By Adam Messer
“Write. Never stop writing. Never think that there’s no one out there that will be interested in your stuff.” – Harding McFadden.
Harding McFadden is a science fiction and fantasy writer who enjoyed reading comic books and novels as a kid, and became fascinated with storytelling.
Please introduce yourself.
Hello, I’m Harding McFadden, and I like to write. I’m a very lucky man, in that I’ve been blessed with a perfect wife, and two incredible children, each of whom has accepted my despite my eccentricities, of which there are many. And even though they’re not the biggest fans of my stories (just not their thing, for the most part, which I get), they’re still supportive of my overwhelming need to tell them.
What genres do you write and why?
I’ll write in nearly any genre, as long as I have a story to tell. As such, I’ve written science fiction (the lighter type; I’m not smart enough to do the hard stuff), fantasy, though not much. Outside of Howard, Niven, Tolkien, Lewis, Gemmell, and a few others, (I’ve never been a huge fan), horror (lots and lots of horror), and adventure. In each of these I’ve leaned more toward a pulp-style presentation, which is why the whole New Pulp world has been such a blessing to me.
What is your earliest memory of reading?
Comics. I remember walking into my grade school library and seeing the librarian getting ready to throw out a paperback-sized black and white collection of 60’s era Justice League comics and asking if I could have it. She said yes. As a kid I had trouble reading, and those first comics got me over that. They made it exciting, and forced me to sound out some pretty difficult words. I suppose that’s why I get so upset whenever I hear someone badmouthing comics, saying that they’re trash meant for idiots. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of those stories have stayed with me for my whole life. So, comics were the gateway drug that led me to short stories, novels, etc. I can never repay those writers and artists that got me so hooked.
When did you know you wanted to write? How did it happen?
For years all I wanted to do was draw comics. In middle and high schools I did just that, and they were pretty bad. The idea of writing anything in prose never occured. But when I was in my early 20’s, my hands got hurt pretty bad, and any notions of drawing for a living went out the window. Not that I’d done much to chase that dream, to be honest, other than drawing my own stuff. I’m kind of lazy. Anyway, with my hands no longer cooperating to let me tell stories that way, I had to think of something else. That itch to spin yarns was still there, and wasn’t going anywhere.
Over the years I’d written some short stories, and maybe a handful of them hold up. While recovering from my injuries, I decided to try my hand (no pun intended) at writing again. A few hundred rejections followed. It would be years before I sold my first story. When I was 33, “Trampled,” sold to Every Day Fiction for a whopping $3. May as well have been three thousand for how excited I got. There I was, a full grown adult man practically bouncing around the house. My oldest daughter, three or four at the time, danced with me. It was great. I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since, and get it each time something is accepted.
What’s one of your favorite scenes in one of your books?
There’s a book coming out some time this year from Airship 27 called “Beyond 175.” If you picked up their edition of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Beyond 30” it’s got a preview of the book. Anyway, in the third quarter of the story, the protagonist and his love interest are attacked by a flock of giant vultures, a mid-air battle ensues, rife with insane vionence and daring do. The whole scene is a few pages long, if that, and takes place over a period of maybe two or three minutes. I wrote it in a sitting, and while editing it for submission didn’t want to change a word. It’s just fun, and action packed, and I’m very proud of how it turned out. While I was writing it, I remember thinking, “This is sweet!” Though rarely do I reread anything that I’ve written and feel quite as strongly about it as I did at first. This scene is the exception. If I’d written nothing else in my life, I could have been happy with that.
What makes a good character? A bad one?
A good character is one that you need to follow. Doesn’t matter if they’re the hero or the villain, you just read them, and you hear their voice, and you need to know how things turn out for them. I read Heinlein’s “Time Enough For Love” because I love Lazarus Long. I enjoy the book, don’t get me wrong, but it’s longs and some times feels like it. Didn’t matter, though, as I wanted to see how things turned out for LL. Likewise reading about a good villain, you follow them along, wanting to see them get what they’ve got coming to them. Like seeking out divine justice from a bird’s eye view.
A bad character would be just the opposite. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve skipped whole chapters, or even stopped reading a book, because the POV characters were so unlikeable, or boring, or detestable. If I’m indifferent to them, they will not pull me along. If I don’t care if they live or die, I will not finish the book. Give me something, anything, to get me hooked.
What moves the story for you?
Action, plot, and good characters. All three are nice, but at least give me two. Keep the story moving. Don’t bore me unneccessarily. I can remember reading Bradbury’s “There Will Come Solf Rains” and being blown away. It was only later that I realized that there were no speaking characters in the whole thing, unless you count the poor, dying dog. But it’s a perfect story, where most of the action is long past. It ready like Joyce’s “The Dubliners,” if Joyce wrote science-fantasy, or anything good.
What is your favorite book and why?
“Starship Troopers” by Robert A Heinlein. I read it the first time when I was seven, when I could finally read for myself, and I dove into it with both feet. Since then I’ve read everything Heinlein ever wrote (to the best of my knowledge), and it’s still my favorite. But here’s the thing: It’s not even his best book. I think why I like it so much is because it forced me to begin questioning things. Every kid when they’re younger isn’t their own person. Their thoughts and opinions are basically carbon copies of those most influential adults around them. It isn’t until much later that they start to think for themselves. “Troopers” started that for me. Add to that the later discovery of L. Neil Smith’s “The Probability Broach,” and there wasn’t an aspect of life or belief that I wouldn’t poke holes in. Those books, along The Holy Bible and C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” forced me to confront what I believe, and why I believe it. This is important. I see way too many people today shouting out slogans with no ability to back up their beliefs. It’s infuriating.
What do you want to say to your audience?
For that handful of people that read what I write, and don’t hate it, I sincerely say, “Thank you.” For your time, your kindness, and the financial burden that buying books is. I write out of love, but sell to make a profit, and you’re willingness to pick up my stuff makes both of those possible. If you ever meet me in person, I’ll say “Thank you” again, and shake your hand.
What advice do you have for new writers?
Write. Never stop writing. Never think that there’s no one out there that will be interested in your stuff. While we’re all individuals, no one is so unique as to be an audience of one. So, write that story, that poem, that novel. Then get it out there. Submit it, promote it, bother your friends and family with it. But, either way, write it!
Do you have anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for this opportunity to do a little bit of self promoting. Thank you to whoever read it. You’re all incredible folks, and I truly appreciate it. For any out ther who may be interested, later this year should be coming a trio of new books, from various places. From Airship 27 you’ll see “Beyond 175”, while Savage Realms will be bringing you “Knights and Mournings”, a short story collection, and Atomic Stories will be publishing “Blood Opera,” my follow up to a short story that was printed in “Atomic Stories Volume One.” I had an absolute blast writing all three, and hope that you have as much fun reading them.
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/harding.mcfadden/
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Action Pulp! 
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