My enthusiasm for the characters made me want to keep writing, but other than that, the process isn’t really easy for me.
J.W. Fagan – 20 January 2020
The Back Flap
A company is poised to gain global power. Three civilian volunteers compete for the job of making the trip to a distant planet where they will claim mining rights for a rare and precious material. As they train for the dangerous mission, internal and outside forces seek to gain access to them. Some want to steal the cutting-edge technology, others to corrupt candidates and sabotage the mission. Competitors race to launch their own ships, but only McKinnon Ventures has Dex, a mining robot driven by extraordinary artificial intelligence created by a haughty technology prodigy. The selected volunteer will earn millions and the everlasting fame, but won’t get the chance to enjoy either prize. The mission calls for only Dex to return. For the human, it’s a one-way trip. To succeed, they must work together, as neither can complete the mission on their own.The outcome could change the global balance of power, and impact billions of lives. Everything depends on what occurs under The Titan Sky.
About the book
What is the book about?
On the distant moon of Titan, a precious material has sparked a race on Earth for the mining rights. Volunteers for the one-way journey train in hopes of being selected, while outside forces attempt to steal the technology and hijack the mission. The true motivations of the selected person will only become apparent when the trip is underway.
When did you start writing the book?
The original idea came several years back, and the first draft was in movie script. The format is very different, but in the end you have the same goal – paint a visual and tactile experience. I came back to the story last spring, and decided to rewrite as a novel. I ended up changing the story substantially, even though the premise is the same.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took a year to get a solid draft. I like to put it away every few weeks, then come back with a fresh feel for it. Since I write part time, none of my projects are quick.
Where did you get the idea from?
The spark came from a documentary on early space probes NASA sent out in the 1970’s that were nearing the edge of the solar system. I’ve always been fascinated with space, science fiction and the mystery of the universe. I didn’t want to write a fantasy story, so it is based on reality. In the years since I wrote the first script, a mission to Mars was proposed and began asking for volunteers, also a one-way trip, similar to the one in my story. Now my premise seems far less far-fetched then when I started with it!
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
This was the first time I maintained a 3rd person voice in a story, at least in recent years. The challenge is how much does the narrator know about the characters? Are they all-knowing, or just observing? I had to pick one and stick with it. Editing kept finding slips and inconsistencies. Writing in a first-person voice was much easier in this respect.
What came easily?
My enthusiasm for the characters made me want to keep writing, but other than that, the process isn’t really easy for me. It’s great when you see it up on Amazon and you can say it’s done.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
I need to use people I know or have met to get a voice for a character. Usually they are a combination of several people, flavored with the strongest traits or quirks. Since I don’t know anyone in reality who has any of the jobs in this book, they had to be fictitious.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
My personal taste for reading is usually aimed at stories totally out of my realm of experience. I love police and legal procedurals, like Michael Connolly creates. Lee Child has me hooked on Jack Reacher and his adventures. Hank Green’s An Absolutely Remarkable Thing was my favorite read last year. The voice and perspective was perfect for the story.
Do you have a target reader?
Every storyteller would like to believe their tale is interesting enough for any audience, but that’s a tall order. I’ll say my target reader for this book is general fiction readers who are curious about the motivations of other people. Or anyone who just wants a unique story to distract them for a little while.
How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?
My last book, The Survival Job, was written with a single voice, so only one point of view. I preferred that to the third person view, mainly because it was easier to keep a consistent voice. I toyed with making the story only told from the main characters voice at one point, but the story was radically different in that format. So, challenge accepted.
What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?
The marketing techniques seem to change every month. Amazon ads are bigger now than they were last year, and the choice of marketing services has exploded as well. It’s difficult to determine what will work and be worth the money and effort. Still learning!
End of Interview:
For more from Jw.W. Fagan visit his website.
