BooksChatter: ℚ The Proving: The Earth-X Chronicles [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Ken Brosky to talk about The Proving (5 January 2016,Ken Brosky, 303 pages), a Young Adult Sci-Fi, book one of the Earth-X Chronicles series.

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Ken Brosky; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for The Proving?

"Oh boy, I think it was Michio Kaku’s Physics of the Future. It was so fascinating that I literally could not put it down. It reignited my love of science fiction. It wasn’t long before I was devouring Charles Stross, Neal Stephenson, and even some classic Star Wars books. But the science itself inspired me most."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"I always feel like I’m the wise-cracking outsider, in all honesty. There’s a little bit of me in every one of those types of characters. But I think writers often put a little of themselves in every character. It can be such a boon when it comes to building believable worlds."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for The Proving - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"It’s inspired by one of the drawings in the book, done by artist Morgan Staccato. She’s a fantastic artist! I also contracted with another artist, too: Lioudmila Perry."

Why should we read The Proving and what sets it apart from the rest?

"I feel like the characters are especially great in this series. They’re so fun, and they’re going to have to go through some seriously hard development as the series progresses. This series, at its core, is about loss and trauma. It’s about being forced to adapt or die."

Can you tell us something quirky about The Proving, its story and characters?

"I wanted to make the core set of main characters as diverse as possible without forcing it. This book takes place in the future, and the characters should represent the expansive, beautiful world we live in. So the characters are very diverse. But the clans they belong to are the opposite. Oftentimes, the characters have to find ways to be unique inside very rigid clan hierarchies."

Who would you recommend The Proving to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I think anyone who enjoys the whole “It’s the future so let’s put teenagers in danger” trope will enjoy this, mainly because the OPPOSITE is supposed to happen in this book. But as we quickly learn, even the best laid plans of mice and men …

As far as warnings, I wouldn’t note anything particular. When I write YA fiction, I want it to be inclusive. I don’t need hyper-violence or random cursing in order to craft a good story. The characters can be themselves and the plot can move along without these elements. Ditto for sexual situations. If these things actually serve a purpose, that’s fine. But oftentimes our culture values these things (hyper-violence especially!) solely as “elements” that need to be inserted into a formula. Not a fan of that. "

If you could / wished to turn The Proving and the The Earth-X Chronicles series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"I’d definitely try to get JJ Abrams to do the first book. Then I’d branch out and probably get the creative team behind Battlestar Galactica. Oh, but you know what? This would probably make a good TV series, so maybe I should just call up the showrunners for Game of Thrones."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I’m having a lot of fun with sci-fi. This series is turning into an adventure very quickly, and the sci-fi elements let my creative mind build such interesting environments and toys. It’s really fun. But I’d also like to try fantasy in the future."

What is your writing process?

"Write whenever I can. My mind is a little ADD, which can be beneficial when I’m sitting in my office waiting for students (I’m a teacher), or even if I’m just hanging around the house and have some time to kill before dinner. I’ve become a very opportunistic writer, and it helps tremendously when balancing other life responsibilities."

What is in store next?

"I’m currently working on a mystery novel, just for fun! But I want to finish this series, too. It’s got good legs so far, and I think people are going to want to stick with it. The books are going to get more and more insane because there’s a very dark secret at the center of this series. The main characters have no idea what’s coming …"

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?