Interview with sci-fi author Zanne Raby

My special author guest today is Zanne Raby and we’re chatting about her new sci-fi novel, Descent into Darkness, Book 2 of the Chronicles of Deneb.

During her virtual book tour, Zanne will be giving away a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
Zanne Raby is a military veteran, having served for thirty-eight years as a Transportation and Movements Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. She joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1980 and was selected to attend the Royal Military College of Canada – the first year that women were accepted. Her assignments took her across North America, Europe and the Middle East. After retirement, Zanne moved to a small country acreage overlooking the picturesque Georgian Bay, where she is currently working on the science-fiction series, “The Chronicles of Deneb”. In her spare time, Zanne enjoys travel, photography, hiking, and gardening. And always, a good story to pass the time.

Welcome, Zanne. Please tell us about your current release.
Descent into Darkness is the second novel in the sci-fi space opera series, “The Chronicles of Deneb”. In the first book, The Flight of the Mayflower, a team of humans fled from a planet decimated by climate change to find refuge on Deneb7. But instead of finding a virgin planet ready for colonization, a coalition of war-like natives armed to the teeth greet them. The first novel ends with the crew, now split between the indigenous nations, struggling to integrate into a very alien life.

But the humans didn’t exactly arrive with only their luggage. In Descent into Darkness, we discover that an invisible hitchhiker was lurking in the wings, and it’s made itself right at home. When the indigenous population start dying like flies and critical infrastructure begins to fail, misunderstandings destroy a shaky alliance between the three Denebian nations. And divided by national boundaries, the humans find themselves on both sides of the conflict, well aware of the root cause of the evil. With chaos enveloping the planet and old wounds being exposed, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. But in the meantime, vengeance, treachery and rebellion are all at play when the powerful Wessel nation decides once and for all to deal with the opposition in the most brutal manner.

Although Descent into Darkness is first and foremost an adventure story set sixty years in the future, the novel also deals with the concepts of belonging, acceptance and the ignorance that perpetuates racism.

What inspired you to write this book?
I spent thirty-eight years in uniform and hanging up my uniform for good in a dark corner of the basement was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. We all dream of the day when we no longer have to work a steady job, but I knew that I would need to redirect my energies to a new career when I retired. Sure, there’re always contractor gigs with the Department of Defence that pop up when you first leave the military and your expertise is fresh. But I wanted a clean break. I was still pretty young (at least I thought so) and not ready to retire for good. There was always a story on the back burner. Even when I was deployed on missions, I kept a journal. So that inspired me to take the plunge to become an author and begin writing the series “The Chronicles of Deneb”.

But why this book? In The Flight of the Mayflower, I rubbed shoulders with a bunch of characters that, like me, still had a story to be told. The crew made it to safety and there they were on Deneb7, trying to fit in. Now mind you, the humans on Deneb are the real aliens, but I know what it’s like to be a foreigner in a far distant land where customs and traditions seem strange. I served on out-of-country missions, I lived overseas and I know how hard it is to fit in. I tried to capture a bit of this in the novel. Descent into Darkness is also an extension of my past in the Air Force since I draw on some of my background and weave it into the plot. I guess I could say that life itself has been an inspiration for me to write Descent into Darkness.

Excerpt from Descent into Darkness:
The deafening thunder of hoverfans echoed across the broad Wessla Valley as the powerful Stryker Skykiller skimmed mere meters above the placid surface of the river. Serrated blades whipped the languorous water into peaks as Fynn dipped his wings in greeting to a column of ACOLEVs racing beyond the riverine embankment and onwards to breach the Jundar Mountains of Fyjerlan. Banking his warbird, he streamed off over the border, climbing steeply over the countryside until below him the Fyjer capital of Phost finally peeked out from under the early morning cloud cover.

Beneath him the charred remains of the city smouldered. Exhausted citizens scurried for cover as the four-pack of enemy warbirds buzzed overhead. Wretched and miserable, the Fyjers clutched at their meager belongings as they leapt into the shadows while about them the fires of defeat burned. Pity momentarily fluttered across his soul for he had no bones to pick with them – these tragic Fyjer souls who in their foolishness had supported their Coalition partner. In his mind, their Geiten ally was no more than a race of murderous scum, a backwards misogynistic plague that spread its contaminated tentacles across Deneb and Fynn believed in his heart that they needed to be eradicated.

Sensing the anger, Fynn’s passenger clasped a heavy hand on the space ace’s shoulder and earned a contrite smile in return. “Sorry Meryx, I was a thousand miles away.” The older man stared into Fynn’s hazel eyes and recognized the pain-flecked hatred bubbling once again to the surface.

“Take us down, Fynn. I need to see Phost for myself.”

What exciting story are you working on next?
At the moment, I’m working on the third novel in the series, which I’m thinking of calling Fires of Fury. Picking up from where Descent into Darkness ends, it follows a tangled web of characters as they weave their way through mayhem and adventure and their new realities. I don’t want to say too much, since that would give away the ending of Descent into Darkness. Be on the look out for this new book near the end of 2022.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I was probably around the age of nine when I wanted to be a writer. Back in grade four, way before the days of home computers, my teacher asked all of us kids to write a story for Remembrance Day. I decided to write a story about a crew of patrol boat in the Pacific in World War 2 and I showed it to my parents who thought it was pretty good. Both of my uncles served in WW2 in the Pacific Theatre, although they were grunts, so I don’t know why I chose to write about the navy. Anyhow, I was the brainy smart kid who always got A’s. Except this time. When I got my work back it had a big red F marked all over the first page with a note to my parents. My teacher insisted that I plagiarized the story from Reader’s Digest, which was totally untrue. In the end I got an A after we convinced her that I imagined the entire story. From that day on, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I just took the long and windy road to reach my goal.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Writing is my passion and my full-time job. I spend at least five hours a day on my writing. But first, I begin every day with physical exercise. It’s a good way to start the day. The rest of the day depends on what stage of the creative process I’m at. If I’m beginning a new section or chapter, I outline the plot, create whatever futuristic technology is needed – that takes a good deal of research actually – and develop a cast of new characters who might be featured. Once that’s done, I settle into my office and start by reviewing the writing from the previous section before jumping in with both feet to continue the narrative. Since “The Chronicles of Deneb” takes place on several fictitious planets, I also use a software programme to design and map out any new worlds so that the geography is consistent. And of course, when the plot is finished, revised, edited and proof read, then there is the marketing which I must admit I don’t like doing at all. When I’m not writing, I’m trying my best to train my new puppy, Maximus, or shoveling snow. Sigh…

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I love to chew gum when I work. I almost have to chew to write.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I grew up in the late sixties and early seventies, back when being a girl meant playing with dolls and wearing dresses. That wasn’t me. I was the kid who ran through the woods, climbed trees and built forts. And I liked to dig in the dirt, marveling at the creepy crawly things that I found under logs and stones. I loved being outside, surrounded by nature. But what I loved most was digging for fossils. I was enthralled by dinosaurs. Giant sea monsters, flying lizards, lumbering beasts with club like tails and spikes – they all amazed me. Even as a young girl, I scouted for fossils everywhere I went, and I came across quite a few in the oddest places. I wanted to become a paleontologist and to learn more about ancient life. Although it may seem odd that a child who looked at dinosaurs with awe is now a woman writing about the future, just think how the world would be today if those giant dinosaurs didn’t meet their fate sixty-five million years ago. Hmmm… seems like a good plot for a sci-fi novel, doesn’t it?

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
It’s always great when readers leave reviews. Amazon, Kobo, Goodreads… we all count on it. So please don’t be shy, share your thoughts!

Links:
Website | LinkedIn | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

a Rafflecopter giveaway