I have always had epic stories that I think of while trying to go to sleep. I have done this since I was a kid. Many stories stay with me for a period, and I refine them night after night. This was one of those stories. Putting words to what I had thought of over a few weeks trying to sleep.
Mike Conley – 11 February 2022
The Back Flap
After an unexpected death, Artis finds himself in a new reality. A new universe with advanced technology and space travel. A reality he could only dream of in his past life. In this marvelous new reality, he finds he has more than he could ever ask for, including an amazing starship and loads of money. He makes some great friends and finds an amazing woman, Zoe, that he falls hard for.
In short, his new life is amazing. And he loves it. However, Artis questions why. Why him and why all this amazing stuff? What is this reality and how do some idiots get away with just about anything? And why does the food suck?
With help from his newfound friends, Artis sets out to enjoy life and discover more about this new reality. However, some idiots have other ideas. For reasons unknown to the team, a religious fanatical organization seeks to capture his newfound love. They will do whatever it takes to get her. Artis, aided by his amazing new friends and his super advanced AI, will do anything and everything to protect Zoe.
In a reality where most people are good and few laws exist, a couple of idiots can mess it up for the rest of us. How will Artis and his team deal with this reality? Can they be free to do as they like and can anyone get a decent meal?
About the book
What is the book about?
My book, The After, is about an everyday guy who dies and finds himself in a new reality. A new universe with advanced technology and space travel. In a reality that he could only dream of before.
Artis, the main character, loves this reality and the people he has befriended. They have all intents to just enjoy life and discover more about the reality they find themselves in. However, some idiots have other ideas. A religious fanatical organization seeks to capture Artis’s newfound love.
Artis and his friends will do anything to protect each other. But in a reality where most people are good, and few laws exist, a couple of idiots can mess it up for the rest of us. This book dives into that and is book one of the Afterverse series.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing on November 27, 2021
How long did it take you to write it?
I wrote in the evening and on weekends. My first draft was ready by December 27, 2021. One month after starting.
I had a few rounds of edits that took about a month to turn around.
I released the book two months after I started it.
Where did you get the idea from?
The quick answer is from my head.
I have always had epic stories that I think of while trying to go to sleep. I have done this since I was a kid. Many stories stay with me for a period, and I refine them night after night. This was one of those stories. Putting words to what I had thought of over a few weeks trying to sleep.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
No, I used a structure to write that helped me build the plot, but the story itself came easy. I had thought a major portion of it out prior to writing.
What came easily?
The story came easy. Figuring out how to do things like editing and cover for cheap was harder.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
The main character in the opening chapter is loosely based on conversations I’ve had with 4 different people and myself. The politics and recipes come from me. And there are a few things that are inside jokes for people I know. One of which is an interesting moment where two of my characters are discussing a stainless-steel straw. That conversation is based on a conversation my wife and I once had.
Other than that, they are entirely fictitious.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Too many. I’ll list a few.
Isaac Asimov – he shaped a lot of my Sci-Fi journey early on.
James S. A. Corey – I really liked the style of Daniel and Ty’s work way before it became good TV.
JN Chaney – Lately I’ve been into mostly Indy authors, and I can really give JN Chaney the title of the author that most inspired me to write my own books.
Do you have a target reader?
I thought I did. But my wife, who never really got into Sci-Fi, said she really liked it. Not just because she wanted to be nice to me, either. So, it may have broader appeal.
Who I think my audience would be is anyone who likes space stories where right and wrong matter. Where justice gets served and where that isn’t always by law officers. Where technology just works like magic without having to question it.
If you like Firefly, The Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, Farscape, and Stargate then you’re my target crowd.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I’ve heard so many discuss writing processes. They discuss different things. To some it’s how to get themselves to write. For others, it’s how to plot and outline. For yet others, it’s the tools they use.
So, I’ll say yes, I have a process. However, that may mean different things to different people.
That said.
For tools: I haven’t settled on my long-term writing platform. I’ve used LivingWriter, Dabble, Scrivener, and Word. They each have a downside. I also use ProWritingAid and Grammerly.
As for timing: I only write in evenings and weekends so I will not affect my normal work hours. I write instead of watching TV or playing video games.
As for plotting: I use a structured Three Act approach.
- Act 1 is Intro to the character and the world and an event that leads to the first plot point. It accounts for ¼ of the book.
- Act 2 is the middle where I build the action and move the main character toward their goal. I also introduce a 2nd plot point here. This accounts for about ½ the book.
- Act 3 starts with the lead up to, and the actual, climax. Then it deals with reduction of the action and ultimately getting to the end of the story. This accounts for ¼ of the book.
After setting up the structure, I write from the seat of my pants.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
No, I setup my structure as I described in the previous question and then I just start on chapter 1 and write away.
I have experimented with documenting plot points and maybe drafting chapters, but I haven’t realized the value of that for my writing style. Perhaps if I didn’t have so much of the story already in my head, it would be of greater value.
Now, for a non-fiction business book I’m writing, I drafted out all the chapters titles first. But writing a business book is extremely different from writing a novel.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Both. I do some edits as I go. But then after I finish a chapter (or two or three if I’m in the zone) I push it into ProWritingAid. I try to do this chapter by chapter to reduce the time it takes at the end. But it does not eliminate going through it at the end.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Yes, but I was on super tight budget. So I used one from Fiverr. They were OK. But judgmental. I got what I paid for. I then did another edit myself. And then my wife edited it and did a better job than either the editor or I did.
But after all that, I then made an ePub and read it slowly, like I was reading someone else’s work on my Kindle. I found more things.
It’s edited pretty good even with the low budget. I’m sure there are some things that were missed. That said, I’ve seen errors in more than half of every book I’ve ever read. So, I don’t feel so bad and I’m in good company.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Sometimes. I tend to listen to Alt Nation on SiriusXM. I just canceled and I’ll need a new music fix.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I don’t have the patience or time to try to get a major publishing company to work with me. And the vanity ones just didn’t appeal to me. The only way I would write is if I had full control. So, Indy it was.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I paid a person $50 on Fiverr and it was money well spent. I love my cover. And many others have commented positively on it.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Super low budget and released 4 days ago. No marketing plan yet. I paid $40 for a Fiverr gig to market my book to social media starting on Feb 1st. Low cost, low risk. I don’t have high hopes but maybe some exposure will come of it. I have been using my social media to self-promote some.
Marketing will be what I’m thinking of over the next few weeks.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Yes, just do it and don’t overthink it. You can get started for cheap. Ask questions of other Indy authors to get started. You don’t need fancy tools if you don’t want them. You can just use Google Docs. Many people do. Get the words written, then walk away for a bit. Later, find a way to read your work as you would any book. If you’re using an eReader, make a PDF and side load it. If you read physical books, print it. Get comfortable and read your work. No editing! Just read.
Did you like the story? Sure, it is rough, but did you like the story enough to continue?
If you liked it, now get another opinion. Have a friend read it. Take their feedback. It may be critical. But take it anyway.
Now, if after that you like the story enough to continue to work with it, you can move forward. If you don’t have the passion for the story or the process, maybe rethink it.
Don’t spend money until you know you have the passion for the story and the process to see it through.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Olympia, WA USA
Where do you live now?
Lafayette, IN USA
What would you like readers to know about you?
That I would love to hear from them.
What are you working on now?
Book 2 of the Afterverse I’m getting read to write. I plan on starting a serialized story about the Zombie Apocalypse. It will be called Past the Fall.
I’m also writing a Servant Leadership non-fiction business book.
Oh, and I’m writing an unrelated Sci-Fi short story that will be available to anyone who signs up to my entertainment list.
For updates on these, you can go to: miketconley.com
End of Interview.
For more from Mike visit his website mentioned above.
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