Kerry Nietz's science fiction DarkTrench Saga, published by Marcher Lord Press, follows the tale of Sandfly, a techno-slave whose sole purpose in life is to debug and maintain the technology that keeps the rich and powerful comfortable. In the first book, A Star Curiously Singing, Sandfly is assigned to investigate the destruction of a bot that had a mission in deep space...and returned with disturbing, and possibly world-altering information about what it encountered out there.
1. Is there a story you’ve written that will never see the light of day? Why would you deprive us of this genius?
Sure, I have a couple. And they’ll never see the light of day because they aren’t ready for anyone else to see them. They either needs lots of work to make them acceptable, or should just remain as they are—mere stepping stones that brought me to where I am today.
2. What’s a story you’ve never written, but always wanted to?
A story where the main character is female. I think that would be an interesting challenge. Though in my latest book (The Superlative Stream, due in April) I sort of fulfill part of that wish. You’ll have to read it to find out how.
3. Is there a character or plot point you’ve wanted to change in retrospect?
Great question! And you know, I am a bit of second guesser. There have been times where I’ve asked myself if a certain character or scene was necessary or even good. What I’ve learned, though, is that usually those scenes and characters are there for someone. Like after a second guessing session I’ll read a review or hear from a reader that will love the very character or scene I thought unimportant. I guess the lesson is to just let it go.
4. Which of your characters would you never want to meet (in a dark alley or otherwise)?
So far my characters—even the villains—haven’t been physically intimidating. If you met them in a dark alley they might seem quite likable. They might even give you a candle or point you toward the light. Only later would you discover that the light they’re leading you to is a headlight from an oncoming train.
A Star Curiously Singing
5. Which of your worlds/realities/cities would you never want to visit?
A Star Curiously Singing takes place is a future where beliefs and actions are fiercely controlled. I wouldn’t want to live there.
6. Are there any real-world locations you’ve written about but have never visited (or never want to)?:
Not so far. Any real-world location I’ve written about has also been a place I’ve been.
7. Is there a piece of writing advice you’ve never followed?
I don’t do much in the way of outlining or flowcharting. I’ve tried, but my writing mind won’t live within the confines of an outline. Some character will go out of bounds and then the outline is kaput. I usually have no more than a rough starting place and a rough ending place. From there I just work to fill the middle.
8. What is an aspect of the writing craft you’ve never had a problem with (and why)?
My publisher says I have a confident voice. I have no idea what that means, but it must come naturally because I’ve never worked on it.
9. What’s the one book out there that you wish you’d written (but of course won’t, because it’s already written, and writing it again would be plagiarism, and that’s just mean)?
There are lots of books I’m in awe of, either for the way they’re written, or the story that’s being told, or the characters and situations. One example is Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend. It packs a lot of story into a relatively few amount of pages.
The Superlative Stream
10. What aspect of writing will you never stop working to improve in?
Probably being more descriptive. Often I’m so fixated on the coming action or the important plot reveal that I’ll rush by the places where the reader really needs some description. Thankfully I have an editor that is real good at finding those places and letting me know. And description is something that is fairly easy to add later.
11. What’s one part of the publishing industry/process you wish you could do without?
I wish I could be more emotionally detached from my work. It is tough not to think of your manuscript as a child, and who wants someone picking on their kid? I think when I feel this the most is in the first round of feedback from the editor. It’s like getting an exam handed back to you face down in school. You’re not sure if you want to flip it over or not.
12. What’s the one thing you would never do to shamelessly promote your current release?
Swim naked through a pool filled with green jello, and sharks.
13. What’s a question you’ve always wanted to answer, but have never been asked?
Why did I pick the name Sandfly for my main character in my novels?
- And your answer?
Initially it just came to me, but the longer I thought about it, the more sense it made. Sandfly is sort of this futuristic fixit man, so he works with a lot of sophisticated (and silicon-laden) machinery. Sand->Glass->Silicon, you see?
And ultimately, Sandfly becomes a bit of a fly in the ointment.
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