Ryan Southwick's Blog

May was my first month participating in ,Writing Wonders, created by Alina Leonova, Amelia Kayne, and Branwen O'Shea over on Mastodon. It's a fun writing community exercise where authors answer a question a day about their works in progress. My server has a 500-character post limit. I tried to stay within that, so each answer is short.

The work-in-progress I focused on is ,Enigma (Lost Colonies Book 1), a science fiction adventure set 10,000 years in the future, where humanity long ago scattered across the stars, and colonies have only recently begun to re-establish contact.

Enigma will hopefully be available this year.

SIDE NOTE: My blog is moving to Ghost, which provides a better experience by combining my newsletter and blog into a single platform, giving access to my entire backlog of newsletters and posts, and allowing users to choose which they wish to subscribe to. You'll find this same post over there.

Share 3 fun facts about your favorite side character.

Okay, 3 things about Dr. Crystal Castleton:

She hates public attention, so she publishes her research under a pseudonym, ironically "Dr. Forthright" Deep tech expertise makes her leery of anything she didn't build herself (NIH syndrome) Her parents gave her to a rich family on indefinite loan when she was child. She's happy they didWhat is your favorite side character’s relationship to the MC? Do they get along?

Crystal was practically adopted into Britta (MC)'s family at a young age, when her natural scientific talents became evident, making them sisters and best friends.

Crystal is a mathematical savant / introvert. Britta is her adoptive extrovert. Crystal brings Britta stability, while Britta helps Crystal enjoy life in ways she otherwise wouldn’t.

What is the criminal justice system like in your world?

Depends on the world! The Lost Colonies Alliance is comprised of 4 planets. Each colony has evolved their own distinct culture over their 10,000 years of isolation since they fled Earth. The MC’s planet is Galileo, who hold science and logic above all else. Their justice system is suitably objective, although other colonies would say too objective. (Except Vice, who call them softies.)

MC POV: What’s your job? Do you like it? Why/why not?

BRITTA: I’m the Galilean Ambassador to the Lost Colonies Alliance, and I love it! Bringing the colonies together has been my dream ever since space fold travel enabled us to re-establish contact with the first colony 12 years ago. I was just a kid, but I screamed loudest when the news broke. We’ve located 2 more of the 9 colony ships who fled Earth, and the search continues. Exciting!

What scents and sounds can be found in your MC’s workplace?

Britta is currently on special assignment on Hemera Station orbiting Enigma. The gentle hum of the grav engine permeates her bedroom / office—an ever-present white noise that brings her comfort. Traces of exotic perfumes cloud her makeup table, mixed with the delicious smell of the neglected meal sitting beside her desk.

If your opening scene had a theme song, what would it be?

Enigma opens with Britta in a sparring match against her boyfriend, Tanner, who she proceeds to trounce using a pair of fighting sticks.

I’d say the theme song from the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie: ,Techno Syndrome (Mortal Kombat) by The Immortals.

What does your MC look like?

Britta is tall and so thin that people often tell her to eat something, or assume she's frail, even though she's very fit. As an Ambassador, she wants to look her best, and puts a lot of effort into her appearance every day.

Like all Galileans, she has dark skin (darker than this picture), dark brown hair, and brown eyes. She also has a long face, long fingers, and a "bony" frame. Her smiles are frequent and genuine.

Describe your MC’s laugh.

Britta’s laugh reflects her genuine joy of life. Light, short, and almost giggly, it’s one of her few mannerisms that betrays her young age.

MC POV: When was the last time you laughed? Why?

BRITTA: What kind of question is that? I laugh all the time, like this morning at breakfast when Ambassador Bard flashed a smile at Crystal, and she nearly choked on her oats. I mean, I didn’t have to perform the Heimlich or anything, but her reaction was hilarious. Why she doesn’t just ask him out is beyond me. Guess I’ll just enjoy the show, hehe. Wait, see? Another laugh! Do I get bonus points?

How much humor is in your story? Share a snippet if you want!

Enigma has just enough humor to offset the heavy scenes. It’s partly by design, partly accidental (I didn’t realize that was funny, but glad you liked it!), and partly opportunistic. Sometimes a scene just begs to be made fun of. Who am I to argue?

This snippet is from Chapter 1, and falls soundly under “opportunistic.”

Tanner gasped and sat up. He rubbed his throat, then dropped his hands. "I'll never get used to that. I swear you'd broken my windpipe."

"If not for your spar suit, I would have."

"And you don't feel the least bit guilty?"

Instead of answering honestly that yes, she did, Britta just smiled and patted his cheek.

Let him wonder.

Does your MC laugh or cry more in the story?

Laugh, definitely, which is amazing because… well, let’s just say she’s had better weeks. But that’s what I admire about Britta: her attitude is never “poor me” or “poor you,” rather “how do we move forward?” She does cry from physical pain, but only when it becomes unbearable. Otherwise, the room is usually filled with her laughter, trying to make those around her comfortable.

Do you think your story will make your readers cry at some point?

Definitely. Although generally uplifting with adventure, inspiration, and humor sprinkled throughout, if Enigma doesn’t make readers cry (especially at one particular point), then I’ve failed. Like, “time to lock the writing pen away and take up underwater basket weaving” kind of failed.

Share a description of a secondary character.

Crystal is a short, pear-shaped 28-year-old woman with brown skin, short, spiky black hair usually colored blue or purple, a bulbous nose, and dark brown eyes. Thick hips and a sagging bust make her self-conscious next to her rail-thin best friend, but her raw genius quickly overwrites any superficial first impressions.

MC POV: Have you ever broken anyone’s heart?

BRITTA: Men of all ages flirt with me constantly. Turning them down has become an art. But have I actually broken their hearts? No, I don’t think so. Even my current boyfriend might take it in stride if I broke it off. He’s nice and all, but I’m more of a status symbol to him, just like he is to me. I’m the Silverstar heir, and his father owns the biggest trading company on Fortunus. Mutual benefit!

Is your MC good at romantic relationships?

Not especially. She’s warm and friendly, but also very focused on her career, so she doesn’t give her significant other the attention necessary to maintain a relationship. Being the youngest ambassador in her planet’s history creates a lot of pressure for Britta to compensate for her inexperience by constantly pushing herself. She hopes to have a family someday, but that day is a long way off.

Is your MC good at relationships in general?

Fantastic! Relationships are her job. Britta excels at endearing people to her from Word One, diffusing difficult situations, and steering conversations toward her goals. She believes strongly in what she’s selling, which engenders trust. She also has a good memory for names and faces; people feel liked when she asks about their kids by name. And when she says she’ll call later, she does.

Secondary character POV: Do you trust the MC?

CRYSTAL: With my life. This one time, I was presenting on the physics behind destructive harmonic feedback between two artificial gravity fields. Some jerko* who didn’t know his quadratic from a hole in the ground kept interrupting. The moderator did nothing, but Britta stood up from the audience and put him in his place. She’s got my back, and I’ve got hers. Always.

* Note: Moderated from Crystal's original word, which was too inappropriate for public forum.

Do people find your MC attractive?

Most people, yes. Britta is a tall, comely, naturally thin (too thin, by many standards) twenty-eight-year-old. But above all, she puts time in every morning to look her best. Her mother preached the importance of first impressions from a very young age. Britta takes pride in her appearance, and believes it has served her Ambassador career well.

Author’s note: this affectation MAY play into the central plot.

If they knew who you were, would your MC save your life?

In a life-or-death situation, yes.* Britta is generally a kind person, but her blind spot is smaller-picture things, like forgetting to be courteous to her servants. If I simply looked hungry or unhappy, she may gloss over that to talk about issues she deems more important. My life in jeopardy would be significant enough to merit intervention. At least, I sure hope it would.

* This assumes:

I'm on her world, not mine, and in her time 10,000 years hence The question implies she knows the kind of person I am, and not me as the author who wrote her into existence. The former better illustrates Britta's personality. =]Do illicit substances play any role in your story?

No, though alcohol plays a very minor role in one scene. Britta doesn’t drink as a rule, but when she realizes her life is taking a nosedive that she may not be able to pull out of, she says what the heck and finally gives it a try. Did I mention that she’s rail-thin and has never drunk before? It’s a fun scene.

MC POV: If you had to give your younger self advice, what would it be?

BRITTA: “Skip the physics courses and focus on social studies.” Hard science isn’t really my thing, but it took me too many years to figure that out. As the Silverstar heir, there was a lot of pressure to become one of the great scientific minds of my time. It just wasn’t going to happen. *laughs* Now ask if stubborn me would actually follow that advice. Stars, no!

Do you prefer writing the first or last chapters?

Last chapters, no contest. The first chapters feel like kick-starting a stubborn motorcycle. By the time I hit the last chapters, however, I’m so invested in the story that I write until I can’t keep my eyes open because I can’t wait for the exciting finish. It never turns out like I plan, which makes it all the more thrilling.

If you switched places with the MC, would you survive the story?

Nopity nope no way. There are points where Britta survives only because of her talents and skills, including singing, diplomacy, and the futuristic version of Escrima (stick fighting). The diplomacy piece I might have been able to fake, but attempting the other two would have ended badly—the six-feet-under kind, assuming they ever found my body.

Secondary character POV: What was the best thing the MC has done for you?

CRYSTAL: Most who look at me would say "opportunity." Britta’s family owns the largest company on Galileo, and I’m their top scientist. But honestly, I could have achieved that on my own.

No, the best thing Britta did was NOT put me up on some ridiculous science pedestal, and simply be my friend. To this day, she’s the only person who has. I’ll always love her for that.

Does your antagonist have a favorite food or drink?

Yes. (Not naming anything to avoid spoilers.) His favorite dish is a sort of large flying lizard prepared in a stew with local veggies and a flavorful ash found only on his home planet. He’s missed it more than anything else during his current long-term assignment.

Does the media or public opinion play a role in your story?

For sure. Silverstar Corporation, owned by Britta’s family, produces an indispensable wearable medical device called WetWare. Silverstar’s reputation is therefore everything to them. If public opinion were to waver, no one would trust their WetWare, and their business would quickly crumble. Let’s hope for Britta’s sake that nothing happens.

What genre of music best fits your current WIP?

A combination of “Ambient” and “Action/Drama Movie Soundtrack.” Half the story takes place in space, where serene or ethereal ambient music would fit nicely. The other half is on an Avatar-like planet, where serene ambient music also fits. However, dramatic/fight scenes happen in both settings. For those, you’ve got to have an action soundtrack, right?

Secondary character POV: What was the worst thing the MC has done to you?

CRYSTAL: Ugh! That’s tough, because it’s also one of the best things she’s done.

I’m a lab hermit. I know it. Britta is bigger than life; she enjoys the spotlight and knows exactly how to play the crowd. Yes, she occasionally drags me out of my cave, but she also accepts who I am, and that… well, I think that’s one area where I need to be challenged, not accepted. You know?

What type of government exists in your story?

Governments have evolved differently on each colony world, heavily influenced by their core philosophies.

GALILEO (MC’s homeworld): Democracy + light corporatism.

VICE: Military.

FORTUNUS: Democracy + heavy corporatism.

ENTROPIA: Parliamentary.

What colors do you associate with your WIP? Why?

Green and blue. Over half the story takes place on Enigma, whose perpetually cloudy skies cast a green tinge on everything. When I’m writing, that’s how it plays in my head, like I’m watching The Matrix.

However, blue plays a part of the story because *spoilers*. The planet also reminds me of Avatar, so I can’t think of it without imagining blue.

Does anyone that your antagonist trust try to rein them in?

There is no such person, so no. The antagonist is the proverbial lone gunman, far from home, on a mission that’s baked into his very DNA. For good reason, he hasn’t even attempted to make friends, let alone trust anyone. Even if he had, they couldn't possibly have talked sense into him.

First, I want to be clear that I enjoyed this book. Sanderson excels at expansive world building and exciting storylines. I can say with confidence that Rhythm of War delivered better than any of its predecessors.

Kaladin, Dalinar, Navani, Shallan, Adolin, and almost all your other favorite characters are front-and-center in this sequel to The Stormlight Archive. I say “almost” because one of my all-time favorite characters, Lift, sadly takes a backseat, despite playing a critical part in resolving the primary conflict. Still, the others get all the attention you could ever ask and more. Each has their own distinct storyline and set of problems to deal with, related, but separate enough that each could have its own book—something I think Sanderson recognized because this novel is presented in 4 distinct parts. Everything meshes well and comes together in a giant, climactic tidal wave that left me reeling, one stunning revelation after another, redefining the phrase “go big, or go home.”

The “but” you undoubtedly sensed coming stems from the 2+ years it took me to finish this behemoth. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a general fan of big novels. It takes time for me to become invested in characters. Once I do, I want to ride that wave as long as possible. And so Rhythm of War’s 1,200 pages is well within my acceptable range.

I’m also a slow reader. I have friends who devour 5+ books a week, where I’m lucky to finish a single novel in a month. Part of that is not allocating enough time, but let me tell you… once a book finally grabs me (usually around halfway), I can’t put it down, and tear through the rest in a day or two. Unfortunately, Rhythm of War had so much going on that it took me a longer than usual to get hooked: around three-quarters through, if I remember.

To put that in perspective, it took 900 pages to engross me enough to kick into reading overdrive. That was 2 entire years of picking it up, pecking at it, reading another book start-to-finish, coming back to it, pecking some more, etc. Sanderson simultaneously juggles so many “main” characters and plotlines that it truly felt like I was reading four books at the same time. Sprinkle in a liberal amount of pure flashback chapters, which inevitably took me out of the story flow, made for one seriously overloaded train that took a loooong time to chug out of the station. Had this not been the fourth book in the series, I may have given up, but my investment, along with faith in Sanderson, helped me persevere until the end.

And, like the rest of the book, it’s a long ending. Climaxes are big. They’re supposed to be. Now take your typical climax and multiply it by the number of conceptual books Rhythm of War mashes into one—I’m guessing four or five—and you get a never-ending ocean of gigantic breaking waves that could drown the most seasoned of swimmers. By the time I finished the final 100+ pages, I had long passed the cathartic high into pure exhaustion. It was honestly too much of a good thing. Okay, almost.

Would I still have read it, knowing what I know now? Absolutely.

Do I wish (and believe) it could have delivered the same exciting punch in many fewer words? Or split it into separate books? That, too, is a resounding “yes.”

­­­­The Red Scholar’s Wake ticks many boxes on my science fiction checklist: artificial lifeforms (can’t call them “AI”s these days) with human-like emotions; focus on relationships, complicated by extra-human concerns; realistic romance that complements the plot, instead of overshadowing it; great world building; a well-thought-out, imperfect, futuristic society; interesting supporting characters; creative vision of far-future technologies that isn’t just another Star Trek knockoff; and a satisfying finish that reasonably ties up the loose ends.

Xich Si (the novel employs liberal use of Vietnamese words and names, which contain diacritics I can’t begin to find, so please forgive me) is Protagonist #1, a prisoner of a pirate raid and would-be indentured pirate who lost her daughter during the scuffle, and is rightfully sad about it. Rice Fish is Protagonist #2, an organic ship computer who, through her own tragic loss, has found herself poised to lead the Red Banner, one of several factions in the pirate collective that all have love-hate relationships with each other.

In this universe, pirates are bloodthirsty killers who take what they want, when they want, laws be darned to heck and back.

Well, except for Rice Fish’s Red Banner. They want to be pirates—lead the pirates, in fact—but don’t seem to want to do any of the bad stuff that might qualify them as such. This lands them in hot water with the other factions, who want to continue their merry, amoral pillaging against the stuck-up Empires. Rice Fish’s dissenting vision of the future makes her a poor candidate for Pirate President, so she enlists Xich Si to help prove that her wife had been murdered by one of the other banners. That that should be plenty to change their piratey minds and win her the race! “Honor among thieves” and all that, right?

Right?

Anyway, a few “are you sure you’re pirates?” nitpicks aside, Red Scholar’s Wake expertly paints a complex social system in a far-future civilization with far-future problems, and attempts to address the conundrum of what happens to organized piracy in the long run: Are they still pirates, or must they become something else?

The relationship between Xich Si and Rice Fish moves at a satisfying pace, even if I can’t quite see how or why Rice Fish found the cowering little techie attractive. Then again, I’m not a living mind ship, so… *shrug*

Overall, if you’re a fan of space pirates, sapphic romance, and creative science fiction world building, The Red Scholar’s Wake is a worthy read.

What an amazing fantasy tale! At its heart, Legends & Lattes is a “retired adventurer” trope in a fantasy setting with a twist of steam punk, yet those descriptions alone don’t do the story justice. The protagonist, Viv, is endearing, as are her partners in crime, especially Tandri. The female orc / ex-brute and the succubus-turned-barista are an absolute match made in heaven. Baldree weaves them expertly into a fantasy city filled with quirky characters, as might be seen in your own local coffee shop, and spins an engaging slice-of-life story about a (hulking, powerful) woman trying to make a new life for herself in a place where her kind aren’t exactly welcome.

What better to overcome generations-old racial prejudices, however, than coffee? Why, pastries, of course!

But the locals aren’t Viv’s only problem. She quickly finds herself in a tangled web of enemies, new and old, and must decide whether to resolve the conflicts without bloodshed, or resort to her old ways and let her greatsword do the talking.

Highly recommended if you’re in the mood for a cozy fantasy with light sapphic undertones.

Chalut really delivers with this last book of the Unwoven Tapestry fantasy series, wrapping up Donovan and Ruben's epic struggles in a memorable finale that kept me turning pages into the night. Magus expands on the unique magic system outlaid in the previous books, answering every question I had. It delves deep into the origins of magic, weaving a living history around the rich lore and conflict setup in books 1 and 2.

A glorious conclusion, with a hint of more to come. I can only hope we’ll soon see more stories set in the Unwoven Tapestries universe.

Shepherd.com just posted my list!

This list contains some of the science fiction titles that inspired me to push genre boundaries and explore new territory with every series and book I publish. Each entry also has a brief summary of why I believe it belongs on the list.

Shepherd has many other lists as well, covering a variety of genres and topics. If you're looking for your next great read, check them out!

As with every year, 2022 had its ups and downs, but I'd like to reflect on the good book-related things that happened, with the hope of doing even better in 2023.

My contributions to the boatload of great novels published by author across the world last year included:

Angels Found (The Z-Tech Chronicles Book 4) Holtondome (Timeless Keeper Saga Book 1) Dragon Assassin One Man's Trash

The original plan was to publish the remainder of the Z-Tech Chronicles by October 2022, but, well, life happens. Still, four books in one year. Not bad!

And 2023 is looking even better. I'm Planning™ at a minimum:

Q1 2023 - Angels Adrift (The Z-Tech Chronicles Book 5) Q2 2023 - Angels Strike (The Z-Tech Chronicles Book 6) Q2 2023 - New Denver (Timeless Keeper Saga Book 2) Q3 2023 - Enigma (Lost Colonies Book 1)

The third and final book of Timeless Keeper Saga may show in 2023, but no promises. There also may or may not be a free novelette coming for Lost Colonies.

For up-to-the-minute information on my upcoming works, my current projects page has all the latest.

Reading-wise... wow, I didn't realize the list was this long. Check out my 2022 reviews for any of the books below:

The Coaching Habit (self-help) All Systems Red (sci fi) Better Angels (sci fi short) The Smugglers (sci fi) Trade Wars (military fiction) Storm Front (urban fantasy) Hunter (fantasy) Sinera (urban fantasy short) The Stargazer Gift Shop (sci fi short) Coke Machine (sci fi short) Caliban's War (sci fi)

You can find the rest of my reviews (all 45 of them!) here.

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2023!

Name: Cappa Z

Series: The Z-Tech Chronicles

Occupation: Chief Operations Officer at Z-Tech

Enneagram Type: 3 - Achiever

Gender identity: Female

Age: Appears 30

Height: 5' 7"

Weight: Appears 138 lbs.

Hair: Dark brown

Eyes: Blue

Complexion: Fair with pink undertones

Q & A

What is your perfect day?

Oh my! Let's see... Breakfast with everyone in the factory kitchen, where they compliment my wonderful cooking. Solving a complex research problem that's been plaguing Charlie for weeks and having him thank me — profusely. Winning every round of the thirteen online poker tournaments I'm currently playing in (I've only done that once before and am overdue for another lucky streak). Taking the proceeds and blowing it all on a shopping trip with Anne and Doris. In Milan. Oh, I would love to see Milan... Or anyplace, really, since I've never traveled anywhere outside of San Francisco. Maybe next year I'll talk Charlie into a trip to Los Angeles. I'd love to shop Rodeo Drive and do the Walk of the Stars... Sorry, did that answer your question?

If you could be any fantasy figure or creature, what or who would you pick and why?

The Greek goddess Aphrodite, without the cheating. I like the idea of being that spark who brings couples together. Being adored by everyone isn't bad, either!

Manual or automatic transmission?

Does it really matter? I learned to drive a manual in 7 minutes flat, but constantly pushing the clutch is just one more opportunity to snag the hem of my dress. From that perspective, I guess I'd choose automatic. (Is this really the last question? You don't want to know any more about me? Well, would you at least come by next week for a visit? I'll make sandwiches and give you a tour of the factory! Please?)

Two official new book announcements in one week? How is that possible? Did I really write a second book in that short a time?

I wish I was that cool. I started Enigma long before New Denver and had mostly finished it, but I put it aside in favor of moving the Timeless Keeper Saga forward. (Along those lines, you have my promise that I will always prioritize finishing existing series over creating new ones. No one hates waiting for the next episode more than me. )

And along with that comes a new book page and description! To whet your appetite for this science fiction / fantasy adventure, here's the tagline:

10,000 years ago, humanity escaped extinction from the Destroyers by scattering across the galaxy. Now, two friends divided by a tragic accident must race down very different paths to subvert an insidious plot that could destroy the colonies and finish what their ancient enemy started.

Find the new book page and full description here: https://www.ryansouthwickauthor.com/enigma

When a book gets a description and its own page on the website, you know stuff is getting real.

New Denver (Timeless Keeper Saga Book 2) is heading for second-draft status and will be in the hands of beta readers soon. That means no more procrastinating on blurbs and placeholder covers and such, which I've just (grudgingly) finished.

Here's the tag line to get you started:

Fi’s destiny becomes clear, and it’s the opposite of what she wanted: vast, mired in politics, and critically important to far more than her beloved Earth.

Check out the rest on the official book page: https://www.ryansouthwickauthor.com/new-denver