Travis Borne is a father of four fantastic kids! And he is supported by his beautiful wife of more than twenty years. Travis is a coder of various programming languages, creates plug-ins for graphic software, designs dynamic websites, and has been in the graphics industry for nearly twenty years.

An avid hiker, Travis loves the outdoors, usually spending an hour or so running or walking before starting the daily grind. A few of his passions include the studies and experiences of lucid dreaming, fitness and nutrition, science, astronomy, particle physics, and of course whipping words into bizarre concoctions.

No matter the temperature you might run into him outdoors, trekking with either of his two large dogs: Miller the sometimes lazy, golden retriever, or George, the newfypoo with boundless energy. Spending time with family is given priority whenever possible. As his wife says, he always pushes things to the extreme—a good thing, and bad, as it has turned out at times.

Travis has many ideas for future novels and plans to keep at it until he burns himself out—and probably ends up flying real airplanes instead of imaginary ones, or getting himself lost (HINT: last chapter of LENDERS II).

You can visit Travis on his website and on his author page on Amazon. He’s also on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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What motivates you to write and how did you get started?

First, I’d like to say thanks for this opportunity, Sandy! And apologies for being late. Our family moved to a new state and things are settling down for us now. Boxes unpacked, I finally have a chance to catch up, and as well, do some writing!

Okay, so here we go… What motivates me? Well, whenever I get the chance, which is usually for about an hour or so per day, I like to continue the world-building fiasco I started in my first series of books: LENDERS. (I love to sneak in the word fiasco whenever I can—fun word!). Anyway, my books are science-fiction themed novels that get branded by my readers as multi-genre, and I can surely see how anyone would arrive at that conclusion.

Writing motivates me because it’s fun, most days. I created this neat, huge world with interesting characters, and I can build on it. Plus, I like to include plenty of humor in my work, which sometimes has me laughing out loud by myself, and has my family looking at me like I’m nuts-and there’s plenty of emotionally charged, sad stuff too. I have been known to shed many tears…

I started writing after a tragedy. My dog died in an accident and it really smashed me into the pit of hell for a while. I cried and missed him terribly. Then it just hit me one morning. Lying in bed, I thought of my best friend, and even thought I saw him walking around the house. You know, when the dreaming state of mind is still lingering in the mind. Then popped the idea to write a book. To create the worlds I have long since been dreaming up. But I knew the thought hadn’t arrived to bring my best friend back in any way, with words or in a story—although I would have done anything to change the past—but I just felt like, and still do, the tragedy was somehow tied to the idea, the way the message had come to my mind. It was weird. I was hurting real bad and it was like something had inserted itself into my brain. To this day I never got over the loss, but since that exact moment in bed one morning, about a week after my heart was destroyed, and right then and there, I had decided to become a writer. I even made a FB post the next day and told all my friends. I then bought a cheap laptop at the flea market, learned to type the right way, read a few books (I was never a reader). And soon I was ready. Then I sat down inside my enclosed trailer (read author’s ramblings and highlights at the end of LENDERS I) about 6 months later—with my new typing skills—and got started. I wrote and wrote until I had over a hundred chapters, but I didn’t write the last chapter… until…

What’s most rewarding about writing?

My reasons for continuing to write have evolved over time, and now I do it just for me, with no expectations. I find that in itself to be very rewarding. To do it for pleasure. To keep that mindset, even though it might not be completely true for me, or any writer. To just enjoy writing for what it is, not what it might be some day. And I enjoy making myself emotional, as crazy as that sounds. Best when it’s something funny or fun, of course. And as I’m sure many writers do, too, I find writing to be a rewarding way to relive my past in an alternate-reality sort of way. And travel beyond the past, to the future, to the stars, into dreams! I just have fun with it—though writing can be torturous at times, as we all know. And over time and about 700,000, or a few million words later, here I am, and I found that I have come to a new agreement with myself: I don’t worry about what others will think (to the best of my human-brain’s ability), and I try to enjoy the entire writing process. Because the fun is in the process; there’s zero fun when it’s done—because then the marketing begins… Ugh! Lol.

What’s your favorite genre and why?

I like reading all genres, although I admit, as mentioned above, I had previously never really been a reader. I never even liked English in school, I was more of a math dude—although I didn’t like that too much either. I didn’t like school—except for skipping it. I was more of a bad-boy good-guy who wanted to experience the colors and sounds and sensations of life with no holds barred. Though, and being older now, I sometimes wish I would have paid more attention. But… all that partying with my friends and living out loud and experimenting has found its purpose, I suppose. Its way into my novels. (Check out my novel, LENDERS, for a taste of some of that… explosive partying… exuding youth… and first loves… and first…)

Yeah, I suppose experience makes for the best content. So, I like real in books, and not just the science fiction, or any specific genre, and can usually tell when reading something if an author is pouring out his or her soul, or just doing it for a buck (commercial fiction).

And now I find that I thoroughly enjoy reading. I have become a reader. And I realize, anyone can. Yes, I had to force it at first, reading, but now I enjoy so many genres. Even westerns and princess stories—all except for erotica and porno stuff. And if erotica does pop up in a novel I’m reading—some speed reading usually takes place, especially if it’s the second or third, or tenth sex scene… Lol.

Where do your characters come from?

They all come from my brain. Muahahaha! But really, they come from my personal experiences, or at least, each character is developed out of an emotional moment that may have altered my life for better or worse. The character is then built upon until he or she, or it, becomes alive and takes on their very own personality. Although, they will in my mind always have the same root, which can never ever be extirpated.

I tend to bring to life characters who possess a piece of my pain (pain meaning all the colors and splendors of life, the good and the bad).

Who is an author who inspires you and why?

You inspire me, Sandy! Indie authors inspire me. Too many to name. Everyday when I see their drive, when I see them keep, keeping on with the endless marketing, when I see them writing and learning, and evolving amid all the craziness that is known as “being an author,” and when I see that, they are like me. Regular people who don’t only think about doing something, but do it. And even though there might be no sales coming in, and reality is unfortunately different than anyone imagined—and that part can be heartbreaking—they still keep on. We keep on—together. I love being inspired by indie authors, and I love supporting them as much as I can.

Nowadays I read many indie-author’s works, about 80% worth; the other 20% of my reading time is devoted to listening to something from Audible. Always non-fiction from Audible, fiction by way of reading on my Kindle. I’m currently reading Russell the Author’s DERRICK. I loved his first book, GAVIN, and this one is amazing too!

Other indie author’s works I have enjoyed include… Flint of Dreams, by Charles Peterson Sheppard; The Omega Chronicles, by Mark Carnelley; Into Armageddon, by Jeff DeMarco; The Dead Wake Horror Collection, by Ellie Douglas; The Crown for Castlewood Manor, by Veronica Cline Barton; The Magic Vodka Wardrobe, by Sheila Patel; Rapier, by R. A. “Doc” Correa; and Between Two Minds: Awakening, by DC Wright-Hammer. But again, too many awesome indie authors to name, and the nonstop drive and talent of these author’s continues to inspire me. There are so many more I could list. And I can’t wait to read your book, Sandy!

As far as favorites from Audible, here’s a few I have thoroughly enjoyed—and have read more than once! The following books are amazing. These are only a small few of the many that have truly inspired me, and have shaped the way I write, work, and live my life to this day… 12 Rules for Life, by Jordan B. Peterson; The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz; Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism, The Servant, by James C. Hunter; and two of my all-time favorites, Building a Better Vocabulary by Kevin Flanagan, and The Secret Life of Words: English Words and Their Origins.

So much inspiration out there!

What do you look for in other people’s books?

I look for writing that piques my emotions. I like when a story grabs my heart, rips it out of my chest, and Molarum-Sularum’s the blood out of it.
Well, maybe not that much.

But I also notice a lot (had entertained the idea of becoming an editor, or proofreader… perhaps one day). A result of my having been a coder, perhaps, or just the way my brain is wired. Who knows? I see the words like I would see the code (I still code a little: VB, PHP…). I catch spelling and grammar, and notice what I would have done differently. But, and this is where it’s all at, I accept the author for how he or she has shaped the vision entering my mind, and LOVE seeing the way THEY have chosen to do it. And I like reading deeper into the story, interpreting any inner messages, and discovering the author’s unique voice, their soul. For, as I’ve said many times, “Want to know me, understand me? Read my fiction.” And this is exactly what I’m looking for when I read. Is it just commercial fiction, or is the author’s soul inside the story?

What are you writing now?

I’m currently working on the 3rd installment of my series, LENDERS.
Currently there is LENDERS I: The Unlicensed Consciousness; and LENDERS II: The Time Tribulations.

These are two very lengthy books, coming in at about 220K words each. I wanted them to be huge epics, even if this goes against the “best way” to make money from my work. And my works are meant to be not just science fiction, but multi-genre. There’s plenty of horrific moments, and funny, real-life moments, and surely some of that explosive partying, and romance and youthful elation, and pain…

I’m currently near the 120,000-word mark in Lenders III and it’s coming out even wilder than the previous two. Something I thought, just might not be possible!

What has writing taught you about yourself?

It has taught me, or rather, further reinforced the notion that I, just like anyone out there, can do anything they choose to do. A quote I saw online some time ago said…
“If you are not a reader, don’t even think about being a writer.”
~Jean M. Auel
…and it struck me—this is completely wrong! It is old, outdated advice. Writing has taught me that I really can do anything I put my mind to, that any mind can do anything if the right habits are put into place, then strengthened, then built upon.

How has your life experience influenced your writing?

Everything is there. Read my book, you get it all. You’ll get a piece of my soul. It’s bad sometimes, it has made me cry and wish I was dead. I was young once, and stupid and ignorant—but alive. Weren’t we all… Really alive, because We All Die Young, right? (One of my favorite songs).
Life is not easy. I took all the bad and all the good, stared it down and put it into my work.

What encouraging advice can you offer new writers?

The cliche, “Don’t give up!” But there’s more…

Get started! Because there are no two souls alike in this universe. You have your unique voice so sit down and put God to work. God is the word, I say. Pour your soul into God via the word He has given us (and no, I’m not religious, but I do believe, and I believe a person can do anything, anything he or she sets out to do).

And do it for the right reasons. Not for money, not fame, but to deliver upon the world—or even just a few people—your invaluable perspective, a glimpse of the life you’ve endured thus far, one that can not, will not, ever be duplicated. Action is everything and thoughts are useless. Unless you turn your thoughts into actions. Make them come alive. Make them useful. Make them something. Make them REAL!

Sandy, thanks again for having me. And I look forward to Reading your book soon!