Interview with a Provider
October travel. BBNYA conclusion. Free libraries. Dela puts her foot in her mouth in a Character Crossover Interview with Val.
I thought the rest of the year would be light on travel, but it turns out October will take me to Key West, Washington DC, and Armenia, with a brief stop in Rome, where we hope to see the Colosseum and a few other tourist spots between flights. Its hard being away from family for almost a month, but I've never visited 3 of the 4 destinations, so it's a great bucket list opportunity.
Speaking of opportunities, I just learned that Enigma didn't make the BBNYA finals this year. I did, however, get a nifty semi-finalist badge to add to the cover. Maybe something like this?
I started reading The Ghost Brigades (Old Man's War Book 2) by John Scalzi (more on the book itself below). Scalzi mentions in the author's note that he hadn't even considered writing a sequel until publisher asked him to, after it became clear it was a hit. He then says he doesn't consider writing sequels for any of his books, trying instead to catch publishers' eyes with a string of Book Ones. I understand the logic, and at the same time I feel like a space alien because I've never even considered not finishing a series, whether it sells or not. Might also be the reason I'll never make a living at it. Go figure.
On that note, Progress on Peleos (Timeless Keeper Saga Book 3) is marching steadily along. I've averaged 310 words per day this month, according to Scrivener. It may not sound like a lot, but I'm writing almost every day, so it adds up. I'm in the midst of a complex climax running on several fronts, which always slows me down because I want to make sure everything meshes into a surprising yet satisfying conclusion. We'll see how it turns out, hopefully soon.
I recently donated a copy of Project Xerxes to the local free library. Possibly related, I've seen a slight uptick in Holtondome paperback sales. Odd, because it's a different series, but I've also heard that YA dystopian fiction is on the upswing. 🤷🏻
We have 2 bookstores in our tiny town, and I recently discovered they each have a local author section. As soon as I restock my paperbacks, I will be visiting both. =]
This month's feature is an energetic Character Crossover Interview between Zima and Dela from The Z-Tech Chronicles and Val from the Timeless Keeper Saga. Hope you enjoy!
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- Character Crossover Interview — Zima and Dela x Val
- Currently Reading
- Other Authors You Might Like
Character Crossover Interview
Zima and Dela from The Z-Tech Chronicles interview Val from the Timeless Keeper Saga
Dela and Zima go deep and personal with Val—maybe a little too deep. Read on!
— Begin —
DELA: Woohoo! Our first interview together without Miss Tight Britches. You psyched, Z?
ZIMA: I have prepared three hundred and forty-six questions for the candidate.
DELA: Um, we have like three minutes before she goes poof! You might need to prioritize.
ZIMA: Perhaps you should lead. I—
VAL: (appears in an electric flash)
DELA: Hey ho there! Welcome to Evil's Doom! I'm Slayer, and the badass beside me is none other than the Dark Angel.
ZIMA: Evil's Doom?
DELA: Yeah. Much cooler than "Z-Tech Factory," don't you think?
VAL: Am I in a… a City?
DELA: Greatest in the world, if you ask me. We have a few questions for you. Maybe start with your name and what you do.
VAL: Yes, of course. I always cooperate with inquisitions, which my record hopefully shows. My name is Valerie Gannon. I'm a Provider in Holtondome, currently assigned to apple harvesting.
DELA: Cripes, that sounds boring as hell. What'd you do wrong?
VAL: What did I… P-pardon, miss, but this is a Fed inquisition, isn't it?
DELA: Bzzzzt, wrong! Thanks for playing. This is just a casual Q and A among buds, so vent away.
VAL: Oh. In that case… Yes, apple harvesting is boring. Holtondome is boring. We can't leave, we rarely have visitors, and those few who do come aren't allowed to tell us anything about the outside. We live and die with the same four thousand people whose jobs are all just as boring as mine. It's suffocating!
DELA: Tell it, sister! If you had your way, what would you do?
VAL: You mean what wouldn't I do. I'd catch the first ride out of Holtondome and explore the Cities. I'd learn to read and write. And… and I'd fly to Mars.
DELA: You'd what?
VAL: Visit Mars Colony. I'd give anything to be an astronaut.
ZIMA: What aspect of Mars Colony interests you?
DELA: Oh come on, Z! It's a colony on another planet!
ZIMA: An uninhabitable one, which is why I wish to know the attraction.
VAL: The attraction is that I love the idea of starting over on a brand-new world. Of forging a new destiny instead of cleaning up the mess humanity left behind. I want to be part of it.
ZIMA: The logistics sound unfeasible. Regardless of Earth's state in your universe, it would be far less effort to fix the existing planet than terraform an incompatible one whose gravity is too weak to retain an atmosphere.
VAL: My universe? Where exactly am I?
DELA: San Francisco, the not-destroyed version. See? (parts curtains)
VAL: Buildings. In the open. But how?
ZIMA: Unimportant. Back to the interview.
VAL: No, that seems pretty damned important! How do they survive the storms?
ZIMA: There are no storms of significance. Now, interview. The apparent purpose of Mars Colony is to make Mars hospitable. Correct?
VAL: I… I don't know. But the Mars Program must be important, otherwise Grand Chancellor Chang wouldn't be doing it. Right?
ZIMA: Building and sustaining such a colony would require tremendous resources. Given the scarcity of supplies and sparse population on your Earth, it would need to be very important to offset the cost. Curious that your leader has not made the program's purpose clear.
VAL: He may have, just not to us. We're Providers, remember? We aren't allowed to know much about the outside world. I don't even know the name of the nearest City, let alone where it is. I'm in San Francisco, you say?
ZIMA: That sounds excessive. What are the reasons for such harsh restrictions?
VAL: I guess this really is another universe. It's part of the Pact, established by our ancestors 300 years ago. The Pact is an agreement between Cities, Traders, and Providers to maintain balance and prevent the evils that led to The Fall, such as excess technology and greed. Providers live simple lives of productivity and prosperity, entrusting the Cities with the burden of technology. They need us for basic necessities, while we rely on them for the technology to survive the storms. Traders are the brave souls who work in between.
DELA: Huh. How's that been working?
VAL: We're alive.
DELA: Fair. So, what do you do for fun?
VAL: Great question. I haven't had much fun since I got married.
DELA: Ugh! Hubby's a jerk, eh?
VAL: Well… yes, he was.
DELA: Was?
VAL: Yes. He died of infection during a medicine shortage, years ago.
DELA: Ah-ha. So that's why my toes taste like. Yuck! Sorry, Val. Didn't mean to go there.
VAL: It's okay. I don't miss him. I've never said that aloud because no one in Holtondome wants to hear it, but I have a feeling you understand.
DELA: Sure do. I'm a bartender, among other things. So how do other people in Holtondome entertain themselves?
VAL: Well, there's storytime.
DELA: Oh! Like ghost stories around a campfire? That sounds great!
VAL: Mostly about our history—Earth's history. Providers are forbidden literacy, so knowledge is passed down through stories. Holtondome traditionally holds storytime in taverns. Tad's Tavern is my regular haunt.
DELA: Stories and beer. Sign me up!
ZIMA: Given the inaccuracy and mutability of human memory, stories seems a poor substitute for written history. Why do they keep you illiterate?
DELA: Control, Z. It keeps them uneducated and makes organizing revolts hella harder. America did the same to slaves back in the day.
VAL: America had slaves?
DELA: Yeah. No surprise that little fact disappeared from your tribal history, otherwise you guys might wise up and rise up.
VAL: But… we're not slaves. We're Providers! We sacrifice for the good of all humanity. There's a difference!
DELA: If it talks like a duck and walks like a duck, then it must be a slave.
VAL: That makes no sense.
DELA: Whatever. You won't remember any of this anyway. Z, our time is almost up. Any last questions for Little Miss Applepicker?
ZIMA: Yes. Cappa would like to know if Val has any love interes—
DELA: Nope! (smacks shiny red button)
VAL: (disappears in an electric flash)
DELA: Whew! That was close. Our first interview without any romantic crap and you almost ruined it.
ZIMA: I did not realize that was a problem.
DELA: Because you've been hanging around Cappa too much. Time to reset your sense of normal, starting now. Let's go spar.
ZIMA: No, I will not risk hurting you.
DELA: How can I become a superhero if you won't teach me?
ZIMA: I am not a superhero.
DELA: Riiiight. We can debate your superheroness while you're kicking my ass in the gym. Go!
— End —
Other Timeless Keeper Saga interviews
Ryan Southwick
Ryan Southwick
Currently Reading
The Ghost Brigades
I've only just started this second book in the series, desperately hoping it picks up from where the last book left off rather than wandering to brand-new territory. On the plus side, I have a long trip coming up, so I'll probably finish it quickly.
Other Authors You Might Like
I just finished a sneak preview of the third book in this series. Shout-out to Brandon for another action-packed story. If you like military novels with a generous splash of humor, definitely check out his first book, Foreign & Domestic.
Foreign & Domestic
A warrior’s work is never done.
Attacks are growing by land and by sea. Cameron Grey and a small cadre of veterans are deployed to expose a web of collusion to a sinister terror plot somewhere in the Americas.
As the team digs deeper, they stumble onto an inconceivable conspiracy with global footprints across four continents. An unimaginable discovery puts Cam and company immediately in the cross-hairs of those in the shadows – both at home and abroad. To defend their country they may have to resort to equally unconscionable measures.
Will Cam & his team be able to save their beloved country in time, or will the terrorists’ web run too deep? Pick up your copy, and start reading the first book of the Texian Armada Saga to find out!
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