Books-and-Authors.net: Where did you grow up and was reading and
writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and
why?
Chris Keating: My father was a petroleum engineer and we moved
around a lot. I grew up mostly in Texas, but we also spent time in
Taipei, Taiwan and Milan, Italy.
Reading was a major part of my childhood experience. I started
reading early and have always enjoyed a good book. Some of the
places we lived didn’t have other kids nearby or even television so
reading became something I could do to entertain myself and that
just magnified my love of reading. Naturally, after reading so much
I wanted to try my hand at it and started writing stories in high
school. I’ve dabbled in it ever since.
My father was a major early influence on me. He was a geologist by
education and would bring all of these fascinating books home. I was
just three or four when I decided I wanted to be a scientist.
Growing up in the sixties meant I grew up with the space program and
went to school with some of the astronaut’s kids. That was very
influential. Also, that was when Jacques Cousteau started showing up
on TV and I would watch every show I could.
As far as books, some of my earliest influential authors were Edgar
Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. I
particularly enjoy Bradbury’s writing style.
Books-and-Authors.net: Why do you write?
Chris Keating: Writing is just a good way to express yourself. It
gives me a way to exercise my artistic side. I’m not all scientist,
I do enjoy the arts and this is a way to participate in the arts.
Books-and-Authors.net: Discuss your book new book "Dialogues on
2012: Why the World Will Not End ".
Chris Keating: This is the story of three friends that exchange
emails over the course of a year about the 2012 myths. One friend is
a believer, one is a debunker and one goes back and forth. This
format allows for discussions on the issues and also a little humor.
The idea is to keep it from becoming a textbook and to be something
the general public would enjoy reading.
Books-and-Authors.net: What was your motivations for publishing
"Dialogues on 2012: Why the World Will Not End" ?
Chris Keating: As a professor of physics I have been
approached with all sorts of questions by people. The 2012 myths
have been something people started asking me about several years ago
and the questions have been growing in frequency. I would get
questions at parties, public outreach events even in my classes.
Some people were actually concerned, others were just curious about
what the fuss is all about. I looked around and realized that all
the books I could find on the subject were selling the myths. I
couldn’t find anything debunking them. There are plenty of websites
that debunk the myths, but they are kind of text booky. I felt there
was a need for a book that would debunk the myths and was an easy
read for the general public.
Books-and-Authors.net: Explain how "Dialogues on 2012: Why the World
Will Not End " came about as it was written regarding emails between
three friends?
Chris Keating: It is modeled after Galileo’s great work, ‘Dialogues
on Two New Sciences,’ which is where I also got the name. Galileo
used this format of three friends discussing his new scientific
theories. It was these theories that got him called before the
Inquisition. Hopefully, I’ll have more luck than that.
Books-and-Authors.net: You have a been a professor of physics with
20 years experience -- How has your career experience assisted with
your thoughts and perspective collected in "Dialogues on 2012: Why
the World Will Not End "?
Chris Keating: Absolutely! Like I said, I was getting questions
about 2012 even in my classes. So, I have some real life experience
answering these questions. But I also teach a lot of classes to
non-science majors so it has been important to develop ways to talk
about science in a way the non-science person will listen to and
understand.
Books-and-Authors.net: What are readers saying about "Dialogues on
2012: Why the World Will Not End " ?
Chris Keating: I’ve been receiving very favorable comments so far.
Everyone I talk to tells me the really like the format with the
three friends. They also tell me they enjoyed it and learned a lot
from it.
Books-and-Authors.net: What do you hope to achieve with "Dialogues
on 2012: Why the World Will Not End "?
Chris Keating: I hope to reach people that are curious about these
myths and explain to them what its all about. But, mostly, I want to
convince the people that have fallen for this nonsense that there is
nothing to worry about. The world will still be here on December 22,
2012.
Books-and-Authors.net:What was the last book you read?
Chris Keating: Stand on Zanzibar, by John Brunner. It was a
futuristic science fiction thriller.
Books-and-Authors.net: What's next?
Chris Keating: How about ‘Dialogues on Global Warming’ for the next
book?
I was getting questions about 2012 even in my classes. So, I have some real life experience answering these questions. But I also teach a lot of classes to non-science majors so it has been important to develop ways to talk about science in a way the non-science person will listen to and understand.
