The Dronefall Halftime Blog Tour // Interviewing the Author!

February 09, 2020

Happy Sunday! (and happy early Valentine's Day! All the single bloggers can join me in the corner ;) )

Today’s post is very special, because I am participating in my very first blog tour - A.L. Buehrer's Dronefall series tour!

Let’s get into it, because there’s an interview I’m sure you guys want to read. XD

(And I apologize in advance for the wonky formatting - Blogger absolutely despises me. -_-)


THE BOOKS

DON’T LOOK UP. THEY KNOW YOUR FACE.

Halcyon Slavic is a Christian and a drone-tracker, relying on her independence and society’s apathy to live life her own way. As long as she keeps her faith private, she’s free to believe what she wants. But her second life monitoring Budapest’s massive system of surveillance drones is a short fuse.

When a drone appears at her window one night, she knows the fuse is lit, and abandons mainstream society to fight back against the eyes in the sky. But her new life hits her with more than she bargained for. She finds herself hiding in a semi-secret community of Christians who simply want to live upright lives away from the world’s lies and suspicion. These saints of the slums want nothing to do with reckless anti-government fanatics who spend their nights sniping the city’s drones out of the sky. Halcyon hides a double-edged secret.

And her hunter has followed her. Can Halcyon manage balancing her new life in a strange community while keeping one eye on the sky? Or will she be caught unawares by this elusive and secret threat from the airspace over her only place of refuge?

(The blurb was taken from book 1’s Goodreads page.)
(also the books are worth $0.99 on Kindle right now. just sayin'.)

THE AUTHOR

A. L. Buehrer is a speculative fiction author on a mission to bring courage, wonder, and hope to the Christian audience. She revels in creating twisty plots, set in atmospheric worlds, populated by vivid characters, and pointing readers to the eternal beauty of Jesus Christ. Other interests include nerdy stuff, Earl Grey tea, and giving weird nicknames to cats.
She blogs at: https://stardriftnights.blogspot.com/
Her website: http://www.albuehrernovels.com/

THE INTERVIEW

When did you decide that you wanted to be an author?
I was about 13. It was actually just a school project to start with. It turned into a sci-fi trilogy called the Stardrift Trilogy. I don’t really remember deciding “I want to be an author.” I didn’t really think of myself as a writer growing up. I didn’t like writing that much. Art and science were my main things in school. But here we are, and I’ve written about twelve complete novel manuscripts, published and unpublished. So, I guess I’m an author now.


Wow, it’s so cool that a school project turned into a career! What initially inspired you to write the Dronefall series?
The inspiration and drive to write Dronefall came from several directions. I realized early on that the Christian fiction market is swamped in almost entirely women’s fiction. Obviously, there must be Christians out there that wish there was something to change it up now and then. There are readers, like me who wanted to see Christ glorified in sci-fi and fantasy and the more imaginative genres.   

I was attending college when I wrote Dronefall, and that’s when I fell in love with dystopia. In college, I became aware of the dark direction our society is taking, and I got excited. I know that sounds like a kind of weird reaction, but I started to recognize our battlefield and the chances that God gives us to shine for him on it. I wanted to write a story about a decaying society where the problems we face as Christians in the western world today have been magnified to create a very familiar dystopia.  




That’s so beautiful - we need more Christian books in the speculative genre, to be sure, and I applaud you for taking the plunge! Who is your favorite Dronefall character to write, and who is the character you relate to the most?
There are almost no characters in the Dronefall series that I don’t love writing. I feel like they’re all very distinct and they all kind of think the story is about them. Reveille Jacobs, the main character’s best friend might have to be my favorite to write, though. She’s got a sense of humor, and I always know exactly how she’s going to word things. I really enjoy writing her dialogue.

The main character Halcyon Slavic is probably the character I relate to the most. She’s kind of a troubled character, but it’s kind of like she doesn’t fully realize it. She’s isolated from everyone, and in a way, won’t even get close to herself. But I understand her because she’s a curious, analytical type who really wants to separate truth from lies in her world. And she faces a lot of lies. That’s part of the reason she holds everything at a distance.


Ooo, your characters sound amazing! *heart eyes* How did you keep writing when it got hard?
The hardest thing about being a writer is wondering if anyone will ever hear you. Dronefall isn’t an easy series to market, and sometimes I wonder if I’m doing any good. But that’s when I have to remind myself that I’m actually having fun inventing this world and these characters and watching them play together. Writing should really entertain the author first off, and some days, that’s why I do it. I just want to tell this story to myself. The rest comes one day at a time.



Oof, I definitely need to remind myself that all the time. So, I’m very curious - are you more of a plotter or pantser?
I used to be a hardcore pantser, or at least that’s what I told myself. I really like spontaneity, and I still try to leave room for it when I’m planning my projects. But since I started writing a plot-heavy six-book series, I’ve kind of become a plotter. There are a lot of threads to keep track of in the Dronefall series. I don’t want to drive myself crazy, if I can help it.    


Haha, I totally get it - whatever helps to keep your sanity! XD What’s your favorite writing drink and snack?
I drink tea all the time. I’m partial to Earl Grey tea, actually. I just wish it would stay warm while I’m typing!

It’s so hard to keep drinks warm while writing - I wish you the best of luck! Finally, what’s the message you want your readers to receive from this series?
I think what readers get out of the series will depend on who they are and where they are in their lives, since there are a lot of angles to the story. But the overall message of the story, to me, probably lies in the themes of visibility and invisibility that run through the narrative. The world of Dronefall is a surveillance-state. The main character spends a lot of time dealing both with feeling watched and feeling ignored and silenced. I guess, ultimately what I want to say is that no matter how much the world tries to control what everyone sees, spotlighting and covering up people and events as they see fit, God is always watching, and he sees clearly. Even in the chaos and tumult of dystopian times, individuals and their stories never get lost in the shuffle for him. 



And that wraps up my end of the blog tour! You guys should really check out A.L. Buehrer and her books - she’s such a kind person who put up with my very frequent questions about the whole process. XD

I will see you guys next Sunday! (And I would give a hint about what post it’ll be, but I have no idea myself. XD)

-Nicole <3


Have you read the Dronefall books? What’s your favorite writing drink or snack? Let’s talk!

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14 comments

  1. I love this interview! And honestly, the formatting came out great, so I wouldn't sweat it if I were you xD

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  2. Sounds like some cool books! I don't normally smack or drink while I write, but I like to snack on gram crakers. ;)
    Great interview!

    astorydetective.blogspot.com

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    1. Ooo, that sounds like a great idea! (And these books really do sound cool!)

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  3. "And I would give a hint about what post it’ll be, but I have no idea myself." < lol this is SO me XD

    But this post was so fun to read, I loved your questions and A. L. Buehrer's lovely answers! <333

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    1. Oof, the sad reality of blogging - completely winging each week's blog post. XD

      Aw, thank you! <3333

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  4. Ahhh, I loved this so much! But I need to know: What did you think of Dronefall, Nicole? I’m so intrigued that I may just have to grab a copy of Lightwaste.

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    1. Ahh, thank you! (Honestly, I have not read it - time is Not Being Cooperative. XD But what did you think of it?)

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  5. *joins u in the corner* *whispers "contigo mug" to people whose drinks are cold*
    ooh nice interview, these books sound really good :DD

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    1. *takes note of this "contigo mug" you speak of*
      They really do sound cool :D :D :D

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  6. This sounds so cool! I love dystopian and the concept of this story is really intriguing.

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    1. Ooo, you should try these books out, then - I'd be interested to hear what you think of them!

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  7. *joins you in the single corner*

    Ooh, this sounds like a fascinating series! Great interview! :D

    theonesthatreallymatter.blogspot.com

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    1. *yay, I'm not alone XD*

      Thanks! (And you should try them out - I hear they're really good ;) )

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Welcome to the comment section! I love hearing what you guys think and seeing you guys talk. Just remember to keep it clean, and as always, check back for my replies! <3
-Nicole