When I look back, I see some relationships between characters that reflect people in my life, or what I wish they were. 

D.P. Behling – 7 October 2023

The Back Flap

Josh Tanner, was trying to fix his life and get back to his four-year-old daughter Sophie. Then he was pulled into the multidimensional world of the Immortals simply by being the last person on the elevator after lunch . . . and carrying a briefcase!

Senyak Marztanak needs to reacquire his immortality and his place on his family’s ruling seat. Both having been stripped away when he failed his grandfather’s trial.

Now, after being bonded through karma, Josh and Sen are forced to rise together through the levels of mortal cultivation to reach transcendence.

In a new and fully developed sci/fi-fantasy universe. Chock full of multiethnic mythology, ageless powers, saviors and treacherous villains. Josh & Sen Save the Multiverse tells the tale of two unlikely heroes pushed together by the fates, karma, and the most powerful immortals in existence. Through hilarious and life-threatening adventures, they form bonds of friendship and brotherhood. All while having to rely on each other’s unique qualities to survive eight iterations away from their universe of origin.

Follow Josh and Sen as they grow, fight, live, laugh, love and cry. They don’t know it yet . . . But for each to get home they will not only have to save their own lives . . . but the entire Multiverse!

About the book

What is the book about?

Against a backdrop of sci/fi, fantasy, multiethnic mythology as well as saving the multiverse . . . It’s about two unlikely guys pushed together by the fates, karma, and the most powerful immortal in existence. They form the bonds of brotherhood and friendship while having to rely on each other after being sent eight iterations away from Josh’s origin universe.

Just having been served divorce papers, Josh is trying to get back to his own iteration and his only reason in his life, his four-year-old daughter, Sophie.

Sen is trying to reacquire his immortality after having it stripped away after failing his grandfather, Zenyak’s test.

When did you start writing the book?

July 2022

How long did it take you to write it?

The first book was out of my head after about 30 days. Of course that is only when the real work starts with editing. The second book too about three months, and the third took about six. I’m just getting started on the fourth.

Where did you get the idea from?

I started thinking about writing Josh and Sen in June of 2021. I was in Bali when I saw how much the pandemic was affecting the local population there. Bali’s economy is completely based on tourism, and it had been effectively shut down for two years. They were desperate.  Of course, we invested there and put some money into the community. But somehow my word fevered brain also thought about creating Josh and Sen, two guys that could stand up for all of us if the time came.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Not in the first book. But in the second and third I struggle with fight scenes. Making them real, keeping them balanced. Keeping them interesting to me . . . making sure the new powers they get in that book find their way into the shuffle . . .

What came easily?

Two things. I like improvising. For instance, when two characters need to have a conversation, I might decide that the conversation will happen later . . . and have a third party that I haven’t thought of yet lob three Darkstar nuclear grenades between them and see where it takes me.

I also like writing about the reasoning behind why the characters do what they do and their verbal and social interactions.

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

Hehe, I plead the fifth amendment on the grounds that I might incriminate peoples’ sense of good taste J  Actually, there is a lot of myself in Josh and Sen. I stole my builder in Bali’s name for a character in the second book. When I look back, I see some relationships between characters that reflect people in my life, or what I wish they were. I also, didn’t notice until after the first book was edited . . . but I had created a recognizable reference to the Holy Trinity with my three Immortal Paramount characters.

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?

JRR Tolkien: Created the genre of fantasy and established the most amazing contrast of good versus evil.

Steven King: Amazing character depth and relatability. Tantalizingly understated sci/fi and fantasy elements.

Will Wight: Very broad and expansive universe creation, relatable character heroes and prolific in his writing.

Aleron Kong: Broad and never-ending universe depth with seemingly unreachable goals for his hero.

Do you have a target reader?

I’m honestly writing for anyone who likes classic good guy vs bad guy, happy endings. In the final analysis the story is about two brothers who are trying to get a good dad home. There are definitely places in the books angled for people who might be described as sci/fi and fantasy nerds. But that’s because I’m most comfortable with Ridley Scott’s Aliens, Rodenberry’s Star Trek and Lucas’ Star Wars. I’m a bit of a plain old ‘scienceophile’ as well, so I try to put some of that in the mix as well.

About Writing

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

Surfers surf, writers write. I just sit down at the keyboard and start pounding it out. Occasionally I will be writing, and I lose the direction that I’m going in or what I am trying to accomplish doesn’t make sense anymore. I generally just stop and think about it until I find my way through. It is usually because I’m writing a character doing something that goes against their nature. It might take me up to a week to figure that out, but so far, I’m very grateful to the muses they haven’t abandoned me yet.

I also have techniques for generating names of people and places and species.

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

I don’t . . . My process is pretty loose.

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

It’s a mixed bag so far. I view editing as an ongoing process. I have specific times I edit no matter what. After I have put the beautiful words “The End.” I go back and send it chapter by chapter through Gramarly before I send it to my editor. I also re-read and edit for content after we finish the DE. I’ll add a fair amount of stuff at that time.

It is true that, as I go, some things I write can’t even generously be described as English when I’ve gotten them out. So occasionally, I will go back to the beginning of the book or a section or a chapter and review/edit it so that I can clean it up and also get re-rooted in the story and make sure I’m not getting off point or direction.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Absolutely! When I first got started, I thought it would be unnecessary, after all I’ve been writing professionally in my career for over 30 years . . . Boy was I wrong! I would recommend to anyone writing and planning to publish to consider a developmental editor, but also to pay a professional for copy editing and proof reading. I can’t imagine doing it myself. And there is always the problem of being so close to your own story that you see what you want instead of what is actually there.

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

I don’t. I prefer it quiet. But I’d be lying if I said that music doesn’t inspire me. Many days I spend up to four hours in the car driving my daughter back and forth to her school in Honolulu. I listen to music and think about my story then. I get inspired by Eminem, Pink, the Cult, Led Zeppelin, anything with meaning and an edge can get me in the mood to write fights or hopefully, something that can be interpreted as heroic.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No. I didn’t try. I’m old and don’t have as much time as I would like, so I decided to take it on myself. And hopefully get to spend more time snowboarding and surfing J

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

Both of my inspirations in the field of Game Lit, Will Wight and Aleron Kong are self-published. I looked up to them and said, “Maybe I can do it as well.” We’ll see. The first one comes out 10/3/23.

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

My artist, Danielle Zirkelbeck is an amazingly talented person. I can’t even imagine trying to get it done myself. But is was a very long road to find her and I consulted 4 other artists and graphic companies before I was able to get her involved.

The layout was done by Gwen at the Cadence Group. A lot goes into it and, unless you have a background in graphic design, I would recommend using the resources available as opposed to reinventing the wheel.

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

I’m using Books Forward as my PR agent and also plan to do some advertising on Amazon and possibly some other forums prior to release.

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

It may seem like one of Hercules’ Labors to get a book published . . . but you do it the same way you eat an elephant. One bite at a time. The most important thing is to keep writing. After that, don’t try to do it without an editor. It will be an investment of time, energy, blood, sweat, tears, and a fair amount of money. But our art is the one reason our alien overlords will not blast the planet to cinders when they find us. So, definitely worth it 😉

About You

Where did you grow up?

Chicago until I was 20. Then I moved to Hawaii.

Where do you live now?

North Shore Oahu, Bali, Brazil and soon Costa Rica.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Gosh . . . That I’m glad to answer any questions they have about the books. They are like my kids, and I may not be willing to shut up about them if we get started J

What are you working on now?

Production of the second book: Karma and Bigger Fish. The DE of the third book: The Lover’s Trove, and I’m starting the fourth book: Star Child/Void Child.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Josh & Sen Save the Multiverse from Amazon US or Amazon UK.