Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Anthony (“A. L.”) Bruno, I’m a third generation military veteran (grandfather Navy, father and myself USAF,) and a graduate of the University of North Dakota, where I focused on creative writing. I’m the father of two amazing kids, and three astonishing grandchildren. I married my High School sweetheart, and I count my lucky stars that I’m with her now even after thirty four short years.
“Stars Forever Black” is my first novel, with its two sequels (“On Quiet Fire,” and “Demons of the Dark”) currently in edit.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first novel is “Stars Forever Black: Book I of the Star Lion Saga.” It’s the first chapter in a trilogy about a war weary exploration crew discovering a previously undiscovered human civilization hundreds of light years from civilized space. It’s a story of love and loss, triumph and tragedy, with a focus on those things that separate us yet bring us all together.
I crafted “Stars Forever Black” during the endless 2020 lockdowns. Originally conceived as one novel, my editor and I realized that it worked better in three parts rather than one massive tome.
My life served as inspiration for the work. I was lucky enough to grow up in the 1970s on Beale AFB, California, with the SR-71 Blackbird flying overhead. My father was an in-flight air refueling “Boom Operator” for the plane, and as such some of my earliest memories are of men in Gemini-style spacesuits parading around the squadron on open house days to show us what they wore on the job. To my forming brain, space was just another place where people worked. It was only after I left for Europe that I understood how unusual that upbringing had been.
Living abroad for nearly a decade — first in England and then in Germany — really drove home how cultures could be simultaneously strange and familiar. Adjusting to a new way of living, and realizing that the “American Way” was not as universal as I had once believed broadened my horizons in ways I could not have imagined.
Unfortunately, I also saw some of my fellow Americans act poorly towards our host nations. That, in part, fueled my desire to tell a story about those experiences through the lens of space opera.
Finally, I’ve been a space opera fan since childhood. “Logans Run” and perpetual reruns of “Star Trek” hooked me hard, but it was the arrival of a little film called “Star Wars” that caught me completely by surprise. As a kid I couldn’t recognize the 1930s serial influences, or that the movie was a buffet of Golden Age cinematic tropes. All I knew is that it was exciting, funny, and scary in equal measure. I knew then that I wanted to tell stories like that some day, and that, eventually, led to today.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to get completely ready for the day before I write. I can’t produce if I’m in sweatpants or pajamas. I need to shave, shower, and the rest in order to focus my mind on my day’s goals. It’s a quirk, I know, but it works for me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Heinlein caught me when I was younger, and I loved his work through “Stanger in a Strange Land.” Stephen King’s evocative prose was astonishing, while William Gibson leaves me gobsmacked every time. They all shared the ability to bring a verisimilitude to outlandish situations that is nothing short of awe inspiring.
What are you working on now?
I’m deep into final beta edits on “On Quiet Fire,” the second book in the “Star Lion Saga.” “Demons of the Dark” will be next, and after that I plan on writing some bridging material before the next trilogy…
…and I’ve probably said too much.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The only method I know is to throw a wide net. Do every interview you’re asked to do, post on every site you can, and push your work wherever you can. It might feel uncomfortable, but it’s the only way your work will ever find an audience.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I have three pieces of advice.
1. Write.
2. No matter how good your work is, someone will always love it and others will loathe it. Try not to take offense, or let success go to your head. All you can do is write the best work you can and move on.
3. Keep writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The surest sign of a weak mind is one that feels it needs to surround itself with those who think like it.”
One of my college professors said that to me once, and it’s stuck with me every since. It informs all of my work, and even the way I look at life.
What are you reading now?
“Surprise, Kill, Vanish” by Annie Jacobson.
No, no reason. Move along now.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m currently working with another author on a supernatural series, but my post-trilogy goal is to turn out some shorter fiction set in the same “Star Lion” universe. The plots are there; all I need now is the time to write.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Ouch, that is a tough question.
While “Neuromancer” nearly gets the nod, I’ll have to go with “Starship Troopers” by Robert Heinlein, if only because my perception of the work has shifted so radically over my lifetime.
Author Websites and Profiles
A. L. Bruno Website
A. L. Bruno Amazon Profile