Please help me welcome AR Norris to my blog today. We’ve done a great interview and don’t forget to leave her a comment to be entered into the prize drawing.
What genre(s) do you write in and why?
Thank you so much for having me today, Cindy! I write Science Fiction, and primarily SF romance. As most SFR writers, I love science fiction, but I also love a happing ending and romance. The merge of both is like a fine wine, the perfect blend.
Tell us about your current series.
THE TELOMERE TRILOGY takes the reader on a journey with the infamous Merchant Marine Captain Noah Bonney and her crew. Their goal is to stop a galactic terrorist group. Along the way, they face carnivorous beasts, soul-eating monsters, an immortal army, and, oh yeah, her ex-husband.
The journey brings to surface demons Noah’s been suppressing and secrets from her people’s history she’s tried to forget. Now, she must face them if she’s to reconcile with her daughter and keep the love of her life from leaving. With 450 years under her belt and nothing but eternity ahead of her, she’s built a thick shell. One she’s not sure she can break.
What is your next project and when will it be released?
The final installment of the trilogy, END OF ETERNITY, releases October 11, so there’s that closure. Now I’ve moved on to an open-ended SF series. This is a departure from my SFR roots, as it’s a woman-based SF series with romantic elements but not the traditional romantic HEA. The series is titled THE INTERSTELLAR INTELLIGENCE AGENCY and the agents are chosen because they have quantum-kinetic abilities to transport anywhere in the galaxy. The first book, CASE OF THE SENSHI PEARL, will release February of 2012.
Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
Most of the time I dream a story, but the dreams are inspired by my documentary obsession. I love documentaries. Historical, science, geographic, human experience, nature, whatever. I watched this documentary on the science of immortality and the main topic was regarding taming and controlling telomeres.
Do you have a view in your writing space? What does your space look like?
My writing space is mobile, depending on my mood. My favorite spot is in my backyard. It’s a wonderful respite for me and looks out on a farm with a big red barn. My two massive canine babies lounge back there and most times my kids follow me out. I get to write to the sound of their laughter and occasional fights.
Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?
Keep on swimming. It’s against the current, but once you set a pace and a breathing rhythm you’ll get where you want to go.
Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself?
No. I had one novel I’d tucked away decades ago that I was rewriting. I focused on writing short stories and flash fiction, to learn the key elements of the craft on a small scale. When I’d gotten a strong publication acceptance on those size stories, I turned my attention back on novel-length works.
Thank you so much for having me today, Cindy!
Hi, I’m an across the genre reader. I haven’t read a Sci-fi for a while now. Yours sound very appealing. I like the premise of the one out now and also the one you are working on.
Keep them coming.
Thanks Lori! Definitely get back into the genre! There are some really great Sci-fi releases coming out in the last several years.
I love the metaphor you use for aspiring authors. This business really does feel like swimming against the current sometimes, doesn’t it?
It really does, and sometimes when you finally get your pace set the current shifts and then you’re left trying to just tread water!
Thanks for stopping by Allie!
I love it a female space ship captain. Your book(s) sound like a great read. It peaked my interest. I read that somewhere about new writers should start with short stories first. Great interview.
Thanks for stopping by Mary! I know learning the basics through short stories really helped me a lot.
I suggest it for new writers, especially if their weakness is in plot and pacing, which was my problem. Short stories compact the story and really highlight if either the plot and/or the pacing is off (or missing).