[AOTM] Author Interview with Alex J. Cavanaugh

[Anna]

Greetings Space Opera Fans!

Whoo-hoo! The Space Opera Fans community is on a roll, because we've enticed another author to answer our questions about the book we've got up for a group read this month! Alex J. CavanaughAlex J. Cavanaugh, author of Cassafire has taken the time to answer our l-o-n-g list of bookish questions [*because, you know, inquisitive minds want to know*].

And to think people all say we sci-fi fans are a bunch of nerds?

So without further ado, here is Alex Cavanaugh, author of the Cassafire trilogy:



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Hey Anna! Below are my answers. Thank you again for the opportunity. Alex


1. What books have most influenced your life?

Terry Brooks’ original Shannara trilogy inspired me to write. Other influences include Timothy Zahn’s Star Wars books, Preston & Childs’ Agent Pendergast series, and the works of Burroughs and Bradbury.

2. How do you develop your plots and characters?

I always come up with the ending first. Then I play it through in my head like a movie to get to that ending. Once I know the story well, I spend a couple months on the outline and character sheets.

3. Tell us about your Space Opera Fans book?

CasaFire is the sequel to CassaStar, although you don’t need to read the first one to follow along. I actually never planned on writing a second book, but fans wanted more and they wanted a female character. CassaFire picks up twenty years after the first book, throwing new challenges at the main character Byron. (His biggest challenge being a female pilot named Athee.)

4. We all need a hero! Tell us about your protagonist(s)? Was there a real-life inspiration behind him or her?

I’m not sure where Byron came from! (The Cassa world was inspired by Battlestar Galactica though.) Byron is a perfectionist, damned good at what he does, and possesses a special ability. He’s also a loner. (Which is why Athee really disrupts his world.)

5. A good villain is hard to write. How did you get in touch with your inner villain(s) to write this book. Was there a real-life inspiration for him/her/it?

I don’t write clear-cut villains. There are those who antagonize Byron, such as Athee’s uncle, Prefect Orellen. He didn’t trust Byron. I think we can all relate to someone in our lives not trusting us.

6. What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding within your book?

Do you consider Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars real life?
Tgren is a desert planet, and I lived in Arizona for several years. That experience made it easy to draw upon the look of the buildings, the customs, and the feel of the desert.

7. Sci-fi fans love techno-porn! What real-life science (or pseudo-science) did you research for your book?

Well, we can’t do it in real life, but the ability to teleport has always fascinated me. What would it take to fold space and jump an object to another location? Since there is no hard science for it, most of the teleportation science came from science fiction movies.

8. What was the hardest part of writing this book?

Writing a believable female character was the most difficult. I really relied on my wife to accurately portray Athee. The one kiss was also difficult!

9. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

There’s a humorous exchange between Byron and Athee in chapter four that I really enjoyed. Lots of snark. I also enjoyed a scene in chapter thirteen aboard a flagship, as it reunited Byron with two characters from CassaStar.

10. Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it?

I learned that I do have more than one story in me! And that I can write a convincing female lead.

11. Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp?

Just the importance of trust and being willing to let another into your life.

12. What are your future project(s)?

I wrapped up this series last fall with CassaStorm, and now I am working on a brand new space opera set in a very different universe. The idea came from a song and I expanded it into a complete story.

13. If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

Rock star! I’m also a guitarist and play in a Christian band.

14. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to the Space Opera Fans community members?

Thanks for reading CassaFire! I hope you enjoy it enough to read the first book, CassaStar, and the third, CassaStorm.

Alex J. Cavanaugh
http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgrou...
http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm. The author lives in the Carolinas with his wife.