About Steven Burgauer:
Steven Burgauer, Biography
Avid hiker, Eagle Scout, and founder of a mutual fund, Steven Burgauer resides in Florida. A graduate of Illinois State University and the New York Institute of Finance, Steve writes science fiction and historic fiction. A member of the Society of Midland Authors, Steven is included in The Dictionary of Midwestern Literature, Volume 2: Dimensions of the Midwestern Literary Imagination and the ALA’s Librarian’s Guide to Cyborgs, Aliens, and Sorcerers by Derek M. Buker.
Burgauer’s The Road to War: Duty & Drill, Courage & Capture is based on the journals of an American WWII infantryman who landed at Normandy, was wounded and taken prisoner by the Nazis. Publishers Daily Reviews says of it: Five-plus unequivocal stars . . . an extraordinary read that everyone should enjoy.
Some of his SF titles include The Grandfather Paradox, The Railguns of Luna, The Fornax Drive, and SKULLCAP. Other books of his include The Night of the Eleventh Sun, a Neanderthal’s first encounter with man, and The Wealth Builder’s Guide: An Investment Primer. Steven contributed to the zany, serial mystery, Naked Came the Farmer, headlined by Philip Jose Farmer.
His work has been reviewed in many places, including LOCUS, the EUREKA LITERARY MAGAZINE, PUBLISHERS DAILY REVIEWS, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW, THE BOOK REVIEWERS, BOOKVIRAL, and PROMETHEUS, the journal of the Libertarian Futurist Society. Science Fiction Chronicle (June 2001) says of his The Railguns of Luna: Steven Burgauer writes old style science fiction in which heroes and villains are easily identified, the action is fast and furious, and the plot twists and turns uncontrollably . . . This is action adventure written straight-forwardly and not meant to be heavily literary or provide pithy commentary on the state of humanity.
Of his book Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou, The Book Reviewers write: “An engaging, slow-burning wartime thriller with an epic feel and a large cast of characters.” Midwest Book Review writes: “In a war that rips apart entire worlds, who can truly be the winner? Add a dash of romance to the intrigue for a solid World War II thriller that’s intricate, frighteningly realistic, and hard to put down.”
When Steven lived in Illinois, the State of Illinois Library included him in a select group of authors invited to the state’s Authors’ Day. He has often been a speaker and panel member at public library events and science-fiction conventions all across the country.
What inspires you to write?
I write every single day. I draw inspiration from the ordinary people I meet every day on the street who are heroes in their daily life: The women who make good mothers, great wives, and pursue successful careers. The men who give their all to be good fathers, great husbands, and excel at their chosen trade, whatever it may be. The sons and daughters who make the most of their God-given talents and take the calculated risks in life to make their parents proud and to become contributing members of society.
Tell us about your writing process.
I write every single day. I draw inspiration from the ordinary people I meet every day on the street who are heroes in their daily life: The women who make good mothers, great wives, and pursue successful careers. The men who give their all to be good fathers, great husbands, and excel at their chosen trade, whatever it may be. The sons and daughters who make the most of their God-given talents and take the calculated risks in life to make their parents proud and to become contributing members of society.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Aside from science fiction being forward-looking and historical fiction being backward-looking, they are more similar than you may think, especially when you consider the type of science-based science fiction that I write. This may come as a bit of a surprise to some readers, but it is true. Exhaustive, in-depth research is the common denominator between the two. When an author writes science fiction of the fantasy stripe, there are no rules of physics to obey. Magic trumps Sir Isaac Newton and all that. The writer can have a flying horse with wings simply by invoking magic and mysticism and by spreading around enough fairy dust. But to achieve a flying horse when one writes hard science fiction, the author has to invoke physics and genetic manipulation, perhaps biological implants. Two very different worlds. If I were to research the physics of a genetically modified horse, it would entail hours of careful study and consideration. The same is true of historical fiction. If a German national had to surreptitiously make his way from Nazi Germany across the ocean to New Orleans during World War II, how would he do that? What route would he take? How long would the trip take? Would he fly? Take a boat? Seek passage aboard a U-boat? These are questions not easily answered at a distance of 75 years in the past.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write one good page every day. That should be your goal. Write one good page each day and be prepared for rejection. Work hard. Don’t give up. Visit libraries and be kind to librarians. Librarians are the keepers of our heritage in words. I have had some success hitting the bricks and visiting libraries around the country to make presentations on topics of interest to local library patrons and where I am allowed to sell my books afterward. Great exposure. Find lots of readers to read and comment on your book, especially those willing to give you harsh criticism. It helps!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Frustration with the limited number of commercial outlets.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
As the pace of computing has quickened and the cost of publishing the written word has declined to nearly zero, the business of publishing has been turned on its head. Long gone are the days of linotype. Long gone are the days of rare novelists being published by arcane publishing houses. Software improvements along with the rise of the internet have completely altered the landscape of distributing the printed word cheaply and efficiently. Publishing platforms like PDF software and epub devices allow anyone of even moderate word processing skills to write, sell, and distribute a novel or nonfiction work on literally any subject. The competition for acceptance by a traditional publishing house is keener than ever. Thus, the rise of self-publishers. Even that landscape is quickly changing. Competition by digital POD platforms is changing self-publishing rapidly. For under $200, anyone can format and upload their novel to Amazon and produce a credible Kindle edition of their work. Likewise, the rise of the internet makes it easier than ever for an author to connect with possible book reviewers and with the writer’s potential readers. Indeed, business platforms like Smashwords have revolutionized publishing.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: science fiction & historical fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Steven Burgauer Home Page Link
Link To Steven Burgauer Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Midland Authors
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
