M.K. Gilmour has written seven books. According to his website, he is an engineer, author and medical student. I've never had a talent for understanding medicine or math, so I can't imagine being all three, but M.K. is, and it's pretty impressive. What we're talking about today, however, is his seven published dystopian thrillers, The Not-So-Distant Future Series. Part Divergent, part Hunger Games, his interesting - and sometimes scary - books are all available in the Kindle Store. Want to know more about M.K.? Check out his interview below!
How many books have you published, total?
I've published 7 books in total. I'm currently authoring a new series, as well.
Why did you choose dystopian? What was the inspiration?
I didn't actually know my books would be 'dystopian' until I had already written the first one. I wrote all 7 books from 2006-2010, while I was studying Engineering and Psychology at my undergraduate university. I was thinking about what it would be like if we could read thoughts the way we read computer code--basically, if the human brain could be "mapped", and the idea of Choices was born. Choice Machines are able to interact with the subject while they read his thoughts. As I wrote these books, our nation underwent a lot of political changes, and I thought about what would happen if this technology got into the wrong hands. In the Not-So-Distant Future, most civil liberties have been lost and it is mandatory for citizens of the US to take "Choice Tests" in exchange for their freedoms. The result was a dystopian thriller series in which the people don't even realize they aren't free.
Why do you think dystopian/post-apocalyptic books are so incredibly popular?
From my perception, they echo current sentiments, worries, and fears of readers--especially Millennials. We have come of age in a time when the economy is poor, our freedoms and choices are somewhat restricted, and yet we simultaneously have access to the incredibly liberating and empowering Internet. Dystopian and post-apocalyptic books tend to concentrate on major societal loss and simultaneous free reign. They honor a kind of rugged individualism that we all crave, especially when we are forced for financial reasons to move back with our parents when we're 30 years old. They also tap into our inherent fears. We were all just the right age for 9/11/01 to have made a tremendous impact on our psyche, even if we don't consciously realize it. I think we are all well aware that danger can and does attack our homeland, and dystopian/post-apocalyptic books allow us to explore that aspect of our consciousness.
You were recently featured on Glenn Beck's program. What was that like?
My interactions with Glenn Beck's staff were awesome, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity to share my story with his audience. I received a call that they would like to do a short clip based on my story. I was on his show in 2011, and asked a question from the audience: what should people like me do, if the economy were to crash, since we are too young to have saved any money to buy land or gold? The answer was to invest in myself, and to ensure my skills and talents were needed by society. I knew that engineering was not my final career stop, and so I began praying about what to do. I became a volunteer EMT, knowing that this skill would definitely be useful to society. I fell in love with medicine, and decided to become a doctor. Meanwhile, I published the book series I had written in college, in the hopes that this series would enable me to offset the cost of med school, and that it would entertain and uplift readers. Glenn Beck's program helped me realize that if you have talents and you put yourself out there, and it's Heavenly Father's will, you *will* succeed. I am very thankful to his program for that, and for the opportunity to share my gratitude with his audience.
If there was one thing you hoped people would take away from your books, what would it be?
That a few good people can change the world. In my books, a few very determined individuals work to literally save the world's free will, which is at risk for extinction, thanks to a global conspiracy. It is their dedication, honesty, and faith in themselves and mankind that ultimately determines the outcome. Also...the ending is very open. That's for two reasons. First, there might be a sequel. Second...in any moral situation, you write the ending. Decisions determine destiny. Perhaps that in itself is the very core message of the books.
About M.K. Gilmour
M.K. Gilmour has been writing for as long as he can remember. The seven books of Gilmour's first published series, "The Not-So-Distant Future", were written between 2006 and 2010. Gilmour is an engineer by education, a volunteer EMT, and will be attending medical school soon. All proceeds from "The Not-So-Distant Future" go to support his medical school attendance. As an engineer, Gilmour authored technical documents as well as project reports and professional letters. He wrote for two school newspapers while attending Northwestern University. He majored in engineering and psychology with particular interest in criminal psychology. Gilmour is an avid reader of science fiction and political thrillers. His passions are his faith, his family, and his country. Connect with him online: Amazon | Official Website | Twitter
