Friday's Interesting People--Alex J. Cavanaugh
Today I want to welcome author Alex Cavanaugh to Journaling
Woman for FIP. Let’s get started with the questions:
JW: To appease my random nature, let me throw this scenario at you. Imagine this you are in the Starship Enterprise and have been mistakenly beamed to a dark alley (instead of a vacation spot) where danger and death are imminent. Upon arrival, you see a woman being attacked by a space thug. The thug turns on you, too. As an officer of the Starship you must do something. You have the choice of using a federation issued phaser, a Klingon bat'leth OR using your words. What would you do?
Alex: I’d use the phaser on him. If that didn’t stop him, I’d pull out the bat’leth. (And I do own one!)
JW: Another random question. What band or rock star would you like to play guitars with and why?
Nook version at B&N.
JW: Hey Alex, Do you have one tip or rule
on writing that you live by?
Alex: Thou shalt
not suck? Seriously, my best tip – be true to yourself.
JW: What is
something about your main character, in the Cassa series, that is most like
you?
Alex: We are both
perfectionists and very focused.
JW: What is your
daily writing schedule like?
Alex: When I’m
working on a manuscript, I write for two to three hours in the evenings and
more on the weekends.
JW: We hear (ok
you told your readers) that you are working on CassaStorm, the final book in
the series. Do you have a tentative release date in mind? Can you tell us in a
sentence what this book will be about?
Alex: No idea on
the release date – that’s up to my publisher! And one sentence? Bummer, I
haven’t worked on my tagline yet. I’ll give you the best I can:
Byron struggles
to maintain peace with the local officials, intergalactic war, and his own son
as a new threat enters their world and overturns everything they’ve ever known…
JW: Will the last
book make us cry?
Alex: I don’t
want to make anyone cry, but there is the possibility…
JW: Come on,
Alex, tell your loyal fans, do you have another series in mind, for the future?
Alex: Once I
finish this trilogy, I’ll let you know!
JW: Let’s talk
childhood. As a child, did you have a dog, a cat or an imaginary friend?
Alex: We had
several labs. I think we had a cat. He hid most of the time.
JW: Were you:
Loner, Leader, Bossy, Follower, Shy
Alex: Mostly shy
and a little bit of a loner.
JW: What did you
believe, as a child, that you found out later was not correct?
Alex: Honestly?
That if I was just a good person, it was enough. (I later learned God wanted
more!)JW: To appease my random nature, let me throw this scenario at you. Imagine this you are in the Starship Enterprise and have been mistakenly beamed to a dark alley (instead of a vacation spot) where danger and death are imminent. Upon arrival, you see a woman being attacked by a space thug. The thug turns on you, too. As an officer of the Starship you must do something. You have the choice of using a federation issued phaser, a Klingon bat'leth OR using your words. What would you do?
Alex: I’d use the phaser on him. If that didn’t stop him, I’d pull out the bat’leth. (And I do own one!)
JW: Another random question. What band or rock star would you like to play guitars with and why?
Alex: John Petrucci of Dream Theater! The man
is just amazing. I’d like to just watch him play for a day so I can absorb a
portion his talent.
Thanks, Teresa!
JW: Thank you, Alex,
for your visit.
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and
works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and
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.
Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support
Group. The author of Amazon Best Sellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in
the Carolinas with his wife. Alex’s writes on his blog at Alex J. Cavanaugh. He also on Twitter @AlexJCavanaugh
CassaFire
CassaStar was only the beginning…
The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting
Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen
mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is
dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content
with his life aboard the Rennather.
The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the
distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they
can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren's
civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new
allies are suspicious of the Cassan's technology and strange mental
abilities.
To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers
themselves, the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman
whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and
further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a
reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every
level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…
CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an
Amazon Top Ten Best Seller: “…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert
Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera
epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a
youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult
fans of space wars.” - Library Journal
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(If for some reason the links don’t work for you visit Alex J. Cavanaugh.)
Questions for you: Are
you a Star Trek fan? Do you read or watch Sci Fi? Do you own a bat’leth? If
not why not?
Comments
Wonderful interview. Thanks Teresa & Alex.
(Am I first to comment? Seems like I am...)
Hugs and Chocolate,
Shelly
http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/
http://www.shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com/
Thanks everyone!
Lee
Tossing It Out
Great questions, Teresa!! :)
HMG
Clarissa, I still feel bad for making people cry...
Jemi, now that is cool!!
Leovi, it is.
Thanks, everyone!
Great interview on both sides!
Happy Weekend!
Great interview, though when you got to the part about being beamed into a dark alley I immediately thought of Harry Potter. That's what happens when fantasy occupies your head. LOL
Nancy
:P
That's me being true to myself.
Great spotlight, Teresa! Have a terrific weekend.
Nice post, Teresa!
Nancy, and my response is what happens when science fiction occupies my head.
Andrew, had to go with what's true for me - Star Trek over Star Wars.
Thanks, Melissa. Don't know how to use it. If someone ever broke into my house, I'm sure I'd figure it out though.
Mary, maybe a little...
Thanks so much, guys!
Have you seen Fanboys?
I've read both the first and second books, and enjoyed them both. I'm sure bk 3 will live up to my expectations.
Be true to yourself is good advice for life, as well. Thanks, Teresa, for showing us a bit more about Alex!
I know, a bit fangirl about Alex, but he is the Captain and blogging guru :-)
Maurice, that's it!
DG, his son is a major player in the third book.
Aw, thanks Angela!
Teresa, thank you again.
Alex, you were great to do the interview. Thanks again.
And if I was beamed down from the Starship Enterprise, I'd want to know if I was the token unnamed crewman scripted to die.
Teresa, thank YOU!
Botanist, good point! Always check for the red shirt.
Lee, still a little bit shy...
Cate, we'll find out.
Teresa .. is Alex able to play guitar in space? Or is that just an earthy passion?
Great fun interview .. thanks to both of you .. cheers Hilary
Melissa, like I'd know how to use that weapon!
Susan, neither is guaranteed. But I really don't like to make people cry.
PTM - funny!
~Jess