You have a background in Information Technology. How has this influenced your approach to writing science fiction, particularly when it comes to world-building or integrating technology into your stories?
In my first novel, Colony’s Dawn, acts of sabotage are undertaken by use of computer virus and corrupted code. This carried though the story and I relied on my knowledge and experience as an IT consultant to present the technology is a simple and accurate way, so it does not turn off non-techie readers.
Growing up on science fiction, what authors or stories shaped your vision of the genre, and how do they continue to influence your writing today?
My first experience was with films and television, then I started reading. Arthur Clarke was an early inspiration as was Ray Bradbury.
Your novel Colony’s Dawn won the Audiobook of the Year from AudioBook Reviewer in 2023. What was the process like for bringing that story to life in audio format, and how did you choose the narrator?
As my first venture into producing an audiobook, I had a lot of trial and error. I started with a male narrator, but since the protagonist is a female in her mid-twenties, I decided to use a friend of mine who was getting started in narration. About the same age as my character, Gift Ojo, I thought Sabrina Pellerito did a fantastic job on Colony’s Dawn and also book 2, Colony’s Fall. She is currents working on Colony’s End, the final book of the trilogy.
What inspired the concept for your standalone novel Overlap: The Lives of a Former Time Jumper, and how did it feel to win The Literary Titan Gold Book Award for it?
Overlap is deeply personal for me and writing it was cathartic. As a young widower myself, I cured much of my emotion into Marcus as he desperately tried to reverse the tragic loss of his beloved wife. I am not a fan of inexplicable time travel paradox, and wanted Marcus invention to allow to relive his past and even make new memories with his Ellie, but not to be able to alter the present or future. Reliving his life countless times with Ellie both gives him great pleasure and immense pain as after each time jump he is still alone. How he deals with that is relatable to anyone who has experienced loss.
As someone who has independently published both a trilogy and a standalone novel, what advice would you give aspiring authors about the challenges and rewards of self-publishing?
Let me start with the rewards. For me, it is getting my stories out there and having readers enjoy them. A lesson I learned the hard way is, do not rush to publication and make sure you work on the craft of writing, not just storytelling. I use a professional editor and proofreader before I publish. The challenges are getting beta and ARC readers and getting reviews, as well as marketing. These require lots of research.
Living in Milan, how does your environment and cultural surroundings impact your writing process, particularly when working on your science fiction novels?
For Colony's Dawn, my debut novel, I decide to have the colony based on the former European Union and have Italy be one of its biggest contributors. So there are characters who are descendants of Italians. The protagonist, Gift Ojo, is a Nigerian Italian. There are many immigrants in Italy (in Europe) from Africa, and friends of mine are in these culturally mixed marriages. The flavor and diversity are wonderful and wanted to infuse some that into my characters.
Your work involves time travel and futuristic settings. How do you strike a balance between scientific accuracy and creative freedom when exploring these complex concepts?
I don't write hard science fiction where scientists can comment on the realistic aspects of my work. I keep most of the technology basic and grounded in realistic growth from today’s technology, such as the colony and how they got there, etc. For the time travel in Overlap, I love what Gene Roddenberry said when asked how the transporters in Start Trek worked. He said, “Very well, thank you."
What do you believe sets your trilogy apart from other works in the science fiction genre, and what themes do you aim to explore through your storytelling?
The New Europa Trilogy, beginning with Colony’s Dawn, is about people. Themes of friendship, facing the world with a realistic but not fatalist view, and working together for the greater good. The colony, conspiracy, sabotage, and action are the story that happens around those themes of character growth. I love to write of about the resilience of our species and how virtuosity and selflessness are rewarding.
As an IT consultant, you're constantly exposed to cutting-edge technology. Do you find yourself incorporating any real-world technologies into your fictional worlds, or do you prefer to imagine entirely new inventions?
Both. In Colony’s Dawn, a key to discovering the conspiracy and working with a clandestine group to fight it came from Raff discovering computer code sending antiquated text messages over an encrypted channel. This blends with some near-future concepts of data networks and automation. In Overlap, the Time Machine is obviously completely factious technology, but others things in the story, such as a newer, more advance version of a Metaverse, are more grounded and quite plausible.
You've received praise and positive reviews for your novels. How do you handle reader feedback, both positive and negative, and how does it influence your future writing?
Of, course I love good reviews. Not only for the ego, but because I write to share my stories. When someone else enjoys it and maybe even has a positive emotional or thought-provoking experience from it, that is very satisfying to me. Negative feedback is something I welcome. It helps me improve, to see what works and doesn’t work, and how I may do better in a future project.
Your works have been well-received by critics and award bodies. What do you think makes a successful novel, and how do you maintain a strong connection with your audience?
For me, in reading and writing, a great novel is character-driven with a good story wrapped around their challenges and growth. I measure my success, not by sales, but by connections with readers. How they felt after reading my novel. Did they enjoy it? Did the theme impact them in a positive way? That is one reason I have a newsletter and welcome personal contact from all my readers.
How do you manage to balance a career as an IT consultant and your passion for writing, particularly given the demands of both fields?
I am fortunate enough to work part-time in my IT role, giving me a decent amount of time to write. I do not to hold a daily word count goal and write when I am inspired. The harder balance is the time needed for other aspects of writing such as editing, redrafting, working with editors and proofreaders, and marketing.
Your novel Colony’s Dawn seems to focus on the challenges of colonization. What drew you to explore this theme, and how does it reflect real-world issues we face today?
Real-world issues and events are exactly what brought Colony’s Dawn to life. I followed NASA for years and then SpaceX. When I began imagining colonies on Mars, I wondered what struggle and challenges would exit a couple hundred in, when the surface still had not become livable. As I saw people going about their daily lives I gave them personalities, jobs, worries, fears, and challenges. Before I knew it, I had a story to write.
With the growing popularity of audiobooks, do you have any tips for authors looking to adapt their works for the audiobook market?
If going about it yourself, get good equipment and learn how to use computer software to create a quality recording. If hiring a producer/narrator, audition several to find the right voice for your book. You can search on ACX or Findaway Voices or use a production company as I did for Overlap. Scott Ellis Reads did a fantastic job.
How did you first come across the AllAuthor website? What do you like or dislike about the site?
Either from social media or interest searching, I am not sure, which, I found several authors recommended AllAuthor and I checked it out. I love how easy it is to get started and get my books on the site. The featured books option is also budget-friendly and includes several nice “bonus” options such as regular tweets and posts.
