Interviews
On Friday, July 11th, barnesandnoble.com welcomed Dale Brown to discuss FATAL TERRAIN.
Norman Hedges from Springfield, VA: Dale Brown: I see a slow deterioration in the situation in Asia. Hong Kong being run by China is unworkable, so China will insist on Hong Kong knuckling under to the communist regime, and tensions will flare. The situation with Taiwan will only grow worse. Once China gets a taste of "reunification" (Macao will be "reunited" with China next year), Taiwan is next!
Knordgren@AOL.com from Hanover, NH: Hey Dale, I haven't read FATAL TERRAIN yet, but I loved SHADOWS OF STEEL. Do you think it is necessary to have prior military experience to draw on in order to write a good military-fiction book?
Dale Brown: Absolutely not! Look at that Tom guy...heck, I forget his last name. ;-) As far as I know, he was not in the military but gleaned a lot of his knowledge from war-gaming and reading. If you have a book in you, just do it!
T. J. Haverford from St. Louis: Having written so many books, do you still read the reviews that are written about your books?
Dale Brown: Oh yes! The reviews don't always tell me a lot, but I read all of them! But the reviews that mean more to me are from my editors and from readers who email me. The feedback via email has been great -- over 1,000 messages in 1997 so far!
Paul from New York City: Who would you say are some of your literary influences?
Dale Brown: Literary influences...probably Stan Lee (Spiderman), Bruce Kane (Batman). ;-) Actually, it's been Louis L'Amour, Time-Life Books, and Science Digest. That's what I read as a kid.
Richard from San Antonio, TX: Having had so much experience in the cockpit, what do you think is the best fighter plane that the United States currently has?
Dale Brown: Without question, the best fighter is the F-15C Eagle. But who cares about them anyway...? Oops, ignore that.... ;-) If I had to send one squadron to a world hot spot, it would have to be a squadron of F-15E Strike Eagles, because they can do both air-to-air and air-to-mud, although it doesn't do bombing as well as a B-52 or B-2 or F-111. No bias in that answer!
Bobbie H. from New Jersey: What is your opinion of President Clinton and his role as Commander in Chief? What do you think about his numerous military cutbacks? Do think he is correct in what he is doing, or do you foresee his deemphasis of military resulting in something like the plot of FATAL TERRAIN?
Dale Brown: President Clinton is the best pure politician we've had in the White House in years. Unfortunately, he's not a leader. But I think the country wanted no more of kick-booty leaders like Bush or Reagan. Few real folks were comfortable with Bush's or Reagan's styles. As long as things remain quiet in the world, presidents like Clinton will do well. But Clinton would be in deep doo-doo if he had to manage a Desert Storm-like conflict, IMHO.
Phil Steck from Yuba College, Marysville, CA: Were you stationed at Mather AFB as part of the 320th Bombardment Wing?
Dale Brown: I was there as a KC-135 IP and Wing Flying Safety Officer. I was with the 320th at Mather from '80 to '83. I started THE FLIGHT OF OLD DOG ZERO ONE (later renamed FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG) on the back porch of the alert facility while waiting for the Klaxon to go off and wondering how Sandy Scott (SAC's first female KC-135 pilot) was going to climb out of her wet bathing suit, into her flight suit, and run out to her plane if the horn went off!
Roger Stover from Sacramento: Hello, Mr. Brown. What uniqueness do you try to bring to your works?
Dale Brown: The uniqueness in my stories is the perspective of a crew dog -- the guy in the cockpit going off to war. Even if I'm describing activities in the White House or Tehran or Beijing, it's done from the perspective of an American combat flier. I write those scenes as if I'm there listening to their conversations. I don't know if they're real or even remotely alike, but it's what I imagine those scenes would be like. I think I'm successful because the audience agrees and feels comfortable with my perspective.
Neil from Concord, CA: Have they made any of your books into movies yet, and if not, do you have any plans for making a movie about any of your books? I know a couple of film production studios that would be perfect!
Dale Brown: I would love all of my books to be made into films, but my job is to write 'em, not produce them! I've spoken to lots of Hollywood guys, some flakoids, some the real deal. I've also got the folks at William Morris Agency on the case. If they want their cut, they'd better get moving! I'll be ready to assist or stay out of the way, whatever they need to make it happen!
Roberto from Miami, FL: Who do you think is the best military writer in the country today (excluding yourself)? I've read that Clive Cussler thinks you are.
Dale Brown: There are lots of exceptional military writers out there. I guess it depends on what you're hungry for. My buddy Richard Herman Jr. leans more towards the political-leadership point of view in describing a military conflict; Larry Bond likes to write from a field commander's perspective, and he stays deadly accurate and true-to-life. I think that Tom guy (someone help me with the name...!) writes every single thought he's ever had in his head out on paper!
Michael from Metairie, LA: Can you please comment on the current state of the United States Air Force? Thanks.
Dale Brown: The U.S. Air Force is in serious, serious trouble. We simply could not mount another Desert Shield, Desert Storm-like operation now if we had to -- the mobilization we did in 6 months would take 18 months today! The USAF has about 80 B-52Hs in the fleet but enough crews to fly only half of them, including Reservists. Not all of the ready crews can perform every B-52 strike mission -- some units do conventional bombing, but not nuclear, or Harpoon, or cruise missiles, or Raptors. Retention, especially in the rated force, is very poor. We need a new priority to set the USAF straight -- more R&D, fewer systems, more training, emphasis on readiness.
Marty Kaplan from Cleveland, OH: I was hoping you could comment on the research you did with Chinese weapons. Are the military capabilities of the Chinese that you write about at all realistic?
Dale Brown: China's military capabilities are probably better than I describe in FATAL TERRAIN. China's military forces are generally considered to be late '50s or early '60s technology, but the stuff they export to countries like Iran, Serbia, Pakistan, etc. are far better than that. There is no question that China would be a tough opponent, and it would take a real effort to dislodge them from Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Myanmar, wherever they decided to go.
Randolph from Arlington, VA: Would you say that we live in a bipolar community and, if not, how would you describe our international community?
Dale Brown: I'm not sure what you mean by a "bipolar" community. But taken at face value No, I'd say we are a multidimensional world community. Who is rich in the world? Who is poor? Who's the toughest dullard of a guy? Who's the weakest dullard? And it's ever-changing, too. That's what makes it exciting to write books about world military conflicts -- the possibilities are endless!
Rory from Florida: Hey, Dale, I have four questions for you: 1) I am going to be writing a book of commentaries starting in December. I am going to be putting myself into a lot of practice soon. But when I start writing this book, should I think of what commentaries I want to write? Do some research? What should I do? 2) How do you overcome writer's block? 3) How much time do you spend writing? 4) How do you put life into your characters? Do you use character sheets? Do you watch people's personalities and write them down? What do you do? Thanks a bunch!
Dale Brown: If you have a book in you, any kind of book, sit down and write the sucker! Don't think about it, don't outline it, don't strategize, just write it! I offer help to lots of new authors, and I'll repeat my offer here: I'll help anyone who wants help. I have one condition: You must have finished a book-length manuscript, along with an outline, vitae, and synopsis (the same things a prospective agent would ask for). You'd think I'd get swamped with manuscripts after making this offer for ten years now, but quite the contrary. Why? Because lots of folks talk about writing a book, but they never start. If you finish a book-length work, I can almost guarantee that you'll get it published if you believe in yourself and your work and are persistent. Unfortunately, few believe me. Like the commercial says, just do it! I fight writer's block by writing. No, it's not a contradiction. I might not write on the current novel manuscript, but I've always got other books, screenplays, columns, opinion pieces, and letters to the editors in the works. Write every free moment you have. One hour a week or 80 -- whatever is available.
Gaul from San Antonio, TX: I have just recently started FATAL TERRAIN, and so far it is up to par with the past books of yours that I've read. I hold you to be the greatest writer on military adventure. I was just curious what you think about the topical issue of women in the military? Are you for women in battle or against it, and what do you think about the recent policy change with the Citadel and their new policy of letting women into this traditional facility?
Dale Brown: I have flown and served with lots of women in the USAF and have observed women in action in other services. I don't see what the big deal is. All the women I've known have done their jobs with skill and professionalism. If they break the rules, they should get busted for it.Yes, there are some jobs that some women aren't qualified for -- but there are jobs that a lot of men can't qualify for either. But in general, I feel women can fly and fight or sail or shoot just as well as the men.
Nicolas from Colorado Springs, CO: Did you have a plane in mind when you created the fictional EB-52 Megafortress? What about those new stealth cruise missiles; do you know of anything in the real world comparable? Thanks!
Dale Brown: The EB-52 was based on several experimental "test-bed" planes out at Edwards AFB in the '70s and '80s. B-52s were used to test everything from engines to radar-absorbent materials to weapons. I just put all the test-beds together into one plane! The stealth cruise missiles (JSOW, Advanced Cruise Missile, etc.) are real. JSOW will be deployed in a few years; ACM has been around for 5-6 years. This technology will grow faster than new plane development!
Bob K. from Port Alberni, BC, Canada: Dale; I do not have a question, but I look forward to each new book that is released. You have a unique writing perspective that permits an old flyer like me to be back in the cockpit. Keep up the good work.
Dale Brown: Thank you! You continue to read, and I'll continue to write! Deal?
Matt from Lexington, KY: I am a retired Air Force officer who has since taken up an entirely new profession. I am just curious to know if you miss the Air Force, and do you enjoy writing books as much as flying?
Dale Brown: I miss flying a lot -- the USAF didn't have to pay me to fly! They DID however have to pay me for sitting alert, generating planes, doing paperwork and additional duties, getting my hair cut, etc. I also miss the dirty crew dogs I flew with. I really felt like I was making a difference, although I never dropped a bomb against a real bad guy.
Ronnie from San Diego, CA: Dale, are you going on a reading tour? If so, will you be anywhere in the southern California area soon?
Dale Brown: I write my books -- I don't READ them! ;-) But if you want me to show at your bookstore or reading group, write or email me and we'll see what we can do. I'm always up for a trip to San Diego!
Jamie W.: FATAL TERRAIN was great; just curious if you are on your next book? Can you tell us anything about your next book?
Dale Brown: Thanks! Yes, I've started on a new book. Can't tell you too much more about it, except Patrick, Wendy, Hal, and a few others will make an appearance!
Jim from Bath, NY: Hi, Dale. Now that you are a dad, how has it changed your life? Would you like your son to follow in your footsteps? See you in Buffalo -- Jim
Dale Brown: Hunter has already informed me that he wishes to be a cop like his mom or a lifeguard like the guys on "Baywatch!"
Moderator: Dale, thanks for joining us this evening, and thanks to all who participated! Any closing comments?
Dale Brown: Thanks for having me online! Any more questions, stop by my web site (http://www.megafortress.com). Enjoy!
