Act II of Nyra’s Journey
New Adult Romance
Date Published: November 2022
Publisher: PhoenixPhyre
He’s nothing like her hopeful dream—and everything she wants.
Nyra’s transition from college grad scrambling for her first career job to full independence is as on track as it can be, these days. With her new marketing job is going well, even if she’s still living at home,Nyra’s pretty sure the light at the end of the tunnel is not an onrushing train.
Still, she gets bored, sometimes. A whimsical decision to take up surfing brings her together with Tai Abrega, a professional surfer and shaper so delicious Nyra’s imagination hasn’t even gotten around to fantasizing about a man like him, yet. Surfing awakens a latent, mystical connection with the sea along with a driven passion for the man himself.
But embracing one possibility often demands abandoning another. How can Nyra fit Tai and the seductive siren song of freedom into her “safer” vision of perfect? Can she blend her conventional world with his freespirited lifestyle, or is she doomed to disappointment and heartbreak? New Adult fans of It Ends with Us and Finding Perfect are sure to enjoy this upbeat tale of hope.
The Year of Maybe Act II of Nyra’s Journey continues the story begun in Best-Case Scenario.
Is There a Message
in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
Absolutely. In The Year of Maybe, Act II of Nyra’s Journey,
Nyra Westensee has gotten her professional career started, but her personal
identity and who she is at her core remains indeterminate. In common with most
of us at that age, she’s impatient to resolve the personal identity issues, to
include her sexuality. But as Nyra learns, growth can’t be rushed and shouldn’t
be. Growing into who she will become is half the fun, both for her and the
reader.
Among the things Nyra learns is to be present in every moment, and
to accept joy in whatever form it takes. At a deeper level, she also begins to
realize that she is the ultimate arbiter of who she is and who she wants to
become. She may live in society, but she doesn’t have to live up (or down) to the
expectations of friends and family.
Is there anything
you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I’m a “plantzer.” I plan stories out, sometimes in considerable
detail before I start writing. But usually, somewhere along the way, the “pantser”
shows up and I wind up wandering off in pursuit of this “great idea” that
occurs to me as I write. The idea often “works,” but rarely without affecting
the rest of the story. So, I have to adjust the main story line in order to make
my “great idea” work in the broader context of the story. Thanks to really
great editors who (mostly) keep me out of trouble, it’s always worked, but
sometimes getting there can be painful.
How many books
have you written, and which is your favorite?
I’ve written six and I think my favorite is probably my
anthology of short stories, entitled Through the Windshield, Drive-by Lives.
It’s a thought-provoking collection of short stories, some previously published
elsewhere under non-exclusive license, others appearing for the first time in
the collection. It’s a good representative introduction to my writing. Beyond
that, I think my favorite tends to be the one I just finished.
If You had the chance
to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?
I think it would probably be Nikki Reed from the Twilight Series
and Thirteen. She looks very much like I imagine Nyra looks, is about
the right height and does well with nuanced characters. She may be a bit old to
play Nyra Westensee at this point. She does have that more seasoned beauty that’s
kind of at odds with where Nyra is at this point in her life. But I’m guessing
if she wanted the part, she has the versatility to pull it off.
When did you begin
writing?
I’ve been writing on and off ever since I was a kid. But through
two previous careers, first as a Marine officer and subsequently as a corporate
trainer, I started a lot of stories, but never seemed to get around to finishing
them. But in the backwash of the 2008 financial meltdown, the company where I was
employed as a corporate trainer filed for Chapter 11 and laid off a lot of its
staff. I was one of them. Cordially invited to leave and not return, I found
myself out of work and excuses and went to work on my half-finished first
novel, West of Tomorrow, while I job-hunted. Eventually, I took early “retirement”
to write full time.
How long did it
take to complete your first book?
All told, it took about five years to finish and another year
and a half to go through the beta reading and editing process.
Did you have an
author who inspired you to become a writer?
I can’t remember
when I didn’t want to be a writer. I don’t know how much of that had to do with
my grandfather who wrote for the Associated Press and had his own “byline,” and
how much of it had to do with the many authors I read growing up. I read virtually
all of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Martian Series, The John Norman Gorean Cycle,
as well as a lot of Robert A. Heinlein and JRR Tolkien, along with Jane Austin
(yeah, even stuff that was not part of schoolwork) and a fair number of Frank
Yerby’s historical novels. So, the short answer is not one, but a whole
collection of really good writers fostered an interest in being as “like” them
as I could. The journey continues…
What is your
favorite part of the writing process?
Revision. How warped is that? Most authors I know claim to hate
it, but I love it. I never get it right the first time. But after a few more
passes through my work, it starts to sound like a story someone might want to
read. And after my editor finishes with it…? You get the idea.
Describe your
latest book in 4 words.
Nuanced, thoughtful, sexy, satisfying.
Can you share a
little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?
I’m currently working on the third volume in my science fiction
series (untitled as of this moment) chronicling first contact between the
Knolan Concordant and Earth. It further advances the story begun with Tier
Zero, (Vol. I of the Knolan Cycle) and continued in Eryinath-5, The
Dancer Nebula (Vol II of the Knolan Cycle).
I’m also working on a racy contemporary novel of a man’s sensual/sexual
path beginning with a surprisingly early sexual awakening. It’s working title
is The Face in the Mirror.
About the Author
Dirk’s path to authorship wasn’t quite an accident, but almost. Through his two previous careers, first as a Marine officer and subsequently as a corporate trainer, Dirk started way more stories than he finished.
But when his employer filed for Chapter 11 in the backwash of the 2008 financial melt-down, he found himself cordially invited to leave and not return. Out of work and excuses, he focused on finishing his first novel, West of Tomorrow, while looking for another career position.
Since then, Dirk has written and published Best-Case Scenario, Act I of Nyra’s Journey a collection of short fiction entitled, Through the Windshield as well as Tier Zero and Eryinath-5, The Dancer Nebula, Vols. I & II of the Knolan Cycle.
The Year of Maybe, sequel to Best Case Scenario, is due out in Novemeber 2022.
Dirk also contributes to Medium, blogs on his website, and will accept editing work, by special request. Besides his work as a writer, he is an accomplished snow skier, woodworker, photographer and a compulsive gym rat.
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3 Comments
Nikki Reed is an interesting choice for your heroine. She was fun in the Twilight movies.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your interview and book details, The Year of Maybe is a must read for me and I am looking forward to meeting all of your characters
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, I can't wait to read A Year of Maybe!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it with me and have an amazing weekend!