#AuthorInterview with Chris Koehler, author of Alien Plague

It’s a day for my science fiction fans. Today we are chatting with author Chris Koehler and also getting a sneak peek into his book Alien Plague. (I really like the background of this cover!) Let him know what you think and then ask more questions in the comments section. Check out the rest of the tour for more fun. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Dr Avery Hutton lives in good times. All of humanity now lives under the Global republic, a democratic government that works hard to protect the rights of their citizens, expand orbital infrastructure and explore space. The last of which is helped by the relatively new Warp Drive, allowing probes to travel to and from the nearest stars over the course of a few years.

This is part of Avery’s job, helping organize the missions form the ground, his specialty being the analysis of microorganism form other star systems. But this most recent mission will change everything. For while every return mission previously had gone well, and few issues were observed, this time one of the returning samples is a bit… nastier than any previous sample. This time something has returned that could wipe out all life on Earth.

Read an excerpt:

“It can’t be that dangerous,” said Anna. “Diseases were something that killed our ancestors, not something we deal with today.”

Dr. Foster sighed, “If we could fight it, we could have saved Nicole. Don’t you think we would have done that if we could?” 

“Are you saying you’re incompetent?”

“No, I‘m saying that these pathogens can’t be dealt with by modern medicine, and we have no more ways of stopping a Beta Strain infection today, than we did when Nicole got infected.”

But I felt like a dead man in here, like this was my tomb, where I had been taken to die. That if I did not escape, I would die. I knew that was not true, that if I escaped I would either die or live with my location not mattering at all… How did Elia, the man who died on me, and so many of the others keep so calm? How did they face death so well? I wish I could be half as calm as they were… I think I understood the people who rioted… #$%$ this sucks. 

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Amazon * Audible

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1. What was the inspiration behind this book?

In a shocking turn of events, not Covid. I started back in 2016, at the time I was inspired by a conversation with a fellow student when I was in college. He sort of suggested the main conflict of the story, I came up with a solution and he suggested I should write it. I had also taken an infectious disease course when I had started writing. I combined these together and I forged a story that I am now talking about today.

2. What is the best writing advice you ever received?

To join an author’s support group. I have said it elsewhere, but I cannot stress enough how helpful one can be. They have been where you are, they have the expertise you need to get it done. To be clear, a good group will give you the advice, encouragement, and motivation you need to get it done and out there. One way, or another.

3. Who are you currently reading/up next on TBR?

A book by Yahtzee Croshaw called Will Save the Galaxy for Food. It’s an entertaining read about a spaceship pilot in a galaxy where spaceship pilots have suddenly become slightly (almost completely) obsolete. As such he has almost nothing and is a bit on the desperate side.

4. What would you do if you won the lottery?

Step one, find a lawyer to help me through the legal and economic side of things. Step two work with the lawyer and heed their advice intending to set up a long-term solution so that I can have a comfortable stream of money for life. It doesn’t have to be a lot, just enough for me to get by comfortably without a day job. Step three, tell only a few highly trusted friends and family members if possible. Step four, avoid the temptation to spend everything on an expensive house, charities, family members, etc. I want a good long-term solution, and I do not want to end up bankrupt because I got excited and squandered it all like most lottery winners. Step five, wonder why I won as I usually don’t buy lottery tickets. Step six, find a hobby to occupy my time, I think writing might be fun.

5. What do you hope people will get out of your book?

Primarily I hope that they will be entertained, that they will enjoy reading it. I accept that on some level all work is political, and while I would also appreciate it if they came out of it with a respect for disease and an understanding of how dangerous they can be, I think it would be good enough if they finished up, happy to have read it.

Thank you.

I am a new author and this is my first book. I started working on this story around 2016 and have been refining it ever since. 

I first got interested in writing years ago, I took part in a junior writing fare, and wrote as a volunteer from a teenage perspective at a local newspaper. My parents loved Science Fiction and Fantasy and passed on that love to me. 

While this is my first book, I hope it’s not my last, I hope you enjoy it!

You can find my Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/CKoehlerAuthor

Chris Koehler will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway