Wow! This year has gone by so fast. This will be the last Wacky Wednesday post I do for this year as we have something different planned for December 25th. Now, I'm not going to give away any spoilers except to say that I'm looking forward to next Wednesday's post! For this week, and the last Wacky Wednesday of 2013, Myiege did an interview with Promising Author: Stellar.

Stellar was promoted back in September and is the author of Hidden Sunlight and Veil of Shadow. Also, Stellar has agreed to do a blog chat here on the GA News Blog to answer those questions that aren't covered in the interview! Stellar will be available Thursday 4pm - 5pm (New Zealand Time) which, IF I figured the time difference right, will be Wednesday 10 pm - 11 pm EST. Unable to participate during that time? No worries! Feel free to leave your question in a comment and it will still be answered.

Now, onto the interview!

Interviewer: Myiege

First things first! Tell a little about yourself. What made you want to write in the first place?

Well, my bio is included in my author profile so I won't rehash it here. Suffice to say I was a child who spent more time wanting to live in the library and read books in class than pay attention to schoolwork. Also, due to my autistic streak, books let my extremely active imagination explore all kinds of places and did not require any interaction with people. That naturally transitioned into a desire to write as much as read, though that desire wasn't allowed any space to take flight until after I left highschool.

Your recently completed novel, Hidden Sunlight, what inspired you to write it?

A quite unexpected and random idea, which was the initial concept for Shay Andersen's sickness and stasis, and for the character of Mira. There was nothing more to it at that early stage. It didn't come from anywhere in particular, it just arrived as a rather undefined adventurous concept, like a phantom in the night. The only things for certain were that it was going to be a) a love story with two boys, b] science fiction and c) not set on Earth. I wrote the basics of the idea down and then shelved it, at the time.

How long had this idea been floating around before you put it to paper?

I don't remember exactly. Months, I think. The only point of reference I have is Windows telling me I created the Hidden Sunlight folder on my PC in December 2011. It was March 2012 before I posted the first chapter, so that gives you some idea.

What are you currently working on? When can we expect to see it?

I am currently working on the sequel to Hidden Sunlight, which will remain nameless until I add it to GA. Nothing else at this point, because my creative energy is best served when it's directed at one thing and not split into a bunch of projects. Nothing gets done!

Tell us a bit about your writing process. How long does it take to get from conception to page? How long do you think this as of yet nameless project will take before it reaches completion?

The writing process is quite an organic thing for me. It involves various note-taking and brainstorming to straighten out all the details of what I am creating and to build up some kind of a frame before I begin. This is particular to science fiction for me; were I writing another genre I would not be as fastidious about preparation. The average time between chapters can vary wildly, because the substance of some requires actual research into what I am describing so I can be faithful to the imagery I wish to bring to the audience. Also, as the best laid plans sometimes don't work too well in action, the plot might naturally change of its own accord, so that can hold things up while I reorder how I am going to proceed.

I really don't like giving estimates on when anything will be written, because I learned my lesson after the first book. My muse is a whimsical unpredictable thing! If Hidden Sunlight is any indication, it may take around a year to complete, perhaps longer.

Your characters from Hidden Sunlight are very distinctive and well-rounded. How much can you, personally, relate to these characters? How much of Stellar are we seeing when we read about these characters?

Thank you! I treat them as if they were real flesh-and-blood human beings and not just words on a page. Of course it depends character to character, but there is a little bit of my personality in all of them -- including even the villainous ones. Though the most 'powerful' parts of who I am have gone into the protagonists. Any that knew me personally might even be able to pick which parts.

What inspires you?

Inspiration takes many forms. I don't think I can narrow it down very easily.

When you aren’t writing, what are some of your other hobbies?

Gaming (on the PC, consoles don't much interest me.) I have an extensive collection of games that are practically clogging up my HDD, that I have hardly any time to play. I love movies, but between work and writing and gaming these days it seems like I can't find the spare time to go to a cinema.

What advice would you give authors before they delve into the wide world of science fiction for the first time?

Know where you want to go and what you want to do with your story. Know the science your science fiction will need. Research it and integrate it into your fiction as truthfully as you can. Above all, don't forget that you still need human characters (or aliens even, if that's what you're swinging for) with personalities and emotions to drive your story, so make sure they are believable.

Well, that's it for our interview with Stellar! Have a question that you want to know but wasn't answered? Either leave it as a comment or come back and ask Stellar at 10 pm EST! We hope you can join us! Also, if you're interested in interviewing someone for the blog, PM me!

As always... Read, Write, REVIEW!!!!