SFFWRTCHT Interview – Author Alex J. Cavanaugh

Overlords’ note: This interview is a special to RGR by SFF Writer Chat, hosted by author-editor Bryan Thomas Schmidt(SFFWRTCHT). Thanks to Bryan and Alex for the interview!

 

Bryan Thomas Schmidt(SFFWRTCHT):  Let’s start with the basics: Where did your interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy come from?

Alex J. Cavanugh: It began with superhero comics and spilled over into books, movies, and TV shows. I’m sure D&D played a role as well. I liked the escapism.

SFFWRTCHT: Who were some writers who inspired you as you discovered the genre?

AJC: Alan Dean Foster, Terry Brooks, and Ray Bradbury.

SFFWRTCHT: When did you start writing seriously and how long until your first sale?

AJC: A few years ago I rewrote CassaStar from a really old manuscript, and within a year of submitting it, the book found a home.

SFFWRTCHT: Did you study creative writing at all in school? How’d you learn your craft?

AJC: Outside of the basics in college, I didn’t. Any skills I possess came from work-related technical writing, illiteracy tutoring, and reading.

SFFWRTCHT: How do you approach creating monsters/aliens? Do you model them after human cultures? Mix and match or just improvise?

AJC: No monsters yet! My alien races all resemble humans for relatability.

SFFWRTCHT: How much effort do you put into world building before you sit down to write? Or do you just throw it together as its needed?

AJC: I work from an outline, so I plan many details before writing. A few things I make up as I go. And sometimes it happens during revisions. (Those moments of “Oh crap, I need more background!”

SFFWRTCHT: How do you define space opera and what are its core elements to your mind?

AJC: It’s low-tech, adventurous, and the most accessible science fiction genre.

SFFWRTCHT: Where did the idea for the Cassa books come from?

AJC: It has its roots in the original Battlestar Galactica. The first spark came from Frank Frazetta’s artwork for the series – and the scene it inspired is the only one to survive from the first draft to the final version.

SFFWRTCHT: What inspired you to tell the story? You said it was in your mind for decades before you sat down to write.

AJC: I found the draft from my youth and realized that while the story was crappy, the characters were strong. I decided to go for it and see what happened.

SFFWRTCHT: CassaStar spent three months on the bestseller list on Amazon and you have attributed much of that success to blogging. How do you use blogging to build and audience and how do you think it’s benefited you?

AJC: I interact with and support my fellow bloggers, and I work to entertain, inform, and amuse with my own posts. My followers are an eclectic group (over 1300 strong now) so I focus on movies, music, science fiction, and encouragement rather than writing. I participate in and host many blogfests and events, including the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and the A to Z Challenge. Involvement is the key!

SFFWRTCHT: Give us a quick plot summary for CassaStar please.

AJC: Few options remain for Byron, a talented young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude. Slated to train as a Cosbolt pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life. Much to his chagrin, Bassa, the toughest instructor in the fleet, takes notice of the young pilot. As war brews on the edge of space, Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive. Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?

SFFWRTCHT: CassaFire is a sequel set many years later. Why the gap?

AJC: I thought it would be more interesting to show Byron’s growth since that time.

SFFWRTCHT: What’s the second book, CassaFire, about?

AJC: Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. Keeping a promise to his fallen mentor, he now serves on an exploration vessel. The detection of alien ruins sends them to the distant planet of Tgren. Are the ruins a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassans. To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers. Forced to train Athee and further develop her flying aptitude, Byron’s patience is strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

SFFWRTCHT: How did you approach writing a sequel differently than the first book?

AJC: I wrote CassaStar for me. I wrote CassaFire for my fans. (But don’t worry, I enjoyed it as well!)

SFFWRTCHT: Did you have a series in mind or just write the follow up due to demand and a desire to continue the story?

AJC: I never planned more than one book and panicked when readers wanted a sequel!

SFFWRTCHT: Will there be a book 3 and what will that be about?

AJC: I’ve outlined a third book, dubbed CassaStorm. It begins twenty years later (I like those twenty year jumps, don’t I?) and involves the ancient alien race from CassaFire.

SFFWRTCHT: What’s your writing process like? Specific time set aside to write? Grab it when you can?

AJC: I’ll write a little here and there, but I prefer a stretch of time in the evening so I can concentrate.

SFFWRTCHT: What area of craft is the most difficult for you? What are your strengths?

AJC: The first draft! I’m a slow writer and a perfectionist, so it takes me forever. Strengths? The ability to form sentences? Seriously, I guess it’s my ability as a person to connect with my audience.

SFFWRTCHT: What kind of feedback do you get from readers/reviewers on your work and how do you use that to improve? Or do you? Do you use beta readers or just rely on your editor?

AJC: I was surprised by the amount of feedback for CassaStar – people are still posting reviews! I don’t take individual ones to heart, but if something is repeated often, I know I need to work on the issue. I still use my two test readers and now have three awesome critique partners as well. Couldn’t live without them!

SFFWRTCHT: Do you use outlines or character sketches? Special software? Music?

AJC: I outline and create detailed character profiles. Music is always playing when I write. (Progressive rock and heavy metal are my style.) And is Microsoft Word considered special?

SFFWRTCHT: You’ve said a full time writing career isn’t your goal. Why? You seem to have had real success with it.

AJC: I enjoy what I do for a living. The publishing world is just so much pressure. Besides, there are so many writers out there who are more talented.

SFFWRTCHT: What are the advantages/disadvantages of working with a small press?

AJC: I feel a part of the process. I know they don’t have the influence of the NY publishers, but I do know they care about me and my books.

SFFWRTCHT: What other projects besides Byron and Cassa books do you have in mind for the future? Any other series?

AJC: None at the moment!

Book trailer available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa6VINRGtyE.

Barnes and Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cassafire-alex-j-cavanaugh/1034742568

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/CassaFire-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/0982713940/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329417150&sr=1-1

Amazon Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/CassaFire-ebook/dp/B007A2TSNG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329663355&sr=1-1

Catch Fire! Blog Party on February 28 – sign up to participate and be eligible to win a copy of CassaFire. Other prizes offered during the author’s blog tour from February 27 through March 9. See the author’s site for details.

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and work in web design and graphics. He minored in music and plays several instruments, including guitar. An experienced technical editor, he 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. His first book, CassaStar, was released on October 19, 2010. The sequel, CassaFire, will be released February 28, 2012. He lives in the Carolinas with his wife and can be found online via his popular blog at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/ or on Twitter as @AlexJCavanaugh.

Bryan Thomas Schmidt is the author of the space opera novel The Worker Prince, a Barnes & Noble Best SF Releases of 2011 Honorable Mention, the collection The North Star Serial, Part 1, and has several short stories forthcoming in anthologies and magazines. His second novel, The Returning, is forthcoming from Diminished Media Group in 2012. He’s also the host of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Chatevery Wednesday at 9 pm EST on Twitter, where he interviews people like Mike Resnick, AC Crispin, Kevin J. Anderson and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. A frequent contributor to Adventures In SF Publishing, Grasping For The Wind and SF Signal, he can be found online as @BryanThomasS on Twitter or via his website. Excerpts from The Worker Prince can be found on his blog.‎ Bryan is an affiliate member of the SFWA.

19 5-star & 4-star reviews THE WORKER PRINCE $4.99 Kindle http://amzn.to/pnxaNm or Nook http://bit.ly/ni9OFh $14.99 tpb http://bit.ly/qIJCkS.

SFFWRTCHT Interview - Author Alex J. Cavanaugh, 4.8 out of 5 based on 8 ratings