What in the world is Yrnameer, and how do you pronounce it??

It’s pronounced “YURnuhmeer,” and it’s a contraction of “your name here” ­­–– a dismissive, slangy term for a planet that doesn’t even have a corporate sponsor (“oh, that planet? It’s just some yrnameer.”). In the book, there’s only one unsponsored planet left, the Yrnameer, a legendary world said to exist in an unreachable location in space.

I actually nearly changed the name of the book early on ­­–– whenever I told someone the proposed title I’d get the same reaction, and there’s only so many times you can be on the receiving end of a frozen, polite smile before you start getting a wee bit worried.

Why did you write THE SHERIFF OF YRNAMEER?

I think the original idea for the book grew out of noticing that all the sports stadiums now have corporate names. Branded planets seemed like the logical conclusion to the trend. From that came the idea of there being one planet left that was free from advertising and branding, and then a flawed hero to protect that planet….

I originally wrote a very simplified version of the story as a television pilot, but I never sent it out –– partially because I thought that a pilot that made fun of advertising might not be the easiest to sell, but mostly because I grew very fond of the characters and didn’t want to lose control of them.

Speaking of, who is your favorite character?

I love all the characters equally. That said, I love Kenneth slightly more than the others. He’s always so jolly.

Which character is most like you?

Hard to say. I think I’m a compilation of all the least-flattering aspects of each of them.

One of the funniest parts of the book is when Cole and the gang explore a zombie-infested corporate seminar satellite, Success!Sat 1.  Have you been to one too many dull training meetings?

As an employee of a large corporation I wish to stress that the views expressed in the book are in no way reflective of my own opinions of corporate life, particularly meetings and training sessions, from which I’ve derived and continue to derive a great deal of enjoyment and wisdom and personal fulfillment and did I mention wisdom and enjoyment. And personal fulfillment. Really. They’re fantastic. Please pay no attention to the morse-code-like blinking of my eyelids.

What’s next for Cole, the Sheriff?

Hopefully many more hapless misadventures.