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About the Book

Book: A Perfect Flock

Author: Mike Bogue

Genre: Christian Science Fiction

Release date: October 26, 2023

Tuck Jameson vows to stop his brother Clay from joining The Body, a religious cult that uses nanotechnology to turn its members into Christian automatons.

But Clay disappears—and in three days, his nanotechnology conversion will be complete. Desperate to find Clay, Tuck enlists the aid of former high school mentor Adam Shimura, now a black ops agent with potentially mixed motives.

Brother Moody, the cult’s Chief Elder, mobilizes his acolytes against Tuck. Worse, a shocking prophecy ups the ante, making Tuck realize the stakes involve not only him and Clay, but all of America—and perhaps, the world.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author – Mike Bogue

Why does Mike Bogue write speculative fiction? Because he finds it a perfect genre to explore timeless themes and timely science, as well as the collision between technology and faith. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys watching Godzilla movies, singing 1960s pop tunes, and munching Fiber One brownies. Single and retired, Mike lives with his cat Bendi in Western Arkansas, where he and Bendi regularly hold contests to see who can nap the longest in a single day.

 

Author Interview with Mike Bogue

1. When you are not writing, what other hats do you wear? What do you do for fun?

My hats include retired college educator, rescue cat custodian, dust bunny collector, and Godzilla movie aficionado. But my most important hat may be encourager of new writers. 

Through various online courses, I’ve met a number of fellow Christian writers (all younger than me, of course), and I make it a point to encourage their efforts. Writing can be hard—authors get a lot of rejection, and a little encouragement goes a long way. For example, one Christian writer I’ve encouraged since 2020 is now the author of an award-winning book series!

For fun, I like to read non-fiction, especially when it tackles TV or movies. I also love watching old TV sitcoms such as “The Bob Newhart Show,” classic Hollywood movies from the Golden Era, and 1950s science fiction films. 

2. What is your favorite genre to read? What about that genre draws you?

My favorite genre to read is science fiction. This has been the case since as a wee lad in the mid-1960s, I read my first paperback book—Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Lost on Venus. The imaginative aspect of the genre reeled me in at a young age, and still hooks me today.

While I enjoy far-flung speculative fiction, I am partial to near-future thrillers. A good example is Steven James’ excellent Synapse, a deft combination of science fiction and thriller exploring an important spiritual issue—if an AI entity becomes self-aware, does that mean it has a soul?

Other excellent examples of near-future science fiction include Jerry Jenkins’ The Valley of the Dry Bones, Bill Myers’ Saving Alpha, and David Gregory’s The Last Christian. Any reader who enjoys these novels is likely to appreciate my book A Perfect Flock.

3. How does your faith play out in your writing?

I carefully craft my Christian characters, because I don’t want them to be stereotypes—I want them to be humans who, though having received forgiveness through Christ Jesus, still sport flaws. I especially think a Christian character struggling with faith can reach a number of readers, both Christian and non-Christian.

I’m also careful to include one or more non-Christian characters who are just regular people with hopes, dreams, and flaws. They are not demonic manifestations—they are simply human beings. Humankind’s enemy is, after all, not other people, but rather The Evil One.

In addition, I don’t want my characters to “win” because of obvious divine intervention. I think subtle intervention works best. For example, a character overcomes his weakness and wins by acting in a way he knows is Christian, not because God steps in and slays the bad guy. I think this reflects reality, in which God rarely (if ever) will stop a bullet. Christians have to make hard choices, and I want my fiction to reflect that.

4. As a former K-12 school librarian (and since this blog is geared toward school librarians) I have to ask – what is your favorite children’s book?

Pierre Berton’s The Secret World of Og. I discovered this book as a third or fourth grader, and its imaginative storyline captivated me. 

5. Young Author’s Days were an important part of my work as a school librarian. What advice would you give to a child or teen who wants to be a writer?

First, I would encourage them to write. This could be anything—movie reviews, essays, letters, short stories, plays, TV scripts. I would encourage them to write something three times a week. The audience could be their parents or guardians, siblings, or perhaps friends or teachers.

Second, I would advise them to read both fiction and non-fiction. Some children might already know they want to write either fiction or non-fiction, but some might be undecided. And, of course, it’s possible to write both. As they read, they will discover what type of books excite them, which will often be the type of books they’ll want to write once they’re older.

Third, if the prospective writer is a teenager, I would encourage them to read online writing articles by folks like Jerry Jenkins and K.M. Weiland.

Fourth, I would urge the child to talk to a favorite teacher, probably an English teacher or a librarian, about their desire to write. The teacher or librarian could serve as a major cheerleader.  They might also know about local writing contests for children and teenagers that the prospective young writer could enter.

Mrs. Mouttet, thank you for letting me speak to your readers.

Thank you so much for joining us today. It is always a joy to learn a little from authors.

More from Mike Bogue

“If brainwashing means losing my free will for God’s sake, so be it.”

Thus says a recruit for the religious cult The Body in my novel A Perfect Flock.

When planning the novel, I wondered—should Christians use technology to enhance their moral lives? What if technology forced us to be good? Should we use it? Should we advocate it? Would it make Christians, and therefore the Gospel, more appealing to non-Christians?

A Perfect Flock explores these issues. In the novel, technology that might have been a blessing becomes a curse in the hands of cult leader Brother Moody. Indeed, becoming Moody’s version of a perfect Christian might just cost you your soul.

In A Perfect Flock, you will confront the well-meaning but dark future into which technology may be taking Christians and society; experience a fast-paced quest in which an older brother is determined to save his younger brother from technological enslavement; and face the tension between free will and enforced will—if we had the technology to force others to become Christians, should we?

If you like near-future Christian science fiction novels such as Steven James’ Synapse, I think you’ll enjoy A Perfect Flock.

A technical note: The book was released last October 23, so it is available now.

Best of hopes and dreams,

Mike

Views expressed in this interview/guest post do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog host.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 5

For the Love of Literature, October 6 (Author Interview)

The Book Zone, October 7

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 8 (Author Interview)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 9

Through the Fire Blogs, October 10 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11

Artistic Nobody, October 12 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 13

Stories By Gina, October 14 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 14

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 15 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, October 16 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, October 17

Back Porch Reads, October 18 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Mike is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5459

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