FREQUENTLY (WELL, MAYBE) ASKED QUESTIONS//
How long have you been writing?
I began writing for pleasure in 2004. I concentrated mainly on poetry and being infatuated with girls.
How long have you been writing Ark?
Principle writing began in October of 2009, though serious work started in July of 2009 and was based off of six years of prior daydreaming-instead-of-homework.
What is the length of the first book?
Over 900 (not 9,000, sorry) pages, totaling some 208,000 words, plus a partridge in a pear tree.
What is the genre of the Ark series?
The best classification is science-fantasy. The reason for this is that while science and technology are prevalent in the story, supernatural elements, particularly the Gifts, are as well. Think of the Force in Star Wars before old Georgie ruined it with that midicholorian silliness. Similarly, many of the Final Fantasy games by Square-Enix take place in technologically-advanced worlds where melee weapons like swords and shields are used alongside guns and magic.
I find anthropology, language, history, and the ethical dilemmas raised by science to be far more interesting than the technical minutiae of the hard sciences themselves. Because the World (always capitalized) of Ark is not earth, I was able to create a fictionalized world history that was completely independent of Napolean, Montezuma, and the Great Wall of China. This gave me more control over the thought processes and cultures of the societies and characters in my books. While Ark is undoubtedly influenced by the things I appreciate and have learned, it is its own work, and the science-fantasy genre best allowed me to explore the questions and scenarios I wanted to explore.
Where does this story take place?
Ark takes place on a fictional planet located in a galaxy other than the Milky Way. For now, I'm withholding the name of that galaxy. It's far away, as all other galaxies are (well, for now) but I wouldn't say it's far far away.
What is the level of technology in Ark?
I would say it's comparable with what we'll be looking at in the real world fifty to seventy-five years from now. Humans have not achieved faster-than-light travel, nor had they achieved it before the Tumult. The humans in Ark are far more interested in rebuilding their shattered World than in colonizing new ones.
It seems like you've thought a lot about this.
Don't get me started.
Why is [the former] book one called "An Autumn Veil?"
The places, events, and themes of the [former] first book of Ark all connect to the title. It'll be more clear after you read it.
What other works are the Ark books similar to?
Readers have compared it to Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series and Brian McLellan's Powder Mage trilogy due to the prevalence (and POV) of strong female characters, the magic/power system, and some overlaps in theme and plot. I did not read these series prior to writing A Steel Horizon and An Autumn Veil, but I can retrospectively see what people are saying. My biggest literary influence would be Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller books because they inspired the literary fiction nature (i.e., character-driven) of my books along with what I'd like to think is a flair for the English language. Other than that, I'm huge fan of Firefly, the Star Wars expanded universe, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, all of which have influenced my storytelling to some degree.
I have a friend/family member who would be really interested in what you're doin-
Stop typing and link them to my page.
I've been hearing about your book for years. Where and when can I get it?
When I finally do publish, there will be confetti, cake, and a flood of requests on Twitter, Facebook - heck, maybe even myspace for kicks and giggles - for you to buy it, advertise for me, etc etc ad infinitum.
Because I do not yet have professional representation, I can't put a timetable on this. My best estimate would be "two to three years from now."
In the best of all possible worlds, "where" you could get the book will be "via Amazon for digital download to your eReader or in bookstores everywhere for paperback." While some philosophers and theologians might argue that we do in fact live in the best of all possible worlds, I will still probably end up selling copies out of the trunk of my car.
Has anyone actually read this book?
Dozens of writers and readers have read and/or edited parts or all of An Autumn Veil over the course of five years.
And what are they saying?
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, most especially in regards to the use of language, deep characterization, and meticulously-plotted history and culture of the World.
Someone has to have said something negative.
Honestly, it's mostly been nit-picky stuff: grammar and poor word choices which have mostly been ironed out by now. My writer aunt said it was too long and the narrative voice may need to be streamlined. That's about it.
Hmm. That's good. That's good, right?
Only if my publisher agrees.
Sure, sure. Well, who seems to be the favorite character of readers?
Linus Anonyma nine times out of ten. In my dreamland where this series is immensely popular and critically-acclaimed, some fanboy/girl will draw a Peanuts-Ark crossover where Linus Anonyma and Tru Arneau look like Linus and Lucy from Peanuts and say something cheeky that tangentially connects to both sets of source material.
That's a pretty specific nerd-out you just had right there.
Let me have this.
Whatever. Will you sign my copy of the book once I get it?
Only in blood. Yours!
Fine. In ink. Mine.
Speaking of blood: it would be cool if you wrote me into your story, wouldn't it? Heh. Nah, that's crazy...but is it?
I'd actually like to have a Kickstarter or charity campaign in which the top donors are awarded with minor roles in upcoming books or shorts. Whether it is on Kickstarter (for moi) or for charity (for the children) will be highly dependent on my financial situation at the time.
But yes, theoretically, it is possible for you and/or a friend to be written into an upcoming story in the Ark universe.
And what exactly does blood have to do with this?
I began writing for pleasure in 2004. I concentrated mainly on poetry and being infatuated with girls.
How long have you been writing Ark?
Principle writing began in October of 2009, though serious work started in July of 2009 and was based off of six years of prior daydreaming-instead-of-homework.
What is the length of the first book?
Over 900 (not 9,000, sorry) pages, totaling some 208,000 words, plus a partridge in a pear tree.
What is the genre of the Ark series?
The best classification is science-fantasy. The reason for this is that while science and technology are prevalent in the story, supernatural elements, particularly the Gifts, are as well. Think of the Force in Star Wars before old Georgie ruined it with that midicholorian silliness. Similarly, many of the Final Fantasy games by Square-Enix take place in technologically-advanced worlds where melee weapons like swords and shields are used alongside guns and magic.
I find anthropology, language, history, and the ethical dilemmas raised by science to be far more interesting than the technical minutiae of the hard sciences themselves. Because the World (always capitalized) of Ark is not earth, I was able to create a fictionalized world history that was completely independent of Napolean, Montezuma, and the Great Wall of China. This gave me more control over the thought processes and cultures of the societies and characters in my books. While Ark is undoubtedly influenced by the things I appreciate and have learned, it is its own work, and the science-fantasy genre best allowed me to explore the questions and scenarios I wanted to explore.
Where does this story take place?
Ark takes place on a fictional planet located in a galaxy other than the Milky Way. For now, I'm withholding the name of that galaxy. It's far away, as all other galaxies are (well, for now) but I wouldn't say it's far far away.
What is the level of technology in Ark?
I would say it's comparable with what we'll be looking at in the real world fifty to seventy-five years from now. Humans have not achieved faster-than-light travel, nor had they achieved it before the Tumult. The humans in Ark are far more interested in rebuilding their shattered World than in colonizing new ones.
It seems like you've thought a lot about this.
Don't get me started.
Why is [the former] book one called "An Autumn Veil?"
The places, events, and themes of the [former] first book of Ark all connect to the title. It'll be more clear after you read it.
What other works are the Ark books similar to?
Readers have compared it to Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series and Brian McLellan's Powder Mage trilogy due to the prevalence (and POV) of strong female characters, the magic/power system, and some overlaps in theme and plot. I did not read these series prior to writing A Steel Horizon and An Autumn Veil, but I can retrospectively see what people are saying. My biggest literary influence would be Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller books because they inspired the literary fiction nature (i.e., character-driven) of my books along with what I'd like to think is a flair for the English language. Other than that, I'm huge fan of Firefly, the Star Wars expanded universe, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, all of which have influenced my storytelling to some degree.
I have a friend/family member who would be really interested in what you're doin-
Stop typing and link them to my page.
I've been hearing about your book for years. Where and when can I get it?
When I finally do publish, there will be confetti, cake, and a flood of requests on Twitter, Facebook - heck, maybe even myspace for kicks and giggles - for you to buy it, advertise for me, etc etc ad infinitum.
Because I do not yet have professional representation, I can't put a timetable on this. My best estimate would be "two to three years from now."
In the best of all possible worlds, "where" you could get the book will be "via Amazon for digital download to your eReader or in bookstores everywhere for paperback." While some philosophers and theologians might argue that we do in fact live in the best of all possible worlds, I will still probably end up selling copies out of the trunk of my car.
Has anyone actually read this book?
Dozens of writers and readers have read and/or edited parts or all of An Autumn Veil over the course of five years.
And what are they saying?
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, most especially in regards to the use of language, deep characterization, and meticulously-plotted history and culture of the World.
Someone has to have said something negative.
Honestly, it's mostly been nit-picky stuff: grammar and poor word choices which have mostly been ironed out by now. My writer aunt said it was too long and the narrative voice may need to be streamlined. That's about it.
Hmm. That's good. That's good, right?
Only if my publisher agrees.
Sure, sure. Well, who seems to be the favorite character of readers?
Linus Anonyma nine times out of ten. In my dreamland where this series is immensely popular and critically-acclaimed, some fanboy/girl will draw a Peanuts-Ark crossover where Linus Anonyma and Tru Arneau look like Linus and Lucy from Peanuts and say something cheeky that tangentially connects to both sets of source material.
That's a pretty specific nerd-out you just had right there.
Let me have this.
Whatever. Will you sign my copy of the book once I get it?
Only in blood. Yours!
Fine. In ink. Mine.
Speaking of blood: it would be cool if you wrote me into your story, wouldn't it? Heh. Nah, that's crazy...but is it?
I'd actually like to have a Kickstarter or charity campaign in which the top donors are awarded with minor roles in upcoming books or shorts. Whether it is on Kickstarter (for moi) or for charity (for the children) will be highly dependent on my financial situation at the time.
But yes, theoretically, it is possible for you and/or a friend to be written into an upcoming story in the Ark universe.
And what exactly does blood have to do with this?