Today I am grateful to have a Christian fantasy/science fiction author on the blog! Her books look great, and I definitely encourage you to check them out!
1. What are some of your favorite science fiction books or shows?
You mean you want me to choose? A lot of my favorites are technically more space opera or science fantasy than straight up science fiction, but I call them sci-fi anyway. *shrugs* Let’s see. A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Star Wars, all of Margaret Peterson Haddix’s sci-fi books, Firmament series by J. Grace Pennington, Replication and The Safe Lands, by Jill Williamson, The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins . . . yeah, there’s a lot.
Space Opera is my favorite, which is why I like Starganauts and the Legacy Chronicles so much!
2. What is your favorite scene from The Void?
Hmm. That’s actually a really tough choice. Especially since a number of the ones coming to mind are kind of spoilery. I think I’ll go with chapter 31, and see if I can summarize without giving everything away. This is part of the lead up to the climax, where they’ve done about all they can, but the Big Bad Thing looks like it’s going to happen anyway. Emma begs God to help, but doesn’t think He will because she’s so unworthy. Then Mitchell comes to her and comforts her and explains to her that it’s not about who she is or what she’s done, but it’s all about who God is and what He’s done. She doesn’t have to be worthy because He is worthy in her. It’s an emotionally raw scene, it contains some particularly important conversations, and it just feels like a big moment to me. I feel terrible for saying this, but I also like chapters 36 and 37 which I really can’t talk about because it’s THE spoiler. But they’re super painful chapters and nearly made me cry writing them. And I just don’t cry over my own writing, or very many books at all. I also love the epilogue.
Oooh, that sounds really neat!!!!
3. What was the inspiration behind The Void?
A dialogue prompt that never even made it into that initial snippet. Seriously. I’d been going through a major bout of writer’s block, so I started picking prompts off of Pinterest and writing shorts. And it just sort of . . . happened. That original concept is nothing like the finished product (it rarely is for me), and the dialogue prompt never made it into any draft in any form, but I’m very grateful that scene popped into my head. Now, while the initial idea came pretty much out of nowhere, there were definitely stories that influenced it. Probably the most influential are A Wind in the Door (a lot of non-specific things in the feel of it + the idea of kything/telepathy), Star Wars (in particular Jedi Apprentice and Jedi Quest by Jude Watson for the development of the company Acktorek), and The Hunger Games trilogy (for character development and complex ethical scenarios). There are some similarities to The Flash, but I didn’t actually start watching it until I’d completed the first draft of The Void. And I’d never have written about other worlds without Narnia.
That’s cool how writing prompts inspired it and then it just took off!!
4. Who is your favorite character from The Void?
That’s really tough because I love them all for such different reasons. Emma’s had a really rough life, what with a crazy mom and an emotionally distant dad who pretty much left it to Emma to raise her blind younger sister Carla. It was really hard to get into Emma’s head, but now that I have, she’s very precious to me. (Yes, that’s a LOTR reference. ) Carla is special because she’s a musician (though she prefers piano and I prefer violin), she’s sweet and caring, and, well, if I say more about her, I’ll tread into major spoiler territory. Mitchell is a really great guy with a cool job (who wouldn’t want to travel to other worlds to save people?), and he’s a really caring and giving person, but he’s made serious mistakes that weigh on him, and, well, his boss isn’t the most ethical person, which causes him some major moral dilemmas. Grace is fun and well-meaning, though she can definitely be a little much, and I channeled all my fandom love into her. So . . . no, I can’t choose. I love them all too much to play favorites.
Haha, I get this so much as an author!
5. If you had one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why?
At risk of sounding like I’m just quoting Veggie Tales, remember that God made you special. Okay, I’m quoting Veggie Tales. Seriously, though. There are so many people out there claiming that their method is the only “right” way to write a book. Even an author whose books I really love has repeatedly given his own planning method as the best way to write a book when asked for writing advice. I know he’s well meaning, but one size doesn’t fit all. There are universal things about books and storytelling. There’s a basic structure to a good story. There are principles of good character development. Settings need to be developed. Etc. Learn the things. Never stop improving as a writer. Listen humbly to feedback. But also remember that God made you to be unique. Find the method that works for you for your current project (and it’ll likely be different for different projects and stages of life), and do that. It doesn’t matter if an author you respect swears by plotting via the snowflake method (not that I remember off the top of my head how that method works), if it doesn’t work for you, don’t do it. No one else will write the same stories in the same exact way as you do and that’s a good thing.
This is so true and such great advice!
Thanks for having me!
You’re most welcome 😀
Which would you choose—save your sister or save the world?
Emma Edsel’s first priority has always been protecting her blind sister Carla. So when Carla begins to develop science-defying abilities that threaten her life, Emma will stop at nothing to save her. With nowhere else to turn, she seeks help from Mitchell, the new boy at school who seems to know much more about it than he will admit.
After his last mission went horribly awry, Mitchell Banks is relieved to have a simple task: seal a small, accidental portal between Earth and other worlds in the multiverse. He didn’t count on his growing feelings for Emma—and the dangerous levels of dimension energy contaminating Carla.
Carla knows the voice in her head is evil. Manipulative. Feeding her with a strange energy she can control. She doesn’t know that she is the key to a coming global catastrophe and Mitchell’s boss will use any means possible to prevent it…including blackmailing him into murdering her.
Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GWZFZD4/