IndieView with F.J Stewart, author of The Hatchling: Soul Keeper

It came from observing how we treat the planet, and each other, and what would happen if the human population went back down to under 100 million.

F.J. Stewart – 13 October 2016

The Back Flap

t is two thousand years into the future after the Great Change, when the planet turned over, and the human species is down to about eleven million worldwide. Magic has reentered this world, and the environment is pristine.

And so it is, on a calm green sea sails the Taraway, an old two-piston wreck, carrying its crew of fishermen. The crew notices a strange thing: a damaged vessel surging through the water embroiled in its own personal storm, with a ravaged woman tied to the mast. She is stranded on the ocean terribly weakened, with a broken ship and no retinue. The kind captain and his crew take her in and become intoxicated by her beauty.

But she has guiled the crew into assisting her. In fact she is the queen of a highly destructive alien race called the Voth. The queen is on a desperate mission across the world to save her race – a mission that threatens to destroy all of humanity, putting an end to earth’s peaceful existence.

About the book

What is the book about?

In short, it is an epic, post-apocalyptic, fantasy/adventure story, about a desperate alien queen who is on a journey across the world to save her race. A small group of humans are sent to find and stop her, because if they do not, all of humanity will perish. Out of this, there emerges a half-human creature with the latent power to destroy both species. The ensuing conflict is a story of morality versus expediency, love and hate and the primal urge to survive that lies at the heart of all life.

When did you start writing the book?

2014

How long did it take you to write it?

Six months.

Where did you get the idea from?

The idea came to me over a period of years. It came from observing how we treat the planet, and each other, and what would happen if the human population went back down to under 100 million. There would be room for quantum magic, telepathy, teleportation, and intellectually evolved animals, and secret creatures would come out of hiding…such as Sasquatches.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I had to learn how to type! Had no idea before then. I wrote almost the entire story by hand in a notebook. Then I had a voice-recognition software program that I read the story into. I added more to the story by typing it out. Then my dear daughter retyped the entire thing. Big process. Almost 140,000 words.

What came easily?

The characters came easily.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I would say they are mainly fictitious, although, I feel artists and writers are always influenced by people and events in their life.

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?

Ernest Hemingway. His truncated way of writing, how everything is below the surface, simple, direct. I don’t like laying everything out for the reader. I trust they’re intelligent enough to read between the lines, so to speak.

Do you have a target reader?

Any adult that likes to take their mind for a ride.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I have a direction of where I want that chapter to go, and after two to three sentences, it starts to flow.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I don’t do any outlining. I hand-write most of my stories, and when I type it out, things alter, change, and move around a bit.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Edit when I’m finished.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I did hire an editor, paid him a bit of money, but found out he didn’t read the story. So I have my very astute and supportive daughter proofread for me. She has a friend who is a professional editor who voluntarily edited my book because she was interested in the story. And I had many close friends and family members read the story in order to give me feedback.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No music. But there’s always music in my head.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I tried but couldn’t find one.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

Gradual process. I didn’t want a whole group of people try to change my story. I didn’t want to sound like somebody else .

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

Professionally done. I drew the image on the cover, but had a graphic designer put the jacket together.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Well, I’m winging it a bit. But that astute daughter of mine? She organizes me that way. I have a book signing happening in October, at a popular book store in the city nearby.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Be original, avoid cliches (unless you’re making fun of them).

About You

Where did you grow up?

Western Canada

Where do you live now?

Okanagan Highlands of BC, Canada

What would you like readers to know about you?

I like to make people laugh.

What are you working on now?

The final book in The Hatchling Trilogy: Cascadia.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Hatchling: Soul Keeper from Amazon US or Amazon UK.