Interview with
Stephen Vaughn / S. K. Vaughn
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I first realized I wanted to be a writer at the age of seventeen. After reading lots of fantasy and science fiction, when before I hadn’t read for pleasure at all, a story formed in my imagination. I started writing and 49 years later that story became Weaver’s Revenge.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the book. The first book I published, Time Runners, took me about two years. Weaver’s Revenge was a much longer process. I love to write, but I have other interests that take some of my time as well.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
One of the most surprising thing I learned in creating my books is many times the story seems to write itself. Ideas appear in delightful ways that were unexpected by me.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I haven’t heard too much, but some readers of my first book, Time Runners, which is an adventure science fiction story, said they like the main character, the pace of the story, the unexpected twists and exciting ending.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Most of the time, it energizes me. Though there have been times when it was a challenge to keep going to get editing finished for a submission.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
I don’t know if I have one. I’m a cancer survivor, and the most important thing I learned from that experience is to do what you feel is right at any given moment. For me, sometimes that’s writing, sometimes it’s doing leather work, sometimes it’s being with my family.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I try to write what I think I would like to read, which is being original. I like action and conflict and surprising twists, but I’ve also learned that I like to see characters develop as well, which most writing advice says the readers really want.
What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?
I disliked William Gibson at first because I had difficulties with how he jumped right into a scene. I was confused about who the characters were and how they related to each other. But, I grew into completely enjoying his creativity, and his ability to draw you in the characters and the world they lived it.
At what point do you think someone should call themselves a writer?
I’m not much a should person. For some it’s when you get published. For others, it’s when you put pen to paper.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
The words “writer’s block “ mean that a person is stuck and can’t get past the barrier to keep writing. I’ve never really had this experience. I tend to write too much and have to whittle it down to get to the essential story.
Are there therapeutic benefits to modeling a character after someone you know?
Yes, I think there is therapeutic benefits to modeling a character after someone you know. It can be a way of identifying their characteristics that are both good and bad, and how one can best deal with them, sometimes to honor them and sometimes to overcome them.
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
My first thought is the plot, but that’s not true. It’s the characters that come first because who they are dictates what happens.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
For Weaver’s Revenge, the ideal reader is someone who enjoys epic adventures and the complexity of characters and events that happen in a believable fantasy world.
How much research did you need to do for your book?
For Weaver’s Revenge, I researched the making of weapons and the construction of buildings and the elements of weaving. I also researched the history and importance of bards in Europe.
Tell us more about your book/s?
Weaver’s Revenge: The beginning:
The illegitimate child of a princess with the power of the ancient royal bards is born in a world of violence and greed. The moment his eyes were open his power captured all that beheld him. So began the story of Varnak, one called to be a Weaver.
In the first book, we are immersed in the world of Varnak. In the second book, the power of the remaining Weavers calls on those who still believe. And finally, in the third book,the forces of evil and Cayden, the one who is called to oppose them, come to a dramatic conclusion.
Ultimately, Weaver’s Revenge is the story about a world where The Maker partners with humanity to sustain love in the world. This partnership comes with risks because the free will of humanity doesn't always do what is right. This creates opportunities for evil to emerge through pride and greed, but the Maker in His wisdom created The Weavers to weave the Song of renewal and love to combat the evil in the world. The question is: which will prevail and what will be the cost?
Time Runners: Winning at all costs could be the loss of humanity
The year is 2035. The world is struggling to overcome another economic downturn and widespread environmental deterioration. In this world of uncertainty and greed, sports have become the new religion, and the sports companies have become the leaders of the recovering international economy, doing whatever is necessary to grow their power and profitability.
For the past three years, Orion Sports has won the International Endurance Race—the crown jewel of world competitions—helping to make them the most powerful conglomerate on earth, sparking curiosity from their competitors.
Orion's head of security, William James, discovers that Orion is using diabolical technologies that are not only killing those involved but could alter the world in irreparable ways. His natural instinct is to go into hiding, but a single email giving hope of a chance at a life, free of fear, changes his mind.
Orion Sports' competitors have learned of their tech, and there is no limit to what they will do to obtain it. James finds an unexpected ally in Karen Greer—a neurobiologist for Invictus Sports, Orion's main competitor—and they work together to prevent the technology from being used for nefarious purposes.
Can two people successfully fight the largest, most powerful organizations on earth?
Will they succeed in stopping the use of the technology before more lives are destroyed, and civilization is altered forever?