What do you get if you combine strong alpha males, real-life and a good dose of hot fantasy romance? I’ll tell you… the Jelvia: Not Human series! We humans have always been the supreme predator. So imagine a world where … Continue reading
Free for a short period Lightspeed Frontier: Kicking the Future by Adam Corres Amateur media archaeologist and space explorer, Exia, travels light years from Earth in her own space ship to record old and lost TV and radio signals from … Continue reading
Mary Louise Davie is the author of Target Earth, You Only see What You Want To, and WWBB has interviewed about her writing in general. Why not read on to discover more and check out her book. It’s a cracker! WWBB: … Continue reading
Soul of a Warrior by Denna Holm A handsome blond stranger shows up at Kimi Wicker’s place of work claiming to be her mate. But he also claims to be from another world. She does what any sane woman would … Continue reading
The year is 2078. The former United States of America is a bleak and fading memory for the few citizens of New America. Nearly five years after his wife was taken to a birthing camp by Secans, New America’s mercenaries, … Continue reading
WORLDS OF WONDER by Roxanne Bland I recently read about a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, a star nearest to our Sun. It’s been dubbed Proxima b. About 1.3 times the mass of Earth—a guesstimate—the planet sits in the “Goldilocks” or … Continue reading
WITH MORE ADVANCED AI CREATED The world will change irreversibly! Following on soon from the remarkably Smart Devices we are enjoying(!) today, even more amazing products are on the way for the public and industry. Your next, or perhaps your … Continue reading
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| Author Zackery Humphreys |
I prefer this more organic way of creating as it bleeds into my writing. Each sentence inspires the next, and the next, which can sometimes lead to the creation of more ideas as I go along. It’s like stream-of-consciousness with punctuation. I prefer this to a solidified outline I may have already thought about ahead of time. It’s more exciting to write organically and it’s hopefully more fluid for the reader.
For the entire process, I continue lying in bed thinking, jotting down notes, and writing until the project is finished and I’m dead tired!
Speaking of “finished,” the question I’ve been asked probably more than any other is, “How long does it take you to finish a book?” Well, it took me seven years to write Epsilon A.R., from the first word to the final product. Enough time to nearly get through all of high school and college.
This isn’t to say I was working on it constantly though. I started the novel as a fourteen-year-old in my sophomore year of high school and finished the first draft about four months later. That one draft sat on my hard-drive for years without a single word changed.
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| VBT |
It took certain things in my life to stop for me to be able to start the project again. From that point, it took another four months to finish the second draft, and about two months more (I’m now twenty-years-old!) to finish the draft I sent out to publishers.
That being said, I’m half-way through two novels within five months along with a few other finished projects on the side. It took me seven years to finish Epsilon, but expect the sequel much sooner. I’ll leave the long waits to George R.R. Martin. Long waits are not usually my thing. I’m impatient and goal-oriented. I like to bunker down and get things done, which is also why I have so many other projects on the side.
In-between the times I’m writing on my novel, I do smaller writings such as screenplays, plays, short stories and poems, some of which will be included in my next book. Writing Epsilon, however, takes a much different type of focus than anything else I do. When I sit down to do it, I start around midnight after all of my rehearsals. This is when the rest of my life can shut off and I can find peace and quiet to write and not think about anything else.
I sit at my desk, put in my earbuds (which don’t play anything) for added silence, and focus all of my attention on it. No one would know just by looking at the page, but I am a perfectionist when it comes to my work, especially Epsilon. I designate certain line spacing, fonts, and sizes for nearly everything. It needs to be laid out perfectly in order for me to focus solely on the writing. I always tell my friends, “I’m not a perfectionist, but when it comes to my work, it needs to be perfect.”
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Passion.
Integrity.
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| Amazon.UK Amazon.com |
Kimi learns that fears are real in the blip – the band of no-time which sits between dimensions – and that fears |
| Amazon.com Amazon.UK |
Like any skill worth mastering, the
writing of science fiction surely takes a lifetime to master. That’s assuming
you’re one of the few who masters it at all. Realizing that, I knew I would
face countless challenges as I penned my first novel-length science fiction
work, Green Light Delivery. Because
of all the sci-fi I’ve read, I should have been able to predict many of these
challenges. Still, it turned out to be a very different view from the active
side of the creative process.
Webrid is a carter, like his mother and grandfather before him. It’s not glamorous work, but it mostly pays the bills, and it gives him time to ogle the sexy women on the streets of Bexilla’s capital. Mostly, he buys and sells small goods and does the occasional transport run for a client.
Then he gets mugged by a robot.
Now, with a strange green laser implanted in his skull and a small fortune deposited in his bank account, Webrid has to make the most difficult delivery of his life. He doesn’t know who his client is, or what he’s carrying, but he knows that a whole lot of very dangerous people are extremely interested in what’s in his head. Literally. And they’ll do whatever it takes to get it.
With the help of some truly alien friends, a simple carter will journey across worlds to deliver his cargo. And hopefully keep his head in the process.
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Runner-Up Science Fiction Category 2011,
San Francisco Book Festival
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In the depths of Singularity a new consciousness has awoken. As it struggles to become free from the immortality machine, its limitless rage threatens the living and the dead alike. The fates of Patrick and the nameless, faceless machine creature are intertwined with each other and with sinister, utilitarian plans for the future of the nation and humanity. Singular is a thought-provoking debut novel of dark comedy that asks questions of a nearly possible future.
Purchase Links:
Captain Andrew Stewart was a superb pilot.
Possibly one of the best Lance Star had ever had the pleasure of flying with. And Lance had flown with many of the great ones. Despite his prowess in the cockpit, Lance knew it was only a matter of time before their opponent’s numbers got the better of them.
“I’m on your six, Drew,” Lance called as he fell into formation behind Drew’s fighter plane. Drew plane was smaller and more maneuverable, but the Nessie had more power. Together, they made a lethal combination.Drew opened fire on the closest bogey, splattering across the Hornet’s wing. The damage was minimal, certainly not enough to take the plane out of the fight, but it did slow it down.Lance swung wide, taking the Nessie in an arc around his wingman’s plane and opened up with the .50-calibers, destroying the wing. The Hornet dropped like a stone toward the water.The pilot leapt out of the doomed plane and Lance watched as his emergency parachute popped open. Angling away from the destroyed remains of his plane, the enemy pilot descended smoothly to the water.Lance banked left, following Drew as he lined up his next target. Before they could get a bead on the Hornet, the remaining Navy plane exploded as the enemy fighters shredded it with gunfire.All that remained was Lance and Drew. And they were severely outnumbered.The Hornets regrouped, circling around in opposite directions in an attempt to box in the pilots.
Lance felt his plane lurch as bullets peppered the Nessie’s side. The Hornets were focusing on the large seaplane. Lance took the Nessie into a dive, the pulled back quickly. The sesquiplane groaned in protest at the undo stress that her pilot was inflicting on her.Suddenly, Drew’s fighter was there, spitting fire at the attacking Hornets.
“Lance,” the Navy Captain’s voice called over the wireless. “Prepare for a quick port dive. I’ll protect your six.”
“I’m not leaving you up here alone, Drew!”
The Navy fighter slipped in behind the smoking seaplane, bucking and weaving as enemy fire rained down on them. “No time to argue, Lance! Your bird’s got more holes in her than I can count.”
“I can hold her.”
“Dammit, Star, don’t argue! I need you in one piece to get those divers!”
“The divers are covered, Drew. Just stay out of their sites.”
Lance angled his plane toward the water below.
Drew’s fighter followed.
The Hornets remained in pursuit.
Then, miraculously, Lance heard the three greatest words he had ever heard spoken with a Boston accent. “We’re here, Boss!”The Skybolt came out of nowhere. One second the sky in front of Lance was empty. The next he saw his pride and joy coming straight toward him only to pass by overhead like a rocket. The Skybolt shot toward the Hornets, unloading a massive barrage from the .50-calibers and the 37mm. Automatic engine cannon.The Hornets, caught off guard, broke off their pursuit.
Can you sum the books up in one sentence?
If you’re looking for a grand adventure let Lance Star: Sky Ranger be your guide.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Lance Star is probably my favorite because he is the character whose head I spend the most time inside. Lance is a hero, but he’s also an every man. He is as much at home up to his elbows in grease while building his latest plane as he is out chasing down Nazi spies or searching for lost treasure.
Which comes first for you – characters or plot?
It depends. I’ve certainly had stories that start off with one or the other. Since Lance Star: Sky Ranger is an on-going series of books I now start with plot and then determine how these characters will react to the situation I drop them into.
Who is your publisher and where are your books available? Are there e-books and hard copies available?
Lance Star: Sky Ranger is published by Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Books. Cornerstone is a traditional publisher so Lance Star: Sky Ranger, as well as the entirety of the Airship 27 pulp line, are available to bookstores and on-line retailers everywhere. There is also an Airship 27 on-line edition that is made available through http://www.gopulp.info/ for those who prefer to order their books on-line and direct from the publisher.
Are there any upcoming signings or appearances you’d like to mention?
I will be appearing at the Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con on December 4 – 5, 2010. I am currently setting up my convention and signing schedule for 2011 and will post that to my website soon.
Do you have an agent, or have you gone alone?
Up until this point I have not had an agent. I am currently trying to find an agent using a novel I recently completed. I don’t do much self-publishing. The Lance Star: Sky Ranger comic book was published by my company as a supplement to the pulp anthology series.
What marketing have you been doing to help sales?
I do a lot of marketing in addition to what is handled by the publisher. I do a good deal of on-line marketing with websites, blogs, forums, and social media outlets. I also use postcards, flyers, press kits, and press releases to promote books to bookstores, comic book shops, magazines, and local newspapers. I also attend/present at conventions, writers conferences, and book signings, and local fairs and festivals. I talk with bookstores and comic book shops directly and I also have a comprehensive email list that I use for marketing purposes. I have fun with marketing and promotion.
Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?
All on the computer. When I first started I would use pen and paper, but now that I’ve been doing this for awhile I can simply sit down at the computer and get to work.
What do you draw inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from everywhere and nowhere. Sometimes ideas appear fully formed and other times I have to work at it and pull bits of story from here and there until the story gels together.
Do you set yourself goals when you sit down to write such as word count?
Not really. Obviously, when I’m on a deadline that requires a certain amount of work to be accomplished each day. If I’m not on deadline, such as with the novels, then I’m free to let the story flow organically. On average I write between 1,500 and 2,000 words a day, although some days I write more.
What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?
Good question. I love telling stories. Even if I weren’t working as a writer I would still have to tell the stories just to get them out of my head. My brain is constantly pulling ideas from my daily life, things I see, people I meet, movies, TV, you name it. I love writing so thankfully I’ve been able to share my stories with readers.
What are you working on now that you can talk about?
I always have several projects going at any given time. Currently, I am finishing up a 15,000 word Lance Star: Sky Ranger novella for volume three of the pulp anthology series, I’m working on a full-length Lance Star: Sky Ranger novel called “Cold Snap,” which is currently at 23,000 words. I’m doing edits on a recently completed novel called Games! There are also two thriller novels in process. Blood Shot is currently at roughly 62,000 words and Evil Intent (the sequel to my first published novel, Evil Ways) is currently at 30,000 words. I plan to finish both of those in 2011.
What is your writing process like? Do you do a lot of background research? Do you plot every detail or do you prefer the characters to move the story in new directions, or a combination of both?
At little of both, I’d say. I do research as needed. With the Lance Star: Sky Ranger books, research is important because I’m writing about a timeframe that I am not personally familiar with. Keeping historical accuracy is important with this series. On the thrillers I research investigative techniques, forensics, weapons, and other elements that are important to the plot.
I do not write detailed plots. I have general plot points for each story, but I like to allow for room for the story to grow in organic ways as I follow the characters as they sometimes veer off in unexpected directions. I’ve heard this style of writer referred to as a Pantser. Not sure if I agree with that as I have a rough idea of where I’m going, but writing this way has led me to some interesting plot twists.
Do you belong to a critique group?
I don’t belong to a critique group. I have in the past, but there is not one very close to where I live so I was attending as often as I liked. I do have a small group of readers that read my work and give me feedback so I have that.
How long does it take you to write a book? Have your written other books?
It varies depending on the book and deadlines. I always have multiple projects going at any given time so I’m never concentrating solely on one story at a time. The fastest I ever wrote a novel was my second, Fantastix: Code Red (currently out of print), which was based off a comic book script I wrote. Using the script as an outline I wrote the novel in three months. It was a daunting task, but I did it. I do not want to write one that fast ever again if I can avoid it.
I’ve been writing prose and comic books since 1992 so I’ve a few books out. You can see a full list at http://bobby-nash-news.blogspot.com/
How did you get into writing? Did you always want to become a writer?
I did not always want to be a writer. I started out with the goal of being a comic book artist. I started writing stories so I would have something to draw. Then other artists started asking me to write for them. Eventually, after taking the advice of a friend, I realized that my writing skills were better than my artistic ones and I began to focus on writing, which led to paying work. And then one day I got the urge to write a novel. Ron Fortier, the publisher/editor of what was to become Airship 27 read the novel and brought me on to write some pulp stories for his new imprint. The first book we did was Lance Star: Sky Ranger. One thing leads to another.
Are you working on another book? Possible to have a preview snippet or blurb of that?
Always. There is always another book in production. I recently finished a novel called Games! Games! is a thriller about a madman’s obsession with games. After six years in prison, Darrin Morehouse takes his own life and sets into motion one last game against those he felt were responsible for his arrest and conviction.
Here’s a snippet from the opening page of Games!:
Fulton County CourthouseAtlanta, Ga.December 21The circus was back in town.Cameras surged as reporters jockeyed for position on the steps of the Fulton County Courthouse building, each one vying for that perfect angle, the one shot that would catch and hold the attention of their viewers. Despite the bone-chilling thirty-four degrees and light drizzle, the crowd outside continued to grow as the moment grew closer.Fabian Alexander shrugged off his warm coat, which his shivering assistant then cradled to her chest in an effort to salvage any leftover body heat. She knew that the reporter must have been freezing, but she also knew the man. It was always better to look good than be comfortable.“You ready?” Alexander asked as he straightened his tie and flicked a piece of lint from the front of his tailored sport coat.“We’re live in,” Mike Greenway, the cameraman said between chattering teeth. “Four… Three…” He mouthed the words two and one before the reporter started speaking.
In his ear piece, Alexander heard the anchors in their nice, warm broadcast booth introduce him. “We go now live to Channel Ten’s own Fabian Alexander who is on scene outside the Fulton County Courthouse on this frigid December morning.” She turned to look at the monitor where the reporter waited on the scene. “How are you doing out there, Fabian? Are you staying warm?”“It is very cold outside the Fulton County Courthouse today, Monica,” he started. “But you’re right. It has been a very busy morning here. Today, in what is being referred to as a bold move by the Atlanta Police Department, suspected head of a large, and as yet unnamed criminal syndicate, Darrin Morehouse was arrested and charged with a list of charges ranging from murder to conspiracy to commit murder.”The television monitor switched to file footage that had been shot earlier of the accused, Darrin Morehouse, at one of the many political fundraisers he attended.“From what we’ve been told, John and Monica, it appears that the District Attorney will indeed be, as they say in the movies, throwing the book at the man. Information received earlier tells us that this extensive investigation into Mr. Morehouse has been ongoing for the last three years.”One of the anchors interrupted with a question. As much as the reporter hated it when the guys in the booth did that, he knew it was good for the show and he rolled with it even though it meant standing out in the freezing cold for another minute. “Has the district attorney’s office given any indication of which specific charges they plan to bring against Mr. Morehouse?”“Not yet, John,” Alexander answered. “The Atlanta Police are being tight-lipped about this case for the moment, but we expect to hear from a police department spokesperson before long. We will, of course, keep you up to date on any further progress. For Channel Ten Up To The Minute News, Fabian Alexander reporting. Back to you in the studio.”“And we’re clear,” Greenway said as the light winked off his camera.
“Thank God,” Alexander said as he retrieved his coat and put it on. “It’s fucking freezing out here.”
“Coffee?”
“It’s too early in the morning for stupid questions, Angela,” the reporter said. “Just get me the damned coffee. Quicker is better.”
“Yes, sir,” she said and ambled off toward the Starbucks across the street.
“I swear, that girl is worse than useless,” he complained as he got into the news van that was only slightly warmer than outside. What little warmth there was inside was welcoming and he felt a tingle creep back into his fingertips.
“Yeah, but at least she’s hot,” the cameraman said with a knowing smile.
“If only that’s all that was necessary to do her job,” Fabian sighed. “Anyway, as soon as I defrost we can shoot the coverage. I want some face time with Bartlett before our next pickup.”
“He’s not going to like that.”
“Do I look like I fucking care what he likes?”
“Not especially,” Greenway said, still smiling.
“Just keep an eye out for him. We move as soon as he exits the building.”
“Will do.”
What advice would you give aspiring authors?
If you want to write for a living then you have to treat it like a job. There is nothing wrong with writing as a hobby and if that is what you want to do then that’s great. However, if you are considering writing as a career then you have to remember that it is a job and treat it as such. Writing is a great job and I love it, but at the end of the day it is still a job.
What is your website and/or blog where readers can learn more? Can they friend you on Facebook or Twitter?
Of course. I have a large presence on the web. Here are just a few of the places you can find me.
http://www.bobbynash.com/ (currently under reconstruction)
http://bobby-nash-news.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/bobbyenash
www.twitter.com/bobbynash
http://www.lance-star.com/
www.myspace.com/bobbynash
www.comicspace.com/bobbynash
And more. I’m not hard to find.
Novels by Bobby include Evil Ways and Fantastix: Code Red.
Sarah O’Donoghue is here to talk to us about her science-fiction novel, Primortia:
I asked Sarah a few questions abut her writing, Primorita and her experience with self-publisher Lulu:
What era is Primortia set?
Primortia is set across multiple eras and locations but Shony’s story unfolds in her world’s modern-day which has technology loosely comparable to ours. Hutosa has regular space travel within its own system but people still like to travel by ship. Most cultures have evolved from monarchies to democracies, but religion is dictated by a central order of Primortian monasteries.
How much research did it involve?
The first ideas for Primortia were sparked about five years ago when I had the idea of a woman learning about her grandmother from diaries she’d left behind. From there I started to world-build Hutosa and the other locations and eras within the story. I have always had an interest in science and there is a very important mineral within the novel that became a character itself. I drew on courses I have taken in astronomy and geology to create a source and properties for this mineral which, whilst not exactly true to science, are at least vaguely plausible!
How does it compare with other novels?
I’ve been reading and involved with science fiction for over twenty years and whilst I love the ‘hard’ science fiction of Clarke, Verne and Asimov I’ve always been drawn to science fiction written by women like Marge Piercy and Connie Willis. I love Connie Willis’ work, particularly her novel Bellwether. Her books combine romance, science and science fiction in fascinating ways and I’ve aimed to mix up the genres as she has done.
What audience is the book intended?
Not to sound selfish but I primarily wrote what I wanted most to read! There is very little science fiction with a romantic element out there and I wanted more! Primortia contains space-faring, technologically-based societies, time travel and a brutal war; but it’s also the story of two women, one in the present and one in the past, each trying to escape what their society expects of them and to find out the truth about their families. I hope the novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys science fiction for adults.
How long did it take you to write it, and how many drafts?
The actual writing took about two years. The first half was written as my project for NaNoWriMo back in 2006 and then I wrote another story, set in the same universe in 2007/8. It was then that I discovered that the story was actually one continuous novel and spent the next eighteen months in Editing Hell, moulding and enriching the storyline to create what became the finished book. Looking at my hard drive I went through 16 drafts. I really hope I never need quite so many again!
Will you be interested in writing another genre?
Not at the moment. The science fiction and fantasy genres have been my home for over twenty years because they are so rich. I can’t remember who said it but I’ve read that the grand stories of our time can only be contained by an arena as vast as SF/fantasy. Older societies had mythologies and sagas. SF/fantasy is where our battles between heroes and villains, gods and demons are now played out.
Is it going to be part of a series?
I’ve just started writing the sequel to Primortia, using NaNoWriMo 2010 to kickstart the writing process. Primortia 2 (not the final title!) will answer all the major questions left at the end of Primortia, but there are many other stories to be told within the Primortian universe so it’s a place I plan to come back to in future books. I’m aiming for a reader to be able to pick up Primortia 2 and jump right into the story but the books are designed to be read in order.
Do you have a favourite scene in the book? Can we have a snippet?
I think it has to be the scene where Shony first explores a place called the Sundial Garden. I’ve always loved sundials and their image is woven throughout the novel. Here’s a snippet:
Are you agented?
No, I’m not agented and I haven’t tried to find an agent for Primortia for a number of reasons. Firstly, I know that very few agents will touch Science Fiction, secondly, I want to keep control of my books and finally I see internet publishing as getting more and more powerful year by year. Thanks to the internet I can get my book printed, promoted and distributed right around the world; and thanks to the internet I can interact with readers and writers on every continent.
You published with Lulu. What was your experience with them?
I’ve been really pleased with Lulu. I did a lot of research before deciding to go self-published, and I did a lot of research before deciding to go with Lulu. I read a lot of other authors’ websites to find out about their experiences and in the end Lulu seemed best for me.
Were they expensive?
I haven’t given Lulu a penny!
If you hit a problem were they there for you?
So far I haven’t hit any problems, but any queries I’ve had about formatting, distribution etc have been answered on their comprehensive user forums.
Do they help with marketing?
I’ve opted for their Extended Reach distribution package which has given me a Lulu ISBN and distribution with Amazon (that should be online within the month). Again, all this has been free. I’ve taken on marketing duties myself, setting up my website www.primortia.com and getting involved in science fiction and writing communities.
Did they typeset the novel?
The option is there but I chose to do this myself. Again, other author pages gave me great advice on formatting the manuscript correctly. I have reasonable IT skills and found typesetting fairly painless.
Did they arrange your bookcover/blurb?
I designed the cover myself and a good friend wrote my blurb.
And finally would you use them again?
Definitely.
Would you call yourself a full time writer?
I’m on a career break from teaching at the moment so, for the next few months at least, I am a full time writer.
Do you have any writing experience?
I’ve always been immersed in words. My first degree is in English Language and Literature and I taught English as a foreign language for over 10 years. I have taken a couple of short writing courses but I’ve learned far more about the craft by reading fiction and getting out there and writing my own.
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wiswor0a-21&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0199135304&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrYou are the co-author of Oxford Content and Language Support what is this book about, and how much input did you have as a co-author?
OCLS Science came out of my background in science and English Language teaching. I saw there was a gap in the market for books to help second language teenagers get to grips with science topics, so I put a proposal together and approached a number of publishers.
Academic writing is the only area I’ve found where publishers are willing to look at unsolicited proposals and so I was able to move forward without an agent.
Oxford University Press were interested in my ideas and asked for a science workbook for second language students. I asked a science teacher friend of mine to get involved and we ended up splitting writing duties 50/50: she wrote the science material, I then unpacked the science content through a variety of exercises and sections on grammar, comprehension and vocabulary. I also compiled a chapter on study skills and a glossary to explain complex scientific terms in straightforward English. It’s been a fantastic project and it’s given me a valuable professional writing credit that I want to build on in the future.
Something is causing animals around the world to mutate, evolve and breed at an accelerated rate endangering the lives of thousands. All of the evidence points to a substance created by a suspected eco-terrorist working for the world’s largest biotechnology company. It becomes a race against time for the team to find a solution to halt the spread of the mass mutations. If they fail it could mean the end of man kind.
Please welcome author of Supernature, Henry Lyons. Lyons is a man who wears many hats. He’s a writer, an educator, a computer specialist, a graphic designer, a video editor and a political activist. In 1992 Henry founded Lyons communications Industries, a computer consultant firm which later became H.V.Lyons Graphic Design Studios. The vision of the company is to make technology accessible to the masses through several entities; advertising, marketing, public relations, web design, and technology support.
As well as employed as a Special Education Teacher for the New York City Department of Education and writing Supernature, Lyons is also an author of Deep Thoughts, a collection of poetry.
Other books to look out for in the near future:
Antsy Anthony – a children’s book centring on a child with ADHD.
Twisted Affairs – an erotic thriller.
Voyage of the Grey Wolf – science fiction.
The Soldier of God – a fantasy drama.
Plus there are plans for a series of books including a follow-up book to Antsy Anthony and a sequel to Supernature.
Deep Thoughts is a collection of poems, essays and visual imagery that show the world as filtered through the mind of a man in torn by conflict. Henry Lyons is a writer that speaks about his loves, his pains and his relationships. Sometimes dark but always honest Deep Thoughts is just that an example of one man’s deepest thoughts.
Is Supernature your debut novel?
Yes this is my first novel but not my first book. Last year I published my first which was a book of poetry, Deep Thoughts. It was really a collection of poems that I had written and saved over the years along with my memoir. Supernature however is a story that I had rolling around in my head for a number of years. After the success of my poetry book I decided to try my hand at turning my story into a novel.
Can you tell us a little about the novel?
Well first let explain what gave me the inspiration for the story. During the late 1970s and early 1980s I worked as a D.J. in various night clubs here in New York. One song quickly became one of my favorites. It was entitled ‘Supernature’ by a French artist named Cerrone. Although it was a disco tune the lyrics spoke about man manipulating nature and nature turning on man. Being a fan of science fiction I fell in love with the concept. Years later I came up with the idea of a story centered on a genetic experiment gone awry causing nature to evolve at an accelerated rate.
Years later when I finally started my novel the story had changed only slightly.
The basic synopsis is this, two police officers in Arizona find a young woman unconscious on the side of a deserted road. During their investigation they uncover a growing threat to man kind. Unknown to the general public mutant wild life has been popping up all over the globe. In the United States a special task force has been formed to deal with the problem. As the story progresses so does the problem, until the mutants threaten the very existence of the world’s human population.
How much research did it involve?
I did a LOT of research for this book! I mean a lot. From the very beginning I wanted a believable story. I wanted a science fiction where the science was real science not some made up stuff that makes no sense. I also wanted a story where the locations where real locations. So I did extensive research on not just the science in the book but also the locations that various scenes took place in. If my characters travelled from one location to another they travelled down real streets in the right direction to get to their destination. For example there are references to the F.B.I. headquarters in Phoenix Arizona. In the story some agents travel from a hospital in Phoenix back to their Field Office. The route that they take is the real route a person would take to make that trip. That’s the kind of detail I’ve placed in the story. All the chemicals, weapons and vehicles used in the story are all real. This was all possible because I spent a lot of time doing research.
How does it compare with other novels?
I wanted this story to be unique. I didn’t want a science fiction that was so full of science and techno speak that it would turn off readers. Another thing that I wanted was for the story to be very visual and descriptive. There are action sequences in the book and I wanted to put the reader right in the middle of the action and make them feel what is happening. I also wanted characters that people would care about.
What audience is the book intended?
Well first of all I’m a High School Teacher so while I was writing the book I had my students in mind. I felt that if I wrote on a high school level anyone could enjoy it and so far the adults who have read the book have given me some very positive feed back. There are even references about global warming and environmental concerns that are topics many of my students are interested in. So the audience range is from teen to adult.
How long did it take you to write it, and how many drafts?
It took me a little over nine months to write the book and it went through about four drafts in the beginning.
Will you be interested in writing another genre?
Yes. Some of the genres I am interested in writing in include thriller, horror, and erotica. I’m also interested in writing a spy novel.
If Supernature is going to be part of a series will I have to read all the books to understand the story?
I am working on the outline for a sequel to Supernature. One of the things I am going to attempt to do is to make it a stand alone read but it will be a continuation of the original story.
Do you have a favourite scene?
Yes I do. It’s a scene where a character by the name of Cooper, dressed in protective gear, has just used a flamethrower on a swarm of mutant killer bees to help free a humvee full of important people. After he frees the truck the bees surround him. Here is the scene:
As Cooper sees the Humvees speed off he begins to wonder if this was such a good plan. They had walked a lot further away from the conservatory than he realized and now getting back was near impossible. The swarm has completely engulfed the three men. Cooper begins to feel the stingers making their way through his gear. He can’t even see five feet in front of him. Walking through the swarm is like walking in a blizzard at night. Soon he realizes that he has lost sight of the two soldiers he came out with and he’s not sure what direction the conservatory is in. His breathing begins to increase as fear sets in. Slowly he inches along hoping to be going the right way. Then suddenly he trips over something in the road and falls face first hard onto the pavement. It’s one of the other soldiers. His dead body lay stiff on the ground as the bees continue to sting it. Cooper then notices that his own face mask has torn when he fell. In a panic he grabs at the opening only to tear it more. Bees rush into his head gear, stinging him all about the face and neck. He can’t breathe, he can’t even scream. Every time he opens his mouth the bees hush in choking him even more. He tries spitting out the bees but is stung both on the inside as well as the outside of his mouth. His tongue begins to swell; his throat closes up as his airways bulge from the venom. He rolls around on the ground holding his throat and gasping for air. Without thinking he rips off his head gear to take a breath. Instantly hundreds of bees attack him stinging him about the face and neck. One bee plants a stinger deep into his throat and another stings him right in his left eye which sends daggers of pain straight through his brain. He grabs the insect and crushes it in his hand. The pain is unbearable. The veins in his neck and face turn blue and swell, his body twitches and jerks, his muscles stiffen, dark venom laced blood oozes out of his ears and nose. His body jerks violently a few more times then finally falls still.
Are you agented?
No I’m not.
Who are you published with?
I’m self published and I’m working with a partner in putting together out own publishing company.
Are you a full time writer?
No. For now I write as a hobby.
Do you have any writing experience?
Not really. The only experience I have writing has been writing poetry.
What are you working on now?
I am presently working on two books. One is an erotic thriller entitled ‘Twisted Affairs’ and the other is a fantasy drama named ‘Soldier of God’.
Twisted Affairs is about a woman who plots with her lover to murder her husband. But their scheme doesn’t quite turn out the way they planned.
The Soldier of God involves a man who loses his entire family and gives up on life only to find later that his tragedies where a holy test of his faith. If he passes the test he will be endowed with supernatural powers.
Contacts:
Blog: hvlyons.blogspot.com
Twitter: twitter.com/Hvlyons
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hvlyons
eBay: myworld.ebay.com/hvlyonsjr
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MySpace: www.myspace.com/hvlyons
