Inside the Book:
Title: Dark Transmissions
Author: Davila LeBlanc
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
Genre: Sci-fi/Space Opera
Format: Ebook/Paperback
Marooned and at the mercy of the station’s malicious artificial intelligence, OMEX, David and Jessie rig an emergency transmission to broadcast into the darkness, desperately hoping someone is still alive to hear it...
Navigating the fringes of explored space in the Covenant Patrol vessel the Jinxed Thirteenth, Captain Morwyn Soltaine picks up a distress signal from a space station. But it’s broadcasting in Ancient Humanity, a language that has been extinct for several millennia. Even more incredible: there are two survivors on board. Morwyn’s rag-tag crew of reformed criminals mount a rescue op, unaware of the dangerous foe awaiting them. As the past and future collide, a routine mission becomes a deadly game of wits.
Q: Please tell us about Dark Transmissions, and
what inspired you to write it.
A: Dark Transmissions is a sci-fi action thriller. I was
inspired into writing this when after having a discussion about the lack of
interesting female characters in science fiction with a fellow writer, Jocelyn
Baxter. I decided then to turn my girlfriend, Jessie Mathieson, into a space
heroine and created a diverse cast and crew of characters for her to be heroic
with.
Q: What themes do you explore in Dark Transmissions?
A: Love, loss, revenge. I also wanted to set this story in
the age of peace between man and machine. I’ve found that all too often the
theme of man versus machine falls into two categories: either man is evil or
machines want to kill all humans. Not many stories really explore the concept
of peace between these two factions. I figured I would take a hack at it.
Q: Why do you write?
A: Oh that one is easy. Storytelling is my passion in life.
Much like a musician will feel alive when they play music is the same way I
feel when I am working on my keyboard or notebook.
Q: How picky are you with language?
A: I’m not really a grammar nazi per-se. Being half French
and half English my grammar and vernacular can be odd at times. That being said
my favorite app on my phone is my Webster’s dictionary/thesaurus. Each day I
get a new word, and I try to sneak it into whatever it is I am writing that
day.
Q: When you write, do you sometimes feel as though you
were being manipulated from afar?
A: Interesting question to which I would answer sometimes
yes. I’ve had entire chapters change between outline and first draft because a
voice in my head said: “That is not what this character would do. Tell it
better.” Many times I’ve felt like some muse is copy/pasting a story into my
brain and all I have to do is transcribe it onto a word doc.
Q: What is your worst time as a writer?
A: Oh the dark nights of the soul. Those moments when I
doubt each and every one of my actions that have lead me to that moment. They
usually happen when I’m broke waiting for the next cheque. Doubt is not a
feeling I never enjoy.
Q: Your best?
A: When I am in my writing grove. Once it gets started I
can’t seem to stop, and I probably wouldn’t if I didn’t need things like food
and sleep. Whenever I am writing I just know I am doing what I was put on this
world for.
Q: Is there anything that would stop you from writing?
A: No force in this universe could make me to stop.
Q: What’s the happiest moment you’ve lived as an author?
A: I’ve lived two of
them so far. One was when I won my first award for children’s award. The second
would be when my agent called to let me know that Harper Collins had picked up
my first book.
Q: Is writing an obsession to you?
A: It skates the borders of obsession and passion. I really
have a hard time imagining myself doing anything else.
Q: Are the stories you create connected with you in some
way?
A: I don’t know, more than likely yes. Although I would be
unable to pinpoint anything specific. I love adventure stories and I want to
write tales in which people react to difficult situations the way I would like
them to.
Q: Ray Bradbury once said, “You must stay drunk on
writing so reality cannot destroy you.” Do you agree?
A: Yes. I would, when I was young I would escape to the
worlds in my imagination whenever I was bullied or picked on. I was an army
brat and moved around Canada for most of my early childhood. Reality could
really be horrible to the new kid on the block. That being said I would not
want to remain trapped in the fictional worlds I create. Because you learn in
life that the universe itself is such a wonderful place.
Q: Where is your book available?
A: It is available online off the Harper Collins website and
Amazon. Barnam and Nobles will be selling my book as well.
Q: Do you have a website or blog where readers can find
out more about you and your work?
If people want to contact me, find my articles and videos I
would say that the easiest way to find me is at my website:
www.davilathewhite.com