Happy Saturday everyone! I hope that you have some fantastic weekend plans. I am excited because we finally received our freeze dryer this week. We started right away and tried apples. I am super happy to start putting food away for emergencies and to make snacks. Both of my boys loved freeze-dried yogurt drops as toddlers and they love freeze-dried apples now. It is funny how I grew up in the country, shoveling out cow barns for summer money but tried to hate it. I come back to it and I dive deeper into the country than I’ve ever been. I find that I can’t take my love of nature away, in fact, it has only grown stronger. I need nature in my life…that is why it has lead me to become a witch. I finally feel like I’m doing something for me…something right. Enough about me and my life for now though, let’s move onto the exciting post for the day!
Hello and welcome to my favorite day of the week here on my blog…SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT!! These are the days where I have the honor of talking with an author who might be new to you. I get to tell you a bit about them, their social media sites and their books. That isn’t the best part though…the best part is interviewing them or having them do a guest post. This allows potential readers to get to know a little bit about the author behind their amazing covers.
My goal with these posts is to introduce you to a new author or book. Take a chance, maybe you’ll find something you fall in love with. There are so many amazing authors in the world that go unnoticed because they are not in the spotlight. I want to change that. If you are an indie or lesser known author, get in touch with me. I would like to help share your work. I do this all free of charge, publishing a book is expensive enough. I promote authors because I love what they do. I will never charge for promoting a book or author on my Saturday Spotlight posts.
Well, now that I’m done with that rant, what do you say we get right into today’s post? Today I am excited to be talking with Alan S. Kolok! I was really excited to have the chance to interview him and if my life ever slows a bit…finally read his newest novel Twist. Well…let’s get to it!
Interview
1. Welcome Alan, thank you for joining me today. Could you introduce your book and tell us a little bit about why it is unique within its genre? Why should someone pick it up and read it?
Twist is really about three different things. At its core, it is a scientific mystery in which a professor, Dr. Alex Pendergraf tries to wrap his head around an intentional vehicular homicide that he believes might have been caused by prions. Tangential to that story is a second in which a faculty member, his faculty colleagues, and all of their graduate students work together to try to solve the case above. I believe that I have captured the realities of research, both good and bad in this portrayal. The third story is a familial one in which a family struggles to come to grips with the father having done this atrocious crime. I think that my 25 years of experience in science and academia have allowed me to accurately capture the feel of the labs on the chase of this mystery. That may be unique. If anyone likes hard science fiction, that is fiction that has a solid basis in science, then this would be the book for them. Plus, my protagonist is a little bit of a doofus, so there is comedy as well, as his best intentions don’t always work out the way he would like. But at its core, the book is a science mystery.
SOLD! I love hard science, being a biology nerd and all. Throw in a mystery and some action, this is the perfect book for me.
2. Your novel Twist deals with a scientist’s research on prions. I understand what prions are from my biology background but others might not. Could you briefly explain what prions are and where you came up with the idea to use them in your book? How much research did you have to do prior to writing?
Prions are proteins–that is they are strings of amino acids that bend and twist upon themselves forming complicated three-dimensional structures. Prions also come in two forms: a safe form, and a twisted, toxic form. The most interesting thing about these forms is that if the two collide together, the safe form changes configuration to become the folded, toxic form. Therefore the toxic form has the capability to reproduce itself.
Relative to the book, I came up with the idea for it when I was doing research for a book, Modern Poisons, An Brief Introduction to Contemporary Toxicology, that I published in 2016. In one of the last chapter of that book, I explored large molecules, things like prions, that act partially like chemicals and partially like biologicals. What I mean is that they are chemicals that can reproduce themselves. As I researched that chapter, I was struck by how interesting the idea was for a science fiction novel, which prompted me to write Twist.
Interestingly, I am not alone in my fascination with prions. In a recent USA Today article, a noted professional was quoted as saying, “If Steven King was going to write a novel on infectious diseases, he would write about prions.” Well, I thought so as well, which is why I wrote the book.
I completely agree! Prions are incredibly interesting and I’m so happy that you chose to use them as a cornerstone for your novel. It is a unique idea and really sets your book apart from others in the genre.
3. For fans of your book, what other authors or books would you recommend?
I really enjoy the Michael Crichton books, such as Andromeda Strain or Jurassic Park. I also really enjoyed The Martian by Andy Weir, in that it was part scientific mystery (how can he save himself) but was also steeped in science and engineering. I know that these books are old but I rotate back and forth between reading fiction and non-fiction and I am currently on a non-fiction kick. I really enjoyed Plastic: A Toxic Love Story by Susan Freinkel, a book that I read it in three days, couldn’t put it down.
I really enjoy the work of Michael Crichton as well! I think if fans are looking for a more young adult read, they should try This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada. These are great suggestions!
4. If you could travel anywhere in the world just to spend the day writing there, where would you go and why?
Well, I don’t know, it would depend upon what I was looking for at that moment. If I was looking for inspiration, then it would be Chernobyl, a supremely toxic environment in which any number of dystopian futures might actually be playing out. On the other hand, if I was looking to relax my mind and let my imagination run wild, probably somewhere in the Caribbean, maybe St. Thomas or one of the other Virgin Islands. It’s always nice to write from the vantage point of a beach, listening to the waves run up on the shore. In the winter nothing beats the Oregon Coast and its blustery weather.
I’ve always dreamed of traveling to Chernobyl to get inspiration for a novel and to photograph but I agree that the Caribbean sounds really nice. These are some great writing location ideas!
5. What can readers expect next from you? Are you planning anything else? If so, what can you tell us about it?
I am currently writing my sequel to Twist. In the second book, the prions re-appear in two very surprising ways. Furthermore, Toxoplasma gondii, a behavior-altering parasite, (which is as real as prions are), also makes an appearance. There are also some very angry bears, a threat to a city’s water supply, and some very dysfunctional training of a student by a professor. And they all tangle together quite nicely.
I know about Toxoplasma gondii!! I learned a lot in my microbiology class (psst it was by far my favorite and I’d love to work in a lab), one topic was this parasite that some of us are closer to than we think. Oh my goodness, the sequel sounds so fantastic!
6. What has been the biggest struggle you had to overcome as an author? What was the biggest triumph?
My biggest struggle has been to keep the faith and to believe that others will identify with my characters or find the storyline interesting. It is easy to believe that you are writing drivel and that no one will be interested or will understand where you are trying to go with the story. My biggest triumph has been to overcome that struggle and actually finish Twist! In the conversations that I have had with people thus far, it appears that they do get it, they find it funny in parts, but also compelling. I find that extremely rewarding.
I think that is a struggle many authors deal with, even well-established ones. I know I do the same, it’s hard to try and stay positive while writing at times, especially if you are passionate about the story…you just care more and that is not a bad sign. Often when someone has the drive and passion, their books turn out significantly better than some. I imagine that seeing peoples’ praise for your finished novel is the best feeling you’ve felt since sitting down to start the first draft of your novel.
About Alan S. Kolok
Alan’s Books
**Remember to click the book image to read more about it and buy your copy today!**
Twist
Modern Poisons: A Brief Introduction to Contemporary Toxicology
Thank you again, Alan S. Kolok and Mascot Books for making this interview possible as well as giving me a copy to review. I am really excited to dig into this novel, I just need life to calm down a little so that I have the time to do so. I love the hard science put into the books, making the idea of something like this just that little bit scarier because it could be real.
If you have not yet read Twist, check it out and grab your copy today!
**Again, If you are an author interested in being hosted on Saturday Spotlight contact me! I would love to help support you and your work.**
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