Interview with author Philip Bulman

1.) Your novel Replenish the Earth is a historical Christian tale set in the year 303. Do you consider yourself a Christian writer, a historical writer, or a mixture of both? Or simply a writer?

I am a writer who loves working across various genres. While Christianity is central to my identity as a person, it is not always central to my writing. In the non-fiction realm, I have written about topics ranging from homelessness to technology. While writers who focus on a single genre have enriched my life, I like the freedom that comes with exploring different approaches to the written word.

2.) Can you tell us about your next writing project?

I have published a few poems in obscure literary journals. Someday I would like to publish a whole collection of poetry. Unfortunately, I am 56 years old and still have not written enough good poems to justify publishing even a small collection yet.

3.) You have a past as a journalist. Considering this, in the future, do you see yourself focusing more on fiction or non-fiction writing?

I would like to write more fiction. The shorter forms are especially attractive, perhaps because they are so difficult and challenging. If I ever succeed in producing even a single good novella, I will be very happy.

4.) What are some of the major differences you've found in writing fiction as compared to non-fiction?

Fiction is often more challenging for me, perhaps because I have done less of it. In non-fiction, my first drafts always need more work, but I can edit them fairly quickly. My fiction writing goes through many, many revisions.

5.) What is your favorite book, and why?

Gee, do I have to choose just one? I change my mind about that regularly, but because you are putting me on the spot, I will say that the Collected Stories of Flannery O’Connor are worth reading more than once.

6.) Coffee or tea? Or something else?

Any highly caffeinated drink will do if I expect to spend a few hours writing.