E. Robert Dunn: From Bullied to Books

I met E Robert Dunn just a few days ago at Stellar Fest. My first thought was, "I bet that dude takes a really nice author photo." (To be fair, I was correct. Just look to the right.) But, then I got to talk with him and share the floor on a few panels, and I learned that he had a lot to say about the art and craft of writing. 

E Robert Dunn is an American author born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Born Eston Robert Dunn, he began his career writing spec for The original 1970s Battlestar Galactica television series. As a teen, he also wrote for the British television series Space 1999.  

Tell us a bit about your most recent work. 

My most recent work is a play book entitled: Monologues From The Like Minded. It is a play consisting of a series of monologues that explore life experiences, body image, and several other topics through the eyes of psychiatric patients with various ages, races, sexualities, and other differences.

What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work? 

Morality themes/subjects. Hoping that whoever reads any of my (play) books 'walks away' thinking and/or learning something about themselves and/or others. 

What happened in your life that prompted you to become a writer? 

Bullying led to journaling which led to my craft in writing to become proficient and catching the eye of an English teacher who made a telephone call to a friend in NYC who knew a literary agent. 

What inspires you to write? 

There's so much more humanity needs to do to reach its fullest potential.

What of your works has meant the most to you? 

Well, my first novel: Echelon's End, Book 1: Last Generation.

What writers have influenced your style and technique? 

E.C. Tubbs, John Rankin, Michael Butterworth

Where would you rank writing on the "Is it an art or it is a science continuum?"   Why?

An art. My style of writing is not aimed to show student performance and how it can improve over time, nor assess student's abilities to engage in science practices, nor inform of future instruction.  

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? 

Finding one's muse and following through with what stories inspire the writing process. That and financial backing to allow for the creation of an environment that is free of the stresses of day-to-day subsistence.

How do your writer friends help you become a better writer? 

I do not have friends who are writers. I am the only one in my inner circle. 

Or do they not? 

The majority of my friends do not support my writing, have not purchased any of my books, nor seen any of the plays I've written that have been produced. 

What does literary success look like to you? 

Financial security. 

Any other upcoming projects you would like to plug? 

Not at this time. Hopeful to acquire a literary agent that can take my writing to the 'next level' ---such as a film and/or franchise series. 

For more information, visit: https://erobertdunn.com