Ted Iverson

 Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Ted started reading Science Fiction as an adolescent. Writing a book in this genre has been a dream of his since that time. When Star Wars came onto the big screen Ted was hooked and a Sci-Fi junkie was born!
Ted left Rockford in 1981 when he joined the Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California when he married his wife Joanne in 1983. Married for twenty five years they have two wonderful sons, Christopher and Nathan who don't quite share their dads passion, but enjoy his enthusiasm!

 

Living back in Illinois since 1985 he is fulfilling a life long dream of writing his first novel. He took a few writing classes at a local college and got started, all while working full time and raising his family. Ted is thrilled to be sharing this novel of the Bindl boys and their quest for FTL! http://www.tediverson.com

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

 

Ted Iverson: I grew up in Rockford IL. I saw my older brother reading science fiction all the time so I naturally was drawn to reading. Science had always fascinated me also so I tried to read science books, mostly about the universe. Writing really wasn’t a part of my childhood. My friend Dennis and I had always talked about writing a book way back in grade school but it never came about. My influences were pretty much the standard sci-fi writers, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, H. G. Wells, and Jules Verne. I suppose I’d have to throw George Lucas and Steven Spielberg in there, as with most guys at age 14, Star Wars was huge and fueled a fire that stayed dormant until I wrote Mission to the Stars. Other than science fiction I have to mention Robert Arthur Jr.’s Three Investigators and Edward Stratemeyer’s creation, Tom Swift.

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Why do you write?

 

Ted Iverson:  I began writing at first because it was something I had always wanted to do deep down. Then as I got deeper into the actual story it became fun and it also was a great stress relief from work. Then before I knew it, I was hooked and I felt like I might have a great story to tell, not only in this book but in my next book in the series. Of course the audience will be the ones to agree or disagree with the story but either way future missions are on the way!

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Discuss your new book Mission to the Stars: The Search for FTL. How is Mission to the Stars: The Search for FTL different from others in the science fiction genre?

 

Ted Iverson: This is a good question and one I actually thought of before I penned the first sentence. As I mentioned earlier I really enjoyed The Three Investigator series and Tom Swift. Most sci-fi novels and movies anymore are more about aliens arriving and attempting to destroy Earth. I wanted this book to be different than that. So I came up with four young brothers being thrown into owning the worlds first privately owned space corporation, Space Tech. I wanted to let the reading audience be able to grow with them as they undertake this huge burden, in this book and future books in the series. I wanted it to be in the near future where there still are familiar surroundings yet things you and I currently know are beginning to change. So with humans just stepping into the unknown and with four main characters, the Bindl brother’s adventures are endless.

 

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  Mission to the Stars: The Search for FTL is the story of 4 brothers; Alec, Ty, Orion and the youngest, Zach. Briefly discuss each brother and their part in the story.

 

Ted Iverson:

1. Alec is the oldest and is the only brother who isn’t directly involved in the family business, Space Tech. He must come back after his parent’s death to be with his brothers and it’s there he feels torn between the choices; maybe he should help his younger brothers permanently or return to his career as a detective. As the oldest he also tries to let his brothers grow by making their own choices.

2. Ty is Orion’s twin brother and is the more of the outgoing type. He enjoys speaking and taking on the politics that go with his new found position within Space Tech. However he doesn’t really care for true physical confrontation and is the liaison between Alec and other brothers.

3. Orion is the calm scientific brother. He doesn’t get into confrontations, verbal or physical. He likes running the off world operations and loves inventing. He is also his youngest brother Zach’s mentor and unsaid guardian.

4. Zach, well there is a wild one in every family. He is the youngest, good intentioned and also the genius of the family. His inventions or help with inventions is known worldwide. But his impulsiveness seems to get him into trouble at times. His family has had to deal with this issue from a young age. 

 

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: What is about the science fiction genre you enjoy?

 

(A) I think with this genre you can lose yourself into a fantasy world for a whole book or movie. You can forget about all the problems that we all face everyday easier than with any other genre. Also I believe that science fiction is universal, young and old can pick up a good sci-fi book, start to read and feel as though they are there and a part of the world the author has set out before them.

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Hollywood has called and asked you to cast Mission to the Stars: The Search for FTL - Who do you cast and why?

 

Ted Iverson:

1. Wow, now this would be great! (Do we have an unlimited payroll?) Well here is an attempt at a casting call:

      Senator Pitor Axion: Alan Rickman: He just fits the role.

      Senator Blake Thoma: Scott Bakula: I have always liked him and Hollywood

      can do anything to make him fit the role.                        

      Alec Bindl: Tom Welling: Why not, and this would certainly give him a shot at

    something different then Smallville.

 

Ty, Orion, and Zach: If my book is getting a shot at a movie then I feel it would only be fair to give some unknowns a shot at fame. Ty, Orion, Zach are perfect for a new comers.

Joanne: Lindsey Lohan: I know, I know. If she is clean she might just be able to pull it off and she fits Joanne’s character’s description.

 

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: What do you hope to achieve with Mission to the Stars: The Search for FTL?

 

Ted Iverson: I hope that anyone who picks up Mission to the Stars and reads it will smile and say “What a fun book!” It was a childhood dream to write a novel let alone have it published and have someone purchase it. So if I can make young adults and adults smile while reading it then I have accomplished more than I ever thought possible.

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com: What was the last book you read? 

 

Ted Iverson: As funny as this sounds, the last book I read wasn’t science fiction. I am meeting the local book club at our library soon to talk briefly about Mission to the Stars. The book they are reading and discussing is “The Dogs of Babel” by Carolyn Parkhurst. I loved it and recommend it.

 

  

 

 

PageOneLit.com:   What's next?

 

Ted Iverson:  I am currently working on the second book of Mission to the Stars while continuing to promote The Search for FTL. I have some book signings on the horizon also. Book Three also has some beginning things going on as well!

 

 

 

 

PageOneLit.com:   Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

 

Ted Iverson:  My hobbies are Fantasy football, working with my son’s Boy Scout Troop, camping. These are just normal hobbies. Reading is the hobby that me with writing. I believe that reading anything is learning. But to enhance my writing, reading books about writing itself is important. You can never be satisfied that you know enough. Every author is unique and every book is different. Read and learn! (Then read more…)