Author Interview with Danica Cornell of the Fantasy Sci-Fi Network
The Fantasy/Science Fiction Network (FSFN) is a collection of authors who write in the genre. They promote member authors and try to provide a connection between readers, authors, and their books.
1. What is your favorite place to eat? Why?
Thanks to my daughter, my current restaurant craze is Chipotle. It’s all her fault, I swear! LOL! Actually, this is a GOOD thing, especially since the food is not only delicious, but nutritious and reasonably priced.
2. What is your favorite junk food vice?
Hmm. Depending on the day, it’s a toss-up between movie theatre buttered popcorn or chocolate. On a particularly naughty nutritional day, I might have both at once!
3. What’s on your reading list right now?
The Power of Six by Nicholas C. Rossis. It’s a book consisting of six science fiction short stories. As a sci-fi writer myself, this is right up my alley!
4. We all have our little things when it comes to reading that bug us. What makes you 
cranky when you read a novel?
I can’t stand it when the first several chapters of a novel feel disjointed. I’ve read a couple of books that suffered from this very problem, and truthfully, it was hard to continue all the way through.
5. What 7 words would you use to describe yourself?
Socially-conscious; divergent-thinking; truth-seeking; caring; loyal; insightful; and inquisitive.
6. What does a typical day look like for you? On a typical weekend, what can we find you doing? Who are you with?
I write in some capacity six days per week – sometimes seven. Due to the long morning walks I take with my dog, Hugo, my work days usually begin at 9:00 a.m. Without these, I’d be settled in a good hour earlier, but I’ve learned that by spending quality time with him first thing (and tiring him out), he’s better behaved. This allows me to focus more on my craft, and less on his antics. LOL! I try to wrap my days up by 6:00 p.m., but due to the numerous hats I wear as both a writer and nanotechnology start-up owner, this isn’t always possible.
On the weekends, in between the normal things we all have to tend to, I enjoy gardening, swimming, hiking, experimenting with new recipes, going to the movies,
and going out to eat. I’m usually found hanging out with my family or friends. Of course, my dog is close by, whenever possible.
7. What has been your favorite part of being an author? What has been your least favorite?
I’d say my favourite part has been both the writing itself and all the wonderful new friends I’ve made. My least favourite part is all the time spent on learning the behind-the-scenes technical aspects of setting up websites, etc.
8. Please tell me about your novel. Who or what was your inspiration behind it?
My novel, which will be released this year, is entitled DARK STAR I: The Assassins. It’s the first in my science fiction/fantasy series and takes place in the year 2045, when a cruel twist of fate puts the fate of humanity in the hands of one woman. Dubbed the Department of Defense’s “Dame of Death,” Dr. Rachel Cohen is a beautiful nanotechnology engineer who seems to have it all – fame, smarts, and access to a billion dollar fortune. That is until her world is unexpectedly turned upside down. Without warning, Rachel finds herself grappling with the murders of those closest to her while being hunted by an impossible-to-detect enemy. Now a fugitive, she must rely on a man with a sordid past to help her save humankind from extinction. There’s just one problem. The only way to do this is to embrace the darkness within her – something Rachel has spent her entire life fighting against.
My inspiration for this story came from three different sources: My studies of Judaism; my work in nanotechnology business development; and my background in psychology.
To be clear, I am not Jewish. I simply studied about the Jewish religion and culture several years ago, which is how I came up with DARK STAR’s protagonist, Dr. Rachel Cohen. My work in nanotechnology dovetails perfectly with science fiction, and my BA in Psychology is immensely helpful in creating and developing my characters. Actually, character development is a big thing with me.
9. Who was your current novel dedicated to? Any particular reason?
My book is dedicated to my husband and daughter because frankly, after all the hours I’ve spent writing and editing, (as opposed to doing things with them), it’s the very least I could do! LOL!
10. Why do you write?
Mainly because I want to entertain readers. But the truth is that I also hope to open a dialogue about the directions technology and society are taking as we head deeper into the 21st century.
Links
Danica’s Website: http://www.danicacornell.com
Danica’s Blog: http://danica-cornell.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanicaCornell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDanicaCornell
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DanicaCornellChannel/
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The Fantasy/Science Fiction Network (FSFN) is a collection of authors, bloggers, and reviewers who are passionate about finding and creating quality fantasy/ sci-fi books which are also teen safe (G, PG or PG-13 rated). The FSF Network believes it is possible to create fantastic works of fantasy and science fiction without resorting to graphic violence, explicitly harsh language , or sex.
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