I wondered, “What
if suicide was illegal? What if it wasn’t just a moral issue, but a legal one, and you could be punished for taking your life?”
Jacob Guy – 12 April 2024
The Back Flap
Chester Aldair is a gay teenager who commits suicide, making him a severe criminal.
In Galena, technology has advanced to the point where people no longer die from natural causes, and as a result, the government has instituted, “The Age of Volition,” which is a law requiring that everyone lives until they’re seventy-five years old. Once someone turns seventy-five, they can choose how much longer they live for.
Chester kills himself, but the government brings him back.
And now he’s a criminal.
Because he took his life, and lived.
About the book
When did you start writing the book?
I came up with the idea in November 2021, and officially started drafting in December!!
How long did it take you to write it?
I finished the first draft at the end of 2022 (so about a year), and then I went through eleven
drafts in the year that followed!! I finished the last draft in early 2024!
Where did you get the idea from?
At the end of 2021, I broke up with my girlfriend and came out as gay. I’ve always been
heavily involved in my religious community, so coming out complicated nearly every aspect
of my life. During that time, I began wondering if maybe it’d be better for me to be dead
than attracted to other men, and while wrestling with suicidal thoughts, I wondered, “What
if suicide was illegal? What if it wasn’t just a moral issue, but a legal one, and you could be punished for taking your life?”
From there, the story naturally started developing.
(I want to add, as well, that I’m now in a very good and healthy spot. Things got better. I did, too, and I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences)
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I probably spent 70% of the time working on the first 10%. I struggled IMMENSELY with
knowing where to start the story and how to lay everything out in the beginning.
What came easily?
Throughout the story, the main character Chester interacts with another boy, Thaddeus, and the banter between the two was really fun and easy to write. I feel like those scenes just FLOWED.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
All of my characters are fictitious, but I feel like they’re composed of bits and pieces from several people I know. With that being said, for the most part, each of my characters are extensions of myself, just with more exaggerations in specific traits.
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?
Just before coming out, I read Proxy by Alex London, and that book was monumental for me. I’ve also been a big fan of Adam Silvera, who always includes small, memorable details in his books. And I’ve also loved Patrick Ness—who writes breathtakingly beautiful prose.
Do you have a target reader?
My target reader is ideally LGBTQ teens, however that umbrella can be expanded to include anyone connected to the LGBTQ community.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I try to write a little bit every day, but for the most part, I’m pretty spontaneous. I find I write best if I’m in a quiet, focused space, so I’ll often go to the library.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
For The Scorpion Unit, I had a detailed idea of the beginning and the end, but wasn’t sure what the middle would look like. When I started writing the book, I had a few bullet points I wanted to include, and as I wrote, I built on those as I went.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
For the most part, I wait until I’ve finished. I feel like I have to get everything out first, and then I can go back and revise.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I have a friend from college who’s about to graduate in editing, and I paid her to edit my manuscript. She was FANTASTIC.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I always listen to music while I write. My music preferences depend on the day, though, because sometimes I like listening to soft, acoustic covers, and other times I listen to techno Mariokart remixes (literally, look them up—they will change you). I don’t understand it nor do I pretend to.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did!! I actually submitted to 84 agents before deciding to self-publish. I had a handful of agents ask for the full manuscript, but I never landed a contract.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
For me, it was rather spontaneous. I had spent about 8 months trying to query agents, and after facing dozens of rejections, I decided to go another route. A few friends had mentioned the possibility to me, and after a few weeks, I gave in. And I’m actually really grateful I did.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I did it myself!! (Special shoutout to Canva Pro *insert fist bump here*
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I have a general idea of what I want to do, but for the most part, I am taking things one day at a time!!
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
I would submit that self-publishing is a really, really good option, but I would primarily focus on creating an EARTH-SHATTERING BOOK before diving too much into the publishing sludge. You really have to love what you’ve created if you want to share with the world.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Growing up, I lived in Florida and Texas for a while, but I spent my teenage years in northern Utah!!
Where do you live now?
I’m still living in northern Utah while I finish up my undergraduate degree!
What would you like readers to know about you?
I have a scar on my thumb because one time I was playing Wii Bowling and I accidentally swung too high, and the ceiling fan went FRUIT NINJA MODE on my thumb hahaha
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m doing a lot of social media work, and I’m also writing my second novel. WE’RE DOING IT.
End of Interview:
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Get your copy of The Scorpion Unit from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
