The book follows a special forces group and a journalist who is trying to tell a story about why they do what they do. The catch is they are sent on a hostage rescue operation on a remote planetoid.

E.L. Grover – 30 November 2023

The Back Flap

Humanity has started to colonize other worlds and learned the lessons of colonization anew. A recent war with a neighboring alien race has prompted changes in Earth’s military. Straining the relationship between Earth and her colonies. Worlds such as Tronis, now a trade center that was spared from the war. Pirates have started to attack the Tronis trade routes. The latest attack has taken hostages, and the government is forced to ask for help from Earth. Enter Gamma Squadron, the United Nations Space Corps’ latest evolution of Earth’s special forces teams. Commander Jubert and his two squads lead by Chief Petty Officer Keith, and Petty Officer First Class Holte, are tasked with rescuing the hostages and putting an end to this piracy with any means necessary. The only complication is the presence of a journalist, John Aerovant. This adds one more life Keith must protect amid a battle inside a pirate stronghold.

About the book

What is the book about?

The book follows a special forces group and a journalist who is trying to tell a story about why they do what they do. The catch is they are sent on a hostage rescue operation on a remote planetoid. The two principle POV characters are the team leader, and the journalist that’s embedded with them.

When did you start writing the book?

I started in earnest in 2021, writing in the mornings between taking kids to school and getting ready for work.

How long did it take you to write it?

About a year and a half to draft and edit, longer that it should, but that was the situation at the time.

Where did you get the idea from?

A combination of Rainbow Six (The novel not the game), and the opening scenes of shows like SEALS and SWAT. I wanted that opening credit badass sequence to set the stage for later stories.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Balancing point of views, I at first didn’t transition between them very well and wanted to spread it around more.

What came easily?

Oddly enough the dialogue and battle scenes.

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

A combination of the two, some are based off people I’ve worked with and been in some tense situations with. Others are pulled from the proverbial ether, built up from just an idea and need.

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?

Yes, Tom Clancy, Dan Brown, RA Salvatore, Shad Brooks, and Daniel Greene Just to name a few. The influences are all varied really. I read Tom Clancy all the time at my job at Walmart, when I would go to lunch breaks. Dan Brown brought a different sort of thrill and tension to similar stories, and the scope both wrote in was always fantastic to me.  Shad Brooks and Daniel Greene, I watched them start their author journey and was inspired by their work and ideas. Seeing them succeed helped push me over the hurdle to start my own.

Do you have a target reader?

Readers who enjoy shows like SWAT and SEALS, who like playing shooters and enjoy the story as much as the action. The kind of readers who like the characters to be badass in believable ways, even if its in a sci-fi setting.

About Writing

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

I’m a pantser, there is no doubt about that! I’ll try and get a basic idea of what I want the story to look like, maybe make some notes of specific rise and fall points. Typically, I create the characters and setting, then just turn them loose in my mind. I’ll write the after action report as they go!

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

So far, very minimally. I’ve done a full outline once, and it was a painful process for me. Once I just dove in on The Tronis Assignment, I felt I found my way!

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

I’ll wait till I’m finished with everything. Its less distracting to me, I can get the story that’s in my mind on page, and clean up the mess once its all out.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, being new to this it was the best choice I made. I learned a great deal from the notes and conversations. There is always room to grow, and its helpful to do it with a bit of guidance from a professional who has experience.

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

Yes, and it varies depending on what scenes I’m writing. There are a great deal of playlists out there that can drive the feeling of an action scene, or a tense moment. Though my go to is typically Sabaton.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Not for The Tronis Assignment, I did for another project, and it wasn’t picked up so I went back to the drawing board as it were.

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

Going Indie became a serious thought after attempting to get my first joint project picked up. After the ignored pitches and ‘Thanks but no’ emails, I decided to start from scratch. I settled on writing a few novellas, going indie with them and building a back list to prove I would be a good investment.

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

Professionally done, I went to GetCovers and worked with them.

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

Well, it’s a colorful mess honestly. I made a semi plan, and then when it didn’t quite work, I’ve kept adjusting and tweaking things. I will be taking the lessons learned forward on the next book’s launch.

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

Never stop trying, and never stop looking for advice. The indie publishing path is demanding, but if you seek guidance, and are willing to pick yourself up after falling, it is very rewarding. Find a good mentor who is willing to work with you.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Southwest Nebraska.

Where do you live now?

Still in the general area I grew up in. After my family moved back to Kansas, there hasn’t been any pull to go back to where I grew up.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on edits for the follow up to The Tronis Assignment, The Avalon Assignment. I’m also planning my first fantasy novel. Getting this far has sparked a drive to continue putting my stories out there!

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of The Tronis Assignment from Amazon US or Amazon UK.