Q & A - Part 2
Following the success of the last Q&A session that I posted up it seemed the time for a follow-up. This time there are eleven people with questions and I will do my best to answer them all. There is a chance that some of these questions might reveal plot points or details that would be considered as spoilers. Please understand that these answers are relevant as of September 2013. In six months time things may have changes or been modified, that's just the way it works. My plan for Star Crusades for example has changed considerably from when I planned out the first book. I have posted the original questions as written on my official Facebook page so you can see who proposed them, and specifically what they actually asked at the time. Let's get started:
Q. Jacques Duvoisin: How do you think of futuristic technology?
A. That is an interesting one as there is always the desire to give my guys the latest in high-tech gizmos to save the day. I tend to be as conservative as possible and make use of what is considered feasible or cutting edge today. Coil guns and rail guns are all known technology as is the use of particle beams. Obviously I have to make exceptions such as the recovery of anti-gravity technology and the Rifts for plot reasons, but in general I try and keep things grounded and simple. The secpad is just a new version of a datapad, something that is barely more advanced than an iPad mini. I don't want my marines being able to win using technology, I want it to be about men and women using weapons to win the day.
Q. Joshua Campbell: Any chance of getting an illustrated guide to your universe?
A. I have a detailed document that covers everything from plot outlines, history and locations through to character summaries and ideas. This will never be released in its exciting form as it is messy and for reference only. I would love to release large parts of it though, ideally combined into a detailed colour book that can utilise some of the great art already created.
Q. Dean Robinson: Will any of the major characters be killed?
A. Well, I can't really say too much about this other than to say it would be difficult to fight the coming war without sacrifice and loss. I won't do a G.R.R Martin though and simply wipe out lots of characters on a whim, or just for effect.
Q. Steve Yakubik: Don't end series, I only read you a another author's series!
A. Thanks for the vote of confidence. The individual series in Star Crusades will each end, but I have no intention of ending the overall 'Universe'. When Nexus is done there will be plenty more to investigate. What happened before Legions of Orion? There is a lot to explore in Star Crusades and as long as you keep reading them, I'll keep writing them.
Q. Michiel de Lepper: Will we ever find out Spartan's background?
A. Yes!
Q. Cemgil Kurt: What's your plan for future new series etc?
Q. Brad Nash: You pushed your series number from 6 to 8. With yet more books focusing on this story (Woot btw) after this 8 book series is done. What was the reason for two more books and not lumping it into the next series?
A. I have combined these question together as I think they are best answered in one go. Hope that's okay chaps. This is a weird one because as soon as I say what I'm planning, things change, even though I am still following my original timeline and plan. It was my intention to have the Uprising series to be completely standalone and that the Nexus series would move events into the wider sphere. Nexus was to have ended once the Alliance had embedded itself firmly in the politics of Helios and its neighbours. I then planned on the third series concentrating on the coming war with the Biomechs. This whole divide seems too artificial to me and instead I want the ideas of the Nexus plotlines to properly merge with the Biomech thread. This will tie together element of the Great War of the past far into the future. This way we learn more of the Twelve, the Biomechs, what happened in their war with the Helions and their Allies and how they became embroiled in the human wars. I want all of this to play out in the Nexus series and for it to come to a logical and satisfying conclusion. The end result of this change is that Nexus is going to be a lot bigger than planned. Instead of 6 it is going to be more like 9 books so that I can fit in everything I wanted. It might sound like the story is being stretched but in reality it is me moving things from the third series and into the second so I can properly round it all out. After all, do you really want to wait till the third series before you get to a full-scale war in Orion?
Q. Blake James: how many kids will Spartan and Teresa have?
A. A good question and unless anything changes I am thinking just the one. Spartan's not a big fan of children and we've yet to see Teresa's other children get involved in the story yet. Something tells me sparks will fly.
Q. Ashley Payne: What gave you the inspiration for such a good series?
A. Siege of Titan has a lot in common with classic military films like Full Metal Jacket and the movie version of Starship Troopers. I think the best stories come from classical stories, especially the plays and poetry of Xenophon, Euripides and Homer. It is hard not to be influenced by what is going on aroudn you though. Many will have noticed how the Star Crusades Uprising series had a lot of current events mixed in. We have insurgents, terrorism, suicide bombings, fundamentalist religions and government responses to those threats.
Q. Pamela Jary: As you are also an instructor in HEMA, how much of this knowledge do you use in your books? Which is your favourite sword?
A. Well, I try to involve lots of detail in regards to hand to hand combat and edged weapons in my books. I've trained for decades with them so I can imagine myself in the actual scenario and ensure the moves are logical and workable. So to answer the first part, quite a bit. As for my favourite sword? Well, I like big two-handers, especially the lighter zweihanders. In terms of aesthetics I'd go for complex-hilted dussacks and the Venetian Schiavona.
Q. Andrew Lancefield: Who's series sells better, yours or your brother? And what are your thoughts on e-books are they good for authors and the industry? Oh, and how did you find out you could write?
A. They sell about the same, there is little difference between them to be fair. Mine are obviously much better written though! Ebooks are happening whether we like it or not. I've actually bought a load of sci-fi in paperback recently, and then got hold of the eBooks to read instead. Much more convenient and unless they are large reference books, I'd rather not have the clutter. I keep my shelves clear for old books and research volumes. E=books are great for writers and readers, not so great for the book shops or libraries though. I've been writing since I was a child so I suppose I knew back then. When my first novel came out and people actually bought it, then I truly knew.
That's it for now. If you have any more questions please pop by my Facebook fanpage and let me know:
