Special thanks to Gregory Mone for answering 5 questions about his recently featured book – The Truth about Santa: Wormholes, Robots, and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve

That’s me on the left, with less head-hair than normal, wearing my favorite shirt. I’m a novelist, magazine writer, science journalist, and speaker. As a magazine writer, I’ve covered artificial intelligence, robots, physics and biology. I’ve overcome a tendency to faint and watched brain surgery up close, sat behind the wheel of a flying car, hiked and surfed in Ireland. – From Gregory’s Homepage

Gregory’s Blog: http://gregorymone.blogspot.com.au
Gregory’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/gmmone

#1 – What was the impetus for this book?

It’s a fantastic thought experiment. If you assume that Santa does deliver all those presents in a single night, and that he doesn’t use magic, how would he do it? What kind of technology would he need? I write about futuristic technology for magazines all the time, and I started thinking about how some of those gadgets and vehicles might apply to Christmas. The idea just kept building and building until it turned into a book.

#2 – How did you decide on which aspects of Santa’s big night to tackle with science?

In the end I tried to cover all aspects, including what he does in the off season. (He hibernates, for longevity.) I just kept chipping away at every little piece of his operation.

#3 – How did you try to communicate the science in your book? With humour? Seriousness? Fun?

The project had to be humorous, but in a tongue-in-cheek way. I made sure that all the science was accurate, but ultimately, it’s a book about how Santa accomplishes his annual mission, so it had to be funny. I don’t think anyone would be interested in a book that demonstrates the impossibility of his task.

#4 – What has the response been to your book? From scientists? From the public? From kids?

Well, it’s not really a kids book. It confuses kids, to be honest. The public reaction has been great, and the scientists I spoke with for the book were really fantastic. They were really responsive and fully bought into the concept, helping me figure out how Santa would accomplish each piece of his mission.

#5 – Are you working on any new projects/books you can tell us about?

I’m working with the illustrator Katherine Roy on a book that follows the life cycle of a bottle of soda, or pop. It’s going to be published by Roaring Brook Press, and it’s going to be a kids book, but the science is incredible, and I think adults will be interested as well. We’re calling it BOTTLE OF POP right now, but I don’t know what the final title will be.

[Image Credit: http://gregorymone.blogspot.com.au/p/about-author.html ]