Ask the Author: Alexander C. Kane
Answered Questions (18)
Alexander C. Kane
Hard to say. I'm working on it now, there have been a number of stops and starts, but I hopeful I can finish the first draft in the early part of this year, and then get it in shape. Would likely be self-published and need to figure out how to do that with audiobooks. So, it would be nice to have it out by the end of the year, but a lot of variables. I'll update as the process moves along.
Alexander C. Kane
Yes, but it's a bit tricky. I have a different book (about DRAGONS) coming out this spring. I'm about a quarter of the way through writing OP3, but I paused it as I'm not sure a publisher would buy OP3 right now. So, eventually, yes, there will be an OP3 even if I have to self-publish, but I'm hoping the other things I'm working on will drive people to OP and create some demand for a third book. I put a longer explanation about this on my Facebook page if you do Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexanderckane/
You know, I spent more time at Merritt Island as a kid than Cocoa Beach, and yet I had Gretch go to Cocoa in the first book, so maybe you have a point.
You know, I spent more time at Merritt Island as a kid than Cocoa Beach, and yet I had Gretch go to Cocoa in the first book, so maybe you have a point.
Alexander C. Kane
Thank you for reading and it's great to hear you're enjoying the books. That's a fun idea, maybe I can have that added to the end of the print and e-book versions of AV3. or maybe a free e-book, "The Philosophy and Wisdom of Ms. Oh."
Alexander C. Kane
That's awesome! Thanks for the kind words. Pre-order is not up yet, but I'm hoping that will happen in the next month or so and then Audible will announce the release date. Should be good news soon.
Alexander C. Kane
Ha! AV1 is available in print and ebook on Amazon. AV2 and Orlando People had temporary exclusives with Audible, but those periods have ended. They will be in print, but there's a bunch of tiny, boring issues that have slowed down getting that done. I'm hoping at least AV2 will have a print and ebook version before the end of the year.
Thank you for asking and for listening!
Thank you for asking and for listening!
Alexander C. Kane
Hey, thanks! I'm probably not you, but maybe? Could be Time Travel You or Alternate Universe You. Only time will tell. A couple of tips on dialogue: 1) Dialogue can do a lot of things. Move the plot forward, make the reader laugh, build character, provide description, etc. A tip I got a long time ago was that every line of dialogue should accomplish at least two things. I don't know that I achieve that every time. 2) Specifics are key. There's so much you can get out about someone by how they say things slightly differently and the choices they make. I discover a lot about my characters when I start writing their dialogue. Sometimes I look at a line of dialogue and I think, "There's none of the character in that line." Avoid cliche and find something unique about the character when they speak, even if it's a basic thing. 3) Every character is complex and every character is weird. I think of characters that might have one or two lines as unique and complex individuals. 4) I always think about the characters' motivations. Gretch wants to solve the crime, but she also wants Prater to be her friend. Hope this was useful!
Alexander C. Kane
Yes! First draft of AV3 is written, working on revisions now.
Alexander C. Kane
Thank you so much! That's is very cool to hear. Yes, there will be more OP books. The first drafts of OP2 and AV3 are written. It's a long process from first draft to book, but it's in the works.
Alexander C. Kane
Thank you so much, that's is really great to hear. Yes, I am working on Book 3 now. I am so glad that you enjoyed that speech because it was very important to me in regards to Andrea and where she comes from and the influences in her life. I like writing the serious moments in the books, where there are real emotional stakes and human (or ultrahuman) consequences. It's very meaningful to hear that part connected with you. Thank you so much for reaching out!
Alexander C. Kane
Thanks so much! I'm glad like the books.
Two things about Ms. Oh and AVCUP in general: 1) When I started writing the first book, I had never thought someone publish it and really wasn't sure I'd even finish it. 2) I come from a sketch comedy background. Sketches are short, so you don't have a lot of time to establish character. Also, you want to avoid cliche and find really strong specifics that the audience is going to expect.
So, when I started writing Ms. Oh, I wrote one of her sayings, "The government couldn't run a candy store in Hungry Town" I think. And I thought that seemed like a fun thing to play with and a good way to get details out about her background. Like a mini-challenge within the larger challenge of writing a book. I will say, each book it gets harder because I'm trying not to be repetitive. I always think about who she is and where she's from and how she would express some piece of wisdom. The metaphors and similes have to actually mean something, and they have to say it in a way that no other character would think of. I will be in the flow of writing sometime and then get stuck thinking, "What is the way Ms. Oh would say this is a very difficult situation? Harder than a....Or maybe more annoying than a...some kind of farm animal...with some kind of skin disease...going to...an opera? You know what, I'll come back." So, it's difficult, and sometimes the answer will strike me after I've moved on and I'll go back and replace one that was just kind of okay.
Inspector Well Actually was inspired from many, many people in my own life including me at my worst. I also so a lot of Well Actually-ing on Twitter and I thought, "There's a Captain Obvious, but no Inspector Well Actually? Then I will have to invent him." I originally thought he would be a villain, but it seemed more fun to take a character who starts off being hard to like, but he's on the right side and he means well, he just can't help himself. Similar idea with Glare in Book 2.
Two things about Ms. Oh and AVCUP in general: 1) When I started writing the first book, I had never thought someone publish it and really wasn't sure I'd even finish it. 2) I come from a sketch comedy background. Sketches are short, so you don't have a lot of time to establish character. Also, you want to avoid cliche and find really strong specifics that the audience is going to expect.
So, when I started writing Ms. Oh, I wrote one of her sayings, "The government couldn't run a candy store in Hungry Town" I think. And I thought that seemed like a fun thing to play with and a good way to get details out about her background. Like a mini-challenge within the larger challenge of writing a book. I will say, each book it gets harder because I'm trying not to be repetitive. I always think about who she is and where she's from and how she would express some piece of wisdom. The metaphors and similes have to actually mean something, and they have to say it in a way that no other character would think of. I will be in the flow of writing sometime and then get stuck thinking, "What is the way Ms. Oh would say this is a very difficult situation? Harder than a....Or maybe more annoying than a...some kind of farm animal...with some kind of skin disease...going to...an opera? You know what, I'll come back." So, it's difficult, and sometimes the answer will strike me after I've moved on and I'll go back and replace one that was just kind of okay.
Inspector Well Actually was inspired from many, many people in my own life including me at my worst. I also so a lot of Well Actually-ing on Twitter and I thought, "There's a Captain Obvious, but no Inspector Well Actually? Then I will have to invent him." I originally thought he would be a villain, but it seemed more fun to take a character who starts off being hard to like, but he's on the right side and he means well, he just can't help himself. Similar idea with Glare in Book 2.
Alexander C. Kane
Yes! Working on it now. I also have another book that is not in the CUP universe coming out before the end of the year.
Alexander C. Kane
Hello! Thanks for asking.
Bahni is recording the audio this week and it will be out in early spring. I think I should have an official date soon.
Bahni is recording the audio this week and it will be out in early spring. I think I should have an official date soon.
Alexander C. Kane
Thanks! I wanted to write a book about an extraordinary human being who has been ground down by the world and made to feel ordinary. I didn't really know who she was until I started writing the first page and I immediately thought of my friend Emmanuel. We were both teachers together at a high school in Queens. He was born and raised in Queens, the youngest son of Haitian immigrants. Like Andrea, he had a degree from an Ivy League University. I had just moved to New York from Florida, but we became tight enough that we called each other Brother From Another Mother. We had the same sophomoric sense of humor and the same knowledge base of 90's television shows. We used to do the Beavis and Butthead dance in the hallways. Emmanuel is one of the smartest people I've ever met, and I saw how that job and our boss ground him down. Andrea is different from Emmanuel in a number of ways, but he and his family were definitely inspirations for Andrea and the Vernons.
When I first started writing the book, I did not really think it would ever get published. I wasn't even sure I'd ever finish it, but I wanted to do my best to represent a culture I did not come from without being exploitative or relying on stereotypes so I asked Emmanuel a lot of questions. We haven't worked together in over 10 years, but he was very helpful and talked me a lot about food and family and culture. Many of the things he told me worked their way into the book and upcoming sequel.
Thank you again for the question. Also, you made me miss Emmanuel again, so now I'm going to have to give him a call.
When I first started writing the book, I did not really think it would ever get published. I wasn't even sure I'd ever finish it, but I wanted to do my best to represent a culture I did not come from without being exploitative or relying on stereotypes so I asked Emmanuel a lot of questions. We haven't worked together in over 10 years, but he was very helpful and talked me a lot about food and family and culture. Many of the things he told me worked their way into the book and upcoming sequel.
Thank you again for the question. Also, you made me miss Emmanuel again, so now I'm going to have to give him a call.
Alexander C. Kane
My company has a big sales meeting every year, and it ends in an awards dinner. Everyone has a good time and we celebrate all the hard work everyone does, but one year I sat there thinking, "Okay, but it's not like we're saving the world.
And then I thought for a while about Andrea, a character who is extraordinary, but has been a little beaten down by the reality of life and made to feel ordinary. I thought about the idea and the characters for a while and I finally realized that I better start writing it soon, because my wife was five months pregnant. I didn't know who the villain would be, but I knew the scariest thing in my life was becoming a dad, so I made the looming terror a fertilized egg.
And so, I started writing.
And then I thought for a while about Andrea, a character who is extraordinary, but has been a little beaten down by the reality of life and made to feel ordinary. I thought about the idea and the characters for a while and I finally realized that I better start writing it soon, because my wife was five months pregnant. I didn't know who the villain would be, but I knew the scariest thing in my life was becoming a dad, so I made the looming terror a fertilized egg.
And so, I started writing.
Alexander C. Kane
Write all the time, fail a bunch, learn from failure, fail more, keep going.
Alexander C. Kane
I'm currently writing the sequel to Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection. Whenever I hit a wall with that, I'm also working on a space opera.
Alexander C. Kane
I stop checking social media, stop listening to podcasts, and turn off the radio. That usually helps clear out distractions. If it doesn't, I'll start writing something that I'm not 100% sure is good and hope for the best. Sometimes I end up deleting the whole thing, but sometimes in writing it I find something I like more than my original idea.
Alexander C. Kane
Sitting alone with the lights still flickering, he worked hard to calm his nerves, reminding himself that every coroner's assistant has a first night alone in the morgue, that there was nothing to be afraid of, and that the unexplained comet that passed by the night before was just a random event and nothing to worry about. It was then that all of the corpses began farting to the tune of Old MacDonald.
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