Karl Freitag is one of the most popular people in the boxing world. He is pioneer in internet coverage of boxing. His web page Fightnews is well respected source of news.
Few days ago our next guest published his debut book. Short, Short, Science Fiction Stories was released on February 11. Lets unveil something more about the book from the author himself.

– What is your debut book Short, Short Science Fiction Stories about?
– These are very short stories, or flash fiction as some call it. They cover the normal themes you’d expect in the science/speculative fiction genre but in an exciting, different way.

– How did you decide to write them?
– With the short attention spans people have these days and with more people reading on electronic devices rather than using traditional books, putting on my futurist hat I believe there will be an emerging market for short, concisely worded fiction. The only question for me is whether this book is too early for its time.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– I’ve been making a living as a non-fiction writer for 30 years. But this is new territory. With copywriting, which I did for 15 years, you build a compelling argument for people to buy something. With boxing reporting, which I’ve done for the last 15 years, you try to present “who, when, where, what and how” facts in an entertaining way. Creating a story out of thin air is a completely new experience. Challenging, refreshing and fun.
– Tell us something more about the themes of the short stories?
– The stories cover interstellar invasions, conspiracies, time travel, telepathy, UFOs, experiments gone awry, future dystopias…there’s even a sci-fi boxing story.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I’ve sort of come up with my own system for writing sci-fi. I’m a “pantser,” as Stephen King calls people who “write by the seat of their pants.” But sometimes I do outlines. I always tweak like crazy. Then I have some other sci-fi friends who critique the stories and I tweak some more. It’s kind of a long process for such a small number of words. In real time, to do 20 stories took me about three months.
– When we may expect the second pack of stories?
– Short, Short Science Fiction Stories: Volume II is already 25% completed. I expect to have it on Amazon.com by May.
– Who are you?
– If I had to describe myself I’d say I’m the type of person who likes to do things my own way. Never really fit into the corporate environment. I love innovations and I’m often an early adopter of new technology. I’m also a bit of an adventurer. Once I travelled around the country for two years with my wife and two kids in a 32-foot RV while running my business with a satellite internet connection. This was before wireless internet.
– What are your writing habits?
– I usually write late at night. I report/write boxing news stories all day. If I have any energy left, I wind down by writing science fiction.
– Do you have ideas for a full sci fi novel?
– I think I’ll remain a short story writer for the foreseeable future. Many of the most famous sci-fi novels were short stories first, so who knows what will happen? If I end up being known only as a short story writer, I’m OK with that.
– How came your love of sci fi?
– I’ve always had a love of the future. When I was a kid, my favorite cartoon was “The Jetsons.” Then when “Star Trek” came out I was hooked for life. My favorite sci-fi authors are Fredric Brown, Philip K. Dick, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Alfred Bester, James Blish and many more. It’s funny that Lost in Space (1965 TV series) was set in 1997, Back to the Future Part II (1989) is set in 2015, Blade Runner (1982) takes place in 2019 and Soylent Green (1973) takes place in 2022.
– 2015 will mark the return of Star Wars. Your expectations of Episode VII?
– (laughing) They’re milking that franchise for all it’s worth. I’m sure Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be entertaining and I’m looking forward to seeing it.
– Was it easy to make a translation between writing/editing boxing articles and reports from one side, and creating fiction from the other side?
– It’s easy for me to shift between the two types of writing as long as I’m fully focused. I can’t multi-task as in working on two items concurrently.
– Ask yourself a question (And don’t forget to answer!)
– What are your goals as a science fiction writer? First, I find that I enjoy the process of creating science fiction and people seem to enjoy reading it. Beyond that, it occurred to me that everything I’ve written previously, whether advertising or boxing news, has had a high readership, but a very short shelf life. Other than a few ads I wrote that ended up being analyzed in textbooks, nothing I’ve written is important to people a week later. I’m hoping people are still reading my short sci-fi stories 50 years from now.

Learn more about Karl Freitag at his Web page (Under construction)
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Take a look at his book
Short, Short Science Fiction Stories (Short Short Science Fiction Stories Book 1)