“'Querido Qualitrix, I am highly qualified for quality control. Quien quiere quedar pantalones?' Why?”
“It's Spanish. Question words are quintessential to qualifying me as bilingual.”
“Quell that thought. Question words are quaint, but they won't qualify you. You will be responding to querulous customers. Quien, que, donde, cuando and por que are quite insufficient.”
“That's why I used one in a sentence.”
“You asked who wants to wear pants?”
“And if they say they do, I know I don't want to work there.”
He had a point. “Quite.”
[A drabble is a story in exactly 100 words.]
[Q is a hard one]
Q is for QUESTIONS: 5 Questions for Alex Cavanaugh
[No hand grenades were harmed in this post]
1) Tart: In the early chapters there is a mood or tension related to war that Aden “Couldn't recall an earlier time in history...” This quote interested me about the backstory you don't get to... Is this some future time? Surely they've seen other wars. Has history been manipulated or lost somehow? Is Aden just thinking of “happening in his time”? Or is this an alternative universe and thus truly a first?
Alex: All of the above! Just kidding. Made you think though, didn’t it?
There had been other wars, involving many of the races and the Hyrathians themselves. This was the first time all of the races had come against Aden’s people though.
2) Tart: Aden is very likeable, but I thought you did a brilliant job with an early conversation with a man named Shadney. (Aden) Pendar is thinking big picture, but Shadney brings it back down to PEOPLE and families losing loved ones and it strikes the reader that Aden had been thinking in a very detached way—he's given something of himself up to get where he is. Is this a character flaw you draw from other favorite stories or characters? Was the decision intentional and planned or revealed as part of the writing?
Alex: It was always planned as part of the character arc. Being a military brat, I’ve seen a lot men who were driven leaders and they do tend to detach a bit. They are more practical and logical and don’t think with emotions.
5. (three) Tart: Trying not to get spoilery, but Aden has a very thorough growth arc—he changes in a number of ways over the course of the story. Were any of those big surprises to you? Aden revealing them to you? Were any of them really hard to do to him, as his creator?
Alex: No big surprises, although more developed with Tamsin than originally planned. Crushing his chances wasn’t hard, as he needed a reality check. The one big thing (and you know which one big thing) was difficult, as it altered him forever. But I think it fit in the story and with the character. Hope so, because there’s no going back now!
By Alex J. Cavanaugh
Science Fiction – Space Opera/Adventure/Military
Print ISBN 9781939844064 EBook ISBN 9781939844057
What Are the Kargrandes? http://whatarethekargrandes.com/
The ship of legends…
The future is set for Lt. Commander Aden Pendar, poised to secure his own command and marriage to the queen’s daughter. But when the Alliance declares war on their world, Aden finds his plans in disarray and told he won’t make captain. One chance remains–the Dragon. Lost many years prior, the legendary ship’s unique weapon is Hyrath’s only hope. Can Aden find the Dragon, save his people, and prove he’s capable of commanding his own ship?
Purchase or Read: Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo Chapters Amazon UK Goodreads
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm.
http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/
http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh
41 comments:
Cool little interview with very cool "Q"uestions :)
The pantalones part of your story cracked me up too. hehe. I have an Italian friend who I can distinctly remember saying that on a few nights out while rambling on in Italian. hehe
Very "Q"ool interview with the Alex, he gets more and more interesting every time I read more.
Jeremy
Thanks again, Hart! The Watery Tart rocks.
Nice Q&A! I love seeing all the attention Alex is getting with his latest book.
Great interview. This is the first I've seen that delves more into the book itself. Excellent questions.
Great interview. This is the first I've seen that delves more into the book itself. Excellent questions.
Nice. I like when people ask the questions that I wanted to, but never remember to!
Great job!
Heather
Awesome interview! I enjoyed the insight into Alex's book. I'm even more curious now. :)
Awesome interview! I enjoyed the insight into Alex's book. I'm even more curious now. :)
Great drabble and great interview.
Wow. This is impressive.
Thanks, Jeremy!
Thank you, Cathy.
Hart asked some deep questions.
Thanks everyone!
Crushing his chances wasn't hard - LOL!
Right on about the character growth of Aden. I did wonder at the start how far in the future this book was set. Or is it a galaxy far, far away?
Love Monty Python so I had to visit your blog. Very glad I did. Thanks for helping me practice my Spanish as well as learning about Alex's book.
Far, far away....
Great interview!
After the challenge, I need to catch up with my reading... including Dragon Of The Stars.
I love your drabble, that was cute. :-)
Alex, Aden did remind me of some of the military I've met in my life. He was very by the book sort and detached in many ways and focused on things or his list to do and forgot to see and appreciate the people around him. I loved Tamsin and she was one the great ones in the book that realigned Aden's thinking.
The one big thing...made me happy and yet sad. I'm glad to hear it took something from you to write it that way.
It was a good story!
Sia McKye Over Coffee
Insightful questions from Hart! I enjoyed reading Alex's answers. And I like how Alex used his understanding of the military to accurately draw characters.
Thanks, Michelle!
Sian, thank you! And Aden was very focused.
Great interview. Can't wait to read Dragon of the Stars!
I've been around it most of my life - might as well put that knowledge to use!
Enjoyed the interview. I'm already a few chapters in and can't wait to grab it up again tonight after this.
Jay, thanks!
T, thanks - glad you are enjoying it!
Woohooo! I love character growth books. <3 I also LOVE hearing straight from the author's mouth unseen backstory. It's cool when my sister asks me unwritten backstory questions--those should become a little "guide to ________" novelette type thing for your novel, Alex! Including illustrations, maps... ;)
Elizabeth Mueller
AtoZ 2015
My Little Pony
I love these drabbles! I also love that you got Alex to open up a little bit about his writing.
Alex, you know how tight-lipped you are about anything relating to your inner self and your inner writing self. Good to see this.
Thanks, Elizabeth! Will consider doing that.
Thanks, Carol.
Enjoyed the interview, Hart and Alex!
I knew you had military exposure, Alex! The military personnel in all your books ring true to this fellow military brat!
The moment Tamsin showed up ~ I knew! LOL!
"The one big thing" made the story and made it unforgettable! And once it was set in motion, there was no turning back. How else could it end???? Fabulous, but subtle character development, with a big punch!
Excellent interview. I'm ordering this book for my son.
Play off the Page
Fundy, you know! And so grateful you enjoyed it.
Mary, thank you!
Now Dragon sounds even more intriguing! I'm really looking forward to reading it. Good, inside point about military leaders and how some detach, maybe too much so.
And hey, it's okay for Alex to be without pants here because he still has his guitar.
Pants optional!
Dragon is a great book, and I love the character arc for Aden - it's true that he reaches a point of no turning back, but his reasons and what he does . . . well, it just showed how well-developed he is as a character to make it all work. Great job, Alex!
Thanks, Tyrean! Glad you enjoyed it.
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