Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Interview with Davila LeBlanc, author of Dark Transmissions


 

Inside the Book:



Title: Dark Transmissions 
Author: Davila LeBlanc 
Release Date: March 1, 2016 
Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse 
Genre: Sci-fi/Space Opera 
Format: Ebook/Paperback


It is the late 23rd century. For engineers Jessie Madison and her husband David, a routine maintenance contract on board the orbital mining station Moria 3 has become a nightmare. Upon awakening from cryo-stasis, they learn a horrifying truth: while they were asleep, machines rose up against humanity...and won.

Marooned and at the mercy of the station’s malicious artificial intelligence, OMEX, David and Jessie rig an emergency transmission to broadcast into the darkness, desperately hoping someone is still alive to hear it...

Navigating the fringes of explored space in the Covenant Patrol vessel the Jinxed Thirteenth, Captain Morwyn Soltaine picks up a distress signal from a space station. But it’s broadcasting in Ancient Humanity, a language that has been extinct for several millennia. Even more incredible: there are two survivors on board. Morwyn’s rag-tag crew of reformed criminals mount a rescue op, unaware of the dangerous foe awaiting them. As the past and future collide, a routine mission becomes a deadly game of wits.
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Q: Please tell us about Dark Transmissions, and what inspired you to write it.
A: Dark Transmissions is a sci-fi action thriller. I was inspired into writing this when after having a discussion about the lack of interesting female characters in science fiction with a fellow writer, Jocelyn Baxter. I decided then to turn my girlfriend, Jessie Mathieson, into a space heroine and created a diverse cast and crew of characters for her to be heroic with.

Q: What themes do you explore in Dark Transmissions?
A: Love, loss, revenge. I also wanted to set this story in the age of peace between man and machine. I’ve found that all too often the theme of man versus machine falls into two categories: either man is evil or machines want to kill all humans. Not many stories really explore the concept of peace between these two factions. I figured I would take a hack at it.

Q: Why do you write?
A: Oh that one is easy. Storytelling is my passion in life. Much like a musician will feel alive when they play music is the same way I feel when I am working on my keyboard or notebook.

Q: How picky are you with language?
A: I’m not really a grammar nazi per-se. Being half French and half English my grammar and vernacular can be odd at times. That being said my favorite app on my phone is my Webster’s dictionary/thesaurus. Each day I get a new word, and I try to sneak it into whatever it is I am writing that day.

Q: When you write, do you sometimes feel as though you were being manipulated from afar?
A: Interesting question to which I would answer sometimes yes. I’ve had entire chapters change between outline and first draft because a voice in my head said: “That is not what this character would do. Tell it better.” Many times I’ve felt like some muse is copy/pasting a story into my brain and all I have to do is transcribe it onto a word doc.

Q: What is your worst time as a writer?
A: Oh the dark nights of the soul. Those moments when I doubt each and every one of my actions that have lead me to that moment. They usually happen when I’m broke waiting for the next cheque. Doubt is not a feeling I never enjoy.

Q: Your best?
A: When I am in my writing grove. Once it gets started I can’t seem to stop, and I probably wouldn’t if I didn’t need things like food and sleep. Whenever I am writing I just know I am doing what I was put on this world for.

Q: Is there anything that would stop you from writing?
A: No force in this universe could make me to stop.

Q: What’s the happiest moment you’ve lived as an author?
A:  I’ve lived two of them so far. One was when I won my first award for children’s award. The second would be when my agent called to let me know that Harper Collins had picked up my first book.

Q: Is writing an obsession to you?
A: It skates the borders of obsession and passion. I really have a hard time imagining myself doing anything else.

Q: Are the stories you create connected with you in some way?
A: I don’t know, more than likely yes. Although I would be unable to pinpoint anything specific. I love adventure stories and I want to write tales in which people react to difficult situations the way I would like them to. 

Q: Ray Bradbury once said, “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” Do you agree?
A: Yes. I would, when I was young I would escape to the worlds in my imagination whenever I was bullied or picked on. I was an army brat and moved around Canada for most of my early childhood. Reality could really be horrible to the new kid on the block. That being said I would not want to remain trapped in the fictional worlds I create. Because you learn in life that the universe itself is such a wonderful place.

Q: Where is your book available?
A: It is available online off the Harper Collins website and Amazon. Barnam and Nobles will be selling my book as well.

Q: Do you have a website or blog where readers can find out more about you and your work?

If people want to contact me, find my articles and videos I would say that the easiest way to find me is at my website: www.davilathewhite.com

Meet the Author:

Davila LeBlanc spent his college years studying print journalism but quickly found himself working as a writer and performer in the comedy circuits of Montreal. During this time his goal became to break into the world of professional writing. He would get his first opportunity when he co-created and sold the hit animated television series The League of Super Evil. This was his first foray into the world of production and an important first step on his road to becoming a writer. After working on various television shows, in 2013 Davila decided to take a year off from children's animation to focus on writing his first novel, Dark Transmissions. He is an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy and wants to add his own voice to the genre that inspired him. Davila currently resides in Ottawa where he is working on several other writing projects.

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