Science Fiction
Date Published: June 20, 2018
Publisher: Lampworks Publishing
An archaeologist from a star-faring society faces a world of legends and impossible creatures...
Stenn Gremm set out to solve the mystery of his ancestor’s disappearance but instead found himself stranded on a forgotten planet. A creature made of clay has just ground his vital technology into dust and is about to do the same to Stenn when he isrescued by the deadly and enigmatic swordswoman Gilwyr.Instead of studying the life of a medieval society, Stenn must now learn to survive it.However, his training in swordsmanship and court intrigue is cut short by the chaos that follows the murder of the heir to the throne.All the archaeological digs that he had led via telepresence had not prepared him to get dirt under his fingernails and blood on his hands!
Fleeing with Gilwyr and their mentor, Ox, Stenn begins a journey of discovery, both of this world and of himself. Who are the reclusive Kir Leth who raised Gilwyr? What is the truth behind the legend of the Grimmerroth, the sorcerer who once laid waste to this land? Perhaps the answers may be found in the mysterious citadel that is said to be hidden in the desert far to the south. Stenn must combine his scientific insights with newfound skills and something that might be called magic to try to uncover the truth behind the legends before time runs out.
A fantasy adventure wrapped in a hard SF environment, Sellenria is a world where technology is myth, but myths are real. As the War of the Grimmerroth appears destined to replay itself, Stenn and Gilwyr must struggle to transcend their roles. The last war devastated the planet; this time it could extinguish all life on this unique world.
Interview with Author Chuck Boeheim
As a writer, what would you choose as your
mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Definitely a cat. A cat goes where it chooses, pokes into corners, and
doesn’t like closed doors. Stalks things that can’t be seen or heard. Also
likes to take naps.
How many hours a day do you put into your
writing?
It varies. A few hours on many days. Airplane trips and hotel rooms are
good for long periods of concentration. With one book published, however, some
of those hours are being consumed by marketing activities.
Do you read your book reviews? If yes, do
they affect what you write in the future?
I do. If they tell me I could have expressed something better, I try to
learn from them.
Do you leave hidden messages in your books
that only a few people will find?
Why yes, I do. … … Oh, were you expecting me to reveal them?
Can you tell us a little bit about
the characters in Sellenria: The Starship and the Citadel?
Stenn Gremm is an archaeologist, but no Indiana Jones. He’s
introverted and retiring, and comes from a high-tech society. He finds himself
thrust into medieval court intrigue and handed a sword. Gilwyr is a swordswoman
whom some say was raised by faeries; she is both eldritch and deadly. They make
an unlikely pair to solve an ancient mystery that threatens their world.
Can you tell us a little bit about
your next books or what you have planned for the future?
Stenn came to Sellenria to discover what happened to his
ancestor, who had disappeared there four hundred years ago. By the end of this
book, it was clear that his ancestor, and the General who opposed him, had an
interesting story to tell. So I’m well into writing the prequel to the first
book. I’m sketching out the sequel in between finishing chapters of the prequel,
so it seems to be turning into a trilogy even though the first book was written
as a standalone. (Quantum theory suggests that three-book set is the most
stable energy state for a book universe, hence the natural tendency for their
formation in the absence of other sources of energy, such as a fan club.) I am working
on a shorter piece as well, about a mathematical mage/thief who uses topology
to obtain what he desires, and then to get out of tight places caused by his
hobby.
Do you allow yourself a certain
number of hours to write or do you write as long as the words come
The latter, primarily. I keep a tablet with me so I can
write when an idea comes to me. Sometimes at 3am.
Do you have a certain number of
words or pages you write per day?
No, it’s quite variable. Some passages need a lot of
thought and some flow quickly.
What inspires you to write?
Often, a scientific article suggests an idea that sets me
thinking about “what if?” I read widely – in physics, astronomy, archaeology,
psychology, and history. I pick up ideas that become part of the current story
or fodder for a later one. I watch people for character ideas, and scenes from
my travels in Europe and Asia for my locales.
Would you rather
Read fiction or non-fiction?
I read
fiction for relaxation, and non-fiction for curiosity. It’s hard to choose one.
Read series or stand-alone?
Tough
choice. I’ll choose stand-alone unless I have a good idea I want to get
invested in the series, because I feel compelled to finish things. But a great
series can take a setting or a character in so many different directions. (Here
I’m thinking of something like Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.)
Read Science fiction or horror?
Science
fiction, hands down. Horror isn’t my cup of tea. Science fiction is the
literature of “what if?”
Read Stephen King or Dean Koontz
Neither,
really. Give me Roger Zelazny or Robert Silverberg any day.
Read the book or watch the movie?
The book,
almost always. The movie can convey the action and the emotion, but books can
convey so much more.
Read an ebook or paperback?
I love
books and bookshelves, but don’t have room for a lot more! I do like having a
dozen books in the e-reader on my tablet, waiting to be read, without the
weight of carrying them in my backpack. And lately, when I’ve been reading a
paper book, I’ve found myself pressing my finger on a word and wondering why
the definition didn’t pop up!
Be trapped alone for one month in a library with no computer
or a room with a computer and Wi-Fi only?
I’ll
entertain myself either way, but with the computer I can also put in orders to
have my meals delivered.
Do a cross-country book store tour or blog tour online?
Hmm. I do
love to travel. Can I try both and get back to you?
About the Authors
Chuck Boeheim is a life-long denizen of physics laboratories, where he worked on the computing for major high-energy physics experiments. Daniel Elswit studied Archaeology in college and has worked in University IT ever since. Dan had ideas for a story about an archaeologist in a middle-earth-like setting, which Chuck hijacked to turn into a science fiction story set on an alien planet.
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1 comments:
thanks for hosting
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