Please welcome Shay Fabbro for this week's Unread Interview! Shay is promoting her book The Chosen
Unread Interview is a series where I feature authors whose books I couldn't accept for review because of time or logistics issues.
From Amazon: The Mekan hoard threatens all life in the galaxy and only the Chosen, a select group chosen by fate, can fight these metal monstrosities and save those that call this galaxy home. But when one of the Chosen is murdered, the untimely death could spell doom for all.
The Mekans were created to mine for precious resources. However, something goes terribly awry when they dig uncontrollably, destroying all life on the planet. The Masters of Gentra, keepers of the prophecy, send Guardians to guide and protect the Chosen, who hail from four very different worlds. When the Guardians reveal to the Chosen their role in saving the galaxy, their lives are cast into turmoil. The death of one of the Chosen renders the Gentran prophets blind to the future. The Gentran Masters are not certain the Chosen can fight the Mekans without the help of prophecy.
The Chosen are not certain they can simply sit by while the Mekans destroy their worlds.
This series will bring the reader face-to-face with an age-old question: How much of our lives are preordained and how much of our future do we determine for ourselves? Do you believe in fate and destiny or do you believe that your life is what you choose it to be?
The Chosen can be purchased through Smashwords , Amazon, CreateSpace, and. Autographed copies are available through Signed By the Author!
Tell us a bit about your book (s).
The Chosen: Book One of the Portals of Destiny is a scifi/fantasy novel about a group destined to save the galaxy from the Mekans. This novel involves five planets and lots of "main" characters, which I think makes it interesting. There is a little something for everyone :) The diverse nature of the aliens having to come together and work together makes for some very complex interactions and conflicts. By the time the reader reaches the end of the 3rd book in the series, they will come face-to-face with the question of fate vs free will. I hope to shake their foundations just a little ;)
Have you ever wanted to be a writer? When did you start writing "seriously"?
I used to write a lot when I was younger. One of my favorite things to do was to write a sequel to the latest Piers Anthony book I was reading. His books were so amazing and I would be so into the characters that I wouldn't want to put them aside. I wished I would have saved some of those. While in high school, I took a creative writing class and was told that I had some talent. But I also had this logical side that argued against going to college to be a writer. I knew that most didn't make it big, and that there was no guarantee of making a career out of being a novelist. So I turned to my other love: science! I pursued a career that was a little more safe and a little more secure. I got the idea for The Portals of Destiny series in a dream while I was getting my PhD in Human Medical Genetics. I started writing things down, and before I knew it, a novel was being born right before my eyes.
Do you read much? What kind of books do you usually read?
I have always been an avid reader and I have always read things that most people probably wouldn't consider appropriate for my age group. I was reading Tolkein and Piers Anthony in late elementary/middle school. I tried reading Judy Bloom and such but the books weren't deep enough for me. Once I got my hands on fantasy for the first time, I was HOOKED! These novels enabled me to delve into worlds that were real to me. I enjoyed losing myself and going on adventures with the heroes and their sidekicks. Now that I am writing more, I find I don't have as much time to read, but I still try to read a little every day.
What are your favorite or least favorite scenes to write?
For me, dialog is hard. It isn't easy giving each character their own personality, and to make that personality come out in the way they speak. Sometimes, I spend the most time editing the dialog because after the first rough draft, the spoken parts sound too formal and stiff. One thing that helps is that my characters come to life in my mind, so I can often let them speak and it begins to sound more natural, and flows better.
Do you relate more to any of your characters? Why?
For this book, I took pieces of myself and divided them up between all of the characters, and then added other personality traits that don't necessarily have anything to do with my personality (or not that I will admit anyway). My new YA/fantasy novel, Dangerous Reflections (published soon), involves a heroine that is very much taken from my personality. It's weird to say this, but I love Alexis Davenport much like a younger sister. Even though I am the one writing about her being bullied at school, I find myself growing angry with the bully and wanting to step in protect Alexis.
Which genre do you feel it would be a challenge to write?
Romance or erotica. I have a tiny bit of romance but no erotic scenes at all. I have the maturity of a 12 year old boy, so I am not sure I could even write a love scene that lasts pages and page with a straight face. It's hard enough for me to teach reproduction to my college biology class ;)
What inspires you? And how's your writing environment - music, place, etc.?
My dreams inspire me! I have some crazy, weird, violent dreams. Instead of letting them frighten the wits out of me, I write them down, hoping I can use them for a short story or novel in the future. I have some awesome ideas for thriller/mysteries that I got from dreams!
What would you say about the book - your words, no blurbs! - to convince someone to read your book?
The Chosen is a book that will take you on a galactic adventure that involves multiple planets, intriguing plot twists, battles, personal conflict, murder, redemption for man, prophecy, interesting alien species, and an shocking ending that will leave you begging for the second book.
What are your plans for the future, writing-wise?
New books, sequels, publishing deals, etc. I am working on two manuscripts at the moment. The first is Dangerous Reflections, a YA/fantasy novel about a fifteen year old girl who is dealing with some tough issues. To make matters worse, she is seeing strange girls in mirrors. But things get really wild when Alexis is transported back in time through the mirrors, to protect the timeline from a man hell-bent on changing the future. I am also working on the second book in the Portals of Destiny series, Shattered Destiny. The Chosen are ordered to travel to each other's worlds, there to learn more about one another. It is imperitive that they learn to trust and respect each other. But things go terribly wrong when some of the Chosen are killed, bringing the galaxy closer to its doom. The reader will be left wondering if they can fight the Mekans, and fulfill their destiny. I will continue to self-publish rather than try to find an agent (failed miserable with The Chosen). I like maintaining control of my work.
Thank you for your time, Shay! Good luck with your book.
The Chosen: Book One of the Portals of Destiny is a scifi/fantasy novel about a group destined to save the galaxy from the Mekans. This novel involves five planets and lots of "main" characters, which I think makes it interesting. There is a little something for everyone :) The diverse nature of the aliens having to come together and work together makes for some very complex interactions and conflicts. By the time the reader reaches the end of the 3rd book in the series, they will come face-to-face with the question of fate vs free will. I hope to shake their foundations just a little ;)
Have you ever wanted to be a writer? When did you start writing "seriously"?
I used to write a lot when I was younger. One of my favorite things to do was to write a sequel to the latest Piers Anthony book I was reading. His books were so amazing and I would be so into the characters that I wouldn't want to put them aside. I wished I would have saved some of those. While in high school, I took a creative writing class and was told that I had some talent. But I also had this logical side that argued against going to college to be a writer. I knew that most didn't make it big, and that there was no guarantee of making a career out of being a novelist. So I turned to my other love: science! I pursued a career that was a little more safe and a little more secure. I got the idea for The Portals of Destiny series in a dream while I was getting my PhD in Human Medical Genetics. I started writing things down, and before I knew it, a novel was being born right before my eyes.
Do you read much? What kind of books do you usually read?
I have always been an avid reader and I have always read things that most people probably wouldn't consider appropriate for my age group. I was reading Tolkein and Piers Anthony in late elementary/middle school. I tried reading Judy Bloom and such but the books weren't deep enough for me. Once I got my hands on fantasy for the first time, I was HOOKED! These novels enabled me to delve into worlds that were real to me. I enjoyed losing myself and going on adventures with the heroes and their sidekicks. Now that I am writing more, I find I don't have as much time to read, but I still try to read a little every day.
What are your favorite or least favorite scenes to write?
For me, dialog is hard. It isn't easy giving each character their own personality, and to make that personality come out in the way they speak. Sometimes, I spend the most time editing the dialog because after the first rough draft, the spoken parts sound too formal and stiff. One thing that helps is that my characters come to life in my mind, so I can often let them speak and it begins to sound more natural, and flows better.
Do you relate more to any of your characters? Why?
For this book, I took pieces of myself and divided them up between all of the characters, and then added other personality traits that don't necessarily have anything to do with my personality (or not that I will admit anyway). My new YA/fantasy novel, Dangerous Reflections (published soon), involves a heroine that is very much taken from my personality. It's weird to say this, but I love Alexis Davenport much like a younger sister. Even though I am the one writing about her being bullied at school, I find myself growing angry with the bully and wanting to step in protect Alexis.
Which genre do you feel it would be a challenge to write?
Romance or erotica. I have a tiny bit of romance but no erotic scenes at all. I have the maturity of a 12 year old boy, so I am not sure I could even write a love scene that lasts pages and page with a straight face. It's hard enough for me to teach reproduction to my college biology class ;)
What inspires you? And how's your writing environment - music, place, etc.?
My dreams inspire me! I have some crazy, weird, violent dreams. Instead of letting them frighten the wits out of me, I write them down, hoping I can use them for a short story or novel in the future. I have some awesome ideas for thriller/mysteries that I got from dreams!
What would you say about the book - your words, no blurbs! - to convince someone to read your book?
The Chosen is a book that will take you on a galactic adventure that involves multiple planets, intriguing plot twists, battles, personal conflict, murder, redemption for man, prophecy, interesting alien species, and an shocking ending that will leave you begging for the second book.
What are your plans for the future, writing-wise?
New books, sequels, publishing deals, etc. I am working on two manuscripts at the moment. The first is Dangerous Reflections, a YA/fantasy novel about a fifteen year old girl who is dealing with some tough issues. To make matters worse, she is seeing strange girls in mirrors. But things get really wild when Alexis is transported back in time through the mirrors, to protect the timeline from a man hell-bent on changing the future. I am also working on the second book in the Portals of Destiny series, Shattered Destiny. The Chosen are ordered to travel to each other's worlds, there to learn more about one another. It is imperitive that they learn to trust and respect each other. But things go terribly wrong when some of the Chosen are killed, bringing the galaxy closer to its doom. The reader will be left wondering if they can fight the Mekans, and fulfill their destiny. I will continue to self-publish rather than try to find an agent (failed miserable with The Chosen). I like maintaining control of my work.
Thank you for your time, Shay! Good luck with your book.
