A Son of the Shadows
The Earthborn Saga Vol 1
by Steven Bissett
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy
Night is falling. Embrace the darkness.
On the ice-clad prison world of Delta-13,
where minds teeter on the edge of madness, mankind's future dangles by a
thread.
Living under the shadow of an imperial
conspiracy, Rex Hunt discovers a psychic gift that will upset the balance of
power in the entire galaxy.
As Rex grapples with his newfound power,
prison psychiatrist, Dr. Lily Tselitel, delves into the chilling surge of
madness among the inmates, pulling her closer to a secret as old as the galaxy
itself.
Their paths converge as they uncover an
imperial plot to build a weapon that threatens to suffocate the flickering
spirit of rebellion in the galaxy's fringe colonies.
Unbeknownst to the rebels, as they fight
against the empire's sinister plan, an ancient shadow looms over the galaxy,
threatening to consume humanity's vast colonies, and even Earth itself!
Discover the first book in an epic space
opera where hope survives in secret taverns, and the line between life and
death is blurred in the snowy expanse of Delta-13.
You're just one click away from learning mankind's fate.
Interview
How
long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for over 15 years!
What makes a good story?
Relatable characters solving a problem.
There are a lot of other factors that can be involved, but I find that
essentially if you can “get” where the characters are coming from, and they are
grappling with an issue that has compelling meaning for them, the story is
instantly interesting.
It’s outside of writing, but it’s one of my favorite examples of this principle in practice is the show This Old House.
On its face, it’s a home improvement program where an old house is gutted and renovated into a dream house. There is no drama, practically no action, follows a known formula with no plot twists, and takes a long time to complete. So there are none of the usual tricks or methods of catching attention.
But the show is absolutely iconic, and practically everyone has flipped over to it briefly and kept watching until the segment was over.
I believe it’s because the show has a very relatable cast, and they are grappling with a problem, (renovation), that means a lot to them. And since they take it completely seriously, we feel like we should take it seriously, and the show has instant meaning for us.
And I’ve found over and over again that the books that have the strongest appeal for me, consist of relatable characters working to overcome a problem that matters to them.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It depends on a few factors, but an Earthborn Saga book is around 2-3 months to write. First I feel out the main plot elements and get a sense of the tone that I want to hit with the book, and that usually takes me around 2 weeks. During this time, I also work on the book’s lore, formulate situations for the characters to explore, and come up with elements to give texture to the narrative.
Once the groundwork is done and I have a feeling for where I’m going, I start in on the book itself. The books are around 180,000 to 200,000 words, and I work with a goal of writing a minimum of 4,000 words per day. So when you count in days off that comes out to about 2 months of writing.
Then after that, I take a week or so for editing and proofreading and get the book ready for publishing.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
My favorites are to visit with friends, sing karaoke, and go dancing.
Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
Absolutely, I have a short story called “Hero of the People” that goes into some of the backstory for Antonin Gromyko, and details an adventure from the early days of the Underground.
The story is a free download from my website stevenbissett.com
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
I’ve drawn some characteristics off of real people, and that’s added some texture, but the characters themselves spring entirely from my imagination.
Do
your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the
reigns of the
story?
I feel really like the narrative unfolds naturally and according to it’s own logic, so it’s almost like watching life happen before me.
If you’re familiar with tabletop RPGs, a really great analogy is to think of it like a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Where I am the Dungeon Master, and it’s my job to create the narrative and the overall script for the adventure to follow.
However the individual character interactions are handled by the player characters. Working from their backgrounds and personalities, they are all unscripted and react off of each other like billiards balls.
What I really like about it is it gives a very natural feel to the story and dialogue, and it makes each situation unpredictable.
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
It’s kind of a mix, but a lot of the characters come up in the process of storytelling.
Sometimes what will even happen is I create a short-term character for a limited engagement, but I like the character a lot or he compliments the other characters, so I write him into more of a major role.
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CHV6484N
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-son-of-the-shadows-the-earthborn-saga-vol-i-by-steven-bissett
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198982572-a-son-of-the-shadows
The Beast Emerges
The Earthborn Saga Vol II
Ancient secrets. New battles.
An unyielding, insidious peril, the
Devourers unleash chaos in the galaxy.
First in their malevolent sights: the ice
planet Delta-13, next the enigmatic jungles of Preleteth. Rex Hunt, driven by
destiny and cryptic legends, forges alliances in the galaxy's darkest corners.
From pirate-infested asteroids to secret
Imperial bases, danger lurks at every corner. When ancient prophecies from the
sentient world of Preleteth point to a shadowy salvation, Rex's fate becomes
irrevocably intertwined with a journey that spans galaxies.
Every alliance forged, every secret
unveiled, and every battle waged will shape the future in this grand space
opera of courage, sacrifice, and cosmic revelation.
Dive deep with Rex and his crew as they
embark on a perilous journey. If you think you've outsmarted the might of the
Empire or the ruthlessness of the Devourers… prepare for your reckoning.
Jump into book two of The Earthborn Saga today!
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CKL5YGNZ
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-beast-emerges-the-earthborn-saga-vol-ii-by-steven-bissett
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199664213-the-beast-emerges
The Crucible
of Titans
The Earthborn
Saga Vol III
Dreadnoughts.
Devourers. Deception. In a star field of lies, can anyone be trusted?
Trapped aboard the Empire’s ultimate weapon,
Sentinel, Rex becomes the crucial factor in the cosmic war against the
Devourers.
But there's a mysterious web of deceit
beyond the battlefield. Driven by an intense hatred of mankind, an ancient
being emerges as the parasite's true puppet master.
Between the Empire, the Devourers, emboldened pirates, and a plethora of
colonial revolutionaries, are there simply too many enemies to overcome?
The mysterious Krancis, architect of the
Empire's desperate gambit to survive, sends Sentinel on a collision course with
the single greatest foe ever to threaten mankind. The battle to come is beyond
colossal: it's a celestial clash of titans that could cost Rex everything he
has left.
Dive into this enthralling mosaic of
military tactics, clandestine politics, and cosmic spirituality. Feel the
universe quake under the weight of monumental choices. Here, heroes are born,
villains rise, and entire galaxies crumble.
Ready for the next level of space opera?
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLZTYYSJ
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-crucible-of-titans-the-earthborn-saga-vol-iii-by-steven-bissett
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200881990-the-crucible-of-titans
The Tides of
Retribution
The Earthborn
Saga Vol IV
Will the
Empire crumble under the weight of betrayal and invasion?
As the galaxy is besieged by the merciless
Devourers and treacherous Fringers, one ship and one man stand as humanity's
final hope.
Can the enigmatic Rex, a master of shadowy
psychic powers, and the massive warship, Sentinel, keep the relentless enemy at
bay?
Rumors of alien infiltration and psychic
omens shake the Empire to its core. Can Rex and Sentinel hold the line long
enough for Krancis’ new experimental weapon to be deployed against their enemy?
As the hive-minded Devourers grow bolder and
more ruthless by the day, the Empire finds itself fighting battles on multiple
fronts. Eliminating high-level operatives providing intelligence to the
parasite becomes as crucial as protecting the Empire's teeming population
centers.
Venture into this colossal clash, where an
alien hive mind, the Imperium’s internal enemies, and the ticking clock that
marks humanity’s doom converge. Witness as Krancis' innovations offer a glimmer
of hope, Rex pushes his psychic gifts to the limit, and the Devourers edge
closer to ultimate victory over humanity.
Ready to discover what surprises await humanity?
Immerse yourself into the intrigue of book four of the Earthborn Saga today!
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CMQ6R7PS
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-tides-of-retribution-the-earthborn-saga-vol-iv-by-steven-bissett
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201630933-the-tides-of-retribution
The Crusade of
Vengeance
The Earthborn
Saga Vol V
The tides are
turning, but is it enough to save humanity?
When the Empire’s last gamble pays off, the
Devourer's end finally seems inevitable.
Armed with Adler fighters and Sentinel's
devastating cannon, the Devourer's reign of terror might be on the
brink of ending.
But the colossal enemy has one last trick up
its sleeve and is spreading a devilish evil across the Empire in a desperate
bid at victory. Armed with city-sized masses of stinking Devourer flesh, these
psychic nightmares that consume life are being warped in from deep space to
wreak havoc on the Empire's core worlds.
And even as Rex powers Sentinel's cannon to
obliterate the Devourer's latest monstrosities, a darker evil waits in the
wings, a force that dwarfs all other threats.
Advanced weaponry meets arcane entities and
the very fabric of the universe hangs by a thread.
Prepare to confront the real enemy in book five of the Earthborn Saga today!
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CNGHBHZR
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-crusade-of-vengeance-the-earthborn-saga-vol-v-by-steven-bissett
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202226205-the-crusade-of-vengeance
About the Author
Steven Bissett
has been writing stories for over fourteen years. An eclectic author, he excels
at seamlessly blending genres together to produce unique stories. With
compelling characters, dynamic plots, and a crisp, candid style that holds
nothing back, Bissett continues to delight readers of every age.
Website * Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads
Author
Links
Website: https://stevenbissett.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553167780329
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Steven-Bissett/author/B09PL47H9G
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19702986.Steven_Bissett
Giveaway
$20 Amazon
Follow
the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/the-earthborn-saga-book-tour-and-giveaway
I enjoyed the post. Sounds like a good series.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great series. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
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