Interview with novelist Melissa Riddell

Novelist Melissa Riddell joins me today to chat about her new sci-fi post-apocalyptic romance, The Descendant.

During her virtual book tour, Melissa will be giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card, a signed copy of The Descendant (book 1), OR an ARC of the second book in the series to lucky randomly drawn winners. 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 and enter there, too!

Bio:
Melissa Riddell is from a small, West Texas town in which she still lives with her husband. Her writing career started as a hobby when she was a teenager, writing poems and short stories. Eventually, she branched out and began constructing novels. When not contemplating new story ideas, she can be found traipsing around Texas State Parks, herding her cats, or reading a book.

Please share a little bit about your current release.

The Descendant is the first book of the Baltin Trilogy. It puts the reader in Tilly Morgan’s shoes, a tough little scrapper with a potty mouth. The story shows her journey through Texas to find her older sister. Tilly is one of the few humans to have survived an alien invasion. The unseen visitors released an electromagnetic pulse and destroyed all electronics and then wiped out most of humanity with a killer virus. As a lonely survivor, she navigates the new, savage world and clings to the hope her sister is also immune and alive. Unfortunately, her sister lives in Florida, hence the journey across Texas.

Along the way, she befriends Kodiak, a funny, lovable dog who becomes her best friend. A few weeks later, she’s rescued by a cocky, handsome stranger named Jareth, who’s intent on tagging along, whether she wants him or not. It follows their relationship as they travel and touches upon truth, trust, and forgiveness. It has a few twists and turns, too.

What inspired you to write this book?
At the time the idea started, I worked on an Air Force base and would daydream of secret aliens and government conspiracies. Plus, I was playing Fallout 4 and loved how the main character and Dogmeat form their bond. So, after turning part of the idea into a short story, I decided I wanted to flesh it out into a full-length novel.

Excerpt from The Descendant:
Jareth clears his throat. “I know it’s not much, but I like the way it feels—the earthy smell, the chalky texture. Plus, it gets cooler back in the tunnels, which makes for great food storage.” His voice bounces from the walls, projecting the sound all around me.

Shadows cast by the edge of the distant firelight flicker across his face, revealing the hollow of a small dimple in his cheek. It’s a face that’s near perfection. Too bad he had to open his mouth and ruin it.

“Like what you see, Red?”

Oh, my God. I’m going to kill this man. Blood rushes to my face, but I’m not sure if it’s from embarrassment or anger.

Pressing my lips together, I try to focus on anything that’s not him. The earthen smell he mentioned isn’t unpleasant. It reminds me of mom’s garden; digging our hands into the dark, moist soil to plant seedlings for the summer season. It’s a satisfying, honest scent.

But I’m not about to let him know that. “Kind of smells like bat crap in here.”

Hazarding a glance at his face, he nods his head, the small smile still playing about his lips. “Oh, that’s what the smell is? I thought it was body odor and dog fur.”

I will kill the jerk in his sleep tonight.

Pivoting on the balls of my feet, I stalk back to Kodiak.

Dreadful. Hateful. Spiteful man. “I hope a stalactite falls on your head.”


What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently writing the prequel to The Descendant. It will follow Tilly for the two years between the electromagnetic pulse and the release of the virus that killed most humans. It’s a survival story and shows how she and her parents weathered those two years in their little Texas town, along with the community.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I didn’t consider myself a writer until this book was published. It’s funny, because I never, in a million years, would’ve guessed this would be a career for me. Now, I can’t stop the stories. My brain is like Pandora’s Box!

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 work full-time as a contractor for the military, but at night, I write for several hours every evening. The hubby knows how obsessive I am about things, so he doesn’t bother me while I shut myself in my office for months on end, cranking out one story after the other. I’m quite an introvert, though most people would never guess it after meeting me, but I love the solitude of being a writer.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Goodness, I don’t know. Wait, yes I do. I broke my laptop by hitting it against a door (I’m a klutz), but it still works. I can’t write on any other computer or laptop because I’m afraid it’ll mess with my creative mojo. So, I use this poor, beat-up thing (it won’t even shut) to write my stories. And there’s no way I’m taking it in to be repaired because then I’ll be without it for who knows how long and unable to write.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A singer in a rock and roll band, then it changed to a police officer, then a teacher… you get the picture.

Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

Thanks for the interview!

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New interview with sci-fi adventure author Olga Werby

Today’s special guest is sci-fi author Olga Werby. She’s chatting with me about her newest novel, Becoming Animals.

During her virtual book tour, Olga will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card. 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 and enter there, too!

Bio:

Olga Werby, Ed.D., has a Doctorate from U.C. Berkeley with a focus on designing online learning experiences. She has a Master's degree from U.C. Berkeley in Education of Math, Science, and Technology. She has been creating computer-based projects since 1981 with organizations such as NASA (where she worked on the Pioneer Venus project), Addison-Wesley, and the Princeton Review. Olga has a B.A. degree in Mathematics and Astrophysics from Columbia University. She became an accidental science fiction indie writer about a decade ago, with her first book, "Suddenly Paris," which was based on then fairly novel idea of virtual universes. Her next story, "The FATOFF Conspiracy," was a horror story about fat, government bureaucracy, and body image. She writes about characters that rarely get represented in science fiction stories -- homeless kids, refugees, handicapped, autistic individuals -- the social underdogs of our world. Her stories are based in real science, which is admittedly stretched to the very limit of possible. She has published almost a dozen fiction books to date and has won many awards for her writings. Her short fiction has been featured in several issues of "Alien Dimensions Magazine," "600 second saga," "Graveyard Girls," "Kyanite Press' Fables and Fairy Tales," "The Carmen Online Theater Group's Chronicles of Terror," with many more stories freely available on her blog, Interfaces.com.

Welcome, Olga. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I write in the genres of sci-fi and magical realism. My background is in astrophysics and psychology. Granted, it’s not a very likely combination for a career…a regular career. But it is perfect for a writer!

I wrote Becoming Animals with my husband and partner, Christopher Werby. Our book deals with differences between animal and human cognition and emotional states. How are bird thoughts different from our own? How does it feel to be prey? How would a life of a whale be different from a human girl? And what does it feel like when you are dying? We use this setup to discuss not only the various physiological and cognitive differences between various animals and humans, but to also consider the ethics of using animals in research. I hope this book leaves people thinking about it for many years to come.

Please tell us a little bit about Becoming Animals.

Humans have always wanted to know what goes on inside the minds of other animals. But what if humans could become animals? Toby’s father leads a team of neuroscientists who are developing equipment to directly connect the brains of humans with those of animals. Toby is a prodigy at throwing her mind into the animal subjects in her dad’s lab—she’s the best there is.

But Toby suffers from cystic fibrosis and she’s not likely to live to adulthood. Could a radical plan to embed her consciousness into an animal allow Toby to survive? And what does it mean to live without a human body?

Can Toby and her father solve the problem of fully merging two beings before she takes her last breath? Will the government succeed in stopping their efforts before they are done? It’s a race against death and into the minds of animals.

Reviews for Becoming Animals:

"[A] must-read for every science fiction and animal lover." -- a 5 star review from Readers' Favorite 

"[A]s a concept for a novel I found the idea of melding with an animal's mind, in Becoming Animals, to be utterly fascinating and was excited to see how this would develop for young Toby. I became very invested in the characters created by Olga and Christopher Werby and consequently enjoyed this children's/young adult book even more than I thought I would. The amount of honest research that had clearly gone on before penning this novel lent real authenticity to the tale. I had heard much of what was discussed in broad details in various places, but had perhaps not realized the possible implications - this was especially true of the idea of neuroplasticity and our brain's ability to reset and remake neural connections, at will or as required. The book was an incredibly easy read and although the science might be above the understanding of some of the authors' intended audience, it in no way detracted from the understanding of the story. This story is unique, in my opinion, a rare quality in today's book market. I commend the two authors for their ingenuity and creativity and can highly recommend this read. A great job!" -- a 5 star review from Readers' Favorite

"[T]he characters, both human and animal, are unforgettable, and the plot is high-tech fantasy at its finest. Becoming Animals is most highly recommended." -- a 5 star review from Readers' Favorite

"[A] very interesting, enjoyable, and thought-provoking read; a brilliant addition to the libraries of science fiction and fantasy fans, as well as anyone who simply enjoys a good story." -- a 5 star review from Readers' Favorite

"[T]his is a great novel for young and older sci-fi fans." -- a 5 star review from Readers' Favorite

"[T]his a very interesting, enjoyable, and thought-provoking read; a brilliant addition to the libraries of science fiction and fantasy fans, as well as anyone who simply enjoys a good story." -- a 5 star review from Readers' Favorite 

What inspired you to write this book?

Becoming Animals allows its readers to get inside the minds of animals. How does it feel to fly? What does craving for dark, tight places and food feels like? Why does the weight of the sun through the cold waters of the Pacific taste so exquisite? When you can let go of feeling human, what experiential vistas open up? Animals might not have the tools we do to communicate their experiences and feelings, but if a human could embody an animal, that person can describe what they sense and the emotions that run through them.

While animals have very similar organs to humans, the way they use them is different. In particular, animal cognition is both familiar and radically dissimilar to ours. Just to give a few simple examples. Humans see in full color spectrum…at least that’s what we think. Dogs see in black in white, while birds see extra colors. Human sense of smell is rather weak, but a rat’s olfactory organs are amazingly well developed. People see the world from a height of several feet above the ground, rats from below an inch, birds from hundreds of feet up in the air. Just this change of perspective is a spectacular mind altering experience. In its essence, “Becoming Animals” is a story of mind-altering experiences and the desire of a child to survive a terminal illness by escaping into a mind of an animal.

What’s the next writing project?

I just finished 100,000 word novel on theme of fate – how far would people go to change their destiny? Are we “hardwired” to live the life we live? If it were possible to make changes, how high of a price would a person be willing to pay to make that change? The main protagonist in this story is a young man who was born with a congenital birth defect that set severe limitation to his life. Hig believed that as a boy he made a bargain with fate – his life for the life of his mother – that liberated him from a fate of a cripple and turned him into a popular, athletic young man, captain of his college soccer team. But a mother’s death is a heavy guilt load to grow up with.

The book is about untangling love from guilt from sacrifice. The book turned out well, I think, sort of a cross between “Something Wicked This Way Comes” and “Cloud Atlas.” I look forward to releasing my literary baby into the world soon.

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)

Stories usually start with just a tiny idea and then grow as I collect research around that topic. A few years down the line, the little clump of thoughts jells into an idea for a book. But I never know if the book will become a full-length novel or a novella or even a longish short story. I’m a “pantser” – I write without an outline, by the seat-of-my-pants. I just have a ton of research and random thoughts written down on little notes in my note-taking software. By the time I actually start writing a new novel, I’ve usually spent a year or so taking notes and doing research. I tend to have a general idea of what the book will be about, but I have to feel my way towards the resolution of a story. I write to find out what happens next! Once I know my characters and understand their predicament, the story is written by them. They decide what they want to do and how to proceed and how to solve problems that I throw at them. I know this sounds crazy, but it works well for me. Still, the more research I do, the better the outcome. But it is always a mystery how it all works out. I’m always surprised by the end of the story—the finished book is nothing like I’ve imaged it…but it does contain all of the elements of my research for the story.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?

Becoming Animals was a difficult book to write. It is based on a lot science – all the scientific details described in this story are true, even if they are pushed to the limit of what’s possible. When you read about how a rat responds to danger or how a whale mourns the death of its baby or how a young piglet gets the zoomies, it’s all real. The fictional part is how a human girl responds to experiences that are unique to other animals.

One of the easiest ways to learn is through stories. Humans are wired to enjoy and remember them. Science fiction tells stories about the future or alternative history or some other “what if” scenarios that involve real science pushed to the limit. While entertainment is a perfectly valid goal in itself, sometimes a good story can do more than entertain. I hope this story has made a bit of neurology and animal cognition slightly more approachable for our readers.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.

I write at my desk, in a spare bedroom that we turned into an office. I’m surrounded by books and the surface of my desk is covered with loose papers and fiddly toys. But my computer monitor and what’s on it is just as important as what’s in a physical space around me. I work in a text editor – it’s simple text, no formatting at all, no distractions. I have a note-taking application running as well – I have years’ worth of research that I do before starting a story, so I need to have that at my fingertips. I have a web browser open on a dictionary page. And I have iTunes with a soundtrack for my book (each book has its own soundtrack).

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?

I read everything…well, not histories or biographies or horror. I usual discover an author I like, and then read everything they’ve ever written! It is so much easier to know that the book will be good than to be disappointed. I know this sounds crazy. But I read a lot. I have thousands of books at home. I have books shelves in my bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways, kitchen, living room… I have books stocked on most flat surfaces and up the stairs. I’m not allowed to buy physical books anymore…unless I really want to. I do most of my “fun” reading on my phone now—Kindle App. I have thousands of books on my phone as well. The good thing about that is that the phone is always in my pocket (I no longer buy clothes that don’t have pockets to accommodate my cell phone.). I can whip out a book while I wait in line, while I sit in a doctor’s office, while I exercise… It’s a perfect delivery mechanism for reading.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?

There are hidden jokes in all my books. They are not “ha ha” jokes, just little things that would make someone in the know smile. Mostly, I hide things in the names of characters and places. Little Easter Eggs!

Links:

Website | Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Company/Publisher | YouTube | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Instagram

And I now have a site that allows students and parents to download free educational materials for elementary and secondary school kids to download and do offline. It is still under development, but keep an eye out if you have kids!

Thank you for being here today!

Thanks again!

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Interview with sci-fi novelist Victor Arteaga

Today’s special guest is sci-fi author Victor Arteaga who is chatting with me about his new paranormal, Unrest.

During his virtual book tour, Victor will be awarding a $15 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!

Bio:

Victor Arteaga is a writer of science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal stories. Though he’s always been an avid reader, his dream to be a writer was jump-started when he got sober in March of 2015. What began as an exercise to keep his sobriety billowed into a deep and unbridled passion to create. His experiences with addiction and being a first-generation American from immigrant parents inject a flavor of unique authenticity to his characters and worlds that he creates. His imagination is given free rein to conjure worlds and experiences on the page which enthralls and captivates readers.

Welcome, Victor. Please share a little bit about your current release.

I’m always super bad at answering these without just giving away the whole plot so I’ll just put in the blurb that took me three months to write lol.

Remembrance Day is a garbage holiday. It’s just an excuse for vampires and humans to throw themselves a parade and pretend they did us werewolves a favor. But I guess it’s not all bad. I get cheap booze, live in an underground lunar city, which some would find cool, and working at a hotel keeps me busy. Sejanus Industries isn’t a benevolent corporate ruler, but they’re the devil I made a deal with. My life is quiet and mostly non-violent but one message from my cousin could cause me to lose the sliver of peace I sacrificed everything for.

What inspired you to write this book?

A friend of mine asked me, “Hey, Victor settle a debate for me. What would happen if you put a werewolf on the moon?” I wasn’t sure what she meant, so she clarified by asking if you put one on the moon, assuming it could live there, would it transform or stay the same? The answer involves a space elevator, manned missions to the moon that go horribly wrong and vampires. Obviously.

Excerpt from Unrest:

Abandoned hope thickened the air as people streamed between polished stone pillars that fronted this house of false promises. Equity and justice for all were laughable concepts the powerful wielded to fit their will and whim. The sky drizzled and misted enough to be cold, damp and miserable. Its gray cloud cover blunted the vibrant colors of the sparse, yet immaculate landscaping, and the wet air smothered the flowers’ sweet fragrance. I trekked past the throngs of caged miscreants as a lone wolf would pass through a swarm of rodents. The weight of my misdeeds forced my shoulders low, lined my mouth, and left my gaze fierce and steady. Guilt over leaving the cousin who called me sister slowed my steps. Betrayal of my chosen family left the bitter taste of regret on my tongue.

Lady Justice, the sullen patron saint of my temporary home, was painted and carved on every available surface. We were told the cloth around her eyes meant Justice was blind and fair. But I know now she didn’t mask her eyes to symbolize the blindness of her virtue. Justice wasn’t blind. She just couldn’t bear to see the truth.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Oh man, so many. For NaNoWriMo of 2017 I wrote a manuscript about a teenage girl who discovers she can channel elemental magic through guns and I need to get back to it. It has one of my favorite antagonists and a unique magic system that I’m really quite proud of. I’m working on the sequel to Unrest, I’m drafting another series about a phoenix who’s been trapped as a human for the last five-hundred years with his best friend, Eleni. Spoiler alert: she’s actually Aphrodite hiding in plain sight as a social media influencer. I’m laying the foundation for what I hope will be my magnum opus which is a secondary world fantasy. I’ve written a short story in that world on my Patreon which I absolutely love, but there’s so much more world-building that needs to happen before I feel ready to start drafting novels.
I have a series on my Patreon about a vampire who starts working for Sejanus Industries to find the werewolf that killed her. Lots of irons in the forge you could say haha!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I self-published my first short story. I go back to it every so often just to remind myself how far I’ve come. I made a lot of mistakes and I have to fight the urge to rewrite it with all that I’ve learned but it’s good to keep around. I did a lot of good things in it, but some mistakes just make me cringe.

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?

No, I wish. Before the lockdown I was mostly stay-at-home during the week for the first couple years of my youngest’s life. I also have a massage practice that I run on the weekends when there isn’t an airborne pandemic. When my daughter turned three and started daycare, I was doing some construction work to help my wife with finances. I find time to write whenever I can. Early mornings, lunch breaks at my clinic, empty time slots between appointments. It's a rare opportunity that I can write at home recently though. With stay-at-home orders in place here, I’m out of work and the kids are home 24/7 so I wind up having to choose to either unwind and regroup or write. Unfortunately writing loses that battle more often than not.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Probably my penchant for being a little TMI. I’m a recovering alcoholic so radical honesty is something that helped get me sober and I practice it frequently. I figure it’s better to share a little more than keep things hidden. I recognize it can be a little much for some people so I’m trying to curb that a little lol.

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

Batman, a cop, an astronaut, an x-games competitor, snowboarding legend, a rock star, a writer. I had so many ambitions and dreams as a kid and in some ways, I worked towards most of them at some point in my life. I was the lead singer of a band, I learned martial arts, I used to skateboard and snowboard as often as I could. Never tried to be a cop, but I did pass the physical test for being a firefighter so passing the one for law enforcement would be a breeze!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Tons! But I’ll keep it short. Unrest is a labor of love and truth. It took four years to write and I was in rehab for most of that time. You’ll find nuanced, flawed, multi-dimensional characters, and a rich well-built world that doesn’t pull punches. It’s got great action, a touch of romance and some great turns and twists. It was an incredible experience to write, and I’m excited to share it with everyone.

Links:

Personal Site | Patreon | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Twitter

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

It was my pleasure!

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Interview with spec fic author Richard Hacker

My special guest today is novelist Richard Hacker. He’s chatting with me about his new speculative fiction and book 2 of the Alchimeia series, Vengeance of Gimbald. It’s a cross of sci-fi, thriller, and historical fiction.

During his virtual book tour, Richard will be awarding a $25 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.

Bio:Richard Hacker, lives and writes in Seattle, Washington after living many years in Austin, Texas. In addition to the science fiction/fantasy novels of The Alchimeía Series, his crime novels ride the thin line between fact and fiction in Texas. Along the way, his writing has been recognized by the Writer’s League of Texas and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. As a judge in literary contests shuch as PNWA and ChicLit, and as a freelance development editor, he enjoys the opportunity to work with other writers. In addition, he is the Sci-Fi/Fantasy editor for the Del Sol Review. Die Back was his first novel in the Alchimeia series.

Welcome, Richard. Please share a little bit about your current release.Battling evil through time and death.

Six hundred years after a fifteenth century scryer gains the alchemical knowledge to create a dark future in his own image, Addison Shaw inherits a destiny: to fight this ancient war that threatens all he loves with extinction. Using an alchemical pen, he writes himself into past lives, leaving his body in the present. Upon completion of his mission, he must die in order to break the link and return home. Addison, and his inking partner, Jules, are members of the League, a secret alchemist society of Inkers who protect the time continuum. They believe they defeated their enemy, Cuthbert Grimwald, known to them as Kairos. When he resurfaces filled with vengeance, intent on destroying the League, and acquiring the Alchimeia, a book of such power the League has hidden it for millennia, Grimwald leaves a path of destruction across centuries. As he quests for absolute control of reality, Addison and Jules pursue him through time and death in a desperate struggle to save the world from his vengeance.

What inspired you to write this book?
This might sound odd, but it started with a fountain pen. I was holding a fountain pen one day and my mind wandered to the power of words. Human beings have been naming things since the beginnings of language. It’s how we find our place in the world and in some cases I think, gives us a sense of control. Or at least the illusion of control. So, what would happen if a character had a pen filled with alchemical ink that when he wrote the name and a date for someone living in the past, his consciousness would be transported into that person? What would he do with that astounding capability? And as with most technology, what if someone decided to use the alchemy to acquire power and control time itself? How would the protagonist fend off this attack on the time continuum and reality as he knows it? And then I put the fountain pen down, pulled at the laptop, and started writing.

Excerpt from Vengeance of Gimbald:
This is an excerpt from a chapter early in the book. I’ve included it because I think it introduces the idea of die back and ripping, which happen often in the book, as well as a taste of the relationship between the inking partners Addison and Jules.

Cajamarca, Peru - 1532

I rise from the ground and the world spins. I close my eyes to make the carousel stop. When I open my eyes again, I catch something in my peripheral vision–a cop? No. Crap. An Incan warrior with a spear in one hand and a copper and wood shield in the other walking with purpose toward me. His copper chest armor clatters softly with his gait. He looks pissed. I drop the stone, reaching for the sword. If I’m in armor, shouldn’t I have a sword? I find the hilt in my hand, but before I can remove the blade from its scabbard, he speaks–in English.

“What are you doing?” He drops his shield and shoves me. Hard. I crash up against the wall. The man’s face is a scowl, nostrils flared. He bangs on my chest armor with a fist.

“Addison, what the hell are you doing?”

Jules? Crap.

“Come on genius. Speak.” She drives the point of her spear into the ground beside our feet.

I left Jules in Peru. This is the Jules from a different continuum. 2.0. Yeah, Jules fucking 2.0. “How’d ya find me J2?”

“I went by the house, mi amigo. If you’re going to ink without anyone knowing about it, you might try somewhere other than your study. And who the hell is Jay Two?”

“I don’t have to defend myself to you. You think you can just waltz into my house anytime you want?”

“I found you by a bottle of whiskey. Thought you were passed out until I saw the pen in your hand. God, you reek. Did you throw up on yourself?” She shoves me again, then paces away. “I told myself that my inking partner wouldn’t be stupid enough to drunk ink.” She turns back, glaring. “Obviously, I was wrong.”

“You stalking me now?”

She paused, her eyes fixed on me. “Why are you here?”

“I just had a loose end to tie up. That’s all.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.” She grabs my arm. “You ink a fucking conquistador five hundred years in the past to tie up a loose end? If Nikki finds out about this she’ll be tearing you a new asshole.”

“I just wanted to set something right.”

“First of all, Einstein, what is there to set right?”

“What’d you mean?”

“Maybe you should tap into Pizarro’s consciousness,” she slaps me repeatedly on the head, “to find out what the hell you’re doing. You did ink into him, you know. Pizarro has slogged for days through the mountains from the sea to this place.”

“Yeah, Machu Picchu.”

“Addison, we’re in Cajamarca, Did you also sleep through every history class you’ve ever taken?”

“Cajamarca?” This can’t be right. I need to be in Machu Picchu to save Jules. Well not Jules 2.0 going all ape shit on me, but my Jules. The Jules I left in Peru in another continuum.

She smacks my chest plate again, holding me against the wall. “Yes! Pizarro captures the Incan Emperor and it all goes downhill from there. I just got here a few days ago–wanted to be sure what I was getting myself into, waiting for you to show up in Pizarro–and I swear to God, if I eat another sweet potato, I’m going to puke.”

“Jules, just leave me alone.”

“Addison, you can’t do this. You’ve got to die back.”

I push her away. “Well, you’re here too.”

“The Spaniards hack my guy to death tomorrow morning. Pizarro doesn’t die until 1541. Do the math, Addison. Just being here could alter the time continuum. You know as well as I do that every mission we run is carefully planned. I don’t think emptying a bottle of whiskey qualifies as careful planning. Do you?”

I wrench her hands away. “Don’t you get it. I’ve lost too much, made too many mistakes. If I can set something right, I’ve got to try.”

She lowers her voice. “I don’t know everything you’ve been through, but you won’t talk about it. So, it’s a bit difficult for me to sympathize.”

“I don’t need your sympathy.”

“Fine. But whatever you’re up to, what do you think is going to happen?”

She’ll never understand. Not Jules 2.0. “I just wanted to fix it.”

“Addison, listen to yourself. Would you let me keep my mother from being murdered, knowing if I did, the continuum would shift in ways we couldn’t anticipate?”

“This is different.”

“How is this different? You told Nikki and me how things spiraled out of control because you kept trying to ink your way to a fix. Remember? You just managed to pull off a reset before you were nuked to oblivion and the rest of us were lost in time and space. So don’t tell me this is different.”

“Jules…” She doesn’t understand. She doesn’t know about Peru. “I’m not leaving.”

“You can’t, Addison. I won’t let you.”

With a suddenness I don’t anticipate, a blade flashes in the warrior’s hand as Jules slashes the side of her neck. The Incan’s carotid artery gushes blood. Our eyes lock.

“Sorry, Addison, but you know I’m right.”

I put a hand to her gaping wound, but there’s nothing for me to do. The warrior’s eyes fade and he falls to the ground. Jules has died back. What is she up to?

She’s going to rip me. Son of a bitch. “Jules! DO NOT…!”

***

Jules opened her eyes to the study, rubbing her arms to find some warmth against the memory of cold Andean mountain air. Addison sat motionless, still in an inking trance across the desk from her. Finding him in the study with a nearly empty bottle of whisky could have only meant trouble. IUI, Inking Under the Influence, was high on Nikki’s list of severely punishable offenses. So Jules had inked after him hoping to get him back before Nikki discovered what he was up to. Drunk inking. What, are we in high school or something? And what’s the deal with Pizarro? And who the hell is J2?

She reached into her backpack where she kept some makeup, a couple of energy bars, a small nylon shopping bag, her iPad, and a ‘rip kit’. Jules unzipped the black leather kit, spreading it open on the desk. Passing over a variety of cables, electrical plugs, and pliers, she picked up a stun gun. Checking to be sure it was charged, she pressed it against Addison's exposed neck and pulled the trigger.

Pzzzttt.

His body, still seated in his chair, jerked, then collapsed over the desk. She put the stun gun back in the kit, zipped it closed and walked around the desk, where she slipped the kit into her backpack.

Ripped from the inking, Addison startled, clutching his throat. “Do not rip me, dammit! NO!” His eyes wandered as his mind, floating in an alcohol induced haze, tried to connect with the present. He took a deep breath, his gaze rising to meet Jules’, then he vomited across the desk.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently working on the third book in the Alchimeia series—untitled at this point. And I’ve got another project I’ve worked on and off over several years, a humorous science fiction story along the lines of Tom Holt’s novels, called The Bifurcation of Dungsten Crease. The initial draft with a different title was selected as best science fiction novel by the Texas Writers League way back in 2010. So I’ve come back around to it and will publish this year. Hopefully, Book 3 of the Alchimeia will be out in 2021.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I say in the third grade. Other kids were bringing various things to show and tell: steam engines, mice, grandfather’s watch. I brought short stories.

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?

Yes, I write full-time these days, but in a rather eclectic way. My day is usually divided into writing, music, drawing, cooking, and miscellaneous. So I reserve several hours each day for writing, usually in my study or I’m one of those guys you see at the coffee shop. I sing with a vocal jazz ensemble called The Offbeats, About an hour each day is used for rehearsal music. A couple of years ago I decided to re-awake my inner artist. I hadn’t drawn anything since I was about twelve and didn’t really think I could draw. I’ve been at it for a couple of years now and have gotten into urban sketching. Each day I try to either do some drawing at home, or go out in the field to do a sketch. And I absolutely love to cook. I’ve always got something going. I’ve recently gotten into bread baking.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Hmmm. I know folks who have to be in certain places or eating certain foods or drinking a double latte. I’ve made a conscious effort to write anywhere at anytime. I suppose the quirk would be that I will write anywhere at anytime. I’ve written on trains, planes, cars, buses; in coffee shops, restaurants, malls, churches, park benches, bathrooms, stadium stands; at all times of day and night. There’s a thing with urban sketching that you always carry a pencil and sketchbook with you so you’re always ready to draw. I try to keep the laptop close. You never know when an idea will come to you.

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

Yes and no. I had ideas. I first wanted to be a jazz trumpet player after seeing Louis Armstrong. Then I was going to be a writer, then a scientist and for quite a while I was definitely going to be a doctor.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Two things I’d like to add. First, the underlying message of the Alchimeia series is about courage and perseverance. When life looks hopeless, when everything seems to be turned upside-down, the people who make a difference are not superheroes, but people like you and me, who persevere in spite of the odds. And second, readers are the reason for the season. Without you, writers would be lonely people sitting in coffee shops pounding on laptops. With you, we become the tellers of fantastical stories, entertainers, philosophers, and poets. And together, a writer and a reader, we make magic. Thank you for sharing some of your life with me.

I hope you’ll check out Die Back and now book 2 of the Alchimeia series, Vengeance of Grimbald. Both are available on Amazon.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Amazon

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Interview with sci-fi author Jamie Killen

Author Jamie Killen is here today and we’re chatting about her new sci-fi, Red Hail.

Bio:

Jamie Killen’s introduction to the world of dark fiction came at the age of seven, when her well-meaning but perhaps overly enthusiastic dad decided that the works of Harlan Ellison made for some great bedtime stories. She’s been avidly consuming science fiction, horror, and fantasy novels, movies, comic books, and podcasts ever since.

Jamie’s short stories and flash fiction have appeared in dozens of anthologies and magazines. She is also a writer and director of several dark fiction podcasts.

Originally from Arizona, Jamie now lives in Texas with her longtime partner. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys practicing her mixology skills by inventing new and exciting designer cocktails. She also likes craft beer, travel, and cuddling with her two adorable rescue mutts.

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

Red Hail is a multigenerational sci-fi story taking place in Southern Arizona. The first storyline takes place in 1960, and the second in 2020. In the first story, a freak storm drops red hail over a small Arizona mining town. In the months that follow, the residents of the town are plagued with strange symptoms and eerie changes to their environment. Panic ensues, and the people of the town are soon gripped by dangerous paranoia and fanaticism. In the second storyline, one of the descendants of the people who witnessed the red hail starts to experience the same symptoms that plagued the town 60 years ago. After the symptoms spread to other descendants, they realize that they will have to solve the mystery what really happened in 1960 in order to stop what is happening to them today.

What inspired you to write this book?

A lot of the 1960 storyline is drawn from family stories. Many of my older family members worked in copper mines, and lived in mining towns like Superior, AZ. I love sci-fi, and I wanted to write a story that was set in an environment I know really well but which doesn’t get a lot of representation in sci-fi. As far as the structure goes, I really enjoy reading multigenerational stories or stories with multiple timelines, and that was something I hadn’t really tackled before in my writing.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Right now I’m wading into the first phase of edits on an as-yet-untitled new fantasy/dark speculative story. It deals with some of the same themes as Red Hail, like dealing with the consequences of decisions made generations earlier, but it’s a different setting and completely new mythology.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think it was gradual. I sold my first short story at 19, started producing my own fiction podcasts at around 30, and I think I’ve only recently started thinking of myself as a real writer.

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 write full time. I draw a really clear line between my day job and my writing. I write in afternoons and on weekends. It can be a challenge to juggle those responsibilities, and there are definitely times when the writing has to be set aside for a week or two so I don’t burn out.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I need natural light. I don’t know why, but writing after sunset is a big problem for me. I just need to be near a sunny window or nothing is going to happen.

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

Writer!

Links:

Publisher’s Website | Amazon | Goodreads | Author Bio | Twitter

Thanks for being here today!