Christopher Zyck

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

My hobbies involve preparing to shoot my first feature length DSLR project. I'm a student of life, and I consider everything I do in life as a hobby. From culinary arts, to visual arts, and driving my car along a scenic roadway, if it is pleasurable and affordable, then it is a hobby of mine. My interests are from studying creative writing, American Literature, English Literature, print and broadcast Journalism, poetry intensives, and dramatic arts (acting.) I developed multiple skills engaging in short story writing, playwriting, theater production, producing television and film projects, fundraising for not-for-profit theaters, marketing, advertising, directing, and a few more hats, some larger than others, all of them about the work at hand.

When and why did you start writing books?

When I started writing books it was 1978, and my inspiration came from the great variety of DC & Marvel comic books my older brother collected from his childhood. Being an avid reader of the local newspaper, the comics section was always a priority to read through the various strips I enjoyed. From 'The Peanuts' to 'Blondie & Dagwood', and 'Garfield' to name a few. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Gardner, wrote children's books that she self-published and I still have a copy of a story about a misfit bunny. My very first efforts writing are chronicled in the pages of my elementary school notebooks. I continued to write comic strips sporadically in my school notebooks all the way through college.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

When I turned 23-years-old I was going through many changes regarding my purpose and direction in life. Always of a critical thinking mindset, I found myself in a metaphysical-existential-transcendental crisis. To boil it down, I wondered why life is as it is in civilization, the relevance of the natural world in instructing human perceptions and the end of the Cold War combined with Al Gore staking claim to be the "Inventor" of the internet. An epiphany occurred in a vision of THE GLASS PLANET, and for thirty years I have pursued the writing and publishing of this novel. I write short stories, poetry and I've penned six movie scripts, but my time was not to be pressed for commercial success, not until the time is right, when the time calls for it was I going to be able to complete it.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

THE GLASS PLANET is my only published novel, and my favorite character is Catherine. She is the main character who allows me as a writer to perceive and articulate all other characters. Most importantly, she is the center of the universe and has strengths and weaknesses, is smart, creative and emotionally accessible. She is equally ignorant, stifled and unaware of her vulnerability. She learns interpretive evaluation of the constant spontaneous instant to reveal a higher level of depth perception regarding the Cosmic Fabric of existence. She contains multitudes yet to be explored, a future unlike any other is to be continued.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

THE GLASS PLANET. With thirty years of build up, there is a great deal of unpacking. The world environment is thoroughly described, the Economic Theory of the Human Will stands to reason, the importance of the 'wellbeing' of the human condition cannot be undermined, and the characters have grown over the past thirty years, and some came into being in "Mosaic Caverns", the prequel to THE GLASS PLANET, written twelve years ago as a movie script, and contains a significant weight of the pathos present in both works.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass (deathbed edition).

What book are you reading right now?

The book I have started reading recently is ‘Parable of the Sower’ by Octavia E. Butler.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

What is injustice, or what is alternative perceptions of what is reality, and why, who, when, where and how? My passion for journalism is equal to my passion for fiction writing ~ and to combine reality and fantasy to provoke thought and discussion is very rewarding. I love the free market of ideas ~ be careful though, there's no telling who may run with your ideas without inviting you!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Realizing when I have spare time is enjoyable on its own. Then it usually involves stretching my limbs and walking outside. I like to watch a minimal daily amount of an hour of "Breaking News", I like to spend time with loved ones, and on the two or three occasions during the year, to travel on road trips visiting relatives and friends.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Yes. I am creating "MOSAIC CAVERNS", the prequel to THE GLASS PLANET, set to launch this winter.‹