How did “Virtually Cherokee” originate? What inspirations did you draw on?

I originally drafted this story for a writing group at the community college where I teach. I wanted to write a story that took place in the same universe as my novelette “Digital Medicine.” Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot was certainly a big inspiration, and so was Amped, a novel by Cherokee writer Daniel H. Wilson. In fact, the interspersed news articles that appear in “Virtually Cherokee” were directly inspired by that novel.

Where are you in this story?

I’d like to think of myself as the narrator, Bob Server, who is kind of patient and analytical but I am probably more like Mr. Mic because I can be ridiculous and dramatic.

What led you into writing genre fiction?

I started writing science fiction around ten years ago when I learned that Indigenous SF existed. Grace Dillon’s Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction, along with the work of Cherokee SF authors Daniel H. Wilson and William Sanders, inspired me to try my hand at writing genre fiction.

Other than writing, do you have any other creative pursuits? What do you do to relax?

I’ve been playing guitar off and on for about thirty years. But since the pandemic, I’ve started spending more time playing and writing songs with my sunburst Epiphone Les Paul. I also love to watch television to relax, mostly science-fiction or classic sitcoms. I enjoy hiking and mountain biking and luckily live in the mountains with my wife and two dogs.

What trends in speculative fiction would you like to see gain popularity in the next few years?

I would like to see Indigenous science fiction get more recognition and for more attention to be paid to tribally-specific genres. I’m delighted that Reservation Dogs, which contains many speculative elements, has received much-deserved recognition. But I’d also like to see more Indigenous SF adapted for television and movies.