Behind the Screens: Tuesday Author Interview
Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.
Sabitha: Is there anything more exciting than a science fiction thriller? Andria Stone is here to tell us about the action-packed fun in her novel The K5 PROTOCOL . Andria, you have the floor!
Andria: When Marshal Flint Maddox finds his best friend murdered, it triggers the K5 PROTOCOL, a long dormant neural implant, and he comes face-to-face with the deadly past he left years ago. As Maddox searches for his friend’s missing daughter, he embarks on a desperate galactic hunt filled with treacherous wormholes, feminine betrayal, and aliens who consider humans an expendable race.
Relentless in his pursuit, despite surviving a run in with pirates, Maddox uncovers a horrific genetic conspiracy—that if the details become known—will rock the galaxy.
From a once-great Earth, to the utopian world of Anterra, to the ice planet of Degress 9, to the strange Outer Rim Territories, you will ride along with the Marshal and his crew. But buckle up because you’re in for a heart-pounding, nail-biting, climax!
Sabitha : What inspired you to write this book?
Andria: After writing a near-future trilogy, I wanted to challenge myself by branching out with a far-future story—one where humans were not alone, which would required world building on a grand scale—with planets in other systems, wormholes as interstellar highways, and alien races, some similar to us, and others who definitely weren’t.
Sabitha : Do you have a playlist for your book?
Andria: In the story, there are three bar scenes where different types of music are playing: speedcore, dreamscape, and Earth Oldies. Personally, I listen to Star Trek soundtracks while writing.
Sabitha : What book do you tell all your friends to read?
Andria: Both Patty Jansen and Lindsay Buroker write great science fiction and fantasy. For thrillers, I like Stephen King, Grisham, and Don Winslow.
Sabitha : Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?
Andria: Yes, I let a cyborg kill a female Colonel in the second book of my trilogy. Her mate was devastated, and I let him avenge her death.
Sabitha : How much research did you need to do for your book?
Andria: Since I write techno-thrillers, there’s a good deal of detail in my stories, which means a greater amount of research for astronomical units, galactic regions, gravity ratio, engine room components, ship categories, and armaments—just to name a few.
Sabitha : Who did you imagine reading your book as you wrote it?
Andria: I did research: a Bowker survey found that 72% of science fiction readers make more than $50,000, and a majority of them make more than $80,000. Another survey found SFF readers were about 20% of the US population, with approximately 57% male, and tend to reduce their reading volume between the ages of 45-65. Also—no surprise—speculative fiction readers are people who read a lot.
Sabitha : What’s your next writing project?
Andria: I’m working on a sequel to K5, and it will likely be Book #2 of a trilogy. Since I’ve already built this intricate world, and the MC didn’t catch all the bad guys, he and his new partner just pick up where the story ended.
Sabitha : Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?
Andria: All my books can be found on Amazon, or on any online bookstore. I can be found at my website, Threads, Instagram, Facebook, or Goodreads. You can watch my book trailer here.
