Interview: A. American, Author Of The Survivalist Series Of Books

By John Crump

Going Home by A. American
Going Home by A. American
John Crump
John Crump

U.S.A.-(Ammoland.com)- You are 250 miles away from home when your car breaks down, but it is not only your car. It’s all cars. It’s all lights, radios, TVs, and everything else electronic based. Planes are falling out of the sky, phones don’t work, and you are all alone.

What would you do?

This is the situation Morgan Carter is finds himself in throughout the book “Going Home” by best selling author A. American. “Going Home” is the first book of the wildly popular “Survivalist Series”. His books follows a group of survivors after the collapse of society. These books not only have a huge following in the prepper community, but also have a lot of mainstream popularity.

I have been a big fan of the books for awhile now. It just happened A. American and I had a friend in common. A. American has been a guest on my podcast a few times and I thought we should sit down and do a real interview for Ammoland News. Chris, better known as A. American, was gracious enough to grant my request.

John: What is your background?
A. American: I’m an industrial electrician by trade. I worked for over 20 years at it.

John: How did you come up with your pen name?
A. American: The pen name is my username on a website where I wrote “Going Home” originally. I just stuck with it because no one knew my name when I published it.

John: What are your books about?
A. American: The series is set in a post EMP world. Morgan Carter is 250 miles from home when the event happens. He figures out quickly that he’s going to have to walk home if he wants to see his family again. So that starts the journey. The subsequent books follow Morgan, family and friends as they try to create a new life.

John: How did you come up with the idea for your books?
A. American: I was reading works by other writers on the website I mentioned earlier. There were some very good writers and a number of great stories. It was about eleven at night when I decided I’d to throw my hat into the ring. I came up with the concept in about ten minutes and started writing. I posted the first 5000 word piece that night and went to bed. The next day there many, many replies. People loved it, so I continued. It was best thing that ever happened to me.

John: Your books are like a “how to” book with a story. Is this intentional or did it just happened that way?
A. American: It’s very important to me to put real skills into the books. I write fiction, but want folks to be able to take something away. Something they never think about until the day they need it. Then they say, I remember from the book! And maybe it will help them. It may be nothing, or it could make a difference someday.

John: How long does it take you to write a book?
A. American: It really depends. Sometimes they come real fast. I’ve wrote one in 90 days before. Sometimes they take longer.

John: Do you prefer self publishing over working with a massive company like Penguin Books?
A. American: Both have their advantages. Self publishing gives you full control. But it also gives you all the responsibility. It’s a double edge sword. You make money faster in self-pub too. It starts coming in 30 days. Traditional publishers take all the responsibility from you. They own it all. In essence you work for them, on their schedule. They will give you an advance, and that’s nice. But you won’t ever see another dime until that is recovered in sales at your royalty rate. Plus, they only pay twice a year. The one huge advantage is distribution. They get you onto the shelf of the bookstores. Your books will be everywhere.

John: Which character do you identify with most and why?
A. American: It may sound silly, but all of them really. Each one of them is a part of me in some way. But certainly Morgan.

John: What is one thing you would change about the story if you were to do it over?
A. American: I would modify a couple of things from the first book that would allow me to broaden the story a little. But it’s not that big of a deal. I’ve got plenty to work with.

John: How many more books do you plan on writing in the Survivalist series?
A. American: That all depends on the fans. I get asked this all the time. What I usually say is this; As long as they are easy for me to write and entertaining for the readers to read, I’ll keep going. When they get hard for me to write or worse, hard for them to read, I’ll end it.

John: Do you have any other upcoming projects you have on your plate?
A. American: I’m working on the next book in the series now. Of course someday I’d like to see it on the screen and I’m always working on that in the background.

American can be found at www.angeryamerican.net

The Survivalist Series of books are available in print, digital, and audio.

The Survivalist Series Of Books
The Survivalist Series Of Books

About John Crump

John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on the history of the patriot movement and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss or at www.crumpy.com.

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Mike Rambeau

thanks for these grt books , got behind with work; will be catching up shortly. Between you & American Surv, guide Magz
A lot of thought is constantly going on. You hops e for the best – as EMT / medic school taught ‘
YOU PREPARE FOR THE WORST.
Mike the Medic ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Esta Candela

There was a good deal of whooping and hollering after the ELTJdebate at the IATEFL Conference in Brighton a couple of weeks ago. And, in the face of Alan Waters’ well-argued, but somewhat lacklustre critique, Nicky Hockly deservedly won a healthy round of applause for her feisty defence of educational technologies.

Reenie

#10 is available on Amazon, already read!

Kristine Cole

Anyone know the release date of book 10 yet ?!?

Matthew Scruggs

Did you ever find out about book 10 and the release date?

John Crump

A. American just got back to me today. There is no release date yet, but it is getting closer.

Wild Bill

@J. Crump, I have read all of his books. What is his real name?

John Crump

Not sure if he wants me to give it out. So I gotta respect his privacy

a. lee

chris weatherman. he has a youtube channel but hasnt been active for a while. he’s in quite a few videos on youtube discussing his books.

Reenie

I have already read it. It’s on Amazo

Mark

I would love to know when He is coming out with the next installment #10 and if there is any movement on the Film Series. MWF

Kelci

I have so much to say about this book series and so little time. Ugh. This book series is amazing, and has been life changing for me. Please don’t laugh, but I am on my 6th time reading the series… In a row. It has become a type of bible to me. I have never felt so connected to a large group of people in a book, you really get to know each one. The way the author intertwines the charecters is amazing. I was really worried when I started reading this series, there were 8 books! Boy was I… Read more »

Cynthia

I can’t say enough how much I’ve enjoyed these books! It also has completely motivated me to be prepared – it’s truly been life changing. It feels healthy and right and…. sane to prep. I am also a voracious reader and these books are VERY WELL written! Nice work. These books would make an awesome TV series – each book a season. (unless Holly wood screws it up – don’t let that happen Mr. American!!!) 🙂

Nathan Borders

Sarge should be played by R. Lee Ermey. I hear his voice in my mind as Sarge as I read the books. Read the first eight books. Will there be a ninth book, and if so when will it come out?

Sam

I totally agree Nathan! I pictured R. Lee Ermey from the very start. I’ve only listened to the audiobooks for this series. He’s one of my favorite characters in the books. Funny, grumpy, tough and ruthless when he has to be yet has a big heart and cares for his people in the group. I’ve certainly enjoyed these books.

Wild Bill

Lights Out by Ted Kopel. Kopel interviews people in the electric energy sector, and they say it is just a matter of time before the electrical grids are attacked by someone.
One Second After. (Meaning one second after there is no electricity what to expect) Wm. Forstchen
One Year Ater. (Thinking long term, if you have managed to avoid a nasty death in the short term) Wm Forstchen
The Borrowed World (A series that MUST be read from the beginning) Franklin Horton

Johnny Hodges

Fantastic books I have read the first 2 and cannot wait to start the third. I love this story line and it’s actually something that is a very real possibility especially in these turbulent times !! keep em coming !!

Wild Bill

The federal government has plans for surviving some national or global catastrophe. The plan is called Continuation of Government (COG). Every agency practices and updates their COG plan once a year. Do you have a plan to survive? Every American should get some extra canned goods in case of… something big and bad. It has been less than a month since a programer at DHS stumbled over some malware that would have turned off the three electrical grids in the U.S. just using code words. It was just luck. Someone put that malware there, and they did not put it… Read more »

Wild Bill

If you think that you can live off the land “like the pioneers” then you are mistaken. Everyone will be hunting 24/7/365. Wildlife will not last long. Stores looted in three days, then stealing from each other. Not enough gasoline to get to where you would like to be. No resupply of any kind. Eating the neighbors’ pets. Eating the neighbors. Suicide will be an option.

Jimmy Rants

I agree Wild Bill. People need to do some math also. There are approximately 30 million deer in the United States, and over 300 million people. If they did they math, it is clear to see the deer population would be extinct in less than a few days.

eddy

If this kind of event were to occur, the percentage of the 300.000 who would survive long enough to bag a mouse, never mind a dear, would be culled to less than even odds. At that point, the survivors ability to take down, dress and cure enough of the meat to assure their survival would be mediocre.

Joanna

My son in law had this book at the hospital when my daughter was having her baby and I asked if I could read it. I couldn’t put it down and then my daughter said there were two more so I ran to the nearest Barnes and Noble and found there were 5! I bought all of them and finished one a day. Then my daughter saw series 6 and 7 and sent them to me from Amazon. I finished those and wanted more. She saw the 8th one and sent it to me.i just finished it and can’t wait… Read more »

Don

I thoroughly enjoy these and as an “Old Sarge” his character was my favorite. I hope the series continues with #8 and beyond. Obviously they all have to end sometime, but we can dream.

Burley L.

I would say that this is the best Survivalist series out there. The only fault that the books have is finding a stopping point so you can go to sleep before 2 or 3 am in the morning. The series keeps you on the edge all the way through. Looking forward to the next books. One of the best authors out there. Keep up the great work

Rob J.

This is a GREAT book series. I use the audio books and I couldn’t wait to get back in my truck to listen on, I even bought head phones to listen anywhere I enjoyed it so much. Great story and great characters! I hope he writes more. The Survivalist series would make a great movie or series.

John Crump

He is working on two more right now

Wild Bill

@John Dunlap Crump, I think that he is up to five books, now. How to in disguise.