First Author Interview

Christine Rice interviews Andre Alan. 

New sci fi, fantasy book Heaven's Fate available now.

Hello folks,

I recently met and interviewed author Andre Alan. His recently published fantasy novel, Heaven’s Fate, sounds very interesting and entertaining, and I look forward reviewing it in the future. Today I’ll post the interview so that you can get to know him better and learn about his new book.

First, here is a little background information: Andre Alan is from Hartford, CT and attended college in New Haven, CT. After graduating with a degree in international business and a brief career as an IT data analyst, Andre Alan decided to follow his lifelong passion of creating fiction entertainment. With a small amount of artistic talent, some of his first memories are of drawing. After a brief stint at poetry and comics, the timing seemed ripe to pursue fantasy novel writing. An avid video gamer, when there is time, and an addict for cup noodles. Andre is a sports fanatic and a lifelong student of business.

Hi, Andre. Welcome to my blog. It’s a pleasure to have you with us today.

Thanks, Christine. It’s great to be here.

Where are you from?

I was born in Hartford, CT and lived there with my younger sister. We were raised by our mom, a single parent. I have spent most of my life in CT, and went to school in New Haven, CT.

Do you recall how your interest in writing started?

Basically by being inspired by R.A. Salvatore and Robert Jordan after college. Before that I was always creating things. I grew up drawing Ninja Turtles and GI Joe. Later in life, it was a comic strip in my college newspaper and now I use words to paint the pictures in my head. I figured that since I like to read so much, I am going to try and put out a book for one of the many ideas that I have come up with over the years for the plethora of characters that I have drawn and created.

When and why did you begin writing?

While working at a help desk right after college is when I first decided to start on this journey and pursue novel writing. Not that I want to date myself too much but that was around a decade ago.

Can you tell us about your book, Heaven’s Fate?

Thame Elliot, an expert Rietsu martial artist, is consumed with thoughts of avenging his father’s death and rebuilding the legendary Tundra Sword. Little does Thame know that his aunt, the first empress of the human continent, Eioda, Autumn Augustus, has set the nation on a course that can only lead to war with the Orcs. The mystical inhabitants on the planet, Threa, have been plunged into a struggle for the ancient artifacts buried in the mysterious “Consummate of the Trust.” Not only that but his aunt is hell bent on marrying him to a corrupt military admiral’s daughter while Thame’s spiritual guardian, Masaya from the Astral Plane, tries to manipulate him in order to keep the heavens from falling apart. The fate of mankind rests in Thame’s young hands, but does he even want the responsibility that goes along with being the chosen one? Or will Thame’s spiritual twin, imbued with dark powers granted by the evil one, assassinate him before he can fulfill his destiny?

What inspired you to write it?

The need to express myself in some form of entertainment. I read Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series and then I thought to myself that I wanted to do what he did.

How did you come up with the title?

Because the fate of the heavens ultimately ends up in the hands of my main character, Thame.

Did you learn anything from writing your book?

I learned a lot actually, but the major thing I learned was patience and following a process. No matter how fast I would like to go and get the book out and get a movie deal, it all starts with putting the words to paper and then following the “book-making process.”

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The editing is always the hardest part for me because it feels like I have to cut out everything I just spent months writing. But the editing process also makes the book better because I correct so many of my mistakes.

What are you working on now?

Right now I am working, mostly, on promoting Heaven’s Fate. But I always try to find time to write in my new book, Winter’s Legacy, which is part two of theHeaven Trilogy (I just now decided that I was going to start calling it that, hope everyone likes it). But in book two we pick up with Thame, married… I won’t say to who yet, gotta read it to find out ;) and also he is the leader of the special ops search team sent to the other continent to find Miles Xavier, not to mention that now he can no longer enter the Oresme Sphere.

Is writing your sole career?

Yes, writing is now my career, besides also being the CEO of my own publishing company, EVapor Entertainment. If it was a perfect world I would hire someone else to manage the company so that way I could spend all of my time writing.

What book are you reading now?

Amped by Daniel H. Wilson.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I would choose R.A. Salvatore. I love the way he keeps his books action packed. He writes his fight scenes with such clarity and vigor that you can put yourself into the characters’ shoes and dodge punches along with the hero. He also manages to keep the global theme of story prevalent and bring through the emotion in his characters.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Being an avid reader gets you through a lot. Taking a step back from your own work to briefly enjoy someone else’s does make a difference. I think that it allows your mind to take a break and reset, in a way.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you very much and you are greatly appreciated from the bottom of my heart. The reason why I write is for the reader. So that they can be thoroughly entertained. So stick with me on this journey for a great ride.

You can pick up Andre’s book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. It is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

You can find out more about Andre and his book on Facebook, Twitter, and hiswebsite.

This is a reposting of the interview orginally found here: http://christinericeauthor.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/interview-with-andre-alan/