balance between studying and making sure you stand out as a professional. Being known for not just your capabilities, but your capacity. The ability to say, "Hmm, I don't know that, so let me find out," instead of trying to bluff your way through. E-2 to E-4 is about learning, so being willing to learn and showing that is important.

Also, if you can, do some community work or volunteer for things you can use on your evals. Take a college course in an area that you know you'll benefit from either in your specific job or as a professional in that field. That stuff matters. I did all the things. Basically, I rarely slept, but you don't have to go that far. Use your energy wisely, be noticed in a good way, be super honest, and study very, very hard.

I don't exactly have the money to hire an editor for my novel just, but I also feel very biased about editing it myself first—at all. What are your thoughts on working with editors and/or self-editing? Thanks in advance!

You're in a really common position. A lot of times, family obligations or the simple lack of money means writers have to prove they have the chops (by earning money) before they can spend the money to get an editor.

If you have to self-edit, there are some steps you can take to increase your objectivity, though you'll never be completely objective about your own work. If you want to check those out, go here: https://www.campfirewriting.com/learn/professional-vs-self-editing-for-fiction-writers

Many people have told me this works for them, and I sure hope it works for you too!

is naval commander a proper noun?

Commander before the name is always given the proper treatment. Otherwise, the Navy or Naval designation might or might not be depending on use and location in relation to the name.

How do guns on modern naval ships account for the fact that the ships they are on still bob around in the water slightly (I assume)? Is there some kind of gyroscope aim assist?

I can't discuss specifics of hardware and technology. That said, means to assist in the steadying of aim have existed almost since the first sailor realized their canons were shooting crazy due to wave action.

Neat!

The old WWII BB’s have a gyroscope to help adjust the analog aiming computers. You can tour the fire control room of the BB Alabama. It’s a great piece of machinery.

The BBs are my favorite. I worked repairs on one when it briefly had a chance to come out of mothballs for a while. It was glorious.

Are you the real Tom Clancy?

LOL! You saw my picture. I'm just me. :)

do you ever feel partially responsible for the wars that america has waged on the middle east as a willing participant? or, conversely, do you support the military's goals in attacking and occupying Iraq and Afghanistan?

There is always a sense of responsibility for a thinking person, whether they are in the military or not. Voters vote. Protesters protest. Citizens watch the news and shake their heads sadly. There are no innocents when one stretches the net far enough.

What I can't do, and what I don't think is right, is engage in blaming people for what they couldn't possibly know. I don't blame the people who used leeches before they even know what germs were. I don't blame those who created the smoke filled skies of the train age because they didn't understand how to cut down on coal emissions.

So, that's my answer and I hope it answers your question.

Ever tried to take a discreet nap at work or school and been caught snoozing?

Does a bear poop in the woods?

Long training sessions after a midwatch on the bridge and no sleep after...yeah, it happened.

When was the last time you had an entire conversation with your TV remote?

LOLOL. Never, but I do tend to curse at it now and again.