J.R.: I’m talking with Jason DeGray today and we are discussing their book “3VE”. So, Hi Jason! And welcome! Thank you for talking with me tonight! Tell me something unique or different about yourself that you would like your readers to know about you?

Jason:

I’m a huge, and I do mean huge, fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. My love has followed me throughout childhood.

J.R.:

That’s really awesome. Who is your favorite character?

Jason:

It changes over the years. When I was a kid it was Donatello hands down. I really identified with him as this geeky kinda outsider of the group. But currently I’m more on team Raphael. His Byronic moodiness hints at a depth of character I never explored.

J.R.:

That’s such a great way to explain both characters. I’m such a fan of Raphael. I’ve always seen him as the one with a deeper mindset than the rest. Let’s talk about “3VE” for a moment. If you had to pick a genre for this book what would you choose and why?

Jason:

Yeesh…hard question. I started out wanting to write a classic cyberpunk novel. But over the course of the narrative, it evolved into something a reader described as “post-apocalyptic noir” and I like that better.

J.R.:

That’s a great description though! I like the feel of that.

So you’ve had experiences with both Traditional and Indie Publishing. What would you say were your worst and best experiences with both?

Jason:

My best experience with Trad Publishing was the validation that came from people outside my “group” validating my writing. These people read it and loved it enough to back it. No matter they were an Indie House, the feeling was the same. The worst experience with Trad Publishing was the horror of having my books in limbo as said publishing house went under last year. As for Indie publishing…

My best experience came from the joy of unbridled creative process. That’s really what’s beautiful about Indie publishing. You are in control of your artistic endeavor from start to finish. The worst experience in Indie publishing kinda overlaps with Trad Publishing, and that is the difficulty of getting yourself out there to build a readership.

J.R.:

I really do get both aspects. I know so many readers that don’t understand the struggle and it’s great to be able to connect with an author who’d be open with their experiences.

If you could sum up “3VE” in a paragraph that draws in new readers what would you like to say?

Jason:

3VE is cyberpunk that breaks the mold of the genre to dance into imaginative vistas. It’s chilling in its portrayal of the twilight of humanity. It’s suspenseful in its quick paced plot, racing towards an exciting conclusion. And its tender in its exploration of human nature. But above all 3vE is a truly strange, yet oddly lovable tale.

J.R.

WOW! This sounds like a book we all need to get our hands on!

You had mentioned that you were had started with Cyber-Punk in mind and ended up going a bit of a different direction. Do you have other loves that include the Cyberpunk/Sci-fi genre? Was there something specific that drew you into this genre?

Jason:

Oh for sure. I’ve loved and been inspired by the Cyberpunk genre for a long time. I love the work of Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, and Walter Jon Williams that got the genre moving. Bladerunner and Johnny Mnemonic are at the top of my favorite sci-fi movie list. But that list also includes Firefly and The 5th Element. What draws me to sci-fi is its limitless potential and its proclivity to project our future into the mainstream.

J.R.:

You just named off some of the Gods of Cyberpunk! Lol. Great reasons to follow in their footsteps. What would you say are your favorite and least favorite tropes of the Cyberpunk and Sci-Fi genres? (In writing or media in general)

Jason:

My favorite cyberpunk trope is the punk aspect. The resistance to the oppressive overlords controlling the lives of the people. And the fact that these punks are using the very technology that is being used against them. Even in overwhelming circumstances people resist. And I find that sublime. I’m not a big fan of corporations, so the domineering and controlling corporations in cyberpunk are something else I enjoy. The technology is cool, of course, but I think it’s largely secondary to the first two points I mentioned.

Jason:

I agree with you on both main points. And I’m sure many of my readers will be able to connect with your views as well.

Jason:

Least favorite tropes is a bit difficult. I hate cardboard characters. And these are mainly characters written around tropes. Tropes bug me. I try to write real people, and real people don’t really fall into tropes or if they do, they fall into several different ones. Nobody is all “one thing” or easily labeled. But I come from a generation that defied labels. That was our thing in the 90’s and that’s why cyberpunk was so great at the time.

J.R.:

I like that. It’s very relatable. I think so many people spend so much time trying to find that one thing that makes them, them. And in truth none of us are just one thing. That’s a really powerful observation.

Jason:

Well put. Thank you

J.R.:

Let’s have some fun for a couple questions here. If you could spend a month in any other country all expenses paid, where would you go and what are some of the things you’d want to see?

And you are very welcome.

Jason:

France. Specifically, the southern regions. Not only is it where my ancestors came from, it’s where Cathars lived. And lots of Knights Templar stuff is there as well. All of which are some of my nerd passions. lol

J.R.:

I love nerd passions. They are the best!!! So speaking of travel where is your favorite place that you’ve visited so far? And what nerdy thing did you enjoy there?

Jason:

I love to travel. Road trips, especially. And I like to go to weird places. For instance, I went to see some friends in Alabama. One place near Huntsville called Ft. Payne was particularly interesting. It was the sock capital of the world until recently. Made more socks than China. But it’s also the hometown of the band Alabama and there’s a museum there. It’s also the hometown of the creator of Pete the Cat. And al this is surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Waterfalls, expansive views, rivers, etc. A hidden gem for sure.

J.R.:

That sounds so amazing. Now I have a new place to go haunt. We do road trips every few months when we can escape. Thank you for the new location idea. Lol. Okay. Back to writing. You’ve published 3VE. Do you have plans for more books in the future? And if you do will you stay within the same genre or go in a different direction?

Jason:

Yes. I have more books! Coming soon is the re-release of The Ruined Man series. This was my Trad Pub series that was in limbo for so long. It’s finally getting new life with a new publisher. It’s a paranormal detective novel. The other book I’m working on (currently in the editing phase) is the first in what will be a series of sci-fi books. These are deep space colony settings so not exactly cyberpunk. But that’s what’s on the horizon. So I’m already going in new directions!

J.R.:

That is fantastic. I will definitely keep my eye on the horizon for your new and upcoming works!

So last question for tonight. And please let me know when your books are going to be re-released so I can let my readers know when to watch for them. If you could give any advice to new writers, what would you say?

Jason:

Stick to the story. A lot of writers on social media groups are posting about “I’m stuck because I can’t decide what color shoes my MC should have” or “I need help outlining the political history of this inconsequential nation in my fantasy novel.” My question is always: “How does this drive the story?” Those are the details that are important. And that’s where the focus should be. Focus on what gets the reader from point A to point B. Everything else is extra.

And I will definitely keep you updated on when things are happening!

J.R.:

Wow! That is such fantastic advice. Thank you so much!

Thank you for talking with me today! It was a pleasure getting to talk with you and I will be adding 3VE to my TBR pile for sure! Have a fantastic evening!

You can find and follow Jason DeGray here:

Website: jasondegray.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jasondegrayauthor

Instagram: Istagram.com/TRMnovels

Facebook Reader Group: Weird Worlds: The Writing of Jason DeGray