Interview with a vampire…I mean my sister. Semantics, you know.

My sister has finally launched her first book. This will be closely followed by a second, third, fourth fifth and hundredth. I’m a huge Anne McCafrey fan and I love it when an author creates a sci-fi world and then sticks with it for a series–that’s what Jenny has done here. 

Jenny’s book is usually only $3.99 but it’s on promo right now and you can get it FOR FREE until the 28th. That’s 48 hours for you to jump on the Baxter train and get a good book to read while you procrastinate taking down your Christmas decoration. 

I love her books and she has let me be part of the editing process. I might or might not have used that opportunity to get back at her for all the rotten things she did as a kid. Or I might just be a really good editor. I’ll never tell…

So here’s the inside scoop, an interview with my almost-almost-a-vampire sister. The book does not have vampires in it, by the way. Unfortunately.

1. We know your book has misfits in it and we know they take a journey. Since it’s the Christmas season, how would you compare your misfits to Santa’s? Is their journey going to be as successful? 

I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me this question. The answer is, that my misfits are exactly like Santa’s – except that they’re completely different. For example, they really want to get out of the Federation (i.e. ‘off their island’), but at the same time none of them are polka dotted, and they don’t have square wheels. It’s really a fascinating comparison and I could go on, and on, and on – but I won’t. As for whether or not their journey will be successful… Well, let’s just say that none of them get thrown down any chimneys. But then again, (considering the comparison) is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

2. Let’s talk about your caste system. Will you briefly describe the three classes in the Federation? Which class do you think I would belong in? 

In the Select Class (so called because of their highly coveted ‘selected’ genetics) you have fair-haired, blue- or green-eyed, pleasantly not-so-skinny people who get to tell everyone else what to do. The Middlers are not-so-fair-haired, hazel-eyed, more fit people who basically hold management positions. The Popular Class is made up of the general populous, and reflects the indigenous genetics of the North American Continent at the time of my story: blackish-brown hair, dark brown eyes, and bronze colored skin. They’re modified further to be tall, muscular, and lean.

And where would you fit in? Well you’re bossy, blonde, and blue-eyed – but unfortunately you’re WAY too skinny to be a Select. (Although, it is the Christmas season, so maybe by New Year’s?) Plus, there’s always the fact that your blonde highlights aren’t quite 100% your own (I’m sure it’s really close…), so with all things considered (including the fact that you do love to ‘manage’) I think I’d have to call you a Middler.

3. Sometimes I want to throw Laryn out the window because she’s so stubborn. Who was your muse and where did you channel her personality from? 

If only it had been that simple. I must confess that in the beginning I did have someone I was fashioning Laryn after – but she kind of had a mind of her own, and she simply refused to be put into that box. (I actually almost threw her and the book out the window myself a few times, so I know exactly what you mean.) She simply refused to be the character I thought I wanted to write. Very frustrating. We battled it out for about six months – i.e. I let the book sit and refused to touch it at all (take THAT Laryn!) – but in the end she proved to be even more stubborn than I am. She finally emerged as an individual different from anyone I know, and as someone I’d really love to meet. I would seriously love to have her on my team.

4. What is Laryn’s love language? What is Kieff’s? 

I totally had to google that. Hmmm. Laryn’s is definitely not gifts – receiving gifts all the time would probably make her feel uncomfortable. And it’s not acts of service either, although both things do mean a lot to her. I would say…quality time. Time itself is rather valuable to a misfit from the Federation, and I think that just knowing someone would choose to spend theirs with her would be a pretty powerful thing. I’m thinking that Kieff’s, on the other hand, is acts of service. It might not appear to be so on the surface, but underneath I think that explains a lot about the development of their relationship.

5. How many Nequam books do you have tucked away in your mind ready to write? 

As in, the one’s I already have plotted out? Or the infinite number of possible places I could go with this? Currently, I have five books lined up: Laryn Rising, Book Two (which is the second half of Laryn’s story), Book Three (a prequel set on Nequam, which is the planet they’re headed for), Book Four (the story of girl from the Federation who arrives in Nequam the same time as Laryn), and Book Five (set in Nequam 200 years after Laryn and the other Fed girls arrive). Book Two is already finished and in the final stages of editing/publishing, and Book Three is in the works.

6. A large portion of your story takes place in space. The book Enders Game also takes place in space. How would you compare the two space stories, since obviously space stories are all alike, right? 

Totally. I probably should have named it Laryn’s Game. I mean, there are stars, and space stuff, and (a few minor characters) wearing spaceship uniforms, and I’m pretty sure Laryn has one or two dreams. There aren’t any freaky giants or snakes in them, but other than that you can see that the two books are virtually identical. Oooo! And Laryn and Ender both have two siblings! Niether of Laryn’s are psycho or named after a holiday, but who’s splitting hairs?

Then again, Ender doesn’t kiss anyone, does he? There might be a slight departure there… And she isn’t exactly trying to save the world – she’s just leaving it. Ender doesn’t get to ride horses, grow vegetables, or learn to cook at his space school, but he probably would have had WAY more fun if those had been options, don’t you think? So basically, I’d say we’re back to Santa’s misfits – all space books are pretty much exactly the same, except that they’re so completely different. Wouldn’t you say?

And there you have it folks! Now go get her book and support your local author.