Why "Hard Science Fiction" is a Logistical Challenge for Writers -- and Readers

Mookie gets chatty with speculative-fiction author Lou Iovino about the long, uneven road to becoming a working writer. Lou shares how his creative life started in comics through co-authoring a ten-issue graphic novel on his commute to Manhattan, hiring artists out of pocket, and learning the discipline of concise storytelling and crisp dialogue.

That foundation carried Lou into screenwriting and eventually novels. He explains why he didn’t chase traditional publishing at first, how Hugh Howey’s indie success shifted his thinking, and why hiring a professional book editor and cover artist was non-negotiable to reach the widest possible audience.

Lou walks through the ideas behind his books, from Earth’s rotation suddenly stopping to a future shaped by data harvesting, privacy battles, or rare-earth scarcity. He explains how these “what if” questions and frequent focus on technology somehow stopping anchor his stories in real-world concerns, those of science versus faith, technology versus autonomy, and the cost of progress.

Highlights and Best Practices

letting life “get in the way” until you finally force yourself to start

how comics and screenwriting sharpen your instincts before you ever attempt a novel

how different writers manage structure—Lou’s index-card blueprints versus Mookie’s improvisational sprints

the quiet, private definition of success that has to come before any external recognition

how world-building can serve a story without strangling it

and the strange mechanics of finding an audience when you’re publishing on your own

He also shares how to find time when you have none, finish projects that feel too big, and navigate the tension between writing for yourself and writing for readers. Whether you’re a working writer, an aspiring one, or just someone curious about how stories actually get made, this episode offers an honest look behind the scenes of science fiction creativity.

The Guest

Lou Iovino’s debut novel SKYBOUND was named a Kirkus Reviews Indie Book of the Year in 2021 and praised for its emotional resonance and cinematic scope. His follow-up, the sci-fi thriller DATA MINE, dives into the darker corners of digital surveillance, political power, and the choices that shape identity. Lou also co-authored the original graphic novel THE LAST WEST and has contributed to several comic book titles for Zenescope Entertainment. His hour-long television pilot COASTLINERS won the 2016 Set in Philadelphia TV Prime Time Award.

Outside of fiction, Lou has spent over two decades working in advertising and currently serves as an executive at one of the world’s largest global agencies. He teaches advertising at Villanova University and has also taught writing and literature at Rutgers and Temple Universities, bringing a deep understanding of narrative craft and audience connection to his work. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two grown sons.