Today’s interview is with John Bryant, author of “Dream Hunter” and “Font,” as well as “Salvation,” one of the stories in Envision: Future Fiction.

Synopsis of “Salvation”: The last of her kind, a child provides an infinitely destructive being with the chance for salvation.

John, what prompted you to write “Salvation”?

I’d seen announcements for a couple of climate change writing contests, but I couldn’t come up with a decent story idea. I saw your science fiction contest announced on Scribophile, and something clicked.

How did you come up with the title?

I think it’s the theme of the story: the narrator senses the possibility of personal salvation through the girl. More generally, mankind still has time to save itself from the dangers of climate change.

What was the hardest thing about writing the story?

Eventually realizing that the idea is too big for a short story. I think I could expand “Salvation” to novella length.

And the easiest?

The story flowed once I had the voice of the narrator.

Is any part of “Salvation” based on real-life experience, or is it all imagination?

I began my career as a biochemist. The emerging field of systems biology uses mathematical models to mimic how cellular components interact to produce a living entity. I wondered what would happen if this modeling uncovered the “one universal waveform” of life. Perhaps life is a sentient force — raw and unconstrained in its pure form — that can destroy our planet. That’s my fictional explanation for climate change.

Does the story contain a message?

Be careful what question you ask: you might just get an answer.

How long have you been writing?

The short answer is since last year when I joined the Scribophile writing site. Like many people, I wrote when I was a kid. Later I embarked on a demanding career and didn’t have the mental energy to write until recently.

What first attracted you to writing?

In my day job, I’m paid to be conservative and risk-averse. Writing allows me to be creative.

What’s the best thing about being an author?

The buzz of finding interesting ideas. You can sense when they will work as a story.

And the worst?

The chasm between the idea and the poorly-written reality.

Can you offer any advice to other writers?

Write the stories that interest you, not those you think will interest other people.

What types of stories do you like to read?

Stories with a strong voice and unusual premise that transport me to a place I’ve never been before.

Which writers inspire you?

Writers who say a lot with few words (Elmore Leonard). Writers with a unique voice (Margo Lanagan). Imaginative writers (Neil Gaiman).

How do you deal with writer’s block?

I accept it. I find there’s a necessary fallow period between stories, even between little pieces of flash fiction.

What are you working on right now?

A weird short story called “The Pregnant Pause.”

Do you write every day?

Sometimes. I certainly write every week.

Would you be willing to share a few lines of your current work in progress?

“You are so close, sir. Only exercise your imagination a little further. A sigh, a gesture, an expression, a pause — might they not each possess a life of their own?”

“They have only the life that we give them.”

“Oh no, sir, they are visitors, summoned for a specific purpose, and empowered according to the strength of our desire.”

“And from whence do they come?”

“Why, sir, from my master. See, he is here.”

How much time do you spend doing research?

Almost none. I write short fiction that’s either based on what I know, or that relies entirely on imagination.

Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

The famous Jack London quote: “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”

Please tell us all about you.

My wife and I are empty nesters who live in the Pacific Northwest. I love nature and the outdoors. I don’t think I would have made it through life without access to wilderness. I have a law degree and a post-graduate degree in biochemistry, and I consult in the risk management side of the chemical industry.

Would you like to share an embarrassing or funny moment with us?

I agreed to join a party of hikers on a day trip to a peak that I hadn’t hiked before. I arrived late at the trailhead, and spent a couple of strenuous hours trying to catch up. When I paused to rest, I noticed a fit-looking group ascending the adjacent peak. That’s when I realized I was hiking the wrong mountain.

Where do you see your writing career in ten years?

I write for fun. I’m not planning a career, but I would like to publish a few short stories in speculative fiction magazines.

What do you think the publishing world will look like in ten years?

I imagine that it will be almost entirely on-line, which is a shame because I prefer the feel of a real book.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

The same advice I’d give to my middle-aged self: stop worrying so much; trust your instincts.

Where can we find you on the internet?

I’m new to creative writing and I don’t yet have a website or social media presence. I don’t even have a Facebook account! In the meantime I lurk on the web.

Thank you, John. I look forward to reading more of your writing.

My pleasure, Kathy. It’s an honor to be included in your Envision anthology.

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