Our final author interview of 2023 features Michael Woundenberg, a first-time author and aspiring polymath. Which is a diverse set of talents. Michael's background is in Advanced Technology integration, specifically systems engineering and architecture.
Michael has kindly agreed to join us to talk about his first book paradox and so we can learn a little more about him.
Michael Woudenberg
Author Name: Michael Woudenberg
Author Website: https://TheSingularityChronicles.com
Author Email: polymathicdisciplines@gmail.com
Author’s social media links (Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
Twitter @polymathicbeing
Facebook readers group:
Authors Series and list of books.
Paradox
Tell me a little about yourself, where you live, your family, and your hobbies!
I’m an aspiring polymath. That is a jack of all trades. My background is in Advanced
Technology integration, specifically systems engineering and architecture. A side
passion is in psychology, philosophy, and sociology, and my writing blends the two
together.
I’m an outdoors enthusiast and go on tons of hiking, camping, biking, and climbing
adventures with my wife and kids and friends. An interesting hobby is free-diving, which
is swimming into incredible places with just a mask and fins and my lungs. I’ve been
able to hold my breath for over 5 minutes and have dove down to over 100ft.
What got you into writing?
I really started to get my writing out in public in 2022 when I launched a newsletter
titled Polymathic Being. (www.polymathicbeing.com) This is where I explore
counterintuitive insights across domains and disciplines. It became the space where I
explored science facts to be able to weave them into science fiction.
What’s the main thing you love and hate about writing?
I love it when my writing surprises me. This happened a lot with my debut novel where
the plot took little twists I hadn’t imagined and it was better for it. What frustrates me is
getting the motivation to dive in and commit to writing something as extensive as a
novel. I write my essays voraciously but they can each stand alone. A novel is a
different and more challenging endeavour in my experience.
How do you select the names of your characters?
That’s a great question! The names needed to do two things:
1. Embed a concept and a meaning behind the name. For example, Kira Vanden
Brink, a main protagonist captures two concepts:
a. Her first name is of Russian origin and means "leader."
b. Her last name is Dutch (my heritage) meaning "at the brink."
So her name means “Leader at the brink” capturing the essence of Paradox
2. The names of other characters needed to capture a profile of the person without
my having to do detailed character descriptions. For example, a key character is
really only known by his name and his role as an AI researcher, Ethan
Odhiambo. The rest of the character is then created in the mind of the reader.
What is next on your list to write/publish?
I’m constantly publishing essays on Polymathic Being and I’ve started on Book 2 of
The Singularity Chronicles. It’s titled Integration and follows the arc of the AI as they
work to understand what life means now that they’re divorced from a corporal body and
all the challenges that come with that. A few of the topics on Polymathic Being are
currently establishing that science fact that I’ll be using to weave into Integration.
What is your favorite childhood book?
My favorite childhood book is probably the Hobbit if I were to pick just one.
Who is your favorite author, and why?
I have a couple. I like Robin Hobb for her characters. I’ve never been so sucked into
loving or hating characters as I have with hers. My next favorite is pseudonymous
Pirateaba who writes the web serial The Wandering Inn. She has wonderful prose and
dialog that reads so well.
Who encouraged you the most to write?
This might seem egotistical but that would probably be me. My biggest supporter when I’m
writing is my wife followed by my cousin as I talk with them all the time about the concepts.
But the push to write comes from my own drive.
Are you as avid a reader as a writer?
I consume 90% of my material via reading. I probably read about 50 books a year in
both fiction and non-fiction while also reading a lot of longer form newsletters on
technology, psychology, and life.
What’s your favorite genre?
I like both Science Fiction and Fantasy equally. In fact, Paradox splits where book 2 is
Sci-Fi and books 3 and 4 will be closer to fantasy / alternative history and then book 5
will be pure sci fi again.
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what type? Or can’t you stand
background noise when writing?
I don’t listen to music. I don’t mind background noise but I also can sit in silence
(minus the click of my keyboard) and type for hours on end without issue.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Not having an arc to weave in. I don’t have to have every detail and I do like to be
surprised, but I can’t write until I’m comfortable with the pattern I can weave into.
Tell me a secret that none of your fans know! Do you like to cook or perhaps only
wear a certain color sock!
I’m a bit of an open book but… Maybe it’s the fact that I intentionally pick out
my boxers to go with my outfit… and yes, I have mostly superhero and novelty boxers
like Star Wars and Harry Potter.
Tell me what your main character would say about you!
I think she’d tell me to get off my butt and write book 2 so she can figure out what her
future looks like!
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have one in process and 3 more behind it. On my newsletter, I have over 100 drafts
queued in some form or the other and as I find new information on I just add it in until I
finally sit down and write.
What is your motto in life?
The Enemy’s Gate is Down. This is from Ender’s Game and reminds me to always
look at something from multiple perspectives to ensure I fully understand it. This
concept is deeply woven into Paradox as they work to solve Advanced AI.
Does your family support your career as a writer?
100% My wife is a co-collaborator on everything. My 10-year-old daughter read my
book (her first sci-fi) and all three kids are now working on writing their own stories, in
chapter form, and I’m helping to advise and edit as well as helping them create
graphics.
Finally, any words of advice?
As I mentioned earlier, the best advice I can have for authors is that “Good writing
should surprise the author.” For the non-authors, I’d say that in life, you expect from
others what you expect from yourself and that unspoken expectations are guaranteed to
be violated.
