My thanks to Kerry Downing for stopping by The Character Connection for an author interview during the blog tour for his book, Time Slice.Author Interview
1. Who is your favorite character?
My favorite character in Time Slice is Roy Washburn, the story’s protagonist.
2. Why is he your favorite?
Roy is my favorite character because, like many of us, he’s basically a good person but struggles sometimes with doing the right thing vs. doing what he truly wants to do. I’m sure there are some people in the audience that don’t suffer from this affliction, but I don’t know any personally and I’m certainly not one of them. I think that Roy’s decision making, while flawed sometimes in retrospect, is something that most people can identify with and understand. I mean if you had the choice between going to the mall to shop with your wife or traveling the time stream, which would you choose?
3. How did you come to create him?
Roy came about the way most of my characters do. I wanted a normal, average person to be put in an extraordinary situation and then see what happens. Roy is just your average guy, newly retired, and a little bored with his life. The perfect kind of person to jump on something adventurous that might come along.
4. When did he first enter your mind?
Roy was my main man from the very beginning. He didn’t have a name in the very beginning (in fact, I still can’t tell you why his name is Roy … it just kind of happened) but I knew the main character was going to be an older male. The rest of his characteristics grew as the story progressed. And, as he grew and changed as a character, he also helped guide where the story went.
5. Where was he given life in the creative process?
As I mentioned earlier, Roy existed from the very beginning. I know that some writers create bios for each of their characters before any words are put to paper. I prefer to start with a general idea of the character (sex, age, general appearance, etc) and then figure out the rest as I go along.
6. What do you like most about him and what do you dislike most about him?
The thing I like most about Roy is his devotion to his wife, Emily. He may be a bit rough around the edges but there’s no denying his love for his spouse. The thing I dislike the most about him is also the thing that makes him the most real, in my opinion, and that’s his selfishness. Roy realizes that it’s his biggest character flaw, but there are times where he just can’t help himself.
About the BookTime Slice
Book Details:
Price: $14.95 paperback, $4.95 ebook
Format: paperback, ebook
Published: June 2011
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9781603818520
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
Kindle, Nook, Smashwords
Blurb:
Ordinary People. Extraordinary Adventures. Science Fiction with Heart.
Newly retired workaholic Roy Washburn is not ready for a life of leisure. On a trip to the mall with his wife, he finds a small metal cylinder with odd markings. One nudge of the cylinder's triangle-shaped pointer and Roy finds himself embarking on an exciting new adventure in the Time Stream.
There he meets The Traveler, a tall, gangly being who shows Roy how to use the cylinder to visit other civilizations that co-exist on "his" Earth, each occupying a different, thin Time Slice. The Traveler solicits Roy's help in recovering an object invented by his murdered father and beyond his own reach. Roy is his last hope.
At first it seems that the Traveler's wish might be easily granted. But after Roy's wife Emily becomes ill and his daughter's long-held resentments rise to the surface, he can no longer "travel" at a moment's notice. He also discovers the very real physical and mental risks involved in roaming the Time Stream.
Despite the dangers, Roy is determined to help the Traveler. But he can't do it alone. Fortunately he has a loving wife and a core group of loyal friends. But first he must convince them--and his daughter--that he isn't crazy ...
About the AuthorKerry Downing
Kerry Downing set out to become a meteorologist, but was hooked by the world of computers instead, becoming a systems analyst and programmer. Astronomy and science fiction are his passions. He’s been gazing at the stars at all hours of the night since the age of 10, when he received his first telescope. As for science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke and his brand of “it really seems as if it could happen” has always been his favorite. In the 90s, Kerry found the third love of his life: his wife, Lucy. They live in St. Louis, Missouri, with their five children. Time Slice is Kerry’s second science-fiction novel. His self-published, debut work is The Collective.
Connect with Kerry:
Web Site
Blog
About the TourTribute Books Blog Tours
Time Slice Blog Tour Site
Tour Participants:
February 1
Crazed Mind
February 1
The Book Connection (author interview)
February 2
Heidi Ruby Miller - Just a Girl (author interview)
February 2
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (author interview)
February 3
Live to Read
February 4
Feeding My Book Addiction
February 5
Book Lover's Hideaway
February 5
Red Adept Reviews
February 6
Peace Love Books
February 7
My Tower of Books
February 7
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
February 8
Carabosse's Library
February 9
Book Dragon's Lair
February 9
Broken Teepee
February 9
Wakela's World
February 10
Flutey Words
February 13
Bibliophilic Book Blog
February 14
City Girl Who Loves to Read (author interview/guest post)
February 15
Book Junkie
February 15
The Plot Thickens (author interview/guest post)
February 16
Adventures of Frugal Mom
February 17
The Prissy Book Snob
February 17
The Wormhole
February 18
Minding Spot
February 20
Books-n-Kisses
February 21
Livre De Amour (Books of Love)
February 21
vvb32 reads (guest post)
February 23
Mom in Love with Fiction
February 24
Mom Reads My Books
February 25
The Bookshelf Review
February 27
Celtic Lady's Reviews
February 28
Mission to Read
February 28
The Character Connection
Carol, thanks for hosting Kerry today. I really liked his description of Roy. It's the choice we all have to make on a daily basis - doing what's right vs. sometimes what we really want to do.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Nicole!
DeleteI'd like to also thank you for the interview opportunity :-) Take care.
ReplyDelete