Interview with sci-fi author William Michael Davidson

Sci-fi author William Michael Davidson is here today and we’re talking about his new Christian futuristic dystopian novel, The Remnant which will be releasing on February 7.

During his virtual book tour, William will be giving away two (2) print copies of The Remnant (U.S. only) and one (1) e-book copy of The Remnant (available internationally). To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase you chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too! The deadline to enter is 12AM (EST) February 26.

Bio:

William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California, with his wife and two daughters. A believer that "good living produces good writing," Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible. A writer of speculative fiction, he enjoys stories that deal with humanity's inherent need for redemption.

Welcome, William. Please tell us about your current release.

The Remnant is about a post-theological world. The government has created a superflu that wipes out humanity’s VMAT2 Gene, which is, according to some scientists, the reason people have spiritual experience. The action centers around Colton Pierce, an extractor for the Center for Theological Control. He apprehends Aberrants (those who display symptoms of faith) and quarantines them on a remote Island. The crux of the novel is what happens when Colton’s own son, Marty, is targeted for extraction. Colton has to decide whether to turn in his own son or help him flee the government. At this time, he also learns of the Remnant, an underground militia of Aberrants, who have managed to stay “off the grid.” They agree to help Colton save his son in exchange for a favor: They want Colton to help them free the Aberrants who have been quarantined on the Island.

What inspired you to write this book?

One day I was reading online about the idea of people’s belief in God being dependent on a gene. If you look online, this idea of eradicating this gene and controlling peoples’ theistic beliefs has been around for a little while, but for me it just seemed like a great story. All at once, I knew I had to write a story about this. I don’t personally believe that a person’s belief in God is dependent on a biological feature, but I knew it was a great premise for a story. So I ran with it. Like usual, I had no idea where the story would go. I just followed where the characters led me.

Excerpt from The Remnant:

They were traveling so fast, it seemed like mere seconds before they reached the Artesia Boulevard exit. Colton backed off and let the Star Runner get some distance ahead of him. Just as he’d wanted, an officer on the side of the road had put down a long, collapsible strip of spikes across the center of the road. The Star Runner tore right through it, puncturing its tires. A moment after, the officer worked the contraption, and the long mechanical strip folded in and snapped back to the side of the road like a rubber band so that the Mustang could pass without shish-kabobbing its tires.

Pleased that it had worked, Colton narrowed the distance between himself and the Star Runner, which, now rolling on its rims and shredded tires, was quickly slumping to a dead stop in the middle of the freeway. When it was clear that the Star Runner wasn’t going to move another inch, Colton leapt from his vehicle.

“Cover me,” he told Marek who, getting out of the Mustang, took shelter behind the opened passenger door.

With his Shark 41-F drawn, Colton walked past the smell of burned rubber and through a minefield of tire chunks. The Star Runner’s door suddenly opened, and a Hispanic man wearing black slacks and a white short-sleeve button-down shirt stepped out of the vehicle. He was crying uncontrollably. He held his hands up high in the air and began to plead for something, and Colton seized the opportunity for a clean shot.

He fired.

The target looked down at the small silver dart in his chest, as if contemplating it for a brief second, and then collapsed onto the asphalt.

“Extraction Complete,” Colton said, radioing in. He looked at his arm computer: 11:29. An impressive time for such a difficult extraction.

He looked back at Marek and gave him the thumbs up. Petra, as she had been trained to do, dashed toward the fallen target to make sure his vitals were stable and he wasn’t having any adverse effect to the tranquilizer.

Then, as happened in many extractions, citizens who had been hiding out in their cars along the perimeter of the road climbed out of their vehicles and began to applaud. Pretty soon it was nothing but cheers, whoops, clapping, and verbal accolades running along the 710 North. One burly guy driving a big rig hung out of the driver’s side of his vehicle and pulled down on the horn: a massive, celebratory blast.

Colton, out of duty and public service, smiled, waved hello, and bowed gracefully before the general public.

As he did so, he looked in the general direction of CTC Headquarters and wondered what Ashton Lampson would think when he heard of Colton’s extraction time.

“Not a bad time, is it, Ashton?” he said, bowing once again to the crowd of bystanders. “Not bad at all.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

I actually just finished the sequel to The Remnant. As of now, it is entitled Mass Exodus. It needs lots of work and editing, but I’m pretty happy with the first draft.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? I think I knew I wanted to be a writer in the fifth grade. We had a poetry contest and the winner was going to have his or her poem read on the radio. I went to class and my name was on the board, and I thought it was because I was in trouble. Of course, I discovered that I had actually won the contest. I think from that moment on, I knew it was something I loved doing.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I wish. I also teach English (which I actually enjoy very much). So for me, I get up very early at about 5:30 a.m. and grind out my writing before work. I’ve learned that if I don’t write before the day starts and my responsibilities as a husband and a father kick in, it won’t happen. So I write early with my coffee while the house is dark and quiet.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I always have a paperback book on my lap when I write. If I’m stuck or thinking, I will pick up the book and just feel it and imagine that one day my story will be complete and published like the one I’m holding. My wife laughs when she watches me hold the book and feel its pages, but that’s what I do.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I knew I always wanted to be a writer and teach English. I had times when I entertained other things, but I had little doubt as a kid. I knew what I was good at and what I enjoyed.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Because the topic of religion and God frightens away a lot of people, and because this book deals with those issues, I would encourage everyone to try reading it. Whether you are a Christian, an atheist, an agnostic, or anywhere in between, you might be surprised what you find.

Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

The Remnant is available to order in e-book form at the following sites:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

The print format of the book is available at these sites:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Chapters-Indigo | Book Depository | Foyles | Mediander | Fiction DB

Thanks for being here today, William. All the best with your writing! 

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Interview with author Ian Lewis about his new thriller

Author Ian Lewis is helping me kick off the new week. We’re chatting about his thriller, Godspeed, Carry My Bullet.

Bio:

Ian Lewis prefers not to be bound by a particular genre. Though the inspiration for his work varies, it often finds roots in something he dreamt. He strives for a gritty realism and maintains an interest in the humanity of his characters. His hope is that readers find themselves haunted by his stories in the sense that the narrative sticks with them long after they've finished reading, leaving them with a subtle restlessness for more.

Mr. Lewis is the author of The Camaro Murders, Lady in Flames, and Power in the Hands of One, all novellas. His first full length novel, Godspeed, Carry My Bullet, was released in April of 2016. He has been writing since 2002.

Welcome, Ian. Please tell us about your current release.

The first of a two-part series, Godspeed, Carry My Bullet is a somewhat dystopian thriller that features an alternate history of the United States. The recession of 2008 leads to full economic collapse. Fast forward to 2013 where the story begins, and the country has split into two governments: the Directorate in the East and the United States Valiant in the West.

The story follows several plot lines that tie together in unexpected ways: a would-be assassin, a nomadic survivalist, a preacher turned vigilante, a rookie spy, and a single mother trying to provide for her family.

What inspired you to write this book?

Many of the characters were inspired by coworkers of mine because we had an inside joke where we were characters in a dystopian version of the United States. I always told them I’d write a book about it, just for fun. I didn’t initially intend to release it; however, the story took on a life of its own. At its core, the book is meant to serve as an allegory for failed partisan politics. The idea is that despite the public animosity between our two parties, the representatives from either side of the aisle are really the same people. They’re just as corrupt and untrustworthy as the other.

Excerpt from Godspeed, Carry My Bullet:

Bobby halted and cringed like he’d been caught. He felt as though he had an “I’m carrying a gun” sign taped to his back. He turned to fully face the approaching MP.

The MP strode in short, quick steps. His brow lined his face like the unbreakable edge of a knife. The man’s eyes bulged with an accusatory glare. “Let’s see some ID,” he said.

Bobby considered running, but only for a moment. He instead paused for a long exhale and reminded himself that he wasn’t yet guilty. The MP had made no such proclamation. Bobby knew he was only being stopped because that was what was promised by the flyers posted the day before. “Sure, hang on a minute.”

“I need your labor card and driver’s license.” The MP continued to glare, his eyes drilling imaginary holes.

Bobby nodded, never taking his eyes off of the other man’s MP5 which could pepper him full of 9mm bullets before he could protest. He reached into his back pocket with his free hand and then laid the duffel near his feet so he could fish out his IDs. Please don’t ask about the bag, he thought as he handed over the plastic cards.

The MP breathed in heavy rasps while sweat beaded at his hairline. He examined both IDs and looked at Bobby’s face. Then he looked at the IDs again before handing them back to Bobby. “You on your way to work?”

“Yes, sir.” Bobby didn’t want to divulge any more information than required. He kept a straight face and maintained eye contact.

“What’s in the bag?” The man nodded to the duffel.

Bobby felt all the confidence drain from him. He hoped his color had not followed. It was all he could do to keep his eyes from wavering. Inside, he cursed himself for not having a better plan. This would be his undoing. “Just some clothes. I’m donating them to the poor.”

The MP narrowed his eyes and shifted his weight to the other foot. His grim line of a mouth suggested he wasn’t convinced. “Open the bag.”

Open the bag? Open the bag!? Bobby couldn’t hesitate. To do so would appear suspicious. His only hope now was that the man would fail to dig to the bottom. Fear and remorse mixed into a nauseous swirl inside him. He felt sick and weak, flushed and wobbly. “Sure, no problem.” He leaned over to unzip the bag.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m currently writing the sequel to Godspeed, Carry My Bullet. I hope to release it in 2018. In the meantime, I hope to release a completed novel in 2017 that will stand as the third entry in a loose series featuring a character known as the Driver, who appears in The Camaro Murders and Lady in Flames.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I first considered myself a writer when I received a contract from Untreed Reads for The Camaro Murders. For me, that was validating. Despite the fact that it was a novella in eBook form, I could honestly tell people that I was a published author.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I don’t have the luxury of writing full-time. So I have to make time to write, which means my lunch break at work as well as at night after everyone goes to bed.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I get a lot of my ideas from music. Many times a particular song will have the right vibe or the right lyric to get the creative juices flowing. Often times it’s the theme or mood of an entire album. I think the idea started out with wanting to attempt to write a story based on a Pixies album. I wanted to take the lyrics and make up a story where each song would be a chapter. I never actually did this, but I still think it would be an interesting exercise.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A fighter pilot.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I love when readers provide constructive reviews. If you read anything of mine, please take the time to leave your thoughts. You can purchase Godspeed, Carry My Bullet from your favorite eBook retailer, for only .99 cents during the month of August. Check out the landing page for links. It also never hurts to check out my back catalog with Untreed Reads.

Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook

Thanks for being here today, Ian!

Special excerpt for dystopian sci-fi novel Nighthawks by Jeremy Flagg

I’m featuring a special excerpt from Nighthawks today. This is a dystopian sci-fi novel from Jeremy Flagg.

During his virtual book tour, Jeremy will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Jeremy shares a bit about himself:

I’m high school graphic design and marketing teacher, at a large suburban high school in Massachusetts. Working as a high school educator and observing the outlandish world of adolescence was the inspiration for my first young adult novel, “Suburban Zombie High.”

My inspiration for writing stems from being a youth who struggled with reading in school. While I found school assigned novels incredibly difficult to digest, I devoured comics and later fantasy novels. Their influences can be seen in the tall tales I spin.

I took the long route to becoming a writer. For a brief time, I majored in Creative Writing but exchanged one passion for another as I switched to Art and Design. My passion for reading about superheroes, fantastical worlds, and panic-stricken situations would become the foundation of my writing career.

I participated in my first NaNoWriMo in 2006 and continue to write an entire novel every November. Now I am the NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison to the Massachusetts Metrowest Region. I also belong the New England Horror Writer’s Association and to a weekly writing group, the Metrowest Writers.

A little bit about Nighthawks:

Twenty-six-year-old painter Conthan Cowan takes art to a shocking frontier…

His debut exhibit features the transformation of his high school friend, Sarah, as she went from a shy, soft-spoken girl to a Child of Nostradamus—an individual gifted with extraordinary abilities. Living in a society where the Children of Nostradamus are captured by the government, Conthan’s exhibit draws attention from officials and protesters alike.

A government psychic may be dead, but that doesn’t stop her from manipulating the future…

The deceased White House aide is only remembered for her failed assassination attempt on the president decades before Conthan was born. Foreseeing her own death, she scribed letters to bring together specific Children of Nostradamus on a mission that will change the world.

On the night of the gallery exhibition, Conthan receives one of those letters…

whispers from the past direct him to visit Sarah, the subject of his paintings, who like many Children of Nostradamus, is being detained in a government research facility. It’s there he finds himself aligned with a rogue group of Children on a mission to prevent a dark future.

As a dark future unfolds, there's only one hope to stop the destruction of the world...

The Children of Nostradamus.

Excerpt from Nighthawks:

“…Seabrook, New Hampshire is gone. If you’re just tuning in, the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant has just exploded. We have no word yet on what caused the explosion, but we do know there was a catastrophe resulting in failure of the systems at the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant.”

“God help them,” said the woman at the news desk.

He could hear Elizabeth gasp at the announcement. His mind was moving a million miles an hour. His wife, still covered in sweat and grime from giving birth, his newborn son, his office calling him to alert him to the news, all of it caused his head to swim. He was unsure of what his next move would be.

The television flickered and turned to static. Mark reached up and smacked the side of the box. The static began to take the shape of a person. He stepped back to see the solid outline of a man on the TV.

“United States of America,” said a voice through the static, “land of the free and home of the brave. We are calling out your discreet operations. We know all about The Culling. Individuals who for years have been in your employ, using their more-than-human abilities to further your goals, will not die in vain. Killing empaths, slaughtering clairvoyants, and the genocide of telepaths will be responded to in kind.”

“Eleanor,” he said in a hushed voice as he realized what they were talking about.

“The United States has declared war on the wrong people. We can see you coming. We can hear your plans. We will not be eliminated. You’ve seen our reach.”

  

Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

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Interview with author L.S. O'Dea about Lake of Sins

Today is a special interview with L. S. O’Dea about her new novel Lake of Sins.

During her virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions, L.S. will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops, too!

A little bit about Lake of Sins:

In a world where class distinction means the difference between imprisonment and freedom and even life and death, being chosen to stay in the encampment and breed is the only way to guarantee survival for a teenage Producer.

Every year after harvest, the finest examples of teenage Producers are assigned mates; the rest are loaded onto carts and hauled away, never to be seen or heard from again. Trinity, a sixteen-year-old Producer, knows that she has no chance of being chosen to stay. She isn’t even full-blooded Producer. Her father is a House Servant and she’s spent her entire life hiding her differences, especially her claws and fangs.

She has one week to sneak into the forest and discover what happens to those who are taken. Her plan is simple, but she doesn’t count on being hunted and captured by predators long believed to be extinct. Can she elude her captors to uncover the fate of her kind and return to camp before her escape is discovered?

Have you ever had an imaginary friend?

Oh, definitely yes. I still have imaginary friends. They are the characters in yet untold stories. I was the youngest of seven. My closest sibling was almost five years older than me. That was a huge age gap for a child and I played by myself often. I don’t recall having any particular imaginary friend so much as having entire stories with numerous friends and characters to keep me company.

Do you have any phobias?

I am slightly afraid of heights (it is weird that I’d love to be able to fly), but I’d have to say that my biggest phobia is the fear of water. Not chlorinate water but the ocean and lakes. To be more precise, it isn’t a fear of water so much as a fear of those creatures lurking under its depths just waiting to eat me (sharks and alligators mostly).

When I first moved to Florida, I had a lot of nightmares about alligators. It’s subsided a bit since I moved to the country, but they still trickle out of my subconscious sometimes and into my dreams.

Do you listen to music when you're writing?

No. The voices in my head are enough noise for me.

Do you ever read your stories out loud?

I have just finished reading both books to my great niece and nephew. Their mother (my niece) is one of my beta readers, so they have been hearing us talk about the story for years. They really wanted to read it but they are only nine and ten and there are some things in the books that are not appropriate for kids their age. They stayed with me this past summer, so I read the books to them, skipping and glossing over the parts that I felt were too adult for them.

Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.

My main character is Trinity. At the start of the series she is sixteen. She is different than all the other kids in the encampment and does not truly fit in with them. She is lonely.

I’m not sure if anyone really inspired me for her creation. I don’t create characters with someone else in mind. Truthfully, I’m not even sure that I create them. I flesh them out on paper but they already exist in the fog of my brain. I just help them into a body.

Excerpt from Lake of Sins:

“Something’s following us,” he whispered as he unsheathed his knife. 

The quiet rustle of vegetation behind them signaled that night was not the only thing approaching.  He pointed to a large tree.  She scurried up it and stopped on a limb high off the ground.  He signaled for her to wait and then walked several yards farther before climbing another tree.  He crouched on a low branch, knife in hand.

The woods were gray, the shadows growing wider as time passed.  She waited, scanning the forest below, her heart pounding in her ears.  What was hunting them, besides Guards?  She pulled her knife out of the sheath and adjusted her position.  Gaar always said that predators had to have patience, so the smart prey would too.  She was still working on that.  She shifted around again for a different angle.  So far, she hadn’t seen anything dangerous in the forest, but she had traveled mostly with Mirra.  She tried to relax her breathing, but it was coming in short pants.  She had to calm down.  Fear could be smelled.  Fear attracted predators. 

There was a soft whisper in the vegetation and a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the brush.  A few feet away were two more eyes and then another set.  There were at least ten pairs, shining in the darkness.

Bio:

L. S. O'Dea grew up the youngest of seven. She always wanted to do what her older siblings were doing, especially reading stories.

At a young age, she immersed herself in books. Her life changed when she read a short story written by her older brother and realized that normal (somewhat anyway, since her brother was a bit weird in her opinion) people created these amazing stories. From that day forward, she wanted to write.

However, as with all good stories, obstacles rose in her path (mostly self-created obstacles) and it took her many years to put finger to keyboard and type her first book.

Links:

Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Website | Blog | Amazon Author Central | Amazon Buy Link

The first book of the series is on sale for $0.99 until the end of the tour.

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