#75: The Wonders of Space and Writing Books with Bruce McCandless III
Bruce McCandless III has never been to space, but you’ve certainly seen his dad gazing at the earth before. Bruce McCandless II began his career with NASA in 1966 and he was Houston’s capsule communicator (CAPCOM) speaking directly with astronauts during the first moonwalk on Apollo 11. And in 1984, McCandless II soared into history during the Challenger mission, becoming the first astronaut to make an untethered free flight. And yes, you’ve certainly seen the picture of this moment.
That picture is also the cover of Bruce McCandless III’s new book, Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space. As the title suggests, it’s an intimate look at not just his dad’s story but the growth of the space industry itself.
It’s a delightfully fascinating read, but it’s hardly Bruce’s first foray into writing. And lucky for us, he’s giving an inside look into his other books, from his inspiration to how he was able to write them despite having a full-time job as a lawyer — you know, a really simple profession that doesn’t take up several hours of your day. It’s truly remarkable.
Highlights of our conversation include:
What it was like growing up around engineers, technicians, and astronauts in the space program. (3:21)
What’s actually happening in this iconic photograph with Bruce McCandless II (and that also made it on the cover of Bruce’s book). (5:59)
How a single photograph from space can have a tremendous impact — even moreso than a video. (10:28)
The first piece of work Bruce remembers writing, all the way back in third grade. (13:15)
Bruce talks about his other books, ranging from science fiction to horror, including his first book Sour Lake, set in East Texas in 1911. Plus, a sneak peek of Bruce’s new book! (15:32)
Why Bruce wanted to tell his father’s story and how the writing process differs between nonfiction and fiction books. Shout out to the extensive research that goes into a nonfiction book. (17:49)
Bruce gives us a look at Carson Clare’s Trail Guide to Avoiding Death (And Other Unpleasant Consequences) the book of poems he wrote with his daughter Carson — his most popular one! (23:38)
How to write a book with a full-time job — Bruce was a practicing lawyer while writing several books. (26:50)
The top three space exploration missions and events Bruce is most looking forward to seeing. (30:05)
Where to find Bruce McCandless III:
Pick up a copy of Wonders All Around: The Incredible True Story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space and Bruce’s other books from your local bookstore, Amazon, or on the Ninth Planet Press website.
Learn more about Bruce and his work on his website.
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