A.   I had just written "The Melanin Apocalypse", after reading an article telling how in the near future war, or even genocide, could be conducted with viruses tailored to kill people carrying specific genetic traits. The Melanin Apocalypse showed a group of white bigots attempting to wipe out all people of color as well as the Jewish high command setting a similar virus loose on arabs. After finishing the book, I began wondering what the world would look like should the shoe be on the other foot, so to sepeak, and White Odyssey was the result. I doubt that most Causcasians ever consider the question very deeply and I hoped White Odyssey might help. Besides, it made a good theme for a book as was.

A.   Oh, the title is fairly self explanatory but I guess you have to read the book first. Just a mental and physical journey of a white family in a world controlled by those of color suggested the title.

A.   I think I pretty well explained that in the first question, but I'll add a bit. I grew up dirt poor and was looked down on by the other kids whose parents were more affluent. I also grew up in the segregated south and as a child could never understand why blacks weren't treated like everyone else. I guess it all jelled in The Whie Odyssey.

A.   The whole planet being controlled by a single organism would be threatening enough to make anyone want to leave, I thought.

A.   Now here, in order to answer the question, I have to explain a little about how a writer works, especially a prolific one like me. While you're writing a book you have the characters and their world constantly in mind, enough so that they become almost real. However, once you leave them and go on to another book, you begin forgetting much of the previous one, and the longer its been since you wrote, the more you forget because now you're totally involved with completely different characters in a completely different environment. You never forget the theme of the books you've written and remember most of the main characters even if you tend to forget their names after a while, as well as a lot of other details. All this is a long winded way to tell you that right now, I don't remember why I wanted the ethnic groups to breed outside their group. I'd have to go back and read the book--which I will as soon as it comes out in print. By then I'll have forgotten even more and it'll be almost like reading something by another author!

A.   My characters are usually a mix of the characteristics of people I've known in the past and then altered to suit the theme of the story. And I personally think every writer puts a bit of his or her own personality into their protagonists. I know I do.

A.   That one's a little harder. I suppose a lot of my ideal of a female is put into my characters who are of the opposite sex than me. Sort of what my wife Betty is like.

A.    I think it's entirely possible. Once you've lived a fairly long life you know that change is a fact of life and that no society lasts forever. There are many scenarios where the events as portrayed in White Odyssey could come true--and very well might. Not exactly, of course, just generally speaking.

A.    I'm always working on another novel, but the one I've just started may take a while. It's a little more ambitious than anything I've attempted so far.

A.    Do onto others as you'd like them to do unto you. It's hard to go very far wrong with that formula.