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Goodreads Q
& A
Goodreads:
Where did you get the idea for your most recent
book?
Joseph Rhea:
I'm an oceanographer and have always imagined the
undersea universe as equivalent to outer space.
Novum
is a combination of those interests, in that it is
a space-styled adventure that takes place under the
ocean of a distant water planet (a planet covered
almost entirely by water). I also look at it as a
sort of ocean version of Frank Herbert's classic,
"Dune" in that my characters have spent their lives
under water and have created technology to help
them adapt to that life. It has been a challenge to
create that advanced technology in my head and
apply it to the story, but also make it "well used"
and not important to the characters themselves. I
really want to write stories about people, not
gadgets.
Goodreads:
What’s your advice for aspiring
writers?
Joseph Rhea:
I think you have to enjoy writing for yourself.
It's a lot of work, often with little, if any,
payoff. Love it, or do something else.
Goodreads:
How do you get inspired to write?
Joseph Rhea:
I have always had a need to create, whether it be a
new oceanographic sensor, computer game, or science
fiction story. I feel a bit worthless when I'm not
creating.
Goodreads: What
are you currently working on?
Joseph Rhea:
I just finished the 3rd book in my 5-book
science fiction series called Novum,
and am just about to start writing the 4th book. I
am also working on a graphic novel with my brother
which will be based on a character from the first
book we did together, Cyberdrome.
Goodreads: What’s
the best thing about being a writer?
Joseph Rhea:
I love having total control over my
creations. No producers, no agents, no focus
groups, no one telling me what to do, or what
direction my story should go, but me. I love that
novels are created by a person, not a
committee.
Goodreads: How
do you deal with writer’s block?
Joseph Rhea:
Fortunately for me, I always want to
write and have more stories in my head than I will
ever be able to get down on paper. What is
unfortunate, at least for my readers, is that I'm a
"hobby" writer (I work full time in science),
and therefore I can't "crank out" books as
quickly as many would like. Hopefully, those of you
following my Novum
series will be patient enough to wait for me to
finish the final two books in the series. My goal
is to finish both books by next summer (2016) and
then release a combined edition of all five books
for those who prefer to read the series all at
once.
Goodreads:
Who is your favorite fictional couple, and
why?
Joseph Rhea:
My favorite fictional couple was Wash
and Zoe from the TV series Firefly. They were my
favorite couple because they were one of the first
married couples in televised science fiction, and
being a multiracial couple as well sends a positive
message that in the future, the color of your skin
won't matter to anyone.
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