About the Book

Book: A Perfect Flock

Author: Mike Bogue

Genre: Christian Science Fiction

Release date: October 26, 2023

Tuck Jameson vows to stop his brother Clay from joining The Body, a religious cult that uses nanotechnology to turn its members into Christian automatons.

But Clay disappears—and in three days, his nanotechnology conversion will be complete. Desperate to find Clay, Tuck enlists the aid of former high school mentor Adam Shimura, now a black ops agent with potentially mixed motives.

Brother Moody, the cult’s Chief Elder, mobilizes his acolytes against Tuck. Worse, a shocking prophecy ups the ante, making Tuck realize the stakes involve not only him and Clay, but all of America—and perhaps, the world.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Why does Mike Bogue write speculative fiction? Because he finds it a perfect genre to explore timeless themes and timely science, as well as the collision between technology and faith. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys watching Godzilla movies, singing 1960s pop tunes, and munching Fiber One brownies. Single and retired, Mike lives with his cat Bendi in Western Arkansas, where he and Bendi regularly hold contests to see who can nap the longest in a single day.

More from Mike

“If brainwashing means losing my free will for God’s sake, so be it.”

Thus says a recruit for the religious cult The Body in my novel A Perfect Flock.

When planning the novel, I wondered—should Christians use technology to enhance their moral lives? What if technology forced us to be good? Should we use it? Should we advocate it? Would it make Christians, and therefore the Gospel, more appealing to non-Christians?

A Perfect Flock explores these issues. In the novel, technology that might have been a blessing becomes a curse in the hands of cult leader Brother Moody. Indeed, becoming Moody’s version of a perfect Christian might just cost you your soul.

In A Perfect Flock, you will confront the well-meaning but dark future into which technology may be taking Christians and society; experience a fast-paced quest in which an older brother is determined to save his younger brother from technological enslavement; and face the tension between free will and enforced will—if we had the technology to force others to become Christians, should we?

If you like near-future Christian science fiction novels such as Steven James’ Synapse, I think you’ll enjoy A Perfect Flock.

A technical note: The book was released last October 23, so it is available now.

Best of hopes and dreams,

Mike

Interview with Mike

How do you create your main characters?

I first write a detailed character biography for the protagonist. He should have sympathetic qualities so the reader can identify with him. But he also must have a serious character flaw (which could be a mistakenly held belief or personal characteristic) that impedes his mission to achieve his story goal. As the novel develops, he gradually becomes aware of his weakness and develops strengths that empower him to overcome it during the climax.

Next, given the novel’s plotline, I determine who the other main characters should be and write biographies for them. Often these consist of a devoted friend, a romantic interest, a close colleague, and an antagonist.

I craft my antagonist with the same care as my protagonist. It’s important to show that the antagonist doesn’t think he’s a bad guy—he’s convinced he’s doing the right thing and rationalizes any obstacles to his wrongdoing. This also keeps the antagonist from becoming a superficial villain.

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

What best-selling writer Jerry Jenkins calls “the marathon of the middle.” I can devise what appears to be a good opening and a satisfying finale, but what about all that stuff in-between? Readers understandably don’t want to read sluggish prose (I know I don’t), so the book’s middle must be as compelling as the beginning and ending.

It’s a little like a pastry. No one wants to eat a first-rate pastry filled with sour cream gravy in the middle. In the same way, no reader wants to read an otherwise satisfying novel whose middle meanders as badly as a rambling politician.

Fortunately, a writer can not only get through the marathon of the middle, but get through it triumphantly. And as a reader myself, I champion the author who can hold my interest from start to finish, and there are plenty of them out there. That’s what I have striven to do with A Perfect Flock, which boasts an Amazon average customer rating of 4.8 and a Goodreads average rating of 4.57.

In addition, 2023 and 2024 Realm Award Winner Bryan Timothy Mitchell calls the tale “immersive and compelling.”

What does your family think of your writing?

Curiously, the only family member in my house has never said anything about any of my writings, including A Perfect Flock. On the other hand, she can be a subtle critic. Sometimes she has insisted on occupying the keyboard, perhaps her way of saying I need to toss my writing dreams out the window and take up a more respectable trade, such as chief dishwasher at the local family restaurant.

At other times, she takes a more passive approach, curling up in a chair next to my PC as I clatter at the keyboard. Oh, she also purrs. If you hadn’t already guessed, yes, she is my cat, a rescue feline named Bendi. I really do consider her family, and if she didn’t take a bemused interest in my writing, I would feel lost.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

At my website https://mikeboguewriting.com/

There, a reader can download a free speculative fiction short story of mine called “Bubble House Blues at the End of the World,” about which best-selling author Kevin Miller says, “I loved it! Very classic feel.” This story could tell a reader whether or not they might be interested in pursuing more of my writings.

Plus, the reader would then receive my monthly author newsletter, in which I review one or more current Christian science fiction novels.

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

Yes. My current novel-in-progress is called Eden Colony. The premise:

After a nuclear war, Caleb Anderson discovers he and certain fellow Christian survivors are immune to radiation. They struggle to rebuild a benevolent post-nuke society, but a clandestine government group schemes to use them to establish a dictatorship. If Caleb doesn’t stop them, thousands of war survivors will die.

Ms. Holder, thank you for letting me speak to your readers.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 5

For the Love of Literature, October 6 (Author Interview)

The Book Zone, October 7

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 8 (Author Interview)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 9

Through the Fire Blogs, October 10 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11

Artistic Nobody, October 12 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 13

Stories By Gina, October 14 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 14

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 15 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, October 16 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, October 17

Back Porch Reads, October 18 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Mike is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a signed copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5459