Please welcome Becca Andre to the newest interview series from Author PK Tyler! This series is highlighting an amazing project, with 23 award-winning, and best-selling authors, Dominion Rising!
Becca Andre loves science and math (yes, she’s weird like that), and it led her to a career as a chemist where she blows things up far more infrequently than you’d expect. She also loves chocolate, hard rock, and slaying things on the Xbox.
We hope you enjoy getting to know this Dominion Rising author a little better today on this final installment of the Dominion Rising Science Fiction & Fantasy Interview Series!
PK Tyler: You write fantasy, and have written an epic series called The Final Formula. Can you tell us more about the series, and what makes fantasy different from traditional science fiction?
Becca Andre: The Final Formula is the story of a gifted alchemist who remembers nothing prior to the destruction of the country’s premiere alchemy institute, her home. It’s apparent that her amnesia isn’t natural since she still remembers everything she ever learned about alchemy. The series follows her quest to discover who she really is, while navigating a modern world where magic has only recently appeared—or so the public believes.
To me, the biggest difference between fantasy and traditional science fiction is the magic. That’s what draws me to write fantasy. As a chemist, I’m surrounded by science, so writing about a magical world is my escape from reality.
I love the possibilities magic introduces. If a person has a magical ability, how would it change them? Would they use it for good or evil? My stories are always about the characters, and how they grow and change over the course of a story. Throwing magic in the mix just adds another fun dimension to play with.
PK Tyler: Dominion rising is an independent box set with 23 amazing authors taking part. What drew you to participate in a box set that isn’t strictly fantasy oriented?
Becca Andre: I’ve never been part of one of these multi-author sets, so when I was asked to join Dominion Rising, I decided to check it out. I was intrigued by the idea of including science fiction and fantasy. I was also at a point where I was ready to begin a new series, and joining this set inspired me to write the steampunk fantasy that’s been rolling around in the back of my mind for years. The book is fantasy, but the steampunk elements give it something of a science fiction flavor. So, like Dominion Rising, it has a little of both.
PK Tyler: Now it’s time for something new…like your contribution to this box set! Tell us more about what you’ll be writing for Dominion Rising. Is it part of The Final Formula series, or something entirely different?
Becca Andre: My Dominion Rising book, Ferromancer, is something completely different from The Final Formula. Whereas The Final Formula is an urban fantasy set in modern-day Cincinnati, Ferromancer is a steampunk fantasy set on an Ohio & Erie Canal boat in the late 1800s. The story follows the adventures of a canal boat captain and her efforts expose the railroad’s use of forbidden magic. In the process, she ends up kidnapping the man behind the new locomotive design—a man who may not be the enemy she assumed him to be.
I admit, writing something so different from my established series was a bit intimidating, but once I got into it, I had a blast. Ferromancer is the first book in my Iron Souls Series, and I’m looking forward to writing more in that world.
PK Tyler: I noticed looking at your website that there is lots of extra content, including character interviews with people in The Final Formula books. How important is reaching out to your fans, and what other things do you do for readers?
Becca Andre: I love interacting with my fans and I think it’s important to let readers know much I appreciate them. Offering extra content like character interviews, alternative point-of-view scenes, and short stories are my way of saying thank you to all those awesome folks who gave my books a try. I’ve also given out autographed paperbacks, and even made some Final Formula themed swag for my last giveaway. I wish I had time to do more, but as a part-time author, meeting book deadlines is usually an accomplishment.
PK Tyler: Last one! We’ve loved having you be part of this box set. Can you tell our readers one thing you’ve enjoyed about working with the other authors involved, and one thing that might have been surprising about working in an independent box set?
Becca Andre: The Dominion Rising authors are an amazing group of people. They’re hard working, driven, and always willing to help out. As I mentioned before, I’ve never been part of a boxed set, so this has been an eye-opening experience for me. I’ve learned a lot! Between the day job and the kids, my focus has always been on writing the books. I’ve never done any marketing. So it’s been a real pleasure to work with this group of professionals and learn more about that side of the business. Someday, when I get to write full time, I hope to put this new knowledge to use—and I’ll have my experience with the Dominion Rising authors to thank for that.
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PK Tyler: We loved the picture of Boomer so much we had to snag if for your bio!
Becca Andre lives in southern Ohio with her husband, two children, and an elderly Jack Russell Terrier.
I grew up on the banks of the Ohio River, and though I’ve had the opportunity to travel, I’ve never lived anywhere else. I married my high school sweetheart and found employment at a local chemical plant. We have two wonderful kids who keep life interesting. (Either one can fire off a sarcastic come back at a moment’s notice–a trait they clearly inherited from their father.)
I’ve always been a writer, but I didn’t attempt to put anything on paper until my teens. It became a hobby for me and over the years that followed, I wrote a ten novel series. Just for me; just for fun. In 2010, a prompt from a friend had me take the old write what you know adage and give it a magical twist. Addie was born. I liked this new story and for the first time in my life, decided to share what I’d written with other people. I joined a workshop, learned how to edit, made some great friends, and now I’m starting career number two as an independent author.
My week days are still dominated by the day job and my evenings are spent shuttling the kids to their next dance lesson or sports practice, but my keyboard goes with me everywhere. In those free moments when I’m not writing, or editing, or glaring at an uncooperative manuscript, you’ll find me slaying zombies on the Xbox–in the name of research, of course.
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