Friday, May 25, 2007

According to the Crystal Ball

After I complete Blind Fool Running, my first literary novel under the pen name Jonco Bugos, I'll be returning to science fiction under my real name for another novel in the Science Fiction for Thinkers series. And then it will be back to literary fiction as Jonco Bugos again.

Incidentally, Jonco Bugos is the Slovak version of the name of my mother's deceased father, John Bugosh. It's pronounced YONK-oh BOO-gosh. The Slovak language, like the Russian language, has more than one "S" in its alphabet and the "S" on Bugos has an "sh" sound). My mother was pleased that I wanted to use her father's Slovak name for my pen name whenever I write literary fiction. Just to clear the air on this matter. It's also an homage to him and an honor for me to write literary fiction under a pen name that matches his.

I plan to alternate back and forth that way, writing one science fiction novel every two years and one literary novel every two years. My current literary work-in-progress is experimental because I'm writing in the first person, present tense, and that's not an easy thing to do. My literary fiction will also have a slight autobiographical slant as well as a hidden sci-fi theme that will not be clearly evident to readers who don't already know me. And that will be an even harder thing to accomplish.

So, why am I doing it? To test my writing skills, for one thing, and to have a little fun in the process. Also, to accept that particular literary challenge. And to keep boredom at bay and my imagination fresh for both genres.

At least that's the plan for now.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Turning Point

Five years ago I said good-bye to the service industry once and for all, after twenty years of slugging it out with spoiled customers and jaded co-workers, and began a new career as a science fiction novelist. That turning point was also the darkest day in my life.

And the brightest.