Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Ben Magid
Book Title: No Man’s Land
Released: 10/30/20
Genre: Dystopian SciFi
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “No Man’s Land”?
Magid: No Man’s Land didn’t begin with the concept of robot AI invasion. Instead, the idea stemmed from the theme of ‘Ideals,’ especially from the point of view of young women. Being the father of two girls, I wanted to explore society’s view of what an ideal girl should look like, act like, what they should feel, and their choices, especially topical given the weight of social media on teens. Throughout the story, Rebel is forced to be perfect. Her life depends on it. On the opposite end, Thomas, a perfect robot, becomes less human and more human.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Magid: The names of the characters were fun to play with, given that all the androids took names of famous people, giving me the opportunity to play with expectations and traits.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Magid: I don’t encounter writer’s block too often. I try to outline everything I write, often quite detailed, giving me a roadmap to follow when I start writing, allowing for changes, new ideas and an evolution to come about. This approach also gives you choices. If you aren’t in the mood to write an action scene/chapter, you can skip about and write another section, depending on where your inspiration takes you. Often watching movies or reading in a similar genre can also help stir up ideas.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Magid: No Man’s Land had an interesting journey. As a professional screenwriter, I always wanted to write a book. NML began as a book outline, but before I had the chance to write it, it sold to Michael Bay for a film. After writing multiple drafts and growing tired of waiting, I decided to not renew the option and go back to the novel. When the pandemic hit and Hollywood shut down, I figured it was the perfect time to write it.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Magid: The secret to writing is writing. Often new writers get discouraged and can’t see the forest for the trees. Don’t think about how many pages you have to write. Think about writing a scene. Eventually you’ll have an entire story.
What are you working on next?
Magid: Outside of the film projects, I am working on the sequel to No Man’s Land, War Land.
Learn More About the Author and No Man’s Land here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MBFHPVJ
Website: benmagid.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebenmagid
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenMagid
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55836816-no-man-s-land
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here or on Kindle Unlimited:
Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.
review