Peter Telep is the author of more than fifty novels. His collaboration with Tom Clancy, Against All Enemies, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers List. We have talked to him about his new Doc Harrison series and his collaboration with Tom Clancy.
Welcome to SFFWorld Peter, many thanks for giving us some time here. The first book in your Doc Harrison series, Doc Harrison and the Apocalypse has just been released. Can you tell us a bit about the series? What do you feel is unique?
I’ve written three novels in the series thus far, but I have ideas and notes for at least three, maybe even six more! I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface of this universe and its characters, despite having written three books. The series is really about two families and how their worlds collide across four different worlds: Earth, Flora, Galleon, and Halsparr. While told from the point of view of sixteen-year-old Docherty Harrison, adult readers should find the stories and the characters fun and engaging. My beta readers are between thirteen and fifty-something years old, and I’ve been told that the books have a broad appeal. As the author, I wink at my older readers through the characters. For example, Doc’s father represents an older generation, so it’s amusing to read how Doc pokes fun at his dad for liking certain aspects of pop culture that seem old or cheesy to him. Also, I’ve had the parents of college students tell me, “Yes, that’s exactly what my son (or daughter) would say!” As the father of two beautiful young women (ages eighteen and twenty-one), I’ve had a lot of experience being around young adults. My girls even gave me notes on the series.
In answer to your second question, the Doc Harrison series is unique in that the “alien ability” focuses on culture and society and how young adults portray themselves in the world. This ability is character-based and not merely a function of the plot. As the stories unfold, this power becomes exciting, dangerous, humorous, and incredibly heartbreaking. I knew early on that I wanted to explore issues of identity and incorporate social media’s impact on our youth. The “wreath” and the “persona” that readers encounter provide a fascinating vehicle. What’s more, these explorations extend well beyond humans to the flora and fauna across multiple worlds. And wow… I want to tell you so much more, but we’ll cross heavily into spoiler territory. One other aspect I can note (and this was completely unintentional on my part) is that the books have an underlying theme of protecting the environment, one that was pointed out to me by my beta readers.
Can you give us some insight into your main character, Docherty Harrison?
First, let me emphasize this: Doc is not the chosen one. Now that we got that out of the way, we can move on. Seriously, Doc is the son of a man who tried to do the right thing but who caused massive death and destruction. The full extent of the damage he’s caused unravels across three books. “Uh, yeah, sorry my dad ruined all of your lives!” Despite having a nightmare for a father, Doc’s an otherwise ordinary nerd, raised in Winter Springs, a suburban town in Central Florida. He’s bullied in school and secretly in love with his best friend Julie. He’s led a comfortable life, going on research trips with his dad to the Canary Islands and collecting comics and Star Wars figures. His life stands in sharp juxtaposition to what he encounters on the planet Flora, where kids called “rumms” carve out a pathetic existence within the ruins of ancient alien cities. In regard to Doc’s character arc, he struggles repeatedly with his father’s deception, and there’s an agonizing (and even terrifying) quest for him to become a good person despite the horrible role model he has.
What new goals did you set for yourself when starting this new series?
After writing in the third person about older, military-based characters for so many years, it was difficult but fun to switch gears and write in the first person from a sixteen-year-old’s point of view. In early drafts, the voice would get too “writerly,” especially in the descriptions. Trying to see the world through Doc’s eyes became a real challenge. For example, as the author I might describe an older woman as “silver-haired and with a gait representative of her position.” Doc might view the same woman as “how Storm from X-men might look when she grows old.” As a storyteller, Doc doesn’t have the luxury of being a trained writer. He uses similes drawn from his own pop culture experiences. It’s fun to do that but also difficult to keep the voice consistent and not overdo the references, which can pull the reader out of the experience.
You started your career with fantasy and science fiction and now you have returned with the Doc Harrison series. Why did you want to return to genre writing and to what I believe is a series more geared towards the YA market than your other work?
I’ll begin with a bit of history. My first three books are coming of age Arthurian fantasies (Squire, Squire’s Blood, and Squire’s Honor published by HarperCollins). After writing them, I was commissioned to produce many media tie-in books related to genre films, television shows, and video games. Immediately after the 9/11 terror attacks, my editors strongly urged me to write realistic military fiction, and for years after that I focused on those stories, which in turn, led to me adapting many of the Tom Clancy video games into novels. That work led to my collaboration with Mr. Clancy himself. However, throughout all of that, I always identified myself as a writer of fantastic stories—a geek, a nerd, a fanboy—with a special love for the genre. I grew up reading tales by Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and many others. I’ve read almost every tie-in novel written by Alan Dean Foster. Most of my favorite television shows were and still are related to the genre. In regard to movies, the original Planet of the Apes films had a huge impact on me. I wrote my first piece of fan fiction in the third grade: a Planet of the Apes story that my teacher loved, had bound, and put on the bookshelf next to the other novels. Seeing my little “book” on the shelf next to professional ones obviously had a profound effect on me.
So back to your question, I wanted to return to my roots as a science fiction and fantasy writer for a couple of reasons. First, writing these stories is beyond fun. I was reminded of this by my friend and bestselling fantasy author Will Wight, who you interviewed back in 2013 and whose work I truly admire. Since Will is a former student, I take full credit for all of his success! But seriously, the joy these stories bring to authors and readers is hard to ignore. Second, I really want to write stories that reach out to young people. I’ve been teaching college creative writing courses for nearly twenty years, and I love to inspire others through my teaching and my writing. Thus, when I decided to return to my roots, I knew I wanted to focus on a younger hero. I’m fond of the coming of age tale or what we call in academia the bildungsroman. I’d argue that we’re all still coming of age, still trying to figure out who we really and what we really want. That story has universal appeal for all ages. There’s a quote by C.S. Lewis that I absolutely love, and it became a mantra for the writing of this series: “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”
Anything you can reveal about the second book in the series, Doc Harrison and the Masks of Galleon? Will it be the final book?
The second novel not only expands upon the concepts of the “wreath” and the “persona” but introduces some action scenes that could be breathtaking if adapted into a film or television show. I let my imagination run completely wild with these scenes, and my beta readers were really encouraging about them. Again, I don’t want to ruin the novels, but I can’t think of anything I’ve seen or read that is even slightly similar to some of those moments. Additionally, we meet a new group of characters called “ivies,” whose stories will break your heart. They have a huge impact on Doc and his friends. Finally, we’ll confront the Masks of Galleon in all their horrifying power as their backstory helps to unpack the deeper and darker history of these four worlds.
Book #2 will be published this September, with Book #3, Doc Harrison and the Prophecy of Halsparr, coming December 1st . In the third novel, you’ll meet the character of Cypress, whose strange eye with a ring rotating over it is featured in my book trailer. All three novels were written before publication. Because of that, I was able to go back into all three books and revise, foreshadow, correct, and so on. Now clever readers can enjoy the hints (and Easter eggs) I’ve planted throughout the entire series.
We also have to talk a bit about your work with Tom Clancy who you have co-written several novels with. How did you get involved in the first place?
As I mentioned earlier, my work with adapting the video game novels led to my collaboration with Mr. Clancy himself. My editor called and asked if I’d be interested in “working on a novel with Tom Clancy.” At first I said no. Just kidding. After I peeled myself down off the ceiling, I took the job!
When authors collaborate I’m always curious about how they work together. How did you work together with Tom Clancy on the projects? How did you divide the work?
I think the common practice when notable authors work with co-writers is to develop the outline together. Next, the co-writer goes off and does most of the heavy lifting in producing the first draft. Finally, the book is rewritten collaboratively. I’ve heard of many such collaborations that work this way, and it was the same for me. One of the more gratifying moments came when Michael Ovitz, former president of Disney and Tom’s agent, wrote me a personal email telling me how much he enjoyed the book and how I “knocked it out of the park.”
After Mr. Clancy’s passing, you published a standalone novel called The Secret Corps. Can you tell us about that?
Yes, The Secret Corps took me two years to write and research, and I’m proud to say it was published last year in hardcover by Ulysses Press. It’s the story of four veteran Marines who get caught up in a domestic terror plot that spans the entire nation. Their solution to thwarting this plot is cunning and unique, and the book has received many favorable reviews at Amazon. I worked with dozens of Marines who opened up their lives to me. It was a life-changing experience. You’ll definitely see some influence of these folks in the Doc Harrison series through the character of Tommy, Doc’s surrogate uncle and an officer in the Marine Corps. I learned so much from these men, women, and their families, and much of that always finds its way back into my fiction.
You also write under several other pen names. Why have you chosen to use pseudonyms and what do you feel is the benefit?
In some cases I wrote under pen names because I was working concurrently for competing publishers. When I was much younger and far more aggressive, I was writing three to four novels per year, writing seven days a week, so the pen names allowed me to sell many more books. In a few cases, the pseudonym was already in place, and I was asked to use it. Nowadays, I’ve turned down a lot of ghost work because I prefer to take credit for what I do. Writing can be excruciatingly difficult, and credit is far greater compensation for me.
What’s next? Do you have more new and exciting projects you are working on at the moment?
I’m already brainstorming Doc Harrison and the Secret Persona, book #4 in the series. I can’t stop writing them. I’m having so much fun with these books. I hope that excitement translates to the pages. I remember Steve Jobs saying something about how the only way to do great work is to love what you do… and I do. I really do.
Thanks so much for having me here at SFFWorld!
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Interview by Dag Rambraut – SFFWorld.com © 2017
