BooksChatter: ℚ Entromancy: The Nightpath Trilogy [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author M. S. Farzan to talk about Entromancy (5 November 2015, Nightpath Publishing, 259 pages), a Cyberpunk Urban Science Fiction, book one in The Nightpath Trilogy.

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

A very warm welcome to M.S. Farzan; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter.

What was the inspiration for Entromancy?

"Entromancy is very much a love letter to the cyberpunk genre and to the San Francisco Bay Area. I’m an avid gamer, and started developing the core background for the novel through particularly fun tabeltop sessions with my regular gaming group."

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

"Quite a bit! I put a lot of myself into my characters and their experiences. I have a Ph.D. in Cultural and Historical Studies of Religions, so everything that I write has an aspect of social justice weaved in throughout. I’ve also taught Japanese martial arts for a number of years, and I endeavour to communicate that experience when I’m writing action scenes."

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

"The cover was created by a dear friend, who has an amazing touch with graphic design. She helped me conceptualize what I wanted to convey with the cover, marrying a cyberpunk aesthetic with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge."

Why should we read Entromancy and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"That’s a great question! I suppose if you’ve already read an action-packed, humour-filled cyberpunk thriller set in 2076 San Francisco that examines themes of ethnic diversity and second-class citizenship, you may be excused. For everyone else, give Entromancy a shot! 😃"

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

"Here’s an Easter egg: Alina Hadzic’s skills are inspired by my partner’s experience playing as a softball pitcher for a number of years."

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

"When I set out writing the original manuscript for Entromancy, I wanted it to more abstract, in the way that William Gibson’s Neuromancer can be difficult to grasp for first-time readers. Over the course of writing, and through some heavy editing, the narrative became much more accessible, so I’d say that it’s easily appropriate for all fans of science fiction and fantasy. If you love cyberpunk or urban fantasy, this is the book for you!"

If you could / wished to turn Entromancy and The Nightpath Trilogy into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"I think there’s a lot of stuff in Entromancy and The Nightpath Trilogy that could make for exciting film adaptations! I’m not an expert on making movies, but it would be important to me to ensure that the casting represented racial diversity in the same manner as the books."

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 a scifi/fantasy author through and through. I like to read and appreciate other genres, but the scifi/fantasy genre is my home."

What is your writing process?

"Unlike other aspects of my life, which tend to be more structured and ritualized, I’m pretty flexible about my writing process. I’ve worked for fast-paced editorial websites and video game companies for quite some time, and they tend to have very quick deadlines and turnarounds. That experience has helped me become accustomed to writing in different locations and at varied times of the day, and I try to keep cultivating that flexibility."

What is in store next?

"I’m currently working on Technomancy, the second book in The Nightpath Trilogy, and have also just completed the manuscript for a separate, standalone young adult urban fantasy novel."

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?