Writer Kimberly “Kim” Megahee joins me today to chat about his new science fiction time travel novel, The Time Patriot: Episode 1 – Hail Mary Pass.
Bio:
Kim Megahee is a writer, musician, and retired computer consultant. He has a degree from the University of Georgia in Mathematics Education. His background includes playing in rock bands, teaching high school, and much experience in computer programming, security and consulting.
He co-founded a computer consulting firm in 2012 and traveled on business to Europe, Central America, South America and New Zealand. He retired recently to focus on his writing career. He understands the need for publicity and is an accomplished speaker. He has given IT presentations and taught IT classes throughout his professional career. He looks forward to using that experience to help promote his books. He’s a board member of the Northeast Georgia Literary Society, and a member of the Atlanta and Georgia Writers Associations.
Outside his time travel adventure stories, Kim has published a childhood memoir in the SouthernReader.com e-magazine and numerous technical white papers on IT Development Operations.
Kim started his writing career later in life, after a former student encouraged him to write down some of the stories he was fond of telling. In addition to writing, he enjoys reading, binging on SciFi and Adventure movies, playing bass in a classic rock band, and socializing with friends.
Kim lives in Gainesville, Georgia with his soulmate wife Martha and Leo, the brilliant and stubborn red-headed toy poodle.
Welcome, Kim. What inspired you to write this book?
Maybe your readers can relate to my wife Martha and me. I wrote four time-travel adventure stories before starting this series. Over the last few years, Martha and I have found ourselves regularly arguing (as sometimes shouting) at TV commentators and politicians. I wondered aloud to Martha: “I wonder what our Founding Fathers would think about what we’ve done with the democratic republican government they designed?” Martha responded with: “Well, you have a time machine…Why don’t you go ask them?” It was too big a story to tell in one book, so I created a series of four novellas to tell it.
Excerpt from The Time Patriot: Episode 1 – Hail Mary Pass
McKnight smiled at his team. He couldn’t have been prouder.
“General Washington, I present to you the Historical Event Research Organization Team from the 75th Regimental Special Troops Battalion of the United States Army. The 75th Regiment is better known as the Army Rangers.”
“You’re from Rogers’ Rangers?” Washington said.
McKnight glanced at the team, then back at Washington. “No, sir, I think our origins come more from John Mosby and Francis Marion.”
Washington looked at Tyler. “You were with General Marion when I met you, Colonel. That is how we became acquainted.”
“Yes, sir,” Tyler said, “but I was already in this unit before I joined General Marion.”
“Yes, he introduced you as the finest combat trainer he had ever met.” Washington looked thoughtful. “How old are you, Colonel?”
“I was thirty-three in September, sir.”
Washington looked confused. “I know you enlisted with General Marion during the war with the French. That was twenty-five years ago. You would have been eight years old. I saw you myself four years ago at Fraunces Tavern in New York, and you looked older than you do now. How is that possible?”
“It isn’t, sir, unless you have conquered time itself,” McKnight said. “I guess there is no easy way to explain this, so I’ll just say it and then try to prove it to you. We came here this morning from the distant future. When were you born, Major Tyler?”
“September 23th, sir. In the year of our Lord 2003.”
“And where did you grow up?”
“I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. I attended Riverside Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. Then I was accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point in the spring of 2021.”
Washington’s face flushed.
“Sir, I do not appreciate your attempt at humor. You suggest magic exists, and I know it does not. Only God can step through time.”
McKnight nodded. “General Washington, believe me, I understand your skepticism. With the utmost respect for you, sir, I beg your indulgence for a few minutes. Give me a chance to prove we are who we say we are.”
Washington stood in silence for a moment. When he spoke, it was in a measured tone.
“You saved my life a few minutes ago, Colonel McKnight. For that, I owe you at least a few minutes of my attention. However, if at the end of that time I am still unconvinced, I ask that we speak no further of it. I am a Christian man, and I choose not to expose myself to anything that isn’t consistent with my faith. Can we agree on that?”
*********
What exciting project are you working on next?
It’s a labor of love for me. In October of 2022, my daughter Megan passed away at the age of 35. She suffered with severe gastrointestinal problems all her life and her little heart finally gave out. Megan was also an author and wrote a vampire/werewolf trilogy during times when she wasn’t in too much pain. Only the first novel was published. Now that the Time Patriot Series is a reality, I plan to edit and publish the rest of her trilogy in her honor.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I saw myself as a writer when my first novel Time Limits was completed, but not yet published. That’s when I was finally sure I could do it. I only planned to write that one book, but I fell in love with the characters, and I needed to say more about them. All my books (so far) are about the same characters. They’re all old friends of mine now.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I’m retired from my computer consulting career now, so I guess you could say I’m fulltime. I started when I was working 60+ hours a week on the road. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined to keep going, so I got up 30 minutes early every day and wrote at home, in my hotel room, on an airplane, whatever.
When I’m working on a project these days, I generally put in 2-3 hours a day, usually in the early morning. I also play bass guitar in a classic rock band with some good friends. We play gigs occasionally, but always have fun.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I tend to track where I spend all my time while working on a project. I’m such a geek. From initial idea to outlining to first draft to my personal edits. I built a spreadsheet to record and calculate all the time spent and word count totals. Very, very anal, actually. I’m trying to train myself to NOT do that. I spent a lot of time making the spreadsheet work when I could have been writing. I’m trying to learn how to be a “recovering geek.”
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An astronaut when very young. The Beatles came out when I was about 12 years old, so I wanted to be a rock ‘n’ roll star from my teens through my mid-twenties. After that, I wanted to be a millionaire entrepreneur until I found writing. I’ll let you know what I decided when I grow up.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I’d like to thank you and your readers for taking the time to get to know me a little better. I wish I could sit down with each of you and hear your story. Everyone has one, but no one thinks their story is worthy of telling. I think it is.
Links:
Website | Facebook | Amazon Author page