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Loompanics Unlimited
PRESENTS
Our Featured Author
Duncan Long
Duncan Long is an internationally recognized author of over seventy books that have gone into print. He has seen thirteen novels published (with HarperCollins and Avon).
Long's firearms and chemical/biological warfare books are in the private libraries of the CIA, US Marines, FEMA, and other US agencies as well as the private library of at least one foreign embassy and the EPC (Emergency Planning, Canada). The FBI has requested that his books be sent to their FTU (Firearms Training Unit) at Quantico.
Three of Long's manuals are currently used in two of the International Correspondence Schools' courses. Long has also been asked to write articles that will appear in the TBN Enterprises' reference manuals.
Reviews of Long's books have appeared in The Journal of Civil Defense, Emergency Planning Digest, and other magazines. He has also been featured on radio and TV shows and for a short while was host for the radio program, the "Duncan Long Show."
While the majority of his work is non-fiction, Long also has 13 novels under his belt (with HarperCollins and Avon). "Sometimes I talk to other technical writers who tell me they could never write fiction," Long says. "Others say they could never do technical work. Personally, I find that being able to write in both forms (and maybe even create the illustrations for them) makes it possible to create a 'story' atmosphere in the nonfiction and a more realistic, hard edge to the fiction."
"I have trouble remembering how many books I've written," Long admits. "It must be somewhere around 70 that have gone into print now. I guess after the first few, the 'new' wears off. At any given time I'm working on several book ideas." And he's also generally editing or writing another book or newsletter. He's recently added writing and editing a column on the WWW to his list of achievements, "As a hobby," Long says. "It takes a lot of organization and 'plotting' to keep on schedule, but I enjoy the challenge. It's like preparing a major battle or mounting an expedition — without the blood. But everything has to be planned carefully if you're to meet the deadlines and see success."
When Long isn’t writing, he’s usually drawing or watching movies. He has illustrated many of his non-fiction books and also regularly creates pictures for other authors short stories and book covers as well as artwork appearing at a number of sites on the Internet. "There are even a few rock CDs with Duncan Long-drawn covers," the author admits, somewhat sheepishly.
Asked when he started writing, the author gives a funny look and then says, "As long as I can remember. I got a pencil and started drawing stick figures shooting at each other. When my mom told me how to spell two key words, ‘ouch’ and ‘pop,’ I was set to add the dialogue and sound effects for the shoot out. Hopefully my technique has improved a bit since then – though I have critics who might maintain otherwise," he adds without cracking a smile.
About his book, Make $$$ As a Non-Fiction Writer, Long says, "I think if you followed my suggestions in the book and have a bit of talent and inclination, you could make a good living at writing. It isn't easy (which is why I can give away my secrets without too much fear that I will be pushed out by competitors). But the non-fiction market is exploding right now, and with most people failing to learn how to write clearly in school (yea, even think clearly in too many cases), I can only see the trend continuing to grow.
"My case is probably a good example. I majored in music (meaning I was destined to teach forever or starve) and started up writing a small manual to make some extra money on the side while I taught school. I gradually started writing for other publishers and quickly abandoned the mail order business so I could write full time. Discovering, often the hard way, how to make money, research quickly, and get jobs instead of standing around waiting for work. Finally I ended up where I am today, making a very good living at writing.
"It isn't easy to do this in the writing business. A lot of people flounder because they don’t get good advice about how to do things — which is where my book comes in. People reading it can ‘cut to the chase’ and avoid making the mistakes I and most others make when they start out writing.
"One of the many neat things about writing is that you can do it from almost anywhere in the world and at about any time in your life. It tends to be something people get good at later in life, unlike many professions where it seems the youngsters have better potential than the oldsters and once you hit 30 you’re a has-been. Writing is something that, once you get the knack, you can continue it until they carry you out feet first or you no longer know who you are during the Springtime of your senility."
You can learn more about Long’s many projects – and see some of his articles, short stories, and artwork at his web site, named (fittingly enough) DuncanLong.com.
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