A service that strives to connect authors with publishers asked me to answer a couple of questions. The first was about writing style. I said:
I’m inspired by screenwriter Joss Whedon’s talent for crafting impossible settings in a way that makes them seem natural and even commonplace.
The other was about the qualities a writer brings to the table, and where they come from.
Being raised overseas has given me an eye for cultural idiosyncrasies and an ear for dialect. I see archetypes and genre traditions in the same light. I try to tread on the edge of this space, acknowledging the reader’s expectations when I must, and staking out new territory when I can.
If you’re curious about process, or what I’m trying to accomplish, please visit the essay “What you might like about my books“.
I’m having a great time telling stories. I hope you enjoy reading them.
John Dyer Writes 
I like your page – keep up the good work
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Do you have a Twitter-handle I could use to tweet about Anzu?
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I do!
@JohnDyerWrites
Thanks!
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Love this, “I am inspired by screenwriter Joss Whedon’s talent for crafting impossible settings in a way that makes them seem natural and even commonplace.” A noble pursuit, indeed. I’m glad you found my little corner of the world. Thanks for reading and welcome to the fence jumpers and thanks for following my blog. @sheilamgood at Cow Pasture Chronicles
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are you any relation to Dr. Wayne Dyerm
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It’s not impossible. He bears a resemblance to members of my family. You’ve inspired me to look him up on ancestry.com. thanks for checking in.
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John,
What a find your writing and your stories are for me! We had to overlap at the American school as I was born in Manila in 1952 and left there to finish out boarding school in Massachusetts. We lived directly across from the old American school on Donada Street, and we frequented many of the same haunts, including the Polo Club and the Army and Navy Club. I am the only one in my family who was not interned in Santo Thomas during the war. My parents and three older brothers went into Santo Tomas in February 1942 and were liberated in March (I believe) of 1945.
The father of a friend of mine at the American school named Rich Zautner worked at Meralco. In fact I am planning to visit Rich in Maui in October .
My Dad worked at Atlantic Gulf & Pacific until he passed away in 1965. Leaving Manila was devastating under those circumstances.
You are absolutely correct: living in Manila when we were there was an unforgettable experience. When you mentioned a Russian music teacher I knew exactly who it was: Olga DeWitt, née Ifland! I’d be thrilled to speak with you but I don’t want to provide my cell phone on this board. Why don’t you email me directly?
Mabuhay! Bill
PS I’m in the Boston area.
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It’s terrific to hear from you! I’ll message back if I don’t have your email in the users file. JGD.
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Dear John,
Thank you very much for perusing and commenting on my post entitled “📝 Manuscript Assessment Criteria ☑️” published at
I am grateful that you have provided delightful feedback on the said Manuscript Assessment Criteria, which provides a complete checklist for writers to evaluate and inspect their own works (either by themselves or with a group of readers or editors) before submitting their manuscripts to publishers, and also during successive edits after the previous submission(s) and before the next submission.
Since then, I have had the great pleasure of visiting your blog and getting to know you and what you do. You are obviously an accomplished writer favouring and focussing on science fiction, as mentioned in your excellent and revealing post entitled “Goaltending – John Dyer Writes”.
I am multitasking at the moment, and am in the process of responding to your comment with a very long and bespoke reply that is forthcoming in my said post. As I need to attend to some errands, it may take me an hour or two (or even longer) to finish and submit my reply. Please bear with me.
Once again, thank you for interacting with me. Wishing you a wonderfully productive mid-season doing or enjoying whatever that satisfies you the most! Take care and prosper!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle🦅
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What a wonderful missive! I can hardly wait!
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what a lovely surprise for me to get a positive feedback on my meandering search just on a lark about my beloved Russian piano teacher who lived in the Philippines and taught at the American School there as well as the University of the Philippines in the 1960s!
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Olga DeWitt. I remember her well.
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Invitation to Discuss The Illusion of Gravity with SBS Radio
vDear John,
I hope you’re well.
My name is Marc Fennell, and I’m reaching out to invite you to take part in a potential author interview with SBS Radio, Australia’s multicultural and international broadcaster, which reaches a broad audience across radio, digital, and podcast platforms both domestically and internationally.
We are currently curating a series of thoughtful monthly author conversations spotlighting books that explore compelling scientific, philosophical, and speculative themes. Your novel, The Illusion of Gravity, particularly stood out for its ambitious exploration of scientific discovery, interstellar civilization, and the profound questions surrounding the nature of reality.
We were especially drawn to:
• The intriguing premise of a civilization stalled at the edge of space for a thousand years before a breakthrough changes everything
• The novel’s exploration of the fundamental nature of space, time, and matter through the lens of scientific discovery
• The tension created by political rivalry, espionage, and the high stakes surrounding transformative technology
• The balance between big scientific ideas and a compelling character-driven story centered on Rivan Saraf’s journey
The conversation would be relaxed and engaging, covering topics such as:
• The inspirations behind The Illusion of Gravity and the origins of the Anye universe
• The scientific concepts that informed the novel and how you approached making them accessible to readers
• The relationship between scientific advancement, political power, and human ambition in the story
• What science fiction can reveal about our own society and humanity’s future among the stars
SBS Radio is widely respected for its arts, cultural, and current affairs programming, and I believe your insights would resonate strongly with listeners who value thoughtful and in-depth discussion.
We are flexible with scheduling and would be delighted to find a time that works for you.
If this invitation is of interest, I would be pleased to arrange a conversation at your convenience. Please let me know your availability over the coming weeks, and we can coordinate accordingly.
I would welcome the opportunity to share your perspective with our audience and hope we have the chance to connect.
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Hello Marc …
Please forgive my caution, but I messaged your publicist to confirm.
If you are not in Nigeria at the moment, I will be delighted to accept your invitation.
Warmest regards
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