Author Spotlight: Interview with H.S. Stone

1.   Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

My first novel is called "George and the Galactic Games". It's a sci-fi story for readers of all ages.

The title character, George, is a boy abducted by aliens who finds himself thrust into a series of galactic games against an alien species, with his fate in the balance.

2.   How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

I envision writing a series of books titled "George and ___". As for "Galactic Games", it made sense, and I'm a fan of alliteration!

3.   Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

My favorite character is Ralph because he always has a sense of humor, no matter the circumstances. It's a trait that I wish I had.

4.   How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

My least favorite character is one of the aliens, Gargantua. Let's just say I wouldn't want to meet it in a dark alley, or even in broad daylight!

5.   If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

When I wrote this book, I wanted to leave myself an opening for sequels. Unfortunately, what I've heard from readers is that the ending doesn't provide enough closure. Now I know what I need to improve on in my future  novels.

6.   Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

The idea for the book came to me in 2004 when I was watching the Athens Olympics. I wrote an outline for the story and even a one-page summary for each chapter. Those notes sat neglected in a notebook for six years before I finally turned them into a novel.

7.   Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

When I was a kid, I was pretty good with a Rubik's Cube and placed in some local and state competitions.

8.   How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

I have a blog that I try to update every week: http://hswriting.blogspot.com/.

You can also follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hswriting or email me at hsstonewriting at yahoo dot com.

9.   What can we expect from you in the future?

I just started working on my next book, which will be geared toward older readers than "George and the Galactic Games". I enjoy reading thrillers and sci-fi, both for young readers and adults, so those are the genres I'd most likely write in. And of course, one of these days, expect another "George and ___" novel!

10.   Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

I don't know if I'm qualified to give that kind of advice, but let me pass along something I learned from people who are more qualified than myself: keep reading and writing. The best way to become a better writer is to continue reading and writing.

11.   Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Thank you for the opportunity to reach readers, and thanks to all of you readers for your support!

12.   And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

“George!” he heard someone shout.

“Mom?” George turned toward the direction of the voice, trying to locate its origin.

“George, where are you? Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine, Mom.” He raised his head as high as his restraints allowed, but he couldn’t see her. “I can’t see you. I don’t know where you are.”

A pneumatic hissing sound interrupted him. The soft patter of feet followed, moving in the direction of his mother’s voice.

George heard his mother say, “My God, who are you? What have you done to us?” Then her voice grew louder and more hysterical. “What are you doing? No! Stop, please!” Suddenly, her shouting stopped.

“Mom!” George yelled. “What happened? Are you all right?” There was no response. Instead, George heard the feet move again, this time toward him.

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Thank you H.S. for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview!  I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
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If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com