The idea started when I was riding on the “L” in Chicago one day. Everyone’s faces were buried in their phones, and I thought, “I could strip naked and no one would notice.” Yet cameras hung from the subway car’s ceiling, so someone in fact could be watching. That made me wonder, if I was trying to protect someone I loved, how could I do that in a world with an increasing number of cameras, tracking, surveillance, and monitoring? 

Michael C. Bland – 22 May 2023

The Back Flap

Dray Quintero learned an ugly truth: the leaders in D.C. are fake. They’ve stolen the identities of those elected to Congress and are determined to stay in power, using his own technology against him and the rest of the population.

After revealing the dangers of their mandated implants to his fellow citizens, and calling on everyone to rise up, Dray joins the already-underway rebellion. But his joining is as much to free the U.S. as it is to avenge his daughter’s death. Before he can strike, The Agency attacks with devastating consequences. Dray and the other survivors are forced to run as Agents hunt them.

Then Dray makes a discovery that could change the nation.

As he and the rebels prepare a bold offensive, his wife, Mina, broadcasts a preposterous claim. He’s forced to choose between the rebellion and a desperate hope. Between family and country.

What he does will change everything.

The Price of Rebellion is the action-packed second installment of The Price Of series from multiple-award-winning author Michael C Bland.

About the book

What is the book about?

The Price of Rebellion is about how Dray Quintero’s struggle to protect his family leads him to fight against those who secretly overthrew the US government.  Spurred by grief from the loss of one daughter and his fear of losing the other, and burdened by the discovery that his enemies used his technology to gain power, Dray joins a group of fighters to take down The Agency, the organization hiding the coup d’état from the population. But before they can strike, The Agency attacks their base of operations. Scattered and wounded, Dray and his fellow survivors struggle to regroup as The Agency hunts them. Then Dray finds the key to taking them down. Before he and the other rebels can use it, he must choose between carrying on the fight or chasing a desperate hope.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing The Price of Rebellion in January 2020.

How long did it take you to write it?

The rough draft only took about three months—but I planned everything out (more on that below) so by the time I started writing, I knew exactly how the story unfolded. I completed it right before the pandemic struck, which forced me to put the draft aside for nearly a year in total. When I picked it back up again, I had been away from the details of the story long enough that I gained a better perspective of what worked and what didn’t.

Where did you get the idea from?

The idea started when I was riding on the “L” in Chicago one day. Everyone’s faces were buried in their phones, and I thought, “I could strip naked and no one would notice.” Yet cameras hung from the subway car’s ceiling, so someone in fact could be watching. That made me wonder, if I was trying to protect someone I loved, how could I do that in a world with an increasing number of cameras, tracking, surveillance, and monitoring?

From there, I imagined what our world might be like thirty years from now—and what would happen if someone used the technology highlighted in my book to take power without anyone knowing. As they say, the Devil’s greatest trick was convincing the world he didn’t exist. If no one knows a coup d’état happened, how can anyone fight it?  In The Price of Rebellion, Dray and a few others discover what happened, so they try to take down those responsible.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I struggled in terms of the best way to dive into the story. I had a great opening, and what I hoped was a fantastic story overall, but after my father read the rough draft, he told me the first part was problematic. I had secretly wondered if a subplot was compelling or not, but from his notes, I knew I had to get rid of it. I went back, jettisoned the subplot, reworked that section and the entire story became so much better as a result. (To my fellow writers, I cannot recommend enough finding at least a couple of strong beta readers who won’t pull any punches. Criticism is never easy to hear, but it can save your book.) I also struggled to make sure to get the emotions right. There are a lot of twists in The Price of Rebellion, with a lot of big and small moments, but the story doesn’t work without the emotional aspect. This resulted in numerous rewrites and fine-tuning, but I am so happy with the results.

What came easily?

The action scenes. They always come easy for me, because I imagine the scenes in my mind, and I then describe what I’m seeing. I’m sure that sounds simplistic, and to me it feels that way (hence why it comes easily), but my action scenes usually generate the highest praise and strongest responses.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My characters are entirely fictitious, though I’m sure in my subconscious, I’ve stolen personality traits, desires, and various quirks from people in my life.

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?

Pierce Brown, Michael Crichton, and Blake Crouch are three authors who have influenced me. Pierce Brown has such a distinct voice and his Red Rising series is a sweeping tale cast across the Solar System. Michael Crichton wrote stories that weren’t just gripping, they were laced in science. Blake Crouch writes stories that also are laced in science—and interwoven with intimate family dynamics. On top of these three, I’ve taken inspiration from George Orwell, as my trilogy has been influenced by 1984.

Do you have a target reader?

Not really. I believe The Price of Rebellion would appeal to both men and women, with elements that both would be drawn to: the fight for family and those you love; the usage of technology in everyday life and how that can influence your world; and making bold choices for what matters most to you.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

My process boils down to writing every free moment I have. I have a full-time job, so I have to juggle my writing with other responsibilities, but while I do most of my writing on the weekends, I am continually writing, editing, and planning my stories.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I definitely outline, and I do so extensively for a few reasons. I tried to write once without an outline, and the results were ugly. My mind can’t create an entire plot, with the correct pacing, character development, and so on while writing individual scenes. So I outline first, not only to focus my thoughts but because, as I’ve mentioned, I have other responsibilities that demand my time. More importantly, my stories are based in a world with rules that I have to adhere to. To keep track of those rules, and make sure I don’t violate them, I have to outline in detail. By outlining extensively, I work out those issues before I start writing the actual story—but I’ve had to discard some great ideas along the way, as they didn’t fit in my world.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

For the most part, I wait until I’ve finished. However, one of my best readers is Robert Kerbeck, a fellow published author. For this novel, he started editing the chapters before I finished the novel, which meant I juggled my free time between writing the latest chapters and addressing his edits with the earlier chapters. (Yes, I’m a glutton for punishment). Since I had outlined my book in detail, I was able to juggle both without losing the story, but I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you’ve also extensively outlined your novel and have a strong grasp on the overall narrative.

Did you hire a professional editor?

While I do have a publisher (World Castle Publishing), I wanted a professional opinion before I submitted to my publisher for consideration. The story takes a risky jump at a certain point, and I wanted an outside, professional opinion of the choices I’d made. I’m a big believer in putting my best foot forward, so I hired Betsy Mitchell, who did a fantastic job fine-tuning the story. She also loved my “risky jump”, so I felt more confident when I submitted The Price of Rebellion to my publisher. World Castle also loved the story, and I hope you do as well.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

It’s sad to admit, but I get easily distracted by vocals when I write. So I play Spotify playlists that are vocal-free. Calm Before the Storm is the playlist I’ve listened to the most. It has varying levels of intensity that seep into my writing.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

For the novel prior to The Price of Rebellion, I started the process of submitting to Agents, but when I mentioned this to my writing group, a fellow writer asked about the story. Twenty minutes later, after talking about the plot, characters, themes, and so on, he offered to do something he’s rarely done: recommend me to his publisher, World Castle Publishing. I took him up on his offer, he pitched my book, they expressed interest, and I sent them a copy of The Price of Safety. Four days later, I received a contract.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

World Castle was so excited about my story that I felt they were a good fit. They also offered a lot of autonomy, including final approval of the cover for both books, which isn’t always easy to get from a publisher, from what I’ve heard.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

It was professionally done. I worked with the artist (Dorothy Mason, a ridiculously talented painter and designer) over the course of a few weeks to come up with the cover. I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I’m working with Books Forward, a top-tier PR firm, to market my book. They’re very professional, and Jackie, Brittany, and the rest of their team are a pleasure to work with.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Two pieces of advice. First, hang in there. It is a long, difficult process, but having your book in print and hearing your readers’ reactions to your story is priceless. Second, get beta readers. They can be your parents, your significant other, your neighbor, or anyone else you want, though fellow writers are generally the best choice. Whoever you pick though, make sure 1) you value their opinion and 2) they don’t pull any punches. Family members who think everything you write is gold mean well but don’t help you. Find those who will see the true gold—and all the dirt you need to brush away to improve your manuscript. It will hurt to hear the criticism, but it’s how you will know how and where to improve.

About You

Where did you grow up?

My early years, I lived in Cincinnati, so I’ve been a Bengals fan my whole life. For most of those years, being a fan has been a lesson in maintaining hope and perseverance—traits that have helped me as a writer.

Where do you live now?

On the western coast of Florida. I didn’t think I would enjoy living here as much as I do. It’s a beautiful place to call home.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I think the Star Wars original trilogy is the best of the three, the prequels are better than many give it credit for, and the sequel trilogy has some great moments but should be redone (Kathleen Kennedy, if you’re reading this, call me. I have ideas). I’ve experienced some amazing highs such as touring a Russian battleship and taking a helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon, as well as some challenging and painful moments. But overall I’ve been fortunate, blessed with wonderful people in my life, and I am so thrilled to share my new novel with you. I truly hope you enjoy it.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the final book of the trilogy. For those who’ve finished The Price of Rebellion, don’t worry, I have everything planned out. The third will have even bigger twists and surprises, but with what I think will be a satisfying finish. I cannot wait for you to find out how the series ends.

End of Interview:

For more from Mr Bland, visit his website.

Get your copy of The Price of Rebellion from Amazon US or Amazon UK.