Authors on "Rule of Fun: Hard Sci-Fi vs. Fun" and Taking Religions Seriously in Fiction
Two Authors, Two Perspectives
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Some Writing Tips from Authors
Many times someone contacts me for writing advice. I love giving tips, but I thought it was time I also consulted some fellow author friends about topics they are masters in. So, below I have two audio interviews with writers on using hard science and religion in your stories.
Ryan M. Patrick
First, we have Ryan M. Patrick, actual rocket scientist and hard science fiction author, describe balancing hard science with the “rule of cool” in his stories.
“Ryan M. Patrick is a United States Air Force and Space Force veteran turned aerospace engineer, channeling his technical expertise and real-world experience into gripping science fiction and technothrillers. Originally from the Philadelphia area and now living in Northern Virginia with his wife, four daughters, and dog, he crafts fast-paced stories blending hard science, military intrigue, and high-stakes conspiracies—such as the Grace Parkowski series (including Lag Delay and its upcoming sequel Crush Depth), the NASA Engineer thrillers like The Martian Incident, and epic sci-fi like The Europan Deception. Drawing inspiration from authors like Michael Crichton, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, and Tim Powers, Patrick’s novels deliver authentic, adrenaline-fueled adventures that explore the frontiers of space and human ingenuity. His hobbies include writing (of course), weightlifting, and following Philadelphia’s four major sports teams.”
Michael Barros
Finally, I interview Michael Barros, who is a religious scholar and huge Morrowind fan. He goes in-depth about his life, Morrowind, and how to pull religious themes to make have religion in a world that goes beyond “chosen one” prophesies.
Michael C. Barros is a scholar of religion and culture and an active researcher in the cognitive science of religion, with training in psychology and theology and a background in classical education. He teaches philosophy at the University of the People and has taught undergraduate theology, philosophy, and literature.
Other Independent Book Promotions
The Last Senator by Bowen Greenwood - Book for Sale for 99 cents and on Kindle Unlimited
“Tom Clancy meets independence Day.” Here’s a short interview with the author!
The Event Horizon Murder by Greg Hickey - Free Book Delivered in Serial Form
A battle-scarred detective. A dead-end case. In a future of digital disguises and subterranean hideouts, can he find an elusive killer?
Law enforcement is in Detective Marcus Carver’s blood. And with the help of Chicago’s citywide surveillance, he excels at tracking and catching killers. But when a politician’s son is slain in the city’s blacked-out cyberpunk gang territory, Carver has everyone’s attention and no leads on the murderer.
His boss breathing down his neck doesn’t help Carver’s authority issues, but with the victim’s family growing desperate, Carver runs down every hint of a trail. And when his most promising lead evaporates, Carver finds himself out of clues and short on time.
Can Carver catch the killer before someone buries the truth for good?
The Event Horizon Murder is a thrilling science fiction crime novella. If you like stories about mass surveillance, futuristic cityscapes and hard-boiled detectives, then you’ll love Greg Hickey’s tense sci-fi whodunit.
Victory of the Crown by Paul J Bennett - Book for Sale for $6.99
It’s time to take the battle into the heart of the enemy.
With the Halvarian invasion defeated, Gerald must now wage a war to defeat the largest empire in human history. Relying on his allies, he assembles an army the size of which has never before been seen in Eiddenwerthe.
To the east, Beverly has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with the help of the Therengians and must now take the fight to the empire. But to do that, she needs to bring together Petty Kingdoms that have fought each other for centuries.
Armin and Nikki are fleeing Halvaria, hoping to save Emperor Nevarus while being hunted by legions of soldiers intent on their destruction. In the wake of a coup, the new emperor struggles to bring order to the chaos he himself created.
The armies of Eiddenwerthe are now hurtling towards one final confrontation between good and evil that will determine the fate of generations to come. Can Beverly hold the alliance together long enough to defeat the empire, or will the entire Continent be plunged into a dark age?
A lifetime of fighting promises to lead Gerald to his deadliest battle in Paul J Bennett’s Victory of the Crown, the final installment of the Heir to the Crown series.
Hollywood Ghost Trip by Katherine Gilbert - Book for Sale for $4.99
Not chosen for magical college and surrounded by a gaggle of blue bunnies? What’s a witchy Hollywood brat to do?
Well, if you’re Allegheny Mountains Montgomery, adopted daughter of the fabulous and famous A-lister, Twyla Montgomery, you mope around your mom’s Bel Air mansion till one of your sisters who’s lucky enough to be going to witch college finally notices you and invites you to tag along for the day.
But there’s a reason Alle doesn’t go out much. When you see ghosts everywhere and can pick up an object’s history just by touching it, the outside world can be a very scary place. At least when she starts talking to the spirits of Montgomery Clift and Marilyn Monroe, her sisters don’t think she’s nuts, but, when a horrible, dark cloud which seems infested with evil spirits starts to trail her, she realizes she has a lot more to worry about than not going to school.
Pretty soon, Alle’s on the chase, and nothing is what she’s used to. Following the cloud and a much-too-attractive reaper named Tariq, she finds herself tracking ghosts and exorcizing emo imps (whatever those are) through dozens of fascinating and terrifying locations throughout Hollywood and Las Vegas. But the cloud is no natural phenomenon, and, when she discovers who’s behind it and the terror it plots to unleash, Alle’s not at all happy to find that she’s also the one who has to stop it.
Now, with the help of Tariq, her sisters and their boyfriends, a few famous Hollywood spirits, the emo imp of Toto the dog, and a small blue bunny, Alle’s going to have to save the world before the terrors which hide in the shadows come for her at last.
Hollywood Ghost Trip is a perfect introduction to the More in Heaven and Earth universe. Continuing readers will delight in visits from dozens of old friends, while new readers can easily enjoy the loads of quirky humor, romance, and chills of this fascinating urban fantasy ghost hunt with lots of old Hollywood charm.
On a Katherine Gilbert wackiness scale of 1-to-10 sarcastic talking cats*, this one is a 7.
*Warning: Not all stories contain talking cats. Wackiness may take other forms.
The More in Heaven and Earth series is all set in the same magical universe filled with angels, witches, werewolves, demons, vampires, ghosts, and many other supernatural creatures. These intriguing tales can be read in any order or as stand-alones and will introduce the reader to a variety of fascinating characters throughout the many unique locales of this exciting world.
Until Next Time
Next week, we will have a special interview with a Canadian Mokawk science fiction writer as part of my non-American science fiction creators interviews. See previous interviews with creators from Canada, England, Nigeria, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, and Ukraine. Then, in two weeks, I will discuss the ancient view of the planets being evil that still exists in fringe sections of society. This started off as a Aliens and Religion: Mandeanism post but it evolved past the Aliens and Religion series.
As always, please leave a comment with any questions, reviews, thoughts, whatever about Fallen, Risen, Dormition, An Odd Pilgrimage, The Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency or whatever else I have discussed. I promise to reply!
Very interesting to learn of new authours