Interview with A.E. Williams, author of "Terminal Reset"

1. Hello, and welcome to my blog! To start off, what inspired you to take the plunge into the world of publishing?

Well, I always enjoyed writing. I have written stories off and on for most of my life, for amusement. I am a ravenous reader, and average between three to five books a week. More if I have good stuff to read. I felt that the story I am currently writing, my "Terminal Reset" series, had a lot of potential for entertaining other science fiction readers. When I found out how relatively easy Amazon Kindle is to publish works, I was hooked.


 2. Tell me about your book.

"Terminal Reset" is a serialized science fiction series. It takes place in our modern world, and details what happens when a Wave of strange energies hits the Earth.

The effect is that everyone on Earth is regressed, physically, about 40 years. So, if you are 56, now you have the body of your sixteen year old self, but with all your memories, skills, and knowledge intact.

All organic life is influenced, with some very few exceptions.

If you are under 40, sorry...

The Wave causes a 'reset' in every aspect of our lives.

Relationships, ecology, warfare, survival, politics, and even food are issues that are changed by suddenly having a global population that is about one seventh what it currently is. Also, people still have access to a lot of the current technology, for a while. But then, the situation begins to deteriorate. World leaders get ambitious, other people come to power, a lot of turmoil and fallout happens because there is a huge culture shock.

Imagine Obama as a thirteen year old, physically, but with all his experience intact. Now imagine George HW Bush and Jimmy Carter challenging his holding the Office of the President because he is no longer constitutionally fit. You have to be a certain AGE, but what does that really mean?

Or, imagine you have been married to a woman for 17 years, and now you are 15 and she is six. You both remember the marriage, and all the history of your love for each other. But, superficially, you are kids.

Problems, indeed.

 3. What inspired you to write this book?

The idea came to me in a shower about three years ago, and I spoke with a close friend who encouraged me to write it down. It took off, and we now have eight Episodes published.


 4. Are there any books/authors that have had a profound impact on your life?

Well, the usual science fiction biggies -- Clarke, Heinlein, Asimov, EE Doc Smith....but also John Ross, and Massad Ayoob.

Mas is a good friend, and is a self-publisher from way back. Very old school. Shoots pretty damn good, too.

"The World According to Garp" is also one of the books that I treasure. It's very powerful, to me.


 5. What was your favorite part to write (without spoilers, of course)?

I find the parts with the astronauts, especially once Sir Richard Branson appears, to be the most fun to write. The Sub Captain is another personal favorite. The General is just an awesome character, but man is he ever evil.

You will find a lot of characters here based on familiar people, but, as we say, this is ALL FICTIONAL. No resemblance, etc. etc,

Oh, and the Martians, of course...can't have science fiction without Martians, as Ray Bradbury probably said one time or another.

 6. What do you most hope to achieve with this novel?

Sixteen Volumes of a really cool science fiction tale. I have the next five plotted and will be writing them all next year. This is a five year plan to get the entire story Universe set up and running.

There are lots of questions being raised in it. I think this could have some legs...



 7. What do you do when you're not writing?

I am a well-known figure in some other areas, and my expertise in these fields keep creeping into the book.

I usually like to incorporate the latest technology and occurrences to keep the story interesting, but you run the risk of seeming dated a decade or so out.

Pop culture tends to lose its shine, once the fad is over. Pet rocks, anyone?

For entertainment, I read, watch movies, that sort of thing.

And, I target shoot.



 Off-Beat Questions

1. I see you write science fiction. Ever had any other-worldly experiences?

Usually when I have had a few too many Maker's and Pepsi.

Seriously, I have had some weird things happen, but no one would believe me, so...



 2. As a writer, it can be easy to get lost in other worlds. If you could visit any fictional world, what would it be?

I would like to live in the Star Trek Universe, at some point or other. Mainly, if I could be Harry Mudd or Cyrano Jones.

I like the ideas behind "Firefly", but it's pretty violent, for a place to live. (Reavers!)

Having your own freedom is important, but you always need a way to get from here to there.

Author Bio:

http://www.amazon.com/A.E.-Williams/e/B00ICLWWE6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1417547094&sr=1-1

Website:

www.terminalreset.com

I'm pleased to welcome Horror writer, Derek Ailes!

1. Hello, and welcome to my blog! To start off, what inspired you to take the plunge into the world of publishing?

 I've been writing since I was a kid back in the 80s.  After years of helping my brother get his books published, we decided to do a collection of horror short stories together called Journey Into the Unknown.  I came up with so many story outlines during that project, that I had enough ideas to write and publish my first solo project Zombie Command: A Horror Anthology.

2. Tell me about your book.

 Second Journey Into the Unknown is the latest collection of horror short stories by Mark Cusco Ailes and I.  Like the first volume, Mark wrote several short stories and I wrote several short stories.  Mark and I collaborated on the new updated version of my Night of the Living Redheads and renamed it Day of The Redheads.  I have one story about a real zombie outbreak happening at a convention for a zombie television show.  I also did a story called Claws which is a parody of Jaws and Godzilla using a mutated cat.  Being a big fan of Sharknado and after seeing the Catfurnado poster on April Fool's Day 2014, I wrote Furnado.  Furnado is an exciting thrill ride.  Mark wrote a thriller about a killer doll which he split into three separate short stories.

3. What inspired you to write this book?

I grew up being a big The Twilight Zone, Tales From the Crypt, vintage and 80s horror fan.  I wrote a couple of the short stories in the style of The Twilight Zone.  There is a lot of elements in my stories that are a tribute to the old horror films.  I throw in my political humor when I can.  I also come up with my stories from watching the news.  When I see something I think that would make a great story, I go to my laptop and write away. The story Zombie Con is actually what transpired at the Walker Stalker Con in Chicago this year.  The convention was so unorganized and just what I witness there was a real horror story in itself.  I wrote about it and threw zombies into the mix.

 4. Are there any books/authors that have had a profound impact on your life?

Like most authors, I was heavily influenced by Stephen King.  My commitment to writing can be attributed to an interview from Dean Koontz back in the 90s.  Back in the 90s, I  met the late R. Karl Largent (Black Death, The Red Series) at a writing seminar.  He was one of my first mentors in the writing field.

5. What was your favorite part to write (without spoilers, of course)?

Claws and Furnado were a blast to write.  When you can have a good time writing something in the horror field and crack yourself up while doing it, you have something that's worth reading.



6. What do you most hope to achieve with this novel?


A cult following.  I'm looking for an overnight success story.  I looking to gain fans that will sit back and enjoy the thrill ride I put them on.

7. What do you do when you're not writing?
 If I'm not on social media promoting my work, I'm watching movies or television.


Off-Beat Questions


1. I see you write horror. Have some fears/phobias of your own?

Writer's Block, just kidding.  Every writer is afraid of that.  I fear things I can't figure out. 

2. I have to ask. Do you watch horror movies? If so, what do you think was the best period for horror films (for example, my favorite was the 80s, with Jason and Freddy Kreuger)?  

I can go further back than that.  The old time horror films with Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, and Vincent Price will always be my favorites.  I love the 80s horror films, but during that time frame they became all about the gory killing. Everything had to be set up for a sequel.  The studios just couldn't let the franchises end.  With the newer horror films, I'm seeing originality return to the horror industry.


Links:

Website:  http://derekailes.weebly.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NDVWK88/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

  I am a science fiction & horror writer from Valparaiso, Indiana. I also love to write horror stories about zombies and evil cats. I am also a political satirist. In 1985 I wrote my first short story: "The Day It Rained Candy." I also started writing a science fiction series called "Power Force." In 1994 I published my first short story: "The Night Of the Living Redheads." My latest novel, Second Journey Into The Unknown, was written with my brother Mark Cusco Ailes.  I also write short stories for shortfictionbreak.com

I'm pleased to welcome Sheryl Fawcett, author of "Yesterday to Tomorrow"

1. To start off, what made you decide to take the plunge into the world of publishing?

Writing a book was on my bucket list, definitely not unique to me. My first book, a blend of memoir and life philosophy, lives only in my laptop and is too personal for publishing any time soon. Some skeletons are better left in the closet. However, before I reached the end, I was hooked. So I wrote a pure fiction novel to publish under my real name. My books are available in most ebook formats as well as paperback.

2. Tell me about your book.

Yesterday to Tomorrow is Book 2 in "The Women of Lakeshore Drive" series of three. The series began with When Least Expected and follows three women over a progression of time. Each is a complete stand-alone story and can be enjoyed without reading the others. This second book opens with three friends embarking on a 22 day cruise. It's not exactly a vacation but more of an escape. Their hopes are to move from yesterday into tomorrow because today is not a happy place for them. Quirky passengers on board ship introduce a bit of mystery, a hint of romance, and a touch of international intrigue.

3. So you write contemporary women's fiction. What do you think sets your books apart from the mainstream women's fiction today?

I write contemporary women's fiction with baby boomer characters. Their lives take twists and turns, just as  with younger women, but they are armed with a lifetime of experience. Sometimes the perspective of maturity is helpful and other times it's a hindrance to them.

4. Tell me about yourself.

I'm on the leading edge of the baby boomer generation myself. My grandmother was a strong business woman and she passed down her legacYesety of independence and common sense. I married my high school sweetheart and we raised a family together. Now in our retirement years, writing is my fourth career.

5. Who is your favorite author, if you have one?



My reading choices range from non-fiction to mystery to action to love stories, so there are many authors I like. If I were to name one favorite, I suppose it would be Arthur Hailey although he is no longer living. I love the factual reality of the settings of his fictional stories.

6. If you could achieve one thing with your writing, what would it be?

If I could achieve one thing with my writing, it would be to hear both my adult daughters say, "Wow! This book is great, Mom." I'm not certain they've ever read one of my books. Is this evidence I have moved from seeking the approval of my parents to seeking the approval of my children?

7. Can we expect more books from you soon?

Yes, of course I have more books coming. The Female Descendant, final book of this series, will be published in late Fall. For next year, I have a companion book on the drawing board in which a nosy neighbor will report on the 'comings and goings' of the three main characters . I've begun a book in a completely different genre, paranormal romance, for 2015 publication. There's also an outline for a nostalgic little Christmas book that keeps popping up to remind me it's waiting to be written. Let's mark 2015 for that one, too.

Off-beat questions


1. As a writer of women's fiction, have you watched a lot of what are considered "girl" movies, or "chick flicks?" Have any favorites?

You asked if I've watched a lot of what are considered 'girl' movies or 'chick flicks,' and my answer is no more of this type than any other. I do have a couple favorites though and they're total opposites from one another. I love the original version of "Imitation of Life." I cry every time I watch it. The other is "Pretty Woman" and it never fails to make me laugh.

2. What inspired the setting for your novel? Ever been there yourself? 

As to what inspired the setting for my novel, it came down to a matter of logistics. The story called for a cruise of two to four weeks in length that crossed the International Date Line and included Christmas and New Year's days in the itinerary. I wanted an actual cruise, not a made-up one, and this one fit the bill. I've been to some of the ports but not most of them, so it did require research for accuracy . A deck plan of the ship lay open beside me the entire time I was writing.

Purchase a copy of her book:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GOFZUBY 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/yesterday-to-tomorrow-sheryl-fawcett/1117467590?ean=2940149074785 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/yesterday-to-tomorrow/id763184933?mt=11 

"I intend to die young at a very advanced age." That's my motto! Born Sheryl Black, I grew up primarily in Knoxville, Iowa, attended Grinnell College, and married my high school sweetheart, Rich Fawcett. Today we live in Omaha NE. We raised two daughters, and have four granddaughters. We enjoy boating, flying, world-wide travel, and spending summer days on the Lake of the Ozark in Missouri. My career path ranged from owning my own dance studio to selling residential real estate, with intervening years of volunteer work. That included a stint as Chairman of Committee on Auxiliaries, Iowa Hospital Association. I have written from time to time throughout my life, fiction and non-fiction. Published works include full length novels and short stories.