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I am frequently asked questions, so here are some of my frequently given answers; click on a question below to find enlightenment.
Where can I buy examples of your work?
What episodes of Star Trek: Voyager did you write? I can't find your name on any of them!
What is all this about you being a voice-actor on an animated series?
Is it true you wrote a Japanese animation guide?
How were you involved with the PlayStation game Star Trek Invasion?
Are you writing for the new Battlestar Galactica?
What movie and TV sets have you visited? Can you help me to get on the set of (insert name)?
I'd like to interview you for my school project/fanzine/other…
Can I send you my article/script/story/project for your opinion?
Can you help me sell my Star Trek novel/script?
Didn't I see you on the Sci-Fi Channel once?
Can I be in one of your books?
Do you ever put in-jokes or secret references in your books?
When is your next novel/thingy coming out?
Where can I see you in person?
What reference books would you recommend to budding genre authors and scriptwriters?
Do you ever read critics' comments on your work?
You're can't be a real writer! You don't have a picture of a cat on your site!
Why is this site called 'The Redwing Project'?
Q): Where can I buy examples of your work?
A): I'm so glad you asked! Click Here for more information and links.
Q): What episodes of Star Trek: Voyager did you write? I can't find your name on any of them!
A): I wrote the story premises for two episodes of Voyager, "One" in season four and "Memorial" in season six, but not the final teleplays. Click Here to check out the Star Trek section for more information.
Q): Is it true that you wrote the lightbulb joke told to Lennier by Londo Mollari in the Babylon 5 episode "Convictions"?
A): Yes ... sort of. Click Here to read 'The Secret Joke Writer of the Centauri Emperor' for the full story.
Q): What is all this about you being a voice-actor on an animated series?
A): I was the voice of Badd Mint in KO Century Beast Warriors, a briefly-released Japanese anime that was sold on video in Britain by Anime UK Video - it was their one and only release and sadly a poor seller. Still, I stand by (most) of my performance, which I did for £150.00 over three days partly as a favour to a pal and partly for the fun of it. I got the job on the strength of my ability to fake an American accent, which I will perform at any convention I attend in return for a pint or three. Click Here to learn more about the show.
Q): Is it true you wrote a guide to Japanese animation?
A): Yes, a long out-of-print booklet which I co-wrote with Peter J. Evans. Click Here for more information.
Q): How were you involved with the PlayStation game Star Trek Invasion?
A): I worked on the script and the game storyline; Click Here for more about the job I did on this Trek shoot-em-up.
Q): Are you writing for the new Battlestar Galactica?
A): I wrote the script for the Battlestar Galactica videogame for the X-Box and PlayStation 2, based on an original story by Grant Morrison. For more information, Click Here.
Q): I've just read a short story by Ian Watson about a fictional SF writer named James Swallow! Did you copy it for your pen name?
A): No, it is my real name, honest; Click Here to read 'An Unladen Swallow', for more about this odd little coincidence.
Q): What movie and TV sets have you visited? Can you help me to get on the set of (insert name)?
A): Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, Star Trek: Nemesis, Babylon 5, Red Dwarf, Seven Days, SeaQuest DSV, Dark Skies, Doctor Who, Highlander, Sliders, Entertainment Tonight, Andromeda, Level 9, Stargate SG-1, The X Files, DaVinci's Inquest, Space Island One, Roswell, Bugs, Wing Commander and Tomorrow Never Dies, among others. As for helping you get on a set, I have a tough enough time arranging it for myself let alone for guests. Access to live sets is jealously guarded, so unless you are invited by the production staff, forget it.
Q): I'd like to interview you for my magazine / fanzine / website / school project / other...
A): I'm never one to turn down free publicity, but I am a busy guy so I can't guarantee I'll be able to accommodate you. Click Here for a ready-made one that you can feel free to use.
Q): Can I send you my article / script / story / project for your opinion?
A): I'm afraid not. For legal reasons, I can't look at the work of any other writers I do not already have a working, contractual relationship with, unless it is at a workshop or other similar event.
Q): Can you help me sell my Star Trek story?
A): Nope, I'm too busy trying to sell my own. If you want to try to sell a Star Trek novel, you'll need to read the Pocket Books writers guidelines first ; you can find them on This Website.
Q): Didn't I see you on the Sci-Fi Channel once?
A): It's very possible. I've appeared on the Sci-Fi Channel in Europe and South Africa, and also as one of their regular reviewers on the series SF Scene. Just to blow my own trumpet, I've also appeared on BBC 2, BBC News 24, NOW TV, STAR Plus, Bravo, Gamer.tv, BBC Radio Four, BBC Radio Five Live, Radio Cleveland, Radio Kent, Radio Three Counties, Radio Wales and National Syndicated Radio.
Q): Can I be in one of your books?
A): Maybe. Sometimes I auction off walk-on roles and namechecks in my novels for charity at conventions (a cool idea I got from the highly talented Diane Duane), so come along and bid, and you might get lucky.
Q): Do you ever put in-jokes or secret references in your books or short stories?
A): Now and then! Check out the individual book and story pages for more information.
Q): When is your next novel / thingy coming out? Where can I see you in person?
A): Click Here to see my Current Projects and a list of forthcoming events I'll be attending.
Q): Do you Blog?
A): Here's links to my LiveJournal and my Moblog, with images from my spiffy camphone.
Q): What reference books would you recommend to budding genre authors and scriptwriters?
A): Strunk & White's Elements of Style, Orson Scott Card's How To Write Science Fiction & Fantasy, J. Michael Straczynski's Complete Guide to Scriptwriting, The Writers Handbook, The Writer's Rights by Micheal Legat, Brooke A. Wharton's The Writer Got Screwed, Roget's Thesaurus and a cracking good dictionary.
Q): Do you ever read critics' comments on your work?
A): Only if they're being nice about me; Click Here to check out 'The Propaganda File'.
Q): You're can't be a real writer! You don't have a picture of a cat on your site!
A): I don't have a cat, although I do like them. My parents own a pair of Maine Coon cats, though…
Q): Why is this site called The Redwing Project?
A): That's classified.
© J.Swallow, 2001-2005
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