Writing several chapters from the POV of female characters was kinda hard. I mean, I’m not a woman, so I’ll never be able to totally think as a woman would, right? But I loved the challenge of that.
B.T. Keaton – 23 March 2020
The Back Flap
Eighty years from now mankind has discovered the secret of eternal life. Human souls can be moved from one body to another through the process known as transference. Control of this new technology has fallen under the dominion of Jovian, a powerful prophet and head of the Church which governs every aspect of existence.
Banished to a mining colony on a distant planet for lawlessness is Barrabas Madzimure, the king of thieves. Only when Barrabas faces execution does he claim that another man committed his infamous crimes decades earlier. The authorities are suspicious. Is he the Madzimure of legend and a potential threat to Jovian’s new world order, or just another victim of transference?
The epic story of a grim personal mission, Transference takes the reader on a heart-racing journey through rebellion, revenge, self-sacrifice, and the soul’s search for identity.
When everything you believe about civilization is a lie, the ultimate power is truth.
About the book
What is the book about?
First off, thank you for having me, this is so wonderful. Secondly, wow, that’s such a loaded question! (laughs) Well, ultimately, I think it’s about family and self-sacrifice… but those things are buried under the science fiction surface. Hopefully the title gives it away. A technological advancement in the future allows for the ability to transfer a human soul from one body to another. In essence, humanity could theoretically live forever. But the tech has fallen under the control of Jovian—a sort-of mad prophet—who then twists it for his own purposes. There are others who know the truths behind all these matters, and they set about on a mission to expose Jovian’s machinations. In a way, I suppose it’s a classic, albeit grim, good versus evil tale.
When did you start writing the book?
The two-page synopsis of the story, which is how it began, dates back to 2010. I even have doodles of the “movie poster” in one of my journals. But I didn’t start writing the manuscript until 2012.
How long did it take you to write it?
The first draft flowed really quickly. I think that was about 6 to 8 weeks. Then my editor Pat LoBrutto and I worked, and re-worked it into a 2nd and then a 3rd draft. I think that process took another couple of months, and the book was finally done in 2013. I was fearful the book would be panned, hated, rejected… so I shelved the project and almost forgot about it until last year when I dusted it off again.
Where did you get the idea from?
Originally it stemmed from my late father’s love of science fiction. I grew up watching the original Star Wars trilogy several times a year at least, and Dad had a massive library of everything from Asimov to Sagan. So, for me the love of the genre was just always there. The idea for the book probably morphed from that combined with quasi-sci-fi movies like Ghostbusters. I just loved the idea that you could capture an ethereal being with man-made tech. So, I wanted to take things that I had seen work in other movies and novels, and make something in a similar vein, but include things that I hadn’t quite seen.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I’ve always had a knack for writing, but it is my first book so there was a lot to learn. My editor Pat really was an invaluable guide in that regard. Writing several chapters from the POV of female characters was kinda hard. I mean, I’m not a woman, so I’ll never be able to totally think as a woman would, right? But I loved the challenge of that. It’s funny because now people are telling me that the chapters written with the female voices are some of the best in the book!
What came easily?
The beginning and the end. I always seem to write in the same way… I know how the story starts, and I can always “see” the ending. It’s just getting from point A to B that ends up being the hard part. Character creation and dialogue are probably the most fun parts for me.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Some are entirely fictitious, but generally I’ve borrowed from everyone I’ve ever known. If we’ve interacted for any length of time, there’s probably some part of you in the book! (laughs) You take a character like Terra, for example… she is based on an actual person that I grew up with. I knew her when we were kids. But for the story I had to imagine what she’d be like as an adult since we probably hadn’t connected for twenty years or more, at least, not until Facebook came along.
Do you have a target reader?
I don’t want to exclude anybody. I recently saw Transference on a Goodreads list titled “Sci-fi for people who think they hate sci-fi.” I love that! That’s more or less what I was going for. I also wanted to appeal to women because I haven’t seen strong women in sci-fi for a while. That’s not a dig at anyone, I’m probably just not as well-read as I ought to be. But, you know, I have a sister, a niece, and I had a mother… aunts and cousins… and other women in my life whom I love and have loved. I wanted this book to appeal to them, not just a niche audience. That said, the book’s laced with profanity, so I probably didn’t do a very good job there! (laughs)
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Before I write anything, I come up with character names. That helps me create backstories for them in my head. I think you have to know who these people are, what happened to them, and what makes them tick before you even start the first chapter.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
None of that. I don’t like outlines because it feels… I don’t know… formulaic, maybe? But they work well for a lot of writers. I’m pretty disorganized in my real life, so I probably should take some pointers from the question itself! (laughs)
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
A bit of both. If I see something that’s sticking out like a sore thumb, I’ll fix it. That’s the perfectionist in me. I’d be embarrassed to send a manuscript to an editor which contained even simple typos or grammatical errors in it, even though I know it’s their job to correct them.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Absolutely. I mentioned Pat before. He was great. I sought him out specifically because I knew many of the books he’d edited, and so he agreed to become developmental editor for the story. Bodie Dykstra was my “final sweep” editor and he was a joy to work with, too.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I was listening to M83 a lot for Transference. Music can be inspiring but also distracting depending on your mood. Soundtracks help because I tend to think of my writing visually and emotionally. I know that sounds weird, right? That might be an impairment to plot and prose, but it’s just the way my brain works. I’m sure that’s something I can improve on.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did at the time, and got a few nibbles. But mostly the standard polite “thanks but no thanks” rejections were filling up my inbox. I was also getting comments like “sci-fi isn’t selling.” And a fairly well-known publisher actually said the book was “publishable” but “not marketable” because fantasy was dominating at the time.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was definitely gradual. I thought having the gravitas of a publisher behind me would validate the work. Publisher rejection and the fear of failure were probably the two biggest reasons I shelved the book for so long. In the years since I’ve come to understand that getting a proper publishing deal is like landing a movie deal… it’s just not common. The quality of your work is not determined by a book deal alone. So, at some point, I had to accept the feedback I was getting—from editors and fellow authors—that the book was just too good to let it lie dormant. Also, there were a lot of things in my personal life that spurred me on… a divorce… the death of my mother… and just, realizing that life is so short, you know? I think all of that contributed to me saying, the hell with it, I’m gonna do this right now.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Damonza did everything for me. They’re incredible… very professional.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I have been winging it! (laughs) The whole process has proven to be frustrating, expensive, and at times pretty deflating. Just recently my good friend Duster said to me, “Nothing of value happens without struggle.” How true is that! But yeah… marketing is probably where a real publishing house would’ve been the most helpful.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Spend your money on a really good editor, and a great cover designer. I know that a lot of authors aren’t made of money—and neither am I—but you’ve got to invest in what you’re doing, and then see it through. And on a deeper level I would say this… do not be afraid. Don’t let fear keep you from doing what you’re capable of.
About You
Where did you grow up?
My family moved around a lot… but the place we stayed the longest –and most felt like home—was in East Tennessee.
Where do you live now?
Wellington, New Zealand has been my home for well over 10 years now.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I love to laugh and to make people laugh. My sister calls me Peter (Pan). She’s right, of course… I’m just a big kid in a lot of ways. I still love toys, and comic books. I don’t take things too seriously, either… and I think that’s hurt me over the years, especially in the workplace. But it’s okay. My life has never revolved around a job. I had a wonderful childhood, I got to have loving parents, and the best friends. Life’s just been so good. Life is good.
What are you working on now?
I wrote three children’s stories, all intended to be picture books. One is about a village of snails, the other a clown, and the last one about an alien named Galumph. I don’t have kids of my own, but I have a fondness for that time in my life… so I really wanted to appeal to both parents and their little ones. You know, something kind of akin to The Muppets that can be enjoyed by all ages? I am also about halfway through another sci-fi novel about time travel… it’s just taking a lot of research for me to get it right. Also, a sequel to Transference is percolating in my heart and mind as well. God willing, I can get all these things off the ground in the coming years. So yeah… cross your fingers for me. And your toes. (laughs)
End of Interview:
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