An Interview with George Hudoba: Author of Amerlee and the Green Void

George Hudoba, originally from Hungary, now lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of his childhood dreams was to drive a truck, and he became a truck driver for six years. He has been with multiple companies, ran loads from New Jersey to California, but mainly delivered to New York City safely with no accidents for years.

In his professional life, he works in the healthcare industry. He holds an A.A.S. in Computer Science. When not working or writing, he enjoys playing with his three nephews, hiking, or traveling the globe.

He created an alternate universe in high school, as the current one wasn’t exciting enough. Ever since he discovered animation software, he is trying to bring life to the universe he imagined. With the advanced 3D printing capability available to ordinary hobbyists, he is churning out model after model from his universe with the hope that one day all of it will be available to his readers.

Tell us about your book.

The second installment of the Monarch in the Milky Way series deals with not just the larger events, that is the current state of the Monarch amid rising threat from the AOCP but on a more personal level, the Human Emperor and his current state of mind. Also, his personal feelings. This book, while it can be viewed as a standalone, is part of a larger story arc, continuing where the previous book ended, the fold of the Trust and repatriating the funds required some personal involvement from the Emperor. While he envisioned it to work, an unexpected event led to the death of his very special girlfriend, Azure. While it was never a question to re-clone her from a saved copy, life dealt different cards for him. He met someone new and exciting. Different. Being a man, he couldn’t let either of them go and that personal confusion and the repercussion of his decision twisted his personal future.

The second part of the book deals with the so-called unintended consequences. A humanoid world that was abandoned by UNHL some years ago, then was briefly taken over by AOCP. Even as this chapter on the humanoid world was rather traumatic, once the AOCP left the vacuum of the void, it was filled by General Maximoso’s grand vision of invading another continent. Little did anyone know what consequences that decision had in advance. The discovery of a still active AOCP military base on a planet formally belonging to the UNHL again was just the beginning of the many horrifying events showed mostly from Evan Smith and his colleague’s point of view.

Why did you want to write a book?

I would say I had it in me? Not just this, but this alternate universe, filled with interesting characters, events, and places I wanted to share. A weird mixture of future tech with old stuff. Hoover cars and alien Starships, AIs and aliens themselves intertwined with different kind of humans. And, of course, the backdrop itself. Earth, cradle of humanity. But not the one you and I live in, instead of a future Earth. One in the future with depleted natural resources, where AI balances the weather, where there is still a socialist city-state, Stalingrad stands, defying all odds. And while at it, where the cities evolved into megalopolises like Styx or Ugrughughau.

I first came up with this strange place in my mind as a child. When my sister was born, attention shifted away from me and it left me with an emptiness I sought to fill. What did I fill with? The alternate universe evolved as I became a teenager with new twists of tech and girls. I was thirteen when the Berlin wall came down. I remember the change of times, people being afraid of something they did not experience before. I was confused because I did not understand the adults. They were afraid of the possible Soviet retribution. Those feelings, the pictures on TV, the constant military convoys leaving my country left a deep, everlasting impression on me. And it shaped my alternate universe as well.

The book Amerlee and the Green Void is a bridge in between a haphazard, cowboy diplomatic Evan Smith and a more mature one. It is as much as his personal evolution as the evolution between the UNHL and the AOCP. The backdrop and Evan’s personal decisions intertwine to create a magical, almost combustive mixture of synergy. It’s spiced with a little magic from childhood when, as kids, we thought magic was real?

And reality, of course. Some people are cold, mean, or just have a different opinion altogether. Problem is, when these entities are placed higher in a food chain, millions upon millions suffer from the consequences. That is the Green Void, that is Hilderin.

Why did you choose to self-publish?

Oh, boy! So, I first started to write, in my own language, Hungarian, when I was in high school. That’s when I first showed my writings to a publisher who stated the obvious question: how much money do I want to sink in it? Needless to say, that shelved the idea for a while.

It took me a while to start writing in English. I was beyond terrible at first. Grammar was a big mess. I knew I wasn’t ready. But then, would we ever be READY? When I turned forty, I said to myself: I have to do something about it and started looking around. Sent manuscripts out, but the replies were the usual. Nope. Not this one. “Too radical” or “good luck” were the nicest replies. So, I got angry and said to myself I’ll do it myself and published my first book, called Hope. Same alternate universe, different people. In retrospect, what I know now, I really should’ve done a much better job of getting it professionally edited. But back then, I thought it was an extraordinary achievement.

What tools or companies did you use, and what experience did you have?

I have the passion for storytelling. I love that. Beyond that, I went through many hoops. As I stated before, I was writing a lot. Mostly for myself. So selfishly I liked my own stories better than what I read or saw on TV. I write every week. Couple hours. Turn on the music, shut out the world, get immersed, and write. I was doing that for over twenty years. Some stories became utter nonsense, but some others evolved to be a much bigger arc than five to ten pages of an “event.”

It started with an online community where I was stunned by how much more I have to evolve. Got me a little scared and realized I need help to achieve my goal. Upon internet searches, I came upon the realization that Amazon has a whole ecosystem for publishers. Of course, now I use the bookbaby.com editing service and the ProWritingAid plugin as well.

Would you self-publish again?

Absolutely! The continuation of the Amerlee and the Green Void series is in progress.

What do you think are the main pitfalls for indie writers?

The lack of guidance. Professional guidance, I mean. Sometimes, without clear goalposts, one can get lost in the process. Another issue is product advertisement. Not all good writers are good sellers.

What tips can you give other authors looking to self-publish?

Ask questions. Follow websites and learn before publishing. It’s impossible to undo that and sometimes mistakes can be made. Grammar is important. Get a professional editing service. If the manuscript is too long, or you are short on money, at least send in a couple chapters and see the results. That can have incredible value as well.

What was your steepest learning curve during the publishing process?

That it is a process itself. For those who never published, learning what to do in what order is a tedious one. I uploaded my manuscript multiple times just to realize it’s not good; the format isn’t correct, or I was just plain dissatisfied with the overall look. The cover was another ordeal. If you think you can do it, I mean design it, okay, but can you properly format it so it conforms?

As a writer, what is your schedule? How do you get the job done?

I used to write on Sundays. I used to say that it is my church time. Like a religion, have to try to do it every week. Rigorously. Set aside from your life four-five hours every week. Start the session by going back couple pages to get the pace and the feel and just continue from there.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Well, I’m dealing with it now… To be honest, there are different ways. Have to go back to a really good idea, a story I wrote in the past and start reading it. All the feelings associated with that particular story come right back and if I really want to experience that as new, then it’s time to start typing again.

Tell us about the genre you wrote in, and why you chose to write this sort of book.

Sci-fi with a hint of magic and romance. Sci-fi as an escape from reality, sweet magic from childhood innocence, and romance to move the heart.

I created this alternate universe, and I can spin it in every way and direction. I can write from the emperor’s point of view, one of his minion’s points of view or just pick a random character, like a cab driver on a street and the backdrop kind of defines his life and we can go from there. In all actuality, that is exactly what will happen in one of my future planned books. I presume I would only write about something related to this alternate universe. Very few writing exercises have I done outside of that realm. I’m not saying I can’t get it done, but once I close my eyes, it’s the Villa-Castle or a teleportation capable Starship or the ruins of ancient human cities…

Who are your biggest writing inspirations and why?

First and foremost, Hungarian sci-fi and fiction writers, Istvan Nemere and Peter Zsoldos. I pulled a lot of my early inspirations based on their books. Isaac Asimov, of course. And William Gibson lately. Sometimes if I have the chance, I read their books both in English and Hungarian. It’s quite fascinating.

As to the why, I would credit Istvan Nemere for being so smooth. Easy reading yet deep material. You would finish a novel of his, or a book and say; well, that was quite readable. Then you go to sleep and think about it and feel that maybe there is more to the story. By the next day, you start to see relations in real life to the book. I feel really connected to it.

How do your friends and family get involved with your writing? What do they think of your book?

Encouragement mostly. My family is largely scientifically minded. I circulate part of my stories to get feedback. Sometimes the feedback can get messy, as they can’t really explain what part they don’t like. It makes you wonder and have doubts afterwards. I have a trucker buddy who I sometimes call and I read stories while he drives. He gives me some feedback about them. Family seems to be proud, happy.

What are your plans now your book is published?

No matter the results, I don’t give up because basically the next five books have already been written. All I have to do is to smooth them out. I have things to say. I think once the next one gets published, the arc of the “show” will start to reveal itself. Some of the forefront characters will fade to the back to give space to new ones and I think that is for the best. So far, we saw this alternate universe from the point of view of the emperor and his colleagues, friends. Thrpugh their eyes we saw this magical world.

Why did you write about this particular subject?

These books are part of a story arc. Through the eyes of Evan Smith’s and his evolution we saw the mystic, the magic of this universe. It was easier, I think, for the audience to explain the backdrop via characters with authority and strange associations to past characters. Now we can get immersed in this realm and have the real fun!

What did you learn on your journey as an author?

That my journey is never over. The book is never finished. I would explain the same thing in a different way today than say five years ago. Perhaps I was just too inexperienced before.

What’s next for you as an author?

Working on the next book, of course, the follow-up to the Amerlee and the Green Void, Freefall. I think to an extent that’s how you can characterize the next story. I try to end my books with a sense of closure but at the same time with the possibility of a follow-up. It is the same way with the next one. Exciting times!