One of my favorite questions to ask is, “what if?” When I asked myself what would happen if a virus could change someone’s DNA, I created the PSI Guardians in the Hathor Legacy science fiction series. Then I asked, what if settlers from Earth moved to another planet to start a new life? What if corporations were in charge of space exploration?
Strangely enough, a few things I’ve written about have become science fact. Earth-like “Goldilocks planets” have already been discovered in other solar systems. Recently corporations were given permission to take expeditions to the moon. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up because what is fiction today becomes fact tomorrow!
Shows like, Star Trek, Twilight Zone, and the Outer Limits inspired me as a child, showing me that science fiction could be used to ask the big questions without being “preachy.” Authors like, Octavia E Butler, Ursula LeGuin and Isaac Asimov created stories that ultimately motivated me to create my own universes. But my inspirations weren’t only in the science fiction realm. As an English major, I was exposed to stories from many different authors: from Shakespeare to Maya Angelou to Virginia Woolf.
I’m a Law and Order fan girl, which means my writing also includes suspenseful twists and turns. I love comics (I’m a fan of the DC Universe for the most part) so my stories will reflect my love for superhero lore. For many years I was a computer programmer, so technology will always be an integral part of my stories.
Creative people are influenced by the world around them, including the books they read, the shows and movies they watch, and the hobbies they pursue. The fun of creating science fictional (and fantasy worlds) is that there is no limit to what you can use. Just by asking, “what if?” you can create fantastic stories for your readers to enjoy.
Hathor Legacy: Revelations – Book Three of the Hathor Legacy Series
An enemy returns to spark new tensions between the Guardians and Novacorp. In the midst of the crisis, Nadira is given information about her parents that threatens to destroy her relationship to the Guardians and to Jonathan.
While Nadira searches for answers, Jonathan is enticed into the hedonistic world of the Novacorp executive class. His entertainment club attracts the elite of Hathor, but his notoriety comes with a price.
The worlds of the Guardians and Novacorp are put on a collision course where only one side may come out on top. Nadira is called on to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the legacy of the First Families, the original settlers of Hathor, while Guardians, Kasema and Deshtu groups are faced with the choice to unite or be brought completely under Novacorp control.
Old scores are settled and long-hidden truths are revealed, and at the end Nadira and Jonathan’s relationship and their world will never be the same.
When she got outside, she ran down the marble stairs towards a waiting transport. The heavy metal door slid back as she approached. But before she could enter, she felt a tug on her upper arm.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Jon asked.
Ignoring him, she climbed into the vehicle. Jon entered after her and stretched out his legs as the door closed.
She reached forward and placed her hand on the ID plate.
“Good evening, Sentry Leader Nadira. What is your desired location?” The computerized voice inquired.
“Take me home,” she replied as she settled back into her seat. Their apartment was in a tower only about 15 minutes from this one. But by the looks of the clogged traffic lanes, the trip would probably take longer. This main boulevard led through the Entertainments District, one of the busiest areas of the city.
“Tell me what happened. Why do you think they killed your parents? Where did you get that?”
The transport pulled out into the traffic lane and slowly rumbled down the boulevard. Nadira looked out over the crowd, just in case she saw Zina among them. She knew it was a waste of time, if anything Zina would be in her private transport.
“I went to see Mikal at the detention center. He told me everything. My father got to the penal colony. He wasn’t lost out there. They had him killed.”
Deborah A Bailey’s Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat. Her books include the Hathor Legacy science fiction romance series and the Family Pride shapeshifter paranormal romance series.
Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales. In her “other” life, she’s a freelance technical writer and author of non-fiction books and articles for various online publications. http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com
