R.C. Ducantlin - An Inherited Gift, An Alien Race and Impossible Mission

Posted on 20th of December, 2020 by Naomi Bolton

Fortunately, in secondary school, R.C.'s interest in reading was sparked. A close friend and an instructor who took an interest in a boy he later called ‘The rebel without a clue.’ was instrumental in teaching him the value of a good book. Both piqued his interest in reading. His lifelong friend inspired him to read J.R.R. Tolkien, and he became addicted to the fantasy genre. The instructor required he reads exciting historical novels for academic credit. Frank Norris, Leon Uris, and Ken Follett are inspirations and fueled R.C's love of history. As our Author of the Day, he tells us all about his book, Aalborinn.

Please give us a short introduction to what Aalborinn is about.

Aalborinn is a Space Opera Trilogy that culminates a series. Originally conceived as a thriller, the concept morphed into a space opera when the main character(s) receive superpowers from a rogue vaccine. Written in 2014/15, the idea mirrors the pandemic of 2020.

Aalborinn is the daughter of the primary character (Corb) and his muse (Michelle). Corb, who is white, is a hick from dusty west Texas. Michelle, who is bi-racial, is formally educated and comes from southern women with extraordinary abilities.

There are eight books before Aalborinn becomes the main character.

What inspired you to write about a young human girl with remarkable abilities?

I liked the idea of characters who are not "the norm" and do not follow the expected style for "commercial sales."

Why did you give Aalborinn the dusty west Texas background?

It comes from her father, who was the most powerful human after the drug trials. Until his daughter takes up the role of galactic savior.

What drew you to sci-fi and fantasy as a genre?

I have been reading sci-fi/fantasy/noir and realistic fiction for decades. I like the world-building aspect of the genres.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

Uh, well, if I told you, they wouldn't be secret. I am very technically savvy and have been working in the technology field for several decades. Also, I refereed Ice Hockey for thirteen years.

What inspired the creation of the Plentari Warriors?

There are several alien species in the series, with the Plentari being the primary group for the story. Within the series, only Earth, among the sentient planets, is male-dominated. Every other species is either co-equal or female-dominated. The Plentari are the pinnacle of a female-dominated society.

Which is also their downfall and why Corb is called The Redeemer. (More is a spoiler.)

This is book 1 of a series. Can it be read as a standalone?

Yes, it reads as standalone. However, there are callbacks to prior scenes. Example: Every book in the series has a reference to the movie Alien. It is very funny.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Yes, but. There is always a but… I knew I wanted to write, but I was focused on a successful career in high-tech. Further, my formal education was sub-par in the English language. It was not until I got serious about writing that I stopped and learned how to use the English language.

Tell us more about the cover and how it came about.

The cover(s) represents a pivotal or climactic scene in the story. Aalborinn uses the power she does not know she possesses to save the galaxy from subjugation.

Do any of your characters ever take off on their own tangent, refusing to do what you had planned for them?

All the time! All good fiction has the rogue element. Additionally, I write characters from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

What's an aspect of being a writer that you didn't know about going in?

A) The level of effort required to be a self-publisher. B) My reading style is terrible for proof-reading. C) Constant marketing (which is my undergrad) is required to build an audience.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I am told, my editors and friends, I write very fast. It is not unusual for me to churn out 2-3k words per day. Also, I have a hybrid style. I create an outline and then start writing with a goal. When the story veers, I keep going. In my head, I know the goal, but I don't let the target hold back the free-flow of ideas.