It's Raining Books: Karma City by Gardner Browning

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Karma City by Gardner Browning

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gardner Browning will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I’ve always enjoyed stories of adventure. Especially when they are written intelligently. I find a lot of inspiration when I read Robert E. Howard; the richness and texture in Conan’s world is astounding; Ray Bradbury; his pace is perfect and his stories are each so unique, never feeling the same; and Michael Crichton; in my opinion, was one of the most intelligent writers of all time. His medical expertise and scientific mind created some truly chilling stories.

What research is required?

If you have science in your story, you have to talk to experts and read work in the field you’re writing about. Understand the technology. Understand how stuff works. Immerse yourself in it and be fascinated. If possible, visit places that are like your setting. You may find you don’t need to go far to get in touch with your imagination.

I believe that a good book is one with a setting (a world) that is alive around the characters. The characters should be affected by the world around them as much as possible. In big ways and in small ways. Examples: If an explosion occurs a few blocks away, they need to feel the ground shake, hear the screams, be afraid, concerned and confused. Maybe injured by a frantic mob. If it’s cold outside, the characters need to warm their hands with their breath, scrape the ice off their windshield, or even twist an ankle on the slippery sidewalk. If it’s raining, the windows are fogged, they can’t see through their eye glasses, their shoes are soaked and their attitude sucks.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

That sometimes being afraid means that you’re doing the right thing.

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

I’m a big fan of re-writing.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

Plotter. I believe the good writers are the ones who are organized, understand story structure and can put a plot through a solid outline to make sure it works before sitting down to write.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A bass fishing magazine, guitar amplifier, Playstation 4 and my old Nintendo 64.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Just enjoying the release of Karma City, getting ready for my son’s 7th birthday, excited to enjoy the summer months and get out fishing!

Do you have a question for our readers?

No. But if you do enjoy Karma City, please leave a kind review on Amazon. Thank you.

A microscopic parasite has crippled humanity with night terrors and paralyzing anxiety. In this world of increasing dystopia, hope yet remains in Karma City. But when mercenary drifter, Jameson Shoals, learns that a famous scientist has created a stronger parasite to kill the original, it isn’t until the bodies litter the streets that he realizes the horrifying truth: the new parasite is a killer with a mind of its own, and upon dominating Patient Zero, this killer acquires legs, hands, and eyes. It falls upon Shoals and his partner, a deadly female mercenary, to stop PZ and his mob before they can overcome and supplant humankind.

Read an Excerpt:

Though the degradation in society perpetuated by the Malady parasite crippled advancements in industry and commerce, coal mining prevailed in the mountains and parts beyond Karma City, producing abundant fuel for steam engines and thermal power plants. As a result, the railroad had become the people’s last lifeline. Two 4-8-4 steam locomotives, antiquated yet reliable engines, wheeled along cardinal tracks transporting people, medicine and goods back and forth from Karma, Rime, Lobos and many other unnamed stops in the endless Void Lands. The masters of these locomotives were the rifle-bearing men and women sworn to a life on the tracks— the cold-hearted, Iron Tribe.

About the Author: