Featured Interview With Russell H. Plante
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Rumford, Maine, a small paper mill town. I attended the University of Maine and graduated with a B.S. degree in Engineering Physics. Other portions of my academic background include Electrical Engineering and Business Administration. I’ve worked in several capacities as a project manager, systems engineer, and Branch Head for the Department of Defense in Control Engineering, Welding Engineering, and Quality Material Control Analysis. I settled in Kittery, Maine over 30 years ago. My wife and I have two grown sons, and we have 3 awesome cats who live with us. They’re always such a help when I write.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I don’t remember the first book I ever read. There were many science books which I still have in my ever expanding library. Writers like Paul French, Raymond Jones, A.E. van Vogt, Arthur C. Clark come to mind. My first non-fiction book was published by John Wiley & Sons over 25 years ago. With a growing family and engineering jobs I didn’t have time to continue that adventure. Once I realized my first book needed a successor to discuss Photovoltaics and the economic advantages in using alternative energies, I recently decided to write once again. My latest non-fiction release entitled: SOLAR ENERGY : Photovoltaics and Domestic Hot Water – A Technical and Economic Guide for Project Managers, Builders, and Property Owners was published by Academic Press and released this last May 2014. I’m currently completing a final draft of a middle-grade children’s novel entitled: JOURNEY HOME – A Vagabond’s Memoir and will be seeking a new agent for that shortly. I also am writing the first draft of another novel which is somewhat political with a story line that warns us about being apathetic and not paying attention to events happening around us. There’s even a little fact-based science fiction involved.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
One of my favorite author’s is Homer Hickam. Others have included Jean Giono, Yann Martel, Stephen King, Ann Hood – the list goes on. I read most genre’s both fiction and non-fiction. All authors inspire me to write whether they are traditionally published or self-published. It’s a self journey and there’s always so much more I want to relate to people. My style constantly improves as I read. There is so much talent out there and so little time to write and absorb other works.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, as I mentioned previously is a non-fiction. I wrote it as a current followup with new information including photovoltaics. I wanted people to understand the economic justification considering solar alternatives as a long term investment, and I also wanted people to understand how such alternative energy systems operate. In other words, does a system save a person money? No one appears to address that question in any detail. I also didn’t want the solar industry to disappear like it did in the early 1980’s. I wanted people to have a more objective perspective regarding the energy conundrum we all face. In addition, I found that there’s a lot of confusing and incorrect information on the internet, and I wanted to provide a systematic approach to the knowledge that should be acquired before purchasing a system. I am hoping my new book increases awareness and helps provide the solar industry a chance to become an on-going solution to our energy costs.
There is more information about this book and others I’m working on available at my website.
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