We have the pleasure of meeting Maliche Rocker, a character from Recusant.
We'll get a chance to talk to the author, Jim Cronin, in a bit, but now we have on the stage...Maliche!
Interview
Marie Lavender: Hello, Maliche. Please have a seat.
Character Maliche Rocker: Hello, Marie.
Marie: We're going to start out with some simple questions, okay?
Maliche: All right.
Marie: So, what is your occupation? Are you any good at it? Do you like it?
Maliche:
I’m an archaeologist. Yes, I believe
I am pretty good at digging up rare and unusual artifacts, but, Most Brin will
never forgive me for not following in my ancestor’s profession.
Marie: Okay. Sounds like there's definitely a story there!
So, tell us...what is your family like?
Maliche:
Well, you know the Rockers. Those of
us not setting new standards as geneticists are leading figures in the
government. Our fame as descendants of Karm, Jontar and Maripa Rocker provides
us with unparalleled fame everywhere we go. We have to wear our public face
almost all the time. My father and younger brother, Selan are much better at
playing the part than I am.
Marie: All right.
Let's try something else.
Maliche:
We have several, as befitting our
station. Most of our time is spent in First Town.
I believe it could almost be
called a castle. Not much to my taste, but it is what everyone expects of us. I
prefer the mountain cabin. It’s still pretty big and sits in the middle of two
hundred acres of forest, but at least it’s out of the city… and Selan and
father almost never go there, so I can be myself and have some peace.
Marie: Do you have any
hobbies? What do you enjoy doing?
Maliche:
I love researching my family
history. I’ve always wondered who the original Rockers really were. I mean,
what sort of Brin could do the things in the histories. Rescuing all of us from
that other planet and all. The stories seemed almost mythical. And to tell the
truth, some of my recent discoveries are indicating many of them may not be
true at all.
Marie: I see.
So, what is your greatest dream, Maliche?
Maliche:
You’re probably going to laugh at
me. It’s okay, everyone does. But I would love to find a lost tribe of the
Kolandi. I’ve found some artifacts which seem to indicate they may not have
gone extinct at all, despite what everyone has believed for over two hundred
years. If I could find a remnant of those people still alive, maybe
archaeology, and I, could gain some respect.
Marie: Sounds fascinating!
Let's try a different question.
What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you?
Maliche:
Sometimes, in my dreams, I am often
a great leader, like my ancestors. But those are just dreams, right? I don’t
think I could ever be strong enough to be in charge. I like being alone out in
the field doing research. But… who knows.
Marie: That's right. It's never too late. ;)
So...if it's not too painful or personal, can you tell us one thing? Who was your first love?
Maliche:
I sort of like one of my grad students, Aras. She’s only about four years younger than I am, but I’m not sure if a relationship like that would be right. I do catch her watching me a lot when we are on a dig together, so maybe someday.
Marie: And what's the most terrible thing that ever happened to you, Maliche?
Maliche:
I think when I first told my father
and Selan about some of my dreams, and the artifacts I had found regarding the
Kolandi. Wow, did they ever get furious at me. I mean, they already considered
me an embarrassment, but they actually threatened me to keep quiet about
anything to do with what they called “foolish Kolandi nonsense.”
Marie: So sorry...:(
(Pauses.)
Let's try another question, shall we?
(Nods.)
What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved that dream, why not?
Maliche:
As a child, my future was never in
doubt. How could they be? My genetic markers were the strongest in recorded
history, so I was being groomed to replace my father as the head of The
Assembly almost from birth. Thank goodness Selan was born. With his markers
being slightly greater than mine, leadership became his destiny.
Marie: Wow!
So, who is your role model, Maliche?
Maliche:
My role models have always been
Jontar and Maripa Rocker. My ultimate ancestors saved the Brin species, fought
overwhelming odds, and brought us across space to this new world. They carved a
new civilization out of nothing. Who wouldn’t want to emulate them?
Marie: Very true.
Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?
Maliche:
The luxury of being a Rocker,
especially an out-of-favor Rocker, is that I don’t need to hide my distaste for
anyone. One of my greatest joys is to pull the crest feathers of Raencert, head
of the mining guild. Now he is one arrogant quetzal.
Marie: All right.
What is your greatest fear?
Maliche:
That everyone is right about me.
Maybe I am just too afraid to be who everyone hoped I would be. I feel there is
greatness in me, like a force pulling me somewhere I can’t see. I just know I
can’t be the sort of leader they all want me to be.
Marie: That's quite a burden on your shoulders. But there is never courage without fear. :)
Well, it looks like we're running out of time, Maliche. Thank you for visiting us today.
It
was so interesting getting to know you. (Waves at her guest as he heads
off the stage.) Now, let's shift over and get the author's perspective.
We have Jim Cronin on the stage today!
Hi, Jim!
Author Jim Cronin: Hi! Glad to be here!
Marie: (Smiles.)
Welcome back to Writing in the Modern Age!
So,
we just got to talk to a male character from your story...Maliche. Quite
an interesting character. Can you tell us a little about him?
Jim:
Yes, Maliche is a wonderful
character. He is the sort of individual who wants to do the right thing, even
if everyone else says he is a fool doing it. He may start out as a lowly
nobody, but he is in for a ride which will rival the adventures of his
ancestors.
Marie: Great!
Let's
try a different question.
What
are your character's greatest strengths?
Jim:
Maliche
is a dreamer, and a believer in his dreams. He searches for truth and justice,
even against great odds. He will not back down once he is convinced he is
right.
Marie: Wow! He sounds awesome!
So, what are his greatest weaknesses?
Jim:
He is still young and insecure in
himself. He has it in him to be an incredible leader, but won’t allow himself
to believe. Not until destiny steps in and forces his hand.
Marie: That is often the way of things, right? ;)
So,
what are some of his favorite foods?
Jim:
I
could mention a few, but since he lives on an alien world, most of the foods
would probably be meaningless to most earthlings.
Marie: Okay!
What's a positive quality that your character is unaware he or she has?
Jim:
Maliche is a true leader. People naturally tend to follow
him, and trust him.
Marie: Nice!
So, will readers like or dislike this character, and why?
Jim:
I think readers will like Maliche. He is the sort that most of us, I think, would love to be.
Marie: Great!
Well, now that we have a real taste of Maliche Rocker, we have a few questions
for you as well as the author.
What first gave you the idea for Recusant?
Jim:
Recusant
is the second book in the Brin Archives trilogy I am writing. I wrote book one,
Hegira, as a stand-alone novel, but with the definite possibility of leading
off an epic story of grand scale. The third book, with the working title of
Empyrean, will place the characters of Recusant, and several new characters
with some unusual abilities, in the middle of an intergalactic war. Things are
not what they seemed all along.
Marie: Interesting!
What is your writing style like, Jim? Are you a pantster or a plotter?
Jim: I’m somewhere in the middle. I plan out a rough outline of where I think the story should go, and then begin to write. I find, though, that my characters often have a different idea of how their story should unfold. I am often surprised at what shows up on the screen as I am typing.
Marie: I know what you mean! :) Mine are always surprising me.
So...I'm throwing this one in for our aspiring writers.
Did
you come across any specific challenges in writing Recusant, or
getting it published? What would you do differently next time?
Jim:
I began
writing in response to a challenge from my brother. He was writing a book at
the time and thought I should try writing one as well. The story came together
pretty well, and I really enjoyed writing, but I was not a writer. I’m a
retired science teacher. When I finished Hegira, I had a friend do some editing
and I discovered I had no concept of correct punctuation and no clue about
point-of-view, or almost anything a good writer should know. In retrospect,
it’s not surprising that I received over a hundred rejections to my queries.
The idea was sound, but I needed a ton of help. Well, it took three years, and
several editors, to help get the story in good shape. Three years after I first
started writing, I was accepted by one publisher, but just before the release,
the company went under. Fortunately, Solstice picked me up and the rest is
history. Next time, I would probably spend a lot more time learning about how
to write and working closely with a good editor.
Marie: Thanks for the tips!
It
was such a pleasure having you on Writing in the Modern Age, Jim. We
hope you can come back sometime soon!
Jim:
Thank you for having me here.
Marie:
Of course! :)
Readers,
here is the blurb for Recusant, book two in the Brin Archives Series.
In this sequel to Hegira, the Brin are thriving on their new world, but will greed, prejudices, and old rivalries tear apart their grand civilization? Maliche Rocker, descendant of The Saviors, uncovers a terrible secret and must fight those in power, including members of his own family, to save thousands of innocents from the cruelty of his own people.
Here is an excerpt from the book.
“Skae
High Command, this is Kolandi Raj Ansus, please respond, Skae High Command.”
Static echoed in the Raj’s ears as she gripped the com link
in a white-knuckled desperation. Her royal robes and long brown hair showed the
neglect of long hours in the war room. Ansus rose only recently to the position
of High Raj. She fervently hoped it was not her destiny to be the last Raj.
Her nose became insensitive to the stench of bodies during
her confinement in the dim bunker long ago. The deep space images on the screen
before her revealed the devastation of their fleet in their encounter with the
Gorvin. Two hundred top-of-the-line war cruisers had been completely destroyed,
another three hundred fighters were out of commission. She watched as the
overwhelming forces of the Gorvin plowed through their defenses like an energy
blade through a cloud, and were now aimed straight at Kodut, their home world.
On the displays, a second line of vessels, the laser launch
ships, took up their attack formation. A cloud began to grow ahead of the ships
as they deployed their weapons.
Purchase
Links:
Amazon
Universal link: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01KTVTMNK
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/recusant-jim-cronin/1124451142
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Recusant/Jim-Cronin/9781625264251?id=6720891044711CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/6517641
Publisher: http://solsticepublishing.com/solstice-universe/
http://solsticepublishing.com/recusant/
Awards: Readers' Favorite 5 Star Badge for both Hegira and Recusant, NABE Pinnacle Award for Hegira, Hegira earned the Amazon's Best Seller list twice, ranked #2
What People Are Saying About Recusant:
5
Star Review KJ Simmill, Reader's Favorite:
Recusant
(The Brin Archives Book 2) is an entertaining and gripping read. The story
itself takes place a long time after Karm, Jontar, and Maripa guided their
people from the brink of extinction. Whilst no knowledge is needed of the
previous book, Hegira, I thoroughly enjoyed learning of the events which shaped
the Brin's future on this planet. The manner in which the past was relayed was
a stroke of genius; believable, interesting, and fitting in with the characters
and plot development. Once again, Jim Cronin creates a cast of diverse and
vivid characters, equipped with engaging dialogue and fully developed
personalities. There are so many threads to this one tale, with hidden
connections, plots and schemes, that it is impossible not to get ensnared.
5
Star Review Ray Simmons, Reader's Favorite:
I
knew I would love Recusant, book two of the Brin Archives series by Jim Cronin,
as soon as I had finished the prologue. I had read a similar end of
technological advancement scenario in a David Weber series and the aliens and
themes are different in Recusant. In my very personal opinion, Jim Cronin
writes as well as David Weber, which is just about the greatest compliment I
can give Jim Cronin because David Weber is great! The set-up and execution of
what is obviously going to be a satisfying long and well written series is
perfect. This is the second book and I'm dying to read the first one and can't
wait for the next one.
Recusant is very well-written and very well thought out. The Brin are evolved
from birds and I can't help but wonder if the name Brin is a tribute to David
Brin who happens to have written the best description of an intelligent avian
culture I have ever read...up until now. If you love good science-fiction, Jim
Cronin is a name you want to remember.
Recusant is very well-written and very well thought out. The Brin are evolved from birds and I can't help but wonder if the name Brin is a tribute to David Brin who happens to have written the best description of an intelligent avian culture I have ever read...up until now. If you love good science-fiction, Jim Cronin is a name you want to remember.
On Amazon.com:
"Brilliant. Last year, surprisingly as it's not my favourite genre,
this author's debut novel Hegira was one of my most enjoyed reads and if
anything he has upped the game in this, his second book. It can be read
as a stand-alone but it is part of a planned series.
I like his books because I find them so easy to read. The world created is fantastic yet very grounded and believable. Intelligent commentary is made about the strengths and weaknesses of humanity in a totally natural way. And finally I find the author makes the genre easily accessible and I don't feel like I need a degree in applied science to understand the story.
Whether you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy or not this is a great read about prejudice, fear of the unknown and greed versus compassion and respect for different races wrapped up in an intriguing and exciting story. Can't wait for the next one." - Maria
I like his books because I find them so easy to read. The world created is fantastic yet very grounded and believable. Intelligent commentary is made about the strengths and weaknesses of humanity in a totally natural way. And finally I find the author makes the genre easily accessible and I don't feel like I need a degree in applied science to understand the story.
Whether you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy or not this is a great read about prejudice, fear of the unknown and greed versus compassion and respect for different races wrapped up in an intriguing and exciting story. Can't wait for the next one." - Maria
"A must for lovers of fantasy with strong sci-fi. An engrossing story set in a well-developed world. The Brin and the
Kolandi both felt very real for me. Both species' complex struggles for
survival and power - separately and intertwined - were thoughtfully
crafted and deftly written. I am a true fantasy/sci-fi lover and I have a
deep soft spot for richly imagined fantastic stories with a generous
undercurrent of science. I enjoyed the story immensely and recommend to
all other fantasy/sci-fi fans." - Christine
This series sounds great! Readers,
don't forget to pick up a copy of Jim Cronin's awesome book, Recusant! :)
About Jim Cronin:
I worked for thirty-five years as a
middle school science teacher, but am now semi-retired, working part-time as an
educator/performer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. I have been
married for thirty-eight years to the love of my life, Diane. Together, we
raised two incredible sons, and now have a beautiful granddaughter to spoil
rotten.
I was born in Kansas City, Missouri
and lived in Arlington, Virginia before moving to Denver where I attended High
School and eventually college at Colorado State University, graduating with a
degree in Zoology and a teacher certification. I currently live near Denver in
the small town of Parker.
My first novel, Hegira, a science
fiction tale of time travel, political and religious intrigue, cloning, and
imminent planetary destruction, proved to be only the start of a new adventure.
I have completed Hegira’s sequel, Recusant, and am working on the third and
final book of The Brin Archives, Empyrean. Retirement has proved to be an
exciting journey into new realms of discovery.
Author Links:
Website/Blog: http://jimcroninscienceedutainer.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jim-Cronin-Science-Edutainer-Author-704524026327838/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorjimcronin
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Cronin/e/B01C1V5OF6/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14203201.Jim_Cronin
Publisher: http://solsticepublishing.com/jim-cronin/
Jim's Books:
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