 You can learn more about Aaron and his books at aarondemott.com | Hi readers, you may be thinking I have scored an interview with Obi Wan Kenobi today, but I have someone even better. A fun author named Aaron DeMott. Aaron's bio: Aaron is the author of the Psygens and Space Cats series, and the Onicranium Dragons series. Aaron is a certified Linux nerd who’s been a fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars as long as long as he can remember. Naturally he writes space-opera. He lives in rural Michigan with his wife, four kids, and at least two cats. |
Today Aaron would like to share with us, his latest release.
Book title: Etherno: Rise of the Dragongirl
Genre: Science-Fiction (anime-inspired sci-fi/comedy with an urban-fantasy feel)
Synopsis:
Onin’s life is changed when he meets a mysterious new student with a fiery dual dragon nature. Then the secretive alien Matari recruit him and his friends to track down the body-snatching Natas. Between the aliens, the cute new girl, and his idiot roommate, can Onin manage to graduate college?
Scholarship student Onin thought magical school would be easy.
Sure, his roomie’s a little flakey and one of his classmates tends to sneeze herself into the wall, but that’s par for the course. Onin’s even made a connection with cute (and oddly warm) newcomer, Kasai.
Then the alien Natas start possessing humans and targeting the magically-gifted. Now it will take all of Onin’s wits and his magical classmates’ help to stop the invasion and discover the true endgame of the Natas.
Thankfully, they have a fiery half-dragon ally. One who seems curiously connected to quiet Kasai…
Publish date: January 31, 2019
Publisher: Independently Published
Kasper interviews Aaron DeMott
Hi Aaron, come down off your dragon there and join us on the Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers Long.
Aaron: Do you mind if I ride along-side it?
K: No worries at all. Great to have you here.
So, let's kick into some questions. What other writing have you done?
I’ve also written Psygens and Space Cats: A New Threat. It’s a space opera about humans with PSI abilities who meet tiger-like aliens...
Woah. Alien tigers, that's different...and possibly a bit scary. (Kasper covers her face with a cushion).
What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
I’ve always loved sci-fi, but most of it starts to feel sort of Star Trek inspired, after a while.
I wanted to have something with a bunch of fun technology, alien planets, races, and cultures, but do it in a more anime-inspired genre-blending type of style. And I wanted it to be funny.
So Etherno is science-fiction/comedy with an urban-fantasy feel to it, but more in the style of a Japanese light-novel.
I love these ideas. You're so creative.
What made you choose this genre?
When I was a little kid, we’d watch Star Trek (The Original Series) re-runs on Sunday afternoon. I liked the characters, the adventure, and the fun technology.
I’ve also watched too much anime, and fell in love with the way the stories are told. In Etherno, I get to play with both fun tech, and crazy characters (…and poke some good-natured fun at various tropes along the way.)
I don't think 'too much anime' is a thing. Right?
Book title: Etherno: Rise of the Dragongirl
Genre: Science-Fiction (anime-inspired sci-fi/comedy with an urban-fantasy feel)
Synopsis:
Onin’s life is changed when he meets a mysterious new student with a fiery dual dragon nature. Then the secretive alien Matari recruit him and his friends to track down the body-snatching Natas. Between the aliens, the cute new girl, and his idiot roommate, can Onin manage to graduate college?
Scholarship student Onin thought magical school would be easy.
Sure, his roomie’s a little flakey and one of his classmates tends to sneeze herself into the wall, but that’s par for the course. Onin’s even made a connection with cute (and oddly warm) newcomer, Kasai.
Then the alien Natas start possessing humans and targeting the magically-gifted. Now it will take all of Onin’s wits and his magical classmates’ help to stop the invasion and discover the true endgame of the Natas.
Thankfully, they have a fiery half-dragon ally. One who seems curiously connected to quiet Kasai…
Publish date: January 31, 2019
Publisher: Independently Published
Kasper interviews Aaron DeMott
Hi Aaron, come down off your dragon there and join us on the Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers Long.
Aaron: Do you mind if I ride along-side it?
K: No worries at all. Great to have you here.
So, let's kick into some questions. What other writing have you done?
I’ve also written Psygens and Space Cats: A New Threat. It’s a space opera about humans with PSI abilities who meet tiger-like aliens...
Woah. Alien tigers, that's different...and possibly a bit scary. (Kasper covers her face with a cushion).
What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
I’ve always loved sci-fi, but most of it starts to feel sort of Star Trek inspired, after a while.
I wanted to have something with a bunch of fun technology, alien planets, races, and cultures, but do it in a more anime-inspired genre-blending type of style. And I wanted it to be funny.
So Etherno is science-fiction/comedy with an urban-fantasy feel to it, but more in the style of a Japanese light-novel.
I love these ideas. You're so creative.
What made you choose this genre?
When I was a little kid, we’d watch Star Trek (The Original Series) re-runs on Sunday afternoon. I liked the characters, the adventure, and the fun technology.
I’ve also watched too much anime, and fell in love with the way the stories are told. In Etherno, I get to play with both fun tech, and crazy characters (…and poke some good-natured fun at various tropes along the way.)
I don't think 'too much anime' is a thing. Right?
| Which is your favourite character and why? That’s like asking a parent to pick a favourite child. I’ve always liked stories with an ensemble cast, so I like all the characters. I try to come up with several different characters, and have fun with the way their personalities interact. If I had to pick a least favourite character, it’d be Cerina. She’s always cranky (as the story progresses, we find out why, but still…) If forced to pick one, I’d probably go with Amaryllis. She’s half Nekotian (catgirl), slightly eccentric, and really sweet. |  |
How do you develop your characters?
Some of them just come to me. The idea will pop in, and I’ll daydream (uh, I mean, research) more about them, pop them into various scenarios, and see how they react.
Others I have to work on a little more. In Etherno, for example, Onin and Kasai just came to me (a scene where they wake up on a couch together and have no idea how they got there.) They’re both kinda shy introverts, though, so I wanted to have an extrovert to kinda push them a bit. That’s where the idea for Tannin came from. I also thought it’d be kinda fun if Tannin was Onin’s room-mate, ‘cause they’d drive each other crazy :)
Do you have another job outside of writing?
By day, I’m a Linux Systems Administrator. So I’m literally a certified nerd. ;)
So jelly. That sounds like a good one.
What are you working on now?
I’ve working on sequels for both Etherno, and Psygens and Space Cats. The sequel for Etherno is about ¾ of the way done. In that, Onin and the gang to to Nekotia, the home planet of the catgirls… what could possibly go wrong?
Hopefully this should be out in a few months.
The sequel for Psygens and Spacecats is technically done, and I’m happy with the good-guy’s stuff, but the antagonists arc… well, it needs work...
How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
I’ve love to say I did it myself… but, uh, I can’t art :(
Fortunately, I’m friends with another author who can art, and she’s got her own cover design business at bsquirreldesign.com. I wasn’t really sure what concept I wanted for the cover, but they’re great at working with me to come up with something I love. I wanted something with dragons, the main character, and a sci-fi feel to it, and I think they nailed it.
They also did the cover for my other book, Psygens and Spacecats. That one was a little more tricky to get the space opera with cats feel to it.
Your friends sure are clever.
What’s your favourite pet?
Cats! (I have three American shorthairs at the moment: a ginger tabby, gray tabby, and a calico.)
I think this one’s kinda obvious if you’ve read anything I’ve written ;) Psygens and Space Cats has, well, alien cats, and Etherno has catgirls. That wasn’t on accident. :)
I kinda like you didn't play favourites and say just one :)
Some of them just come to me. The idea will pop in, and I’ll daydream (uh, I mean, research) more about them, pop them into various scenarios, and see how they react.
Others I have to work on a little more. In Etherno, for example, Onin and Kasai just came to me (a scene where they wake up on a couch together and have no idea how they got there.) They’re both kinda shy introverts, though, so I wanted to have an extrovert to kinda push them a bit. That’s where the idea for Tannin came from. I also thought it’d be kinda fun if Tannin was Onin’s room-mate, ‘cause they’d drive each other crazy :)
Do you have another job outside of writing?
By day, I’m a Linux Systems Administrator. So I’m literally a certified nerd. ;)
So jelly. That sounds like a good one.
What are you working on now?
I’ve working on sequels for both Etherno, and Psygens and Space Cats. The sequel for Etherno is about ¾ of the way done. In that, Onin and the gang to to Nekotia, the home planet of the catgirls… what could possibly go wrong?
Hopefully this should be out in a few months.
The sequel for Psygens and Spacecats is technically done, and I’m happy with the good-guy’s stuff, but the antagonists arc… well, it needs work...
How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
I’ve love to say I did it myself… but, uh, I can’t art :(
Fortunately, I’m friends with another author who can art, and she’s got her own cover design business at bsquirreldesign.com. I wasn’t really sure what concept I wanted for the cover, but they’re great at working with me to come up with something I love. I wanted something with dragons, the main character, and a sci-fi feel to it, and I think they nailed it.
They also did the cover for my other book, Psygens and Spacecats. That one was a little more tricky to get the space opera with cats feel to it.
Your friends sure are clever.
What’s your favourite pet?
Cats! (I have three American shorthairs at the moment: a ginger tabby, gray tabby, and a calico.)
I think this one’s kinda obvious if you’ve read anything I’ve written ;) Psygens and Space Cats has, well, alien cats, and Etherno has catgirls. That wasn’t on accident. :)
I kinda like you didn't play favourites and say just one :)
 The Etherno crew | Do you prefer ebook or hardcopy? Yes. :) I like both. E-book is more convenient, and easier to read on for me (if you think it’s harder to read, try a device with an e-ink screen!), but paper is nicer if I want to flip back and forth and take notes and stuff, so I’d summarize: e-book for pleasure reading; paper for study and research |
Are there any writing styles or genres you dislike?
I’m not that big a fan of horror, ‘cause I’m a wimp :)
Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: fried rice. It’s easy, fairly quick, and delicious
Best holiday spot: Camping at Lake Michigan
Most played song: Hard to say. I like a lot of stuff, but probably something by Daft Punk
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? Pantser, leaning toward very loose outliner
Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: Sci-fi. (I like fantasy too, but tech!)
Best superpower: So many to choose from… I’d pick: The ability to bring characters out of a book/go into a book
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: I don’t really have one, exactly… but right now, get the next Etherno book out.
Thanks so much, Aaron. We've learned so many interesting things about you. I hope you and your dragon fly in again soon.
Aaron: Thanks for having me (rides off into the sunset on his dragon).
Let's check out Aaron DeMott's links:
Website: aarondemott.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorAaronDemott/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/yoda47
Twitter: @AaronJDeMott
Amazon: amazon.com/Aaron-DeMott/e/B00VS13G2Y
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