Clare Dargin is a writer who loves science fiction, fantasy, romance and the military. She enjoys weaving those worlds together. Her first novel Cold Warriors was published with Aspen Mountain Press. Her second novel is entitled Speculative Sky which will be published July 2010 by Red Rose Publishing.
About Cold Warrior
When Caitlin Driskoll is awakened from a cryogenic stasis, she's got a lot of adjusting to do. It's a new century and the planet is at war. Once married to a Navy JAG, she now experiences life from the viewpoint of a Jarhead, and the view isn't pleasant. Colonel Medoro Keegan lost the two most important things in his life during his Marine career: his wife to friendly fire, and his ability to fly combat missions. Now, he's stuck aboard the Blanchard as the XO. The Corps is the only family he has left and he's not about to lose the last thing he values. Until he meets Caitlin, who isn't shy about telling Medoro what she thinks about his Marines. How can such beauty wrapped in an icy body have so much fire? It's the future, and a new kind of prejudice has replaced the racial prejudice Caitlin experienced in the last century. After all, when you've been given a second chance at life, you are expendable.
About Speculative Sky
A star gazer her entire life, April Mullen jumped at the opportunity to be an astronomer on a far away planet. Finally she had the chance to live out her dream--to discover intelligent life among the stars. However when her dream starts to become a reality, things are not as they seem.
She is working on a few more projects. If you'd like to check out her work, you can visit: The Haven at http://www.thescifihaven.bravehost.com or Cold Warriors at http://www.coldwarriors.bravehost.com
What inspired you to write your first book?
Well, ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of mine to be published and to write stories that everyone could enjoy. My first novel “Cold Warriors” was actually inspired by a short story I wrote many years ago and had submitted to the L. Ron
Hubbard 'Writers of the Future' contest.
The story did not win, however it was liked by one of the judges who sent me a personal letter back home saying how much he had enjoyed the story and thought that it should have won. From there, I reworked and expanded the story until I ended up with the novel Cold Warriors.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes, I do but I am not sure what to call it. I like to place people right there in the environment where they can almost hear, taste, smell and see the action going on around them. I tend to write tight stories with quick pacing. It's what I like to read and consequently how I write.
How did you come up with the title?
A good friend of mine, novelist D. K. Gaston actually came up with the title. I was in his writing group who really helped me tie the novel together and to get ready for publication. I remember that I was having trouble coming up with a name for the book and Keith who was fan of the genre and liked my work came up with the title! He did an excellent job! I am forever grateful!
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Yeah, don't give up on your dreams. You see both of the main characters had a dream of a kind of life that they had wanted to lead but was taken from them tragically. However they managed through hardship and struggle to find the life of their dreams together.
What books have most influenced your life most?
To be honest, the old Star Wars books that came out in the eighties after Return of the Jedi. The expanded universe books taught me more about atmospheric and expanded universe development and how to write a cool leading man than anything!
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Douglas Preston and/or Lincoln Child. They write incredibly compelling books of which I generally can't put down.
What book are you reading now?
To be honest and I am almost finished with “Book of the Dead” with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'll be going through their back list very soon in order to get caught up.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Last night I was thinking about The Friday House by D. K. Gaston and how it's a compelling story about assassins who have no memory of their being programmed and stuff. I think it's cool. And several books on the military scifi romance front that I have recently heard about. I write in a tiny subgenre so it's nice to see what other authors are doing in it. That way I don't get lonely!
What are your current projects?
Presently I am finishing up the final editing for “Ice and Peace” the sequel to Cold Warriors. As well as having another expanded universe book in the works. Not to mention, two futuristic romances that are completely different from my military fiction.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
The Motown Creative Writers Group--they helped get on the road to being published. I'm grateful for that.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes! One day I hope to do it full time.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Yeah that's why I have to hurry up and get it out of my hands cause I keep changing it!
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
As a child, my father use to encourage it. I use to write stories for my family and give it to them and they would say “Maybe one day you could get this published!” I was like five.... and then when I was in middle school I found out that S. E. Hinton had been published at sixteen-- I became truly determined then.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Certainly. Ice and Peace, published by Aspen Mountain Press, takes place approximately 3-5 years after the first book Cold Warriors. Medoro Keegan and Caitlin (Driskoll) Keegan are now married and settling into their lives when the problems from her past and his arise and threaten to take away the happiness that they have established.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Yeah, getting through the first draft!
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Just get the first draft down on paper and don't be afraid to make stupid mistakes and have dumb lines on paper, cause it's the first draft and you are allowing the characters to come alive. Later on you can fix and micro manage but don't try to do it the first time through, cause it will stifle your creativity.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Don't give up on being published! Try every avenue! There is away for you!
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It was a pleasure interviewing you.
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