Interview with Stephen Cote, Author of Shard

What’s the story behind the story? What impressed you to write down Shard?

Writing Shard helped me to floor myself whereas I figured some issues out. I used to be now not Professor Cote, I used to be Ranger Steve, and I wasn’t fairly positive what that meant. Years of academia had skilled me to suppose in a sure means, and I felt like I had misplaced one thing of the carefree explorer I had been earlier than. The characters in Shard discover and be taught and have adventures. I all the time preferred highway journeys. Shard is a protracted, unusual highway journey.

If you needed to choose theme songs for the principle characters of Shard, what would they be?

They hearken to such completely different music sooner or later! If Micah have been right here now, I feel he would hearken to Latin Rock and Reggaeton, possibly some Calle 13 or Bad Bunny. A theme track? How about “Todo Se Mueve.” I could possibly be mistaken, nonetheless. He is such an introvert. It’s exhausting to get a learn on the man.

What’s your favourite style to learn? Is it the identical as your favourite style to write down?

My favourite style to learn is my favourite style to write down: science fiction. We can think about the longer term and ask the massive questions on the place we’re from, what it means, and the place we’re going. And of course, it’s all in good enjoyable. Plus, you possibly can throw in some aliens or space-time fluxes to maintain it attention-grabbing.

What books are in your TBR pile proper now?

It may shock you to be taught that I’m studying rather a lot of early American historical past proper now. That’s largely for work, nonetheless. I began a brand new job in a brand new metropolis lower than a 12 months in the past and really feel the necessity to do some additional analysis. I’m studying “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow (I like the musical), and “The Indian World of George Washington” by Colin Calloway. I wish to learn some extra sci-fi this summer season. I’ve Adrian Tchaikovsky and Gareth Powell on my TBR listing.

What scene in your e book was your favourite to write down?

My favourite scene to write down was in all probability Micah’s first encounter with Blind Elk, a Native American shaman dwelling within the California redwoods. It’s a time of therapeutic, a rebirth, that permits Micah to beat great loss and start to dwell once more. It is loosely based mostly on a sweat ceremony I did with Native Americans in northern California.

Do you might have any quirky writing habits? (fortunate mugs, cats on laps, and many others.)

No, I don’t have any quirky writing habits. I sit in a espresso store and revel in my favourite beverage whereas I kind away. I’ve a tremor, so typing is troublesome. But I like having the individuals round and the music taking part in within the background. And the espresso. Like Micah, the principle character in Shard, I’m a fan of high quality espresso.

Do you might have a motto, quote, or philosophy you reside by?

A philosophy to dwell by? Maybe do no hurt, or attempt to do no hurt. Help one another stand up. Find a brand new path if the one you’re on doesn’t go anyplace. Face your fears. Live just a little.

If you possibly can select one factor for readers to recollect after studying your e book, what would it not be?

Remember that it might need nothing to do with you.

Also, e book two is nicely on its means!