So, what kind of story is The NightOnes?

The NightOnes is a science-fiction story that is about the struggles that two main characters must overcome to deal with their new lives as S'ntai warriors. Actually, it might be more accurate to call it a 'drama in a science-fiction setting,' but it's not all about drama. There's plenty of action in the book too. It's the first book in a four-book saga.

What prompted you to write this book?

I touch on that, among some other things, in the About Me section of this website.

Where can I purchase a copy of this book?

The book is available at Amazon, as well as Barnes and Noble.

Would you recommend reading a lot of other authors' books in order to become a better author myself?

I don't think that has much bearing on anything. In fact, it might hurt you somewhat, simply because it may keep you from developing your own unique writing style. As an artist, you don't want to compare your work to that of other artists. Develop your own style, and your own way of doing things. That is what will make you stand out. This goes for any art form you pursue. If you enjoy reading, then by all means, go nuts, but I wouldn't recommend reading for the sake of trying to learn to write. The two tasks are very very different.

Do you prefer to write by hand, or with a keyboard?

Well, that's a very good question, for which, I will give you a very odd answer. When you write with a keyboard on a computer workstation, assuming you know how to type, and can type quickly and accurately, you will most definitely be able to get ideas out much more quickly. However, there is something indescribable about writing with pen and paper. It seems to make the work much more personal, and while it takes longer to get the idea onto the paper, you'll feel more, for lack of a better word, 'bound' to it. Doing so has given me a good understanding as to why some people do caligraphy as a hobby. I recommend that first-time writers try writing at least part of their first work once by hand.

What advice would you give authors on creating compelling characters?

Love them. Nurture them. Don't create characters because you think they belong in the story. Write your stories around the characters you've created. If you create characters you don't give a crap about, then you really won't give a crap about what happens to them in your story, and therefore, your story will likely be dull, boring, and uninspired. And if you don't care about your characters, how do you expect your readers to care about them?

You've likely heard people says cliched things like 'explore your dark side too'. Well, it's true. When creating antagonistic or evil characters, you should try to put yourself in their minds. The best way to create characters is to try to understand why they think and act as they do. It's what I like to call, 'screwing with your own head'.

Where are some good places to get ideas?

There really aren't any 'places' to get ideas. Some authors and artists suggest looking to the words and works of others for ideas. I have one word for that - rehash. If you're a creative individual, ideas will come to you. Now, what is very important is that you have a way to keep those ideas, in which case, I recommend that you always carry something around with you that you can write on, such as a small notepad. Even just keeping a 5 x 8 yellow pad and pen in your car might be enough. You might get your next huge idea while sitting at a stoplight on the way home from work.

With that said, don't be afraid to let other things inspire your styles and ways of doing things. For example, one might watch the movie Blade Runner, and were that person to decide to try to rehash that story into another similar story, they would likely end up with something that is 'boring' to say the least, and 'plagarized' to say the most. However, one could also draw inspiration for a gritty futuristic crime novel from that movie, and use the movie's visual style as a guide as to how they might construct their world. There is a distinctive difference in using materials to tell you what to create, and using materials as a guide for creating something.

Who or what inspires you mostly?

Most of the inspiration for my stories comes from Japanese animation, or 'anime' as it's commonly known. The Japanese, in my honest opinion, are phenomenal storytellers, and I think they outclass most of what you see in Hollywood by leaps and bounds. I think character development is very important, and I think the more faceted a character is, the more interesting they will be for readers.

What is a good way to deal with writer's block?

Just let it go. Don't obsess over it, and don't beat yourself up over it. The harder you 'try' to get ideas, the fewer of them you will have. Allow your mind to relax, and the ideas will come when your mind connects the right elements together. In other words, "don't do anything about it, because there's nothing to do about it."

What's the best way to get published?

Personally, I think that in this day and age, self-publishing is the way to go. It's too easy to get your work out there, whether it's hard copy, or electronic. The old monolithic publishers that basically want to take control of your work, and call your shots for you are destined for extinction, and unless they adapt, they won't exist in about ten years.

With that said, be very careful about using some services. Many of them are simply vanity presses, that have no interest in helping you get published, but rather, getting a quick $1000 to $1500 out of you. Personally, I have been dealing with WingSpan Press, and I am impressed by what they have to offer. I would encourage you to visit their site for more information. They have a lot of insight and advice concerning other self-publishing services.

All content is © Stephen Edwards. No material from this site may be reproduced or redistributed without explicit permission. Any questions or comments about this website can be sent to