Friday, November 22, 2013

1 Word Interview with Alex J. Cavanaugh and Celebrate the Small Things

Welcome back to the 1 Word Interview. Today, please welcome author, guitarist and super blogger Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.  Let's see how he does at the one word challenge:
 
1. What's your current favorite word?
 
Diametrically opposed (Sorry, that’s two!)
 
2. In one word, what inspires you?
 
Music
 
3. What's one word that describes your writing habits?
 
Non-existent

 
4. What's one word that you wish you could get rid of in your writing?
 
Felt! (And not the Muppet kind.)
 
5. What's one word that describes your writing desk?
 
Clean
 
6. Share the best writing advice/tool/quote that helps you. (please limit to one sentence)
 
Two words – critique partners!
 
7. What's your current project?
 
If I continue writing, I have an outline for a new space opera.
 
8. What's your favorite part of your latest book, CassaStorm?
 
There is a scene in the final third of the book involving Byron’s son, Bassan, and someone he encounters in the desert, and I really liked their exchange.
 
 
 
CassaStorm
By Alex J Cavanaugh
 
From the Amazon Best Selling Series!
 
A storm gathers across the galaxy…
 
Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.
 
After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.
 
Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…
 
“Cavanaugh creates such an unforgettable world, and these characters will stay with you long after their story is over.” - Cassie Mae, author of Friday Night Alibi and How to Date a Nerd

"Cavanaugh makes world building on the galactic scale look easy. The stakes affect the entire known universe and yet Cavanaugh makes it intensely personal for our hero. The final installment of this series will break your heart and put it back together." - Charity Bradford, science fantasy author of The Magic Wakes
 
“With a talent for worldbuilding and a compelling cast of characters, Alex J. Cavanaugh combines high powered space battles and the challenges of family dynamics to provide readers a space opera with heart.”  - Elizabeth S. Craig, author of the Southern Quilting and Myrtle Clover mysteries
 
$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.
Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera
Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019
$4.99 EBook available in all formats
 
Find CassaStorm:
 
 
 
 
 
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.
 
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh

Thanks for joining me for the 1 Word Interview Challenge, Alex! I know what you mean about that awful word "felt" - however, it is slightly better than "was." Love your advice for critique partners - they are invaluable.

I'm loving this weekly hop hosted by Viklit, and I encourage everyone to join in and celebrate the small things - like getting a few sentences in every day, or getting a bit of that laundry pile folded. :)
This week, I'm celebrating:
1. Bike riding in November. I've only been out once or twice a week, but I'm still riding.
2. Thanksgiving is next week!!! I'm compiling a big thankfulness list!
3. Next week, I'm taking the week off blogging - mini-Thanksgiving vacation!
4. IWSG is right around the corner, and I know what I'm posting about. Wait, is that a good thing?
5. Misha's tenacity guest post on Wednesday is awesome! and I'm glad to have Alex here today!


 

45 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thank you, Tyrean!
Knowing what you'll post is a good thing. (Especially as I have no idea!)
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Dani said...

Very cool interview! I couldn't do one with only one word answers either. I tend to get wordy.

Maurice Mitchell said...

Your characters must "feel" a lot Alex. Another cool interview Tyrean.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Oh, the dreaded "felt"! My NaNo draft is peppered with it.

Excellent work on the bike riding! I really want to get back into that - I miss it! :)

Laura Clipson said...

Have a great Thanksgiving! I'd love to go bike riding more often.

Aidyl Ewoh said...

Things I'm celebrating this week:
1. Almost completing the audio version of my book
2. Getting to interview my illustrator on my blog
3. Having a clean office
4. Beautiful gray skies
5. Friends and family who are tons of fun

Quick Question: Tyrean, I'm doing a Christmas blog tour for my recently published middle grade book and would love it if you would be interested in hosting me on your blog for one of the stops. If you are interested, you can email me at: aidylewoh(at)gmail.com and I'll send you some more info right away. Thank you so much for your time!
~Aidyl

Anonymous said...

Nice interview with Alex. Yes, lots to be thankful for indeed! Bike riding - haven't done that in so long…sounds like fun!

Rachna Chhabria said...

I could never do one word answers unless they were a yes or a no. I can imagine Alex being inspired by music :)

Gossip_Grl said...

What a very creative way to interview and Alex's clever answers to just One Word. Enjoyed reading this post!

D.G. Hudson said...

Nice to see the Capt'n here. (waves to Alex). Alex is pretty fast with the replies as a ninja should be.

What's this - a space opera hiding in the wings????
Sounds good to me. You know writing scifi is fun, Alex. Keep that thought in mind.

Thanks Tyrean for featuring Alex!

Crystal Collier said...

Not the Muppet kind of felt! Bwahahaha! Whew! Love it.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Alex - You're probably right, although it feels like I'm jumping up and down to name an insecurity . . .which is odd. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Dani - yes, I know, but it's fun at the same time!

MJ - Thanks!

Rachna - music is a wonderful source of inspiration for all of us.

Gossip_Girl - Great! Thanks!

DG - I'm hoping to read that space opera too! :)

Crystal - I love how Alex made sure we knew that too. :)


Tyrean Martinson said...

Maurice - it's good that Alex's characters "feel" :). Thanks for stopping by!

Madeline - my work is peppered with that word too. And Thanks!

Laura - Happy Thanksgiving! Bike riding is fun!

Aidyl - wonderful celebrations! And yes, I'll drop you an e-mail today.

MJ - glad you enjoyed the interview! Bike riding is such fun!

Robyn Campbell said...

WOW Captain, you did a great job with one (or two or more) word answers. *wink* Great interview Alex and Tyrean!

Love the answers especially to #6 and #8.

Happy Thanksgiving. :-)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Fun interview! :)

Not the Muppet kind...ha! Enjoyed this. Have a great weekend!

Luanne G. Smith said...

Felt is a first draft kind of word for sure. :))

Heather R. Holden said...

Music inspires me, too, Alex!

Glad to see you have so many things to celebrate this week, Tyrean! I hope you have a good blogging break and that Thanksgiving goes well for you! :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Maurice, it's the telepathy and mental powers that really add to that.

Rachna, easy for a man of few words...

DG, I've been working on the outline this week.

Crystal and Elizabeth, glad I could amuse you with my Muppet answer.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Robyn - glad you enjoyed the interview! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Elizabeth - Thank you! Happy Weekend!

L.G. - yes, it is. :)

Heather - Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Awesome interview with Alex. Have a great week off next week and a Happy Thanksgiving.

~Sia McKye~ said...

Is there any candy here? No? well pooh.

Yaaaay, you're writing again--no that wasn't in the interview but I had to do a cheerleader rah-rah.

I enjoyed reading the interview. Hard to answer in one word, ;-)

I had to laugh over the phrase diametrically opposed. I have a few things that seem to fall under that heading. :-) And LOVED that scene. Highlights Bassan's courage and heart.

Sia McKye Over Coffee

Mark Koopmans said...

Nice to see A-Cav relaxed in a small-interview setting ;)

Rhonda Albom said...

Fun interview with Alex. I like his favorite word(s).
Enjoy your week off.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sia, yes I am writing again! And so pleased you liked that scene.

David T List said...

Good interview! And possibly the coolest book trailer of all!

VikLit said...

Have a good Thanksgiving Vacation!

Rachel Schieffelbein said...

Fun interview. :)
I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving, too. Family and good food, what could be better? :)

Rachel Schieffelbein said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachel Schieffelbein said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachel Schieffelbein said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachel Schieffelbein said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachel Schieffelbein said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachel Schieffelbein said...

And I made the same comment about ten times! Lol. Sorry. It wasn't showing that it was posting it, so I kept hitting the button. Finally I closed it down and reopened it, and there they all were! Whoops. *face palm*

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks, David!

Rachel, it did make me chuckle that you did that though.

Unknown said...

Felt-- not the Muppet kind? That made me laugh.

Julie Flanders said...

Another fun interview. Loved the answer to the writing habits question!

Enjoy your break, Tyrean. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Unknown said...

Very cool interview. The one-word format is really creative. Music is a great inspiration. :)

Unknown said...

I love the idea of a one word interview. As a writer, learning to say things more succinctly is a gift.

Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your mini vacay!

Aidyl Ewoh said...

Hey Tyrean!

Sorry to be bothering you on here, but you said you were interested in more info about my up coming blog tour. Unfortunately I can't figure out where to get your email address to give you more info. If you could email me at aidylewoh(at)gmail.com that would be great! I look forward to hearing from you!

~Aidyl

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Julie, I am here for your amusement!

Thanks again, Tyrean.

Liz Blocker said...

I'm a fan of these one-word interviews - they're short and sweet and always still manage to be interesting, and give a unique insight into the interviewee. So, thanks to you both!

YAY Thanksgiving! Enjoy your break!

Toi Thomas said...

This is cool. I like this "one word" approach. Great interview. Happy Thanksgiving!

SK Anthony said...

I totally missed the rounds last week, great fun interview with Alex!

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving ;)

michie scott said...

have a good weekend
hope you can visit my Celebrate Small Things

Anonymous said...

These 1-word interviews are great -- way to support your fellow writers, Tyrean!