YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Date Published: 01-01-2024
Plug your ears. And whatever you do, don't look. The war for humanity has begun.
Cameron “Jet” Shipley was there when they arrived in 2026. He, and everyone else, lived through the next decade and a half, learning to hide. Learning to never make a sound. Learning the most important rule of all:
You just..don’t…look.
The year is now 2042, and humanity is eking out an existence in the shadows.
Cameron and his team are sent out on a recon mission in Clarksville Tennessee, with events and developments that may alter the trajectory of Earth’s fate… and his own.
Joined by newcomers Bassett and Trudy, Cameron and his brother Rut will have to contend with a powerful force that has laid waste to the planet and annihilated over eighty-five percent of Earth’s civilization.
Will Jet’s expeditions lead him on a slippery slope of discovery that demands accountability and answers?
Or will it plunge the earth, and everything in it, into further dissonance?
“Aliens” meets “A Quiet Place” in this dystopian sci-fi thriller series.
Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
Definitely – A) there is a profound difference between justice and
revenge, and B) that even sixteen years after a massive cataclysm, isn’t it
awful that we’re still not getting along, and that we’re still so fractured?
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I strive for verisimilitude and the quality of it feeling believable,
attainable, and grounded in reality. So
I really hope my readers come away feeling like this could actually happen in
2026, and the dystopian landscape offered in my novels is very believable for
2042.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I’ve written 11 books including a sci-fi trilogy, a book of poetry, and
several books on voiceovers and voiceover business as I am a voiceover
artist. The Dissonance sci-fi alien
invasion trilogy that I’m currently working on is by far my favorite, and I
think, so far, of the three, Volume II is my favorite. But I loved writing The Omega Room in the
early 90’s, loved writing my voiceover business books and publishing them, and
have a great fondness for poetry.
Ultimately though, it always seems to be the case that what you’re
working on at present is the favorite.
If You had the chance to cast your main character from
I love this question! For some reason I can’t seem to shake Josh
Hutcherson as the main protagonist Cameron Shipley, but he’s getting a bit
older than my character. I like his acting
style, and his wounded appearance. I
think Noah Jupe would make a great Rutty.
Anyone with a great balance of playfulness and sophistication could play
Allison Trudy, and I would die from delight to see Bassett played by somebody
like Jeff Goldblum.
When did you begin writing?
When I was in second grade, I was tasked with writing
a creative assignment: a fictional book. I wrote something silly and juvenile
called “The Electric Boy”: my first attempt at fiction. I was eight!
So, of course, it was a masterpiece. 😊
How long did it take to complete your first book?
I’m going to answer this with my most recently-released project,
Dissonance Volume I: Reality, which took three weeks to write! I started November 21st, 2023. I
was on a tear. Editing took
another few weeks and then published it on 1.1.24. The second volume took a bit longer partially
because I was so busy promoting the first book.
And then the third one has taken even longer, intentionally, because I
really, really long to finish strong.
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
Without a doubt, J.R.R. Tolkien.
He created the first piece of creativity that really moved me and
inspired me. It was the first piece of
creativity where my soul was awakened to wonder. I’ve read The Lord of the Rings now – the
entire trilogy - probably 150 times in my lifetime.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
I love seeing where the
characters go. I appreciate what they go
through, and learning about them as they learn about themselves. I love coming up with something where you can
sit back and sock yourself in the shoulder and shout “Good on ya!” for a job
well done and a creative stroke of genius that will leave readers
amazed/appalled/surprised/thrilled/frightened/delighted/all of the above.
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
You…just…don’t…look. That’s the #1 rule with the alien gorgons in
my trilogy.
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the
future for your writing?
Certainly! Here’s the
synopsis: There are some rules you never forget. Above all else, whatever
you do, you never look directly at a gorgon. Now, plug your ears…
because the war for humanity has begun. Sergeant Cameron "Jet"
Shipley was there when they first arrived in 2026. For 16 long years, he
learned to hide. To never make a sound. Learning the most important rule of all
about the gorgons: You just... don't... look. The year is now 2042, and
humanity is eking out an existence in the shadows. Shipley and his team are
sent out on a recon mission with developments that may alter the trajectory of
Earth's fate... and his own. Joined by newcomers Bassett and Trudy, Cameron and
his brother Rut will have to contend with a terrifying alien species that has annihilated
eighty-five percent of mankind. Will his mission lead him on a slippery slope
of discovery that demands accountability? Or will it plunge humanity, and
everything in it, into further dissonance?
Cameron is on a journey
that is set in motion by events from Volume I that level him and leave him
emotionally devastated and cynical. He
sets his face to the wind and craves vengeance, which is never the answer. Volume II sees him learning more and more
about the difference between justice and revenge, while battling further losses
and heartache that cry out to the thirst for vengeance inside him. He has moral choices to make. By the end of Volume III, we’ll see if he
satisfied his thirst for vengeance, or let God sort ‘em out. 😊
About the Author
Aaron Ryan lives in Washington with his wife and two sons, along with Macy the dog, Winston the cat, and Merry & Pippin, the finches.
He is the author of the “Dissonance” series, several business books on multimedia production penned under a pseudonym, as well as a previous fictional novel, “The Omega Room.”
When he was in second grade, he was tasked with writing a creative assignment: a fictional book. And thus, “The Electric Boy” was born: a simple novella full of intrigue, fantasy, and 7-year-old wits that electrified Aaron’s desire to write. From that point forward, Aaron evolved into a creative soul that desired to create.
He enjoys the arts, media, music, performing, poetry, and being a daddy. In his lifetime he has been an author, voiceover artist, wedding videographer, stage performer, musician, producer, rock/pop artist, executive assistant, service manager, paperboy, CSR, poet, tech support, worship leader, and more. The diversity of his life experiences gives him a unique approach to business, life, ministry, faith, and entertainment.
Aaron’s favorite author by far is J.R.R. Tolkien, but he also enjoys Suzanne Collins, James S.A. Corey, Marie Lu, Madeleine L’Engle, C.S. Lewis, and Stephen King.
Aaron has always had a passion for storytelling.
Aaron is the admin of the Authors & Writers Only group on Facebook.
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