She is not who she thinks she is. Her true identity is a mystery.
We all have a list of genres we’d love to explore more, always on the hunt for that one book to open the floodgates and introduce us to a whole new world of literary adventures. Sci-Fi Thrillers are not something I tend to read very often, but I’ve been looking for one to help me dive a bit deeper. Cue Moon Rising by Daniel Weisbeck, book one of The Upsilon Series. Not only do readers get Science Fiction, but also a fresh sub-flavor of Biopunk. With the recent push of the cyberpunk aesthetic across other types of media, I can’t think of a better book to become acquainted with.
Today I’m excited to welcome Daniel to the blog for a chat about this unique story of his as part of the Storytellers On Tour book blitz. The event started yesterday and runs through tomorrow, so keep an eye out for more featuring Moon Rising. Scroll away to learn more about this stunning novel and meet the author.
For more info, visit the official event page at Storytellers On Tour.
About the Book
She is not who she thinks she is. Her true identity is a mystery.
Trapped in a cellar by a man she does not know; a young girl is forced to act out the life of someone she has never met to stay alive. When she escapes, she finds herself on the run, confused and questioning her past. With the help of Bobby Houndstooth, a teacher she once knew, and Nutt, an android who loves to dance, Silon begins to unravel her true identity and a mysterious relationship she has with a sinister corporation.
Silon must decide if she is the person others expect her to be or if she can become a person of her own making.
Even if it kills her.
Moon Rising by Daniel Weisbeck
SERIES: The Upsilon Series (#1)
PUBLISHED: November 1, 2021
GENRE: Science Ficiton, Thriller, Biopunk
PAGES: 222
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Meet The Author
Daniel Weisbeck is the award-winning author of the bestselling series Children of the Miracle, a dystopian adventure. Daniel is a native US citizen but has lived in the UK for over twenty years working in the technology and software fields, bringing a unique and authentic voice to his speculative science fiction. Daniel is an openly gay author who has been happily married to his partner for over twenty years. When not writing about androids and hybrid humans in the future, you will find him taking care of his three dogs, two rescue racehorses, and thirty rescue sheep who all live in the South Downs of England.
WEBSITE: www.danielweisbeckbooks.com
Thanks so much for stopping by for a chat, Daniel. Since we already have your official bio, can we have the MC(s) from Moon Rising introduce you in one sentence?
There is a five-foot nine-inch man in my head with platinum hair, hazel eyes that turn light green in the sun, who is always daydreaming about the future, and won’t stop telling me what to do.
Give us an idea of how Moon Rising came to fruition.
Moon Rising came from a very different place than all my other books. It started as a reaction to reading Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and Sun. I loved his book but hated the sci-fi foundations. Who would build an android that was meant to guide and teach your children but doesn’t know what the sun and moon are? I couldn’t get past this weird and utterly frustrating choice of speculative world building. I had to sit down and vent by writing my own future world with AI influences called Under the Shadow Moon. After bursting this harboring irritation, I decided to publish it as a short story. Happily, people really liked it and wanted more so I expanded on the world and characters and wrote the novel Moon Rising. As the story grew, I fell in love with the world and characters and knew it was going to become a series.
Can you share with us something about Moon Rising that isn’t in the blurb?
It’s full of lovely rainbow characters. Bobby, a brilliant Doctor of Engineering and horny lesbian. Nutt, a gay android that loves to dance. And Charlie, an eccentric bio-engineer who loves 80’s punk as much as he loves men.
Was there any specific research you’ve done or inspiration you’ve pulled from for this story of yours? If so, did you learn anything fun or interesting?
I’ve worked in software for over twenty years, so a lot of the tech stuff was my own inventions. But I did do some research into bio-engineering and genetic engineering. Did you know they have already grown mice with up to 6% human DNA? And I just read today that they have successfully tested a pig kidney in a human patient. God, I love science and evolution.
What do you hope your readers take away from Moon Rising?
Technology and AI are only the sword. Beware of the hand that wields it.
What comes first, the plot or the characters?
In my last series the plot came first. But in Moon Rising, I slipped into Silon’s head like a glass slipper and couldn’t shake her off.
What do you think makes a good story?
Entertainment. I’ve read books with terrible writing, editing, and character development, but still came away entertained. A creative plot and new ideas can help you forgive a lot of sins.
If you could go back and change how you approached writing your debut novel, what’s the one thing you’d do differently?
Trust my own voice more. I was my own worst critic, and it took me years to get my first book out. Now I can write a book in six months, because I know my voice, what my fans like, and I have much more confidence. Doesn’t guarantee a hit, but it makes the process much more fun.
Writing can be a stressful pursuit. Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?
There is so much great advice and help online for new authors. That’s how I learned. Use the internet, use the blogs, watch the videos. And be prepared to ride the extreme highs and lows. Every new author goes through it.
Have you read anything awesome lately?
My current favorite series is Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Brilliant writing using accessible prose. Brilliant characters without having to read a thousand pages of world building. And so much damn fun! She has made the novella the go-to format for sci-fi series.
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Happy Reading!
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