Monday, February 6, 2017

Interview with author Leigh (Bella) St. John


Quantum Lace

1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book?

I have always been a lover of quantum physics, forgotten history, the notion of time travel and all things Victorian, so when I felt the urge to write another book, I decided to leave the realm of non-fiction and put all my passions into one book - or more specifically, the first book of this new historical sci-fi series.

2. What is it about and whom do you believe us your targeted reader?

Once upon a time… Sounds like a simple enough way to start a story – and particularly a story about time travel, but what does it mean, ‘once upon a time’? What is time? Clocks can tell us what time it is, but they cannot tell us what time is!

This story of time travel, while a work of fiction, is largely based on real science, real people and real events. Where fact leaves off and fiction begins is for you to decide. Do a search on just about anything in this book and make up your own mind what is ‘real’.

For instance, Morgan Robertson really did publish a book on the sinking of the “unsinkable ship” that hit an iceberg fourteen years before Titanic; the edition of “The Time Machine” published by Holt, really did misspell Wells' name as H.S. Wells and his address listed on the letter sent to Bridgit, was Wells’ actual address at the time; Lord Brassey really did go off to Australia to become Governor of Victoria and his first wife did die on board the ‘Sunbeam’; the quotes from Tesla’s presentation are actually verbatim of the words he uttered in 1892; and the quantum physics mentioned is all real scientific fact as we know it today…

In this first book of the Quantum Lace series, Lady Bridgit Darnell’s life in 1895 in England is interrupted with what she initially thought was merely a strange dream – a dream in which she meets present-day Markus in South Carolina who tells her not only that quantum physics has shown time-travel is possible, but he outlines how he himself has already been able to travel
through time.

Awaking back in what she recognizes as her own time and place, Bridgit is convinced the vision must have been a fantasy of her own making until an event occurs that proves the dream was in fact real, and the ripple effect of which alters Bridgit’s life forever…

Each book in this series is deliberately short - akin to a Victorian 'railway novel' - and my target is people who enjoy learning about forgotten history; those who loved the likes of Downton Abbey; and those who enjoy a book that will make them think; but often do not have the time to commit to a long novel.

3. What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book?  What should remain with them long after putting it down?

When the reader puts down this book, I want them to be longing for the next one - to find out what happens to Bridgit and to explore where she ends up next...

4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?

My advice to fellow writers is that if you have a book in you, write it! There are countless anecdotes of graveyards that are full of books that were never written.

5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?

I am encouraged to see the growth in self-publishing.  History is full of tales about wonderful books that took years to be published because they were not to the liking of one particular publisher or another.

6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book?

My biggest challenge in writing this book was when I needed to kill off one of my characters.  I reached the point where the character had collapsed, but I just couldn't do it!  It took me three weeks to be able to finish that section, simply as I did not want to say goodbye to them...

7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?

If people can only buy one book this month, I would love for it to be Quantum Lace - Book One.  In this one short novella, they will learn some otherwise forgotten history, be taken on a human journey of love and loss, learn a little about quantum physics and get a snippet of what is to come for Lady Bridgit Darnell.

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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2017©. Born and raised in Brooklyn, now resides in Westchester. Named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs 


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