Book Tour Q&A: Starlite by Jonathan Latt
- Fiction Fans
- Jun 4, 2023
- 5 min read
Today we're taking part in the book tour organized by Escapist Book Company for Starlite by Jonathan Latt! Continue reading for the book blurb and a Q&A with the author.
About the book
Bevil Cyrex, adrift in space on a ship determined to kill him, stumbles across an ancient and abandoned space station called The Starlite.
Once on board the station he sets about repairing it, with the goal of opening up for business.
Along the way he befriends a possibly sociopathic, all powerful nanite swarm, who has decided to take on the appearance and mannerisms of his grandmother.
He must also contend with being hunted by an ex-mob enforcer looking for revenge, a handful of pirates and various threats of invasion, marriage and death.
All in all, Bevil would have to admit, things were really looking up.
On to the interview...!
Thank you so much for joining us for this Q&A! We’ll start off with one of our standard podcast opening questions–tell us something great that’s happened recently.
Thank you both for having me. Well Kirkus gave my little novel Starlite a Starred review which kind of blew me away. Oh, and I really think I’m pretty close to perfecting my Oyakodon recipe. It’s a seemingly simple dish, but getting it to that perfect level of comfort food “yum” is where the challenge is.
What are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?
I just cracked open Count Zero by William Gibson. I’ve read Neuromancer a number of times and it’s one of my favorite books, but I never read anything else in the Sprawl Trilogy so that’s the plan.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start writing?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles and lived overseas for a time. I’ve been working in the entertainment industry most of my adult life and started off on the business side. About twenty years ago my partner at the time (we did documentary films and television) suggested I try my hand at writing. I’d taken a couple of screenwriting classes over the years, mainly to better understand the process but hadn’t given much thought to writing as something I would do. But after about a month of him encouraging me I wrote a script and had never had so much fun. For the first time it felt like I was doing something very natural. I was pretty shocked at how much I enjoyed it. That script got optioned and I’ve been writing ever since. I’ve been lucky enough to make a living doing what I love and do a lot of consulting work in the industry as well as script doctoring, though not so much script doctoring anymore. I’m relatively new to writing novels as Starlite is only my second one, but I find it incredibly rewarding creatively.
How do you spend your free time when you’re not reading or writing? Do you have any hobbies or interests that you can talk to us about?
I am obsessed with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I’m not really good at it, but I am obsessed with it and usually train about four times a week. I started after I got sober and it is very helpful in that regard. I love to cook (that one’s a real crap shoot sometimes) and travel is a serious passion.
If you could collaborate with any one author, who would it be and why?
I assume you mean living or dead? I hope so because I’m going with dead. I’d collaborate with Robert Heinlein since it was his YA novels that got me addicted to reading when I was a boy.
What is one thing that you love about the current state of SFF and what is one thing that you wish you saw more of?
The democratization of publishing has allowed so many indie writers to share their vision(s) with all us hungry readers and I think that’s great. Sometimes it’s a little overwhelming with all of the choices but I think people being able to bypass the old gate keeping publishing world and tell their story or stories is amazing. I don’t know what I would want to see more of as there are so many choices already.
What are your favorite types of stories? Of characters?
I love stories about redemption and finding peace. My favorite types of characters are the ones who know they’re flawed and want to better themselves.
What do you think characterizes your writing style?
I would hope it would be my sense of playfulness, even when exploring something dark. Not that I ever take the darker things lightly, but that I try to inject humor as a pressure release. But it could be my unnatural and passionate love of the comma….for good or ill.
Describe your book in 3 adjectives.
Fun. Actiony. Retro.
How different is the final version of this book from the first draft?
Quite a bit actually. In the first draft I had a bunch of big space battles and there was this whole subplot of impending war coming. That wasn’t the story I set out to tell but it just kind of got away from me. So I ditched all of that over the course of several re-writes and ended up with what I like to think is a fun, quick read about three strangers becoming friends and finding their place in the galaxy. The final version that went to print is far closer to my original idea than what the ballooned up first draft was.
In your opinion, what kind of reader would like this book?
I think anyone in the mood for a fun, “get your mind off your troubles” read will really enjoy this book. Some books are a healthy green salad and some books are a greasy double chili-cheeseburger at one in the morning. Starlite was definitely written to be a greasy cheeseburger.
What would you like readers to take away from this book?
That everybody belongs somewhere. Sometimes you go looking for it and find where you fit in, sometimes you stumble onto it, but we’re all entitled to feel accepted and find that place where we truly belong.
Do you have a favorite quote from your book that you can share with us? What about this quote in particular makes it your favorite?
I don’t know that I have a favorite, but I think the following exchange sums up the tone of Starlite pretty well:
“He’s real dangerous, Nan, be careful!” shouted Dermit with true concern.
“So am I dear, so am I,” she replied.
“You think she can handle herself against Noble?” Dermit asked Bevil.
“I’m not too worried. She killed me the first time we met and I hadn’t even done anything to make her angry,” said Bevil.
“I don’t think killing you is as tough as you think it is, Bevil,” replied Dermit.
Is there anything you can tell us about any current projects you’re working on?
I’m currently consulting with a company on some projects they’re developing (day job) and writing the follow up to Starlite which will be a collection of short stories as well as a novella in the Starlite universe that will be released as an eBook in late summer early fall.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us! Do you have any parting thoughts or comments you’d like to leave for our readers?
I’d like to thank everyone who read through this interview and I hope you enjoyed getting to know me a little. And of course, should you decide to give Starlite a read, I hope you enjoy that too.
And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?
Where to buy the book:
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6445530471
