About the Book

Book: Silent Stars (Tomorrow’s Edge Book Three)

Author: Brett Armstrong

Genre: Christian dystopian, science fiction

Release date: September 26, 2023

AD 2040: Barely eighteen, things have become much harder for Elliott. Reeling from the losses during the confrontation that brought Project Alexandria to a halt, Elliott feverishly hunts for the original files needed to finish it off. Finding only dead ends, he instead stumbles upon something dire: messages about the Babel Initiative. Conceived as a successor that would make Project Alexandria’s manipulations seem tame, this new threat once again forces Elliott into alliances with morally grey programmers known as siegers. Beset by continual setbacks and defeats, many siegers abandon the cause and go underground to survive the dangers ahead. The bleak reality that Elliott and those closest to him are almost certain to die in the fight against Dr. Almundson begins to set in. But Elliott isn’t ready to give in. He knows the cost of such a silent surrender will be humanity itself.

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About the Author

Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers haunting, deep historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Tomorrow’s Edge series), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire). Every story is a journey of discovery and an attempt to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope. Always busy with a new story, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and spending time with his wife and son.

More from Brett

Dystopian stories remind me of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. In it, Ebenezer Scrooge is heartbroken for Tiny Tim and asks the Ghost of Christmas Present if the boy will live. The ghost, to paraphrase, says that if the shadows of the things present are not altered the child will not live. Dystopian stories show us the shadows of things that if left unaltered, if not safeguarded against, can bring dire consequences. Years ago, I began writing the Tomorrow’s Edge series because I was concerned. Looking at headlines and articles about everything from the latest tech developments to the weakening links in western society’s integrity, I could understand why so many people fear the future. For me, it was fear for a tomorrow that is the fulfillment of every dystopian nightmare to us, but because it is so gradual so innocuous in coming, those in the future living that dystopia won’t even see it.

Our hold on reality is tenuous in the modern digital world—particularly with AI deepfakes, virtual reality, augmented reality, and the metaverse increasingly edging into our daily lives. And when combined with post-modernist philosophy’s denial of objective truth it makes for a serious existential threat. So, I wrote a story about some teens living in the near future where it is very nearly too late to come back from that edge. Teens who are gifted a glimpse of truth and reality and now can’t turn back from pursuing it. I hope it isn’t a stretch already to see that a story like that is layered. The gripping, fast paced surface narrative has beneath it an adjuration and encouragement for those of us who follow Christ to cling to the Truth and the Creator of all reality, no matter what may come. Silent Stars takes that story arc to its conclusion and in writing it I discovered there was an even more potent symbolic meaning to “Tomorrow’s Edge” than us being on the precipice or a dangerous dystopian tomorrow. It was one of the most rewarding discoveries I’ve had as a writer and I hope you enjoy uncovering it as well.

Interview with Brett

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

It’s different from book to book, but especially with a book like Silent Stars where things are very close to what we experience in all respects, I absolutely want the characters’ actions and reactions to be natural and believable. That gets tricky with some of the more emotional and sensational scenes because I can’t just draw on experience or out and out imagine how I would handle the situation. I have to see it through the lens of the character and keeping that perspective is sometimes tricky, especially if it is most likely that the character would choose to do the wrong thing at that moment. I root for them and want what is best for them, so I don’t like it when bad things happen to the characters. But I have let things develop as they need to and as naturally as possible. It can be a struggle.

What does your family think of your writing?

My wife and parents have always been very supportive. In myriads of ups and downs they’ve been there encouraging me to keep going. My son is quieter than them, but apparently is proud of my writing and talks about it at his school to teachers. Though they don’t all love the genres I write in. My wife really doesn’t care much for fantasy and this year will make six Quest of Fire books written and published in that genre. She’s really holding out hope that I finish the romance novel that is sitting in my story ideas folder. But whether it’s her thing or not, she celebrates each time I have a release, she reviews cover art with me, helps me with social media (I’m terrible at it), and cheers me on every step of the way. It’s not essential to have your family support you as a writer—I know not everyone has that—but it’s a tremendous blessing to have it.

Have you experienced writer’s block, and how do you handle it?

I’ve never had true writer’s block, but I do wrestle with being a terrible procrastinator and sometimes losing focus. One thing that helps is to have multiple projects going at once. If I start to lose steam and focus on one story, usually there’s another story that is trying to capture my attention and working some on it till I get what is on my mind written out will free me back up to work on the first manuscript. That isn’t always possible because of deadlines, but usually that approach helps me.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Counting the two devotionals and the novella collection I contributed to I have twelve books. Plus, another novella/short novel in the Quest of Fire series due out this year (more on that later). Picking a favorite out of them all is really tough. I would say I have favorites out of each series or favorites in a particular aspect of writing. Kind of like superlatives in a high school yearbook. So, forgive me if this is a little cheesy, but I’d break them out as:

MOST CONGENIAL: Destitutio Quod Remissio

It’s my only historical fiction book so far, a meditation on Colossians 3:13, and the most lyrical and most direct in handling spiritual themes and concepts. It’s been called “beautiful” by more than one reader and I feel like in terms of sounding and speaking to the heart best, I’d pick that one.

CLASS CLOWN: Veiled Sun

It’s a serious story but has the most humor and irony of any of my books, which is nice for levity after some of its harder hitting moments.

MOST TRAVELED: Resurgence of Dawn

By that I mean it by far covers the most cultures and land area in the process of telling the story. It’s also just barely the longest in the Quest of Fire series.

MOST AMBITIOUS: The Near Distant – By Far and Away

This is the novella collection I participated in and I set out to tell a portal story that was different from normal because instead of starting when the character arrived it kicks off ten years after that when the protagonist has given up all hope if getting home. It imagines the role of people in a society where everything is ordered by a super AI. But it’s more than just an examination of the intersection of technology and philosophy it’s also an homage to the Book of Esther and features a world level crisis and race to the finish pace. And if those weren’t tricky enough to land individually, it does it in 27,000 words. So, yeah, definitely a really ambitious attempt for me.

MOST SURPRISING: Silent Stars

I had a huge eye-opening experience with this one. I can’t go into it too much, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised by a story while writing it. And it was a major blessing.

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

I’m finishing up prep for the release of Book 6 in my Quest of Fire epic fantasy series, titled Devastation. It’s set to release on September 17^th. At the same time, I’m also working on the final book in that series, which is due to come out next year. Though, I have to admit I’m a bit distracted from that task, because a new standalone story really grabbed hold of me and I’m deep into writing on it. I can’t say too much about it yet, but it’s a sci-fi story that is set in the same story world as the Tomorrow’s Edge series and is set five years after the final scene in Silent Stars.

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, August 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 23

Vicky Sluiter, August 24 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 25 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, August 26 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 27

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 28 (Author Interview)

Through the Fire Blogs, August 29 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 29

Artistic Nobody, August 30 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, August 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 31

Beauty in the Binding, September 1 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 2

Guild Master, September 3 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, September 4

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Brett is giving away the grand prize package of $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of Silent Stars, and an illustrated print featuring a scene from the Tomorrow’s Edge series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5421