John F. Holmes & Cannon Publishing: Inside the Unit Behind Military Sci-Fi Success

On this 41st episode of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Factory, Mookie sits down with Cannon Publishing founder and Editor-in-Chief John F. Holmes. He's a former platoon sergeant who runs his publishing outfit with the same mindset: train the talent, build the unit, execute the mission.Cannon gives military science fiction authors a real path between doing everything yourself and waiting years for a traditional deal that may never come. You bring the manuscript, Cannon brings the machine: Editing that improves the book, covers designed to sell, full production handled without cutting corners. Distribution across the channels that matter, with no upfront costs, and a straight profit split. If the book wins, everyone wins.Then there’s the part most writers underestimate—the team. Cannon is a working group participating in monthly sessions, shared universes, writers cross-checking each other’s work. Veterans help newer authors avoid the mistakes they already made. Holmes treats development like training. Holmes lays out exactly what he looks for, what gets rejected immediately, and why most books never gain traction even if the writing is decent:Submit like a professionalSend a clean plot synopsis and your first three chapters. No rambling pitches. No half-finished ideas.Write for story, not agendaStrong characters and momentum win. Message-driven writing usually collapses under its own weight.Be ready to collaborateExpect feedback. Expect edits. Expect other authors to weigh in. If you want total control, go solo.Show you can produce consistentlyOne book every ten years is a dead end. You need follow-through and output.Build your own presenceSocial media, conventions, reader interaction. If no one knows you exist, the book won’t move.Engage like a human, not a billboardTalk to readers. Share interests. Don’t just scream “buy my book.”Understand the business modelIt’s a partnership. Profit split. No guarantees. You’re expected to help drive sales.Know the catalog before you pitchRead Canon titles. If your work doesn’t fit the lane, don’t waste time forcing it.Stay coachableThe whole point is improvement. If you fight every note, you’re done.Bring something to the tableTalent helps. Discipline matters more. A voice, a perspective, a willingness to grind. Visibility, consistency, and personality matter. If you’re not willing to show up and engage, you disappear.The GuestJ.F. Holmes is a retired Army Senior Noncommissioned Officer, having served for 22 years in both the Regular Army and Army National Guard. During that time, he served as everything from an artillery section leader to a member of a Division level planning staff, with tours in Cuba and Iraq, as well as responding to the terrorists attacks in NYC on 9-11. From 2010 to 2014 he wrote the immensely popular military cartoon strip, "Power Point Ranger", poking fun at military life in the tradition of Beetle Bailey and Willy & Joe. His books range from Military Sci-Fi to Space Opera to Detective to Fantasy, with a lot in between, and in 2017 two are finalists for the prestigious Dragon Awards. In 2018, he launched Cannon Publishing, specializing in military science fiction, fantasy and thrillers, with an emphasis on works from up and coming authors. Cannon Publishingwww.cannonpublishing.usWant to be on the show? Have feedback? Send Mookie a text!Support the show