Interview and Giveaway with Science Fiction Author Steve Rzasa

It's my pleasure to welcome back science fiction author Steve Rzasa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Rzasa was born and raised in South Jersey, and fell in love with books – especially science fiction novels and historical volumes – at an early age. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University’s College of Communications in 2000, and then spent seven years as a reporter and assistant editor at weekly newspapers in Maine. Steve moved to Wyoming in 2007 to become the editor of a weekly newspaper there, and now works at the local library. He and his wife Carrie have two boys and live in Buffalo, Wyoming. His favorite authors include C.J. Cherryh, David Drake, Robert Heinlein, Kathy Tyers, Chris Walley and David Weber.

More information about Steve’s books is available at http://www.steverzasa.com/ and http://www.marcherlordpress.com/


HANGING OUT WITH STEVE

JA: The Word Unleashed is a sequel to The Word Reclaimed. What are the challenges and blessings involved in writing a sequel as opposed to something totally new?
SR: Well, part of the blessing of writing The Word Unleashed is that it and The Word Reclaimed were originally one book. So the beginning, middle and ending were already there. The challenge came in splitting Commissioned (as the manuscript was originally titled) into two – it necessitated the writing of whole new chapters, scenes, as well as the removal of old and creation of new characters. It was an overall rewarding process to conclude the two-part story.

JA: How do you come up with your story ideas?
SR: Well, I just kind of daydream, I guess. A lot of times I happen to think of a scene or a combination of characters – or a starship – and then it all kind of flows from there. Once I put pen to paper and write down that idea, more ideas seem to come naturally. But many times I troll through the current events and see what can be adapted as a future plot.

JA: How does your faith impact your writing?
SR: My faith drives me to present what I believe about God rather directly. It enhances my creativity and gives me the freedom to address topics not necessarily just for a secular or Christian audience.

JA: After becoming a published author, what surprised you the most?
SR: The biggest surprise was that people other than my family and friends read my book and liked it! I’ve been gratified that men and women of varying ages – from 70s right on down to middle school – have enjoyed reading The Word Reclaimed and The Word Unleashed.

JA: What do you think about writing contests? Have you participated in any? What’s the benefit to an unpublished writer?
SR: I won second prize in the 2009 Christian Writing Contest held by Athanatos Christian Ministries for my short story, Rescued. It serves, I think, as a way to show potential publishers that an unbiased source read and liked your work, so I would encourage submitting to such contests.

JA: What’s next for you in the writing arena?
SR: I’m working on a novel set in the same Face of the Deep universe as the first two, except taking place a couple of years later. It is a kind of follow-up to my short story Rescued, which you can read at http://christianwritingcontest.com/entry/2009-joe-keysor-gk-chesterton-19-up-steve-rzasa/154.html. I’ve also got some short stories from the Face of the Deep universe in the works.

JA: What’s your idea of a dream vacation?
SR: Let’s see – eating donuts from Dot’s Pastries at 7:30 a.m., spending the first half of the day on the beach, lounging around, reading, writing, drawing, playing with my boys, visiting my family – wait a sec, that’s what I do every summer in Ocean City, NJ!

JA:  Sounds like you're living the high life, Steve! Thanks so much for visiting with us today.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Word Unleashed

Book 2: The Face of the Deep

Baden’s book won’t leave him alone.

He’d like nothing more than to get rid of the Bible he found in the wreckage if a derelict starship. It’s brought trouble – the secret police are closing in on him. He’s fighting more with his father. And he fears that the young woman he loves may be falling under the book’s spell.

But he can’t seem to let it go.

Now he’s sharing what he’s read with believers who have awaited the return of God’s Word for decades. His mysterious rescuer, Jason, wants the Bible taken to a safe place.

So now it’s his choice. He can hide it, or proclaim it.

With Kesek in control of the Realm and coming after all its opponents, Baden will have to trust not only in his friends but in a contingent of elite soldiers determined to save the king.

He’ll have to come to grips with the power he has unleashed on the Realm of Five. And that power has plans of its own.

WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of The Word Unleashed , just leave a comment on this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on June 7th. (No, you're not imagining things... I extended the contest to give more people time to enter. Tell your friends!) Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

Interview and Book Giveaway with Author Steve Rzasa

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Rzasa was born and raised in South Jersey, and fell in love with books—especially science fiction novels and historical volumes—at an early age. He worked for eight years as a newspaper reporter and editor before moving to Buffalo, Wyoming, with his wife, Carrie, and their two boys. He now works a county library. Steve’s short story, “Rescued,” which is set in the universe of The World Reclaimed, won the 2009 G.K. Chesterton Award in the Athanatos Christian Ministries Writing Contest.

THE INTERVIEW

JA: Congratulations on your debut novel, The Word Reclaimed. Tell us a bit about it.
SR: Baden Haczyk lives in contention with his father aboard the family cargo starship Natalia Zoja. His routine existence is turned on its head when he finds a book in the wreckage of another ship. Suddenly the omnipresent religious police are on his tail, and will stop at nothing to seize the book. Baden finds himself confronting a powerful faith, and runs in to allies who are fighting to stop the overthrow of the royal Realm of Five.

It is set in a future where all printed materials are banned – only electronic media are allowed, and the royal family owns the companies that make all computers, handheld devices, etc.


JA: Give us a glimpse of your road to publication. Was it a long and winding road, or are you an overnight success?
SR: It took me about six years to finish writing The Word Reclaimed, which is part of a much longer novel called Commissioned. As a weekly newspaper reporter and editor, I didn’t spend much time writing outside work – it took a lot out.

JA: What do you hope people take away when they finish reading your book?
SR: First of all, I want them to have fun. This is a space adventure, full of intrigue and battle both in space and on new worlds. Second, I want them to see the power of God’s Word and the effect it has on people.

JA: What’s next for you in the writing arena?
SR: Well, since The Word Reclaimed is the first half of what was originally one long novel, the sequel – so far untitled – will come out hopefully sometime next year. Jeff Gerke of Marcher Lord Press wants to do the sequel but we haven’t set a firm date yet. I also have at least two more novels in my head (and partially on paper) for this universe.


JA: What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
SR: Though my taste in entertainment runs more toward spaceships, explosions and gunfights, one of my favorite movies is a D.B. Sweeney 1990s flick called “The Cutting Edge.” It’s a great movie.

JA: As a fellow Firefly fan, I have to ask: What did you think about the movie, Serenity?
SR: It was action-packed, but not as funny as the series. There is nothing that beats the episode “Jaynestown” – hysterical! I was disheartened to see them kill off Wash and Book in the movie – mostly because now we’ll never know Book’s secrets! – and I missed the interplay between Mal and Inara.

JA: We think alike, Steve. And I so agree about Wash and Book! Okay, now back to you...

JA: What’s the one far out sci-fi technology you’d most like to see become a household item?
SR: That’s easy – holographic systems! Think “Star Wars” only cooler and less grainy-looking.

JA: The current theme on my blog is The Year of Dreams. If you could realize one life-long dream right now (other than being a published author), what would it be?
SR: I think that dream would be to visit Poland, which is where my bloodline on my father’s fraternal side originates. We here in the U.S. of European descent have a very brief history – 400 years at max. I’d love to visit a land where the people’s language and traditions have roots thousands of years old.

JA: Last but not least, how can people keep up with your latest publishing news?
SR: I’ll keep everybody up to date at http://www.steverzasa.com/.


ABOUT THE BOOK – The Word Reclaimed

Baden picked up the wrong book.

In the far future, the civilized worlds have finally been freed of the curse of religion. Tolerance now rules the five colonies.

Thanks to the secret police, no one has been bothered by so much as a hymn in two generations—much less a Torah, Koran, or that most dangerous of books, a Bible.

Baden is a young man with an attitude. He spends his spare time salvaging wrecks in deep space, claiming for himself whatever the pirates leave behind.

One day, Baden finds a book. A strange and very old book, preserved carefully against the ravages of deep space. Thinking he’ll become rich if only for the value of the paper, he takes it. He counts himself lucky beyond all imagining.

Until it begins talking to him.

Amidst an interstellar war that threatens to overthrow the monarchy and drive great families to oblivion, Baden must evade the secret police and their attempts to get that book.

Baden never had much use for religion. But, it seems, one has use of him.


WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of The Word Reclaimed, just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on October 23rd. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!