Planet of Diamonds by J. Dalton

2/3/2026

Multi-volume, multi-genre author J. Dalton introduces us to his exciting science fiction novel, “Planet of Diamonds”:
Knowing his former owner will want to kill him for helping Jessie and Patrick escape, Kreig still wants to return to his home planet and warn them of Global Mining Industries' plan to eliminate the native population and claim the planet, and all the uncut diamonds just laying there, for their own.

What could possibly go wrong?

What a flipping entertaining story! The main plotline of preventing commercial exploitation of a stone-age-level society is admirable. The secondary plotlines are quite interesting as well. A little romance, a little skullduggery here and there. Honest, simple-speaking Krieg is my favorite character, without a doubt. Not understanding the multitude of the fine points of English means his English is broken but he is able to make himself understood.
I enjoyed this story tremendously! Don't miss it! I award four point five stars as I am picky about certain things. Don't mistake me, this is a 5-star story!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Diamonds-J-Dalton-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-planet-of-diamonds

You can connect with the author:
https://x.com/JDaltonAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/j-dalton-author
www.tiktok.com/@j.dalton.author

I have reviewed another book by the author:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-dead-ship-by-j-dalton

In October of 2023, my wife was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of lung cancer that had spread to her bones. The doctors gave her three months to live.
On Christmas eve, she went in for a nap and when I went in to check on her, she was lying crossways on the bed and couldn't move or speak.
She was rushed to the hospital, where they finally discovered the cancer had messed up her electrolytes. Three days later, the insurance company told the hospital they wouldn't continue to pay for her care if she wasn't getting treatment, and we had to take her home. There were no beds available in any nursing home or any nurses available for home care. So, for three days, my son, daughter and I took turns sleeping on the floor so she wouldn't fall if she tried to get out of bed.
How do you, as an individual, take care of a terminally ill person who needs around the clock care?
Then, we found Charlotte House, or rather through friends on Facebook, they found us. They came to our house and did an interview, then made arrangements with our doctors to transfer their care to them.
They couldn't save my wife, but they saved our family.

I can never re-pay the love and care they gave to us all, but I have dedicated all the royalties and signed-book fees I get for my books to support them and "Pay it Forward" for others in need.
They have truly become part of my family.
My Mafia, so to speak.

Charlotte House is a comfort care home, located in Wyoming County, N.Y., for individuals who are diagnosed as terminal with less than (3) months to live. Residents at Charlotte House receive quality care and support from staff, family and trained volunteers.
There is never a charge to a resident or their family for resident care thanks to the support of a wonderful community and generous donors. Charlotte House is completely supported by fundraisers, donations, grants, memorials and bequests. A large portion of care is provided by community members that donate their time. Without this support, Charlotte House could not exist.
Interested people can also get free autographed copies when they make a donation to charity by emailing me: [email protected].
I will give them instructions on how they can make the donations. I pay postage anywhere inside the continental US.

J Dalton

Copyright © 2026 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction and the charity statement.

65 Comments

J. Dalton

2/9/2026 02:17:32 pm

Thank you so much for another great review Mark!

I'm so glad you have enjoyed reading my books, and especially Kreig.

He is so much fun to write!

Mark

2/9/2026 02:35:59 pm

It's good to have you back in the hot seat.

A note to our visitors. This is a continuation of the interview we started in my review of The Dead Ship. Planet of Diamonds occurs before The Dead Ship chronologically.

First questions.

What reality show, current or not, would you like to be on?

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?
When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

J. Dalton link

2/9/2026 03:16:00 pm

I don't consider "Reality" shows, reality. They are often scripted, just like the home repair shows where something always goes wrong.

I would rather be in a comedy and be the punch line that makes people laugh. There's not enough of that in real life anymore.

As for under or over writing, I sometimes do some of each. I have no idea where my stories are going, and since my stories are based on my dreams, I often go back and add things I had forgotten, or delete things that really don't have much to do with the story.

Then, I sometimes have to go back a few days later and add that back in, as the next dream made it make sense.

2/9/2026 03:56:14 pm

I agree with you. I have no doubt that they are scripted like you say. There are only two reality shows I care to watch, Forged in Fire and Top Shot. Everything else seems like a waste of time to me. I would rather read a great story!

Standup comedy seems harsh to me. I don't think just anyone can do it and delivery is critical. I like watching clean comedy!

I don't recall anyone saying they are both an under-writer and an over-writer in more than 200 interviews. It is certainly possible, though. Your statement certainly makes sense.

New questions.

Have you ever used yourself as a starting point for a character in a story?

Would family or friends recognize you in the story?

2/9/2026 04:05:17 pm

I had to think a bit on this one.

I don't know if I intentionally used Captain Chen as a starting point as me in my stories, but I do think he has a lot of my convictions.

If I asked family and friends to choose one character that was most like my personality and not like me physically, I do think they would choose him.

Plus, I too drink a lot of tea!

2/9/2026 05:39:51 pm

That's a great answer! I like Chen, he is pretty steady and his favorite admiral gets a twinkle in her eye when she thinks about him. They make a good team. No rank in private, all business in public and on the bridge.

Some authors consciously model a character after themselves to one extent or another. Other authors do it without making a conscious choice. It happens.

New questions.

Have you ever used other acquaintances as the basis for a character, to the point that they have recognized themselves in your book?

If you used a close friend or family member in a book, would you tell them or make sure that they wouldn't recognize themselves in the story?

2/9/2026 06:32:14 pm

Absolutely I have used friends in my stories.

Just because I dream the stories, doesn't mean I have to stick to the absolute vision I have of the character. Once I change them in the story, I continue to dream about the character in their new persona.

For example,

After my wife passed, I intentionally tweaked two characters, Colonel Kat-Rynne and Captain T'iebor after two of the nurses who took care of her in her final days. I gave them autographed books so they would know how much I appreciated the love they gave our family.

I also created Vincent Patates, based on my good friend and neighbor. (It was his wife's suggestion to include him and make him an exaggerated caricature of his true self.)

There are a few others too, mostly relatives. If they read my books, I'm pretty sure they would recognize themselves.

2/9/2026 07:47:58 pm

Honoring those people is touching and I am sure they have not forgot you.

It doesn't always turn out well as I learned from one author. He told his close extended family that he was going to model a character after each one of them in his first book. They were very excited and relished his frequent updates. Until one aunt took him aside and said she would never do what "her" character did. He tried to explain it was necessary to the plot, his explanation fell on deaf ears. Family events had a frosty tinge for awhile.

Vicent reminds me of myself, I like him a lot.

New questions.

What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories?

Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?

2/9/2026 08:00:23 pm

In the first book I wrote in "The Gates to the Galaxies" series, I named a character Vincent, and killed him off in the first chapter.

My neighbor was not happy, and wouldn't read the rest of the book.

He is very OK with the new Vincent, and has laughed at how he is portrayed now.

I find the protagonist easier to write, but the antagonist is much more fun.

Again, everything comes to me in my dreams, but I don't always follow the plot as it's laid out in front of me. Making the villain more and more evil, while still having them think they are doing the right thing is just fun.

Captain Singh in this book, (Planet of Diamonds) is a perfect example. Good intentions, but still evil.

Also, that's what makes them more interesting to the reader. Giving them a reason to hate them, but also letting them see their good intentions, however wrong they might be.

2/10/2026 10:19:02 am

Quite a few authors have said the antagonist is more fun to write. I have seen the advice that every character needs layers and motivations to be worth reading. The antagonist would be the hero in the story if the antagonist was writing it rather than the protagonist. You have utilized that advice well.

New questions.

Do you have a podcast or a stream?

How long have you been doing a podcast?

2/10/2026 11:53:04 am

No, I don't have a podcast, but I do post a short, 2-4 minute video on Tik-Tok every night where I read an excerpt of my Sci-Fi trilogy, "The Tales of Mordratha!". (@j.dalton.author)

That has really taken off for me.

I have a couple of videos that have 40K+ and 50K+ views. A lot of my followers wait for my new post to hit at 6 pm Eastern time every night.

Getting back to the podcast, I have limited internet back where I live, so doing a podcast would be difficult. With the Tok videos, I can record them on my phone, edit them and post them without using any internet bandwidth.

If I lived somewhere else and had good internet, maybe.

2/10/2026 12:24:03 pm

Very good! I love it. in the next few questions substitute TikTok for podcast.

New questions.

How many people are viewing?

What kind of responses are you getting?

2/10/2026 12:51:33 pm

Well, I've only been doing this for a few months, but so far, my videos have had 562K views, 77K likes, 32K shares and I've gotten 3113 comments on them.

Some of the comments are...

First time watching a video that is actually good. I might have to start a crippling addition to this app.

Awesome video to open tiktok to.

Everyone BUY THIS BOOK NOWWWW

Your stories make me happy, they're always the first tiktok I see though

This guy is the best possible creator on this planet thanks papa for making my day

Book is fire unc

STORY TIME WITH PAPA!!

This is the best thing Ive seen in days

you are the goat

I'm not going to list all 3113 of them, but they are pretty much all like that.

I'm just having fun over there, where I wear a bathrobe and tin foil hat while I read, but my main goal is showing this mostly younger crowd , you don't need video games to be entertained. A good book does that too.

Originally, I was only going to read the first 5 chapters, since that was what you could read in Amazon's "Read Sample" feature, but they kept watching and asking for more.

It seems to be working.

2/10/2026 03:27:17 pm

Fabulous! Amazing success! Those are wonderful comments. Beware, that kind of notoriety might attract a troll or two.

New questions.

Has the TikTok had an effect on sales of your books?

Where can people find your TikTok?

2/10/2026 03:54:59 pm

I've had a lot of inquiries about them, and I have a link on my profile page. Also several people have messaged me asking how to get an autographed copy by making a donation to charity, but so far, no sales.

I think it will take some time, like everything else.

Plus, a good portion of my followers are in the pre-teen to early twenties. I doubt they have a lot of disposable income.

In order to get an autographed copy, you have to make a credit card donation directly to the charity. They notify me when someone does that, so I can mail the book out.

It's possible thy don't have that ability.

To get to my Tik-Tok page, you can search through Google or any other search engine for

j dalton author, tik tok

I have over a hundred videos posted there, and if you go to my profile page, they are listed chronologically.

2/10/2026 05:38:59 pm

I just added your TikTok profile link to the review above. That will help people connect with you. I congratulate you on building a following on that platform.

New question.

What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?

2/10/2026 06:20:31 pm

That's a difficult question to answer.

I have multiple protagonists, AND multiple antagonists in all my stories.

In :Planet of Diamonds!" We have the evil "Global Mining", Skarr, the former slave owner turned leader of the natives, the entity known as "Father" and some bad crewmen on the Gibraltar.

All of them have their own moments of being able to raise the stakes for Patrick, Jessie, Krieig and the crew, which is just so much fun to write.

On the other hand, There is Captain Singh. He tries to be a good guy and do the right thing, but the lure of diamonds makes him do stuff he really shouldn't.

There again, a character who does bad things, thinking they are for the right reasons like so many in my stories.

2/10/2026 07:53:20 pm

Great list there or should I say rogues' gallery. That list almost stretches into eternity with "Father". He sounded quite desperate, the stakes for him were the ultimate stakes. Existential stakes.

New questions.

Which is more important to a story: pace or flow?

How do you control it?

2/10/2026 08:04:53 pm

That's a really good question.

They are both important, but for me as a reader, pace is more important. I want things to keep happening, faster and faster.

I think that's why I write more like a soap opera's set up. Several storylines working at the same time, but only one or maybe two chapters in a row that move each story along before I bring them all together.

By the way, all this happens in my dreams, so it's not like i intentionally plan any of this out.

2/11/2026 08:32:45 am

Pace is important, and so are breathers for the readers. They need an opportunity to catch their breath. Krieg provides an excellent breathing break. I can only hold my breath for so long.

New question.

Do the dreams enabling you to write your stories come in order?

2/11/2026 08:42:34 am

That's a question I have been asked several times, and the answer is yes, mostly.

In "The Phoenix Experiment!" after I had written the whole thing, I didn't like how it started, and swapped the first and second chapters to make it flow better.

Other than that, they do come to me sequentially.

I can't explain how my brain works, (My wife always told me that), but it really is like being in a theater and watching a movie play out one or two chapters a night, never knowing what's coming next.

2/11/2026 11:56:42 am

Getting inspiration that way is fairly unique. Getting scenes, action and dialogue in the dreams is very unique. Most authors report getting inspiration in any number of ways, but it is not usually detailed like what you receive. Sometimes it is a conversation overheard, seeing a stranger in a particular pose or wearing ordinary clothes that stand out for one reason or another. There are so many ways that can be inspiring for a plot or a character. I love how your muse connects with you.

New questions.

Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?

What else are you writing these days?

2/11/2026 12:22:40 pm

I don't think there is anything I would change as far as the plot, maybe tweak a few words here and there.

Overall, I'm happy with most of my books. I'm sure there are a few punctuation or technical things that could be fixed, but the stories themselves, I'm really good with them.

Right now, I'm working with a couple of new writers, helping them go through the process of getting their books cleaned up and self published, along with working on a new book of my own.

It's a spin off of the other stories, titled "Blood Suckers" that so far, I'm super happy with.

I had a couple of dry months lately, where I didn't dream at all, but in the last two weeks they have returned and the words are flowing again.

2/11/2026 01:11:36 pm

Glad to hear your muse's vacation is over. That must have been uncomfortable for you. I am sure it would have been disquieting for me if I were in your shoes.

Helping newbie authors learn the self-publishing ropes is certainly paying it forward.

New questions.

What do you do to launch a new book when it is first published?

How long is the period of time for launching a book in your mind?

2/11/2026 03:35:36 pm

I probably don't do enough promotion ahead of time before launching a book. Yes, I've been doing this since 2016, but I'm self-taught, and when your teacher is old too, and has no idea what he's doing, he makes a LOT of mistakes.

That said, I do know more now than when I started and I love helping newbies learn what little I know.

Since I don't have a website or mailing list, I rely totally on Social Media posts in order to get the word out.

It's really easy when I am at vendor shows. I get to talk one-on-one with the potential customers. They quite often will tell their friends who help promote my work.

Originally, I would upload my book and then start to promote it. Now, I usually start right after I finish writing it and before I start doing the edits.

However, after my wife passed, I wrote "The Phoenix Experiment!", edited it and uploaded it in exactly 30 days from the day I started. I sometimes wrote for 14 hours/day. The words just poured off my fingertips.

2/11/2026 03:53:10 pm

Promotion is a lot of work. I tell authors that promotion and marketing are far more like an ultramarathon than a sprint. It's easy to get excited when promoting a new book, but marketing the older books must continue also. The long-term treasure is the entire intellectual property of all of your books.

Here is a copy-and-paste link that might be useful or use the search box at the bottom of the page: You Are A Writer. You Create And License Intellectual Property Assets. https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2021/10/27/you-are-a-writer-you-create-and-license-intellectual-property-assets @thecreativepenn More great blogs available on my "Highly Regarded Blogs" page on https://www.wordrefiner.com

New questions.

Do you know if any of your books are selling outside of the USA?

If so, what are the top three markets where your books are selling?

2/11/2026 03:58:25 pm

I have sold books in 7 different countries, mostly my first trilogy, "The Saga of the ones!"

Australia was a strong market years ago, but that has cooled down lately.

Since then, Canada and the UK have been my secondary markets with the US as the primary.

2/11/2026 05:44:30 pm

English-speaking countries are your best markets, obviously. English is the official language in many countries but not the United States; many other countries teach English as a second language. Most of those English-speaking countries are in Africa. Choosing English or French avoided a lot of tribal violence.

For many Africans, a cell phone is the primary way they access the internet. Audio books are easier to consume with a cell phone. Audio books are a great secondary or tertiary format to offer to consumers. Many readers listen to audio books on commutes and long trips. Some readers struggle with dyslexia and can only utilize an audiobook.

Audiobooks are expensive to produce. But that industry is undergoing a bit of a shakeup with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, software is becoming much better at producing an audiobook with AI. The robotic voice is disappearing rapidly and is sounding quite human. Many narrators are worried about being put out of business, but I think in the long run, AI will be found to be a boon to all involved. First, price conscious consumers will find some audiobooks priced lower. Second, with voice licensing, an author could have their audio book narrated by a favorite actor at a much lower cost. Third, popular narrators could license their voice and offer a cheaper price point to an author. Fourth, human-narrated audiobooks will become the cream of the crop and will be able to collect a commensurable fee. There will be those consumers who want the best and will be willing to pay a premium price.

If you ever thought about narrating your own books, this copy-and-paste link might be worth reading. https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/08/07/build-your-own-audio-sound-booth

I had the pleasure of including the narrator of an audiobook I was promoting. His insights were interesting. Here is a copy-and-paste link or hit the search box below.
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green

New questions.

How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?

What do you think about chapter titles?

2/11/2026 07:54:03 pm

I think my books are actually relatable to what is going on today, especially with all the effort to colonize the moon and Mars.

In my trilogy, "The Saga of the Ones," they have the Moonraker colony, and on Mars, Muskville Station, where they meet the cyborg, E-Lon.

I like a combination of chapter numbers and titles.

I'm a very fast reader. I read whole sentences rather than individual words, which means I sometimes miss a detail I want to go back and check on. Having that title helps me find what I'm looking for, plus I think it sets the mood for the reader for what's about to happen.

All my books have the combination number and title.

For instance, in "Planet of Diamonds" it is...

Chapter 1 * Let’s Make a Deal!

You already have a hint of what's going to happen before you start to read.

2/11/2026 08:12:44 pm

The push to return to space and colonize other planets is getting hotter. We have learned how to build houses with giant 3-D printers. I do not doubt that those things will be building structures off-earth before too many years go by.

I like chapter titles also. They provide a delicious hint, as you said.

I heard about an author some years ago. He didn't write an outline until after he wrote a chapter, which made details easier to find.

New question.

Have you ever participated in a book blog tour? Why or why not?

Here is a copy-and-paste link for more information, or use the search box below: https://storyempirecom.wordpress.com/2022/05/04/mktg-14-book-blog-tours

On my X home page, I have lists of people who offer services to authors, including book reviewers and marketers.

2/11/2026 08:21:23 pm

First off, you have to remember, I'm old and an indie author doing everything by myself.

I've never even heard of a book blog tour, and had to look up what they were.

I'm not against the possibility of doing one.

If I can find a way for more people to read my books and generate more money for charity, I'm for it!

2/12/2026 10:00:38 am

I hope a book blog tour will help generate sales.

Keep doing your TikTok. I love the tin foil hat also.

New questions.

What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

Do you have a classical author or poet you admire?

2/12/2026 10:11:41 am

Like I say in my "About the Author" segment of my books...

I want people to open their minds to possibilities. Not just about space and time, but about the world around us. Just because it hasn’t been done yet, doesn’t mean that it’s impossible.

As far as classical authors, I have always found them to be a different reading experience for me. Not that they were bad, they just rarely grab me and hold me like other newer writers do. I guess it's just the style of writing. The older ones tend to take more time describing things that to me, don't matter to the storyline. That's just the way it was back then. I think todays image centered media has had some influence on that. We tend to want instant resolution to a scene instead of the long foreplay of the older writers.

2/12/2026 12:06:32 pm

I think you nailed it. We are so focused on images, pictures, especially moving pictures, that we don't have patience for long descriptions. A couple of centuries ago, or more, pictures were very expensive. Paintings, sculptures, engravings, and such were not affordable or easily accessible to the average person. Long descriptions were necessary for a more complete mental image.

New questions.

What popular modern authors have influenced you?

Other than "An Unexpected Trip!!", have you thought about writing more books for children?

2/12/2026 12:26:14 pm

I'm a huge fan of Terry Mixon and M.R Forbes. They are both Sci-Fi authors I enjoy reading. I think by reading so many of their books, it has subconsciously effected how I write my books, (like constantly keeping the pressure on).

I helped another author recently get their children's book published, and that made me think about writing another book, more for children but I haven't been able to find the time. I can't even finish my WIP!

2/12/2026 02:08:45 pm

More or less constant pressure and stakes that rise with every encounter are part of the formula thought to get people to buy more of your books. Selling books is more difficult than ever because Amazon is publishing two million books a year. Getting noticed feels nearly impossible at times. Many recommend that an author build a website, send out emails and even have a store on the author's website to sell books and other merchandise. I know one guy who has been using a 3-D printer to make figurines based on his characters and he hand-paints them.

All of that takes time away from writing. The balance is tough.

New question.

What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

2/12/2026 03:40:52 pm

I write in word.

Mainly because that was what was installed on my first computer and I got used to it.

Plus, it's easy to use to upload to Amazon when I get ready to publish.

Some of the newbies I have helped used different programs, and the Zon didn't like them. So, I copied and pasted them to Word, and they uploaded easily.

Plus, I have a template I created when I started my second book where I open it, start writing, then save it as the new book. That way, I don't have to go through the process of formatting my books every time.

2/12/2026 05:42:12 pm

That makes a lot of sense. Microsoft Word has a huge, installed user base around the world. It is available in 6 versions of English, not long ago it was more than 20 versions of English. Word also supports many foreign languages. MS word is the de facto program for business worldwide also.

There are other word processing programs available, but I didn't know that some of them are not accepted by Amazon.

I do have a small beef with Word. It won't keep my preferred font and font size when I start a document. I have changed the setting at least 6 times in Word to Times New Roman 16 point. It returns to Aptos 12 point each time. It won't keep my settings.

New question.

How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

2/12/2026 05:56:56 pm

That's a great question.

I have a folder with 84 of the characters I have made AI images of.

I quite often have to go back to that to remind myself how to spell a character's name I haven't used in a bit.

There are even more characters I have that don't have images.

Those, I have to go back to a chapter where I think they were in and just re-read it. That's another thing where having chapter names helps.

I also have folders with the spaceships, covers, and print book covers with the back page blurbs so I can access them when I want.

2/12/2026 07:42:40 pm

That is a lot of information at your fingertips.

Some authors use spreadsheets to keep track of vital information. Others use a character bible, a page or two of vital information for each character. That kind of information, used with an outline, can save an author a lot of time.

Then there is Scrivener. Writing software that works with Word and has those capabilities built in. I have heard it has a steep learning curve, but those who conquer it love the software.

New questions.

Who is the easiest character to write in this book?

Who is the hardest character to write in this book?

2/12/2026 07:52:21 pm

The easiest character to write is Kreig, mostly because it is so fun.
His difficulty dealing with the English language is so much fun!

The hardest to write are the any of the Ones. Since they communicate using musical notes and telepathic emotions, I have to remember to use "sang" or "came the musical notes" after they speak.

2/13/2026 09:40:49 am

I do enjoy Krieg's dialogues, for the same reasons you enjoy writing them.

I haven't read any of the books with the Ones, but dialogues would be difficult on more than one level.

Telepathy as dialogue presents interesting challenges for authors. I have seen different ways authors use to signify mental speech as contrasted with spoken speech. Italics are what I have seen most of the time. The rules for dialogue tags and action beats still apply.

New question.

Do you have a defined space for writing at home, or do you write wherever it seems right, or do you prefer to write in a coffeeshop?

2/13/2026 09:52:59 am

Other than when I'm at a writing group or when I'm at a venue, almost all of my writing is done at my desk.

It's comfortable, and in the winter, it's directly across from my pellet stove, so it's nice and warm. In the summer, there is a cross breeze that keeps me cool.

I don't really like trying to write in public places, because I tend to watch and listen to other people, paying attention to the way they talk and move. It helps when I'm trying to write different characters to have watched characters "in the wild".

2/13/2026 12:12:31 pm

That makes sense. I prefer to proofread in a quiet environment. Normal reading, I can do almost anywhere.

As the famous philosopher, Groucho Marx, is purported to have said: "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read". It doesn't really apply, but it is one of my favorite quotes about books.

New questions.

Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?

Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

2/13/2026 12:23:46 pm

If there is a hockey game on, I will have that on low volume in the background. The same thing occasionally with music, but I prefer a silent room on most occasions.

For me, dialog is the easiest to write. I usually remember what was said in my dreams, so I just write that. I may change it up a bit to tweak the story, but it's really easy to write compared to action..

2/13/2026 02:47:28 pm

Many authors like to play music in the background. Some like to bring it closer and let it stimulate their writing for certain scenes.

Authors are split on which type of writing is easiest for them.

New question.

Of the five senses, which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?

j. Dalton link

2/13/2026 04:18:38 pm

For me, taste is the hardest. I know what I like and what I don't, but sometimes it's hard to describe why I, or rather my character would feel that way.

Sight and sound are very easy to describe. Since all my books are based off my dreams, it's just as simple as writing what I saw or heard. That seems to just flow off my fingertips.

2/13/2026 04:55:14 pm

You have a lot of company. Many authors I have had the pleasure of interviewing struggle with taste. Honestly, I am not surprised because taste is so individual. Unless you are a super taster, adequately describing a flavor can be difficult. On top of that, trying to avoid bogging down a story requires brevity in many descriptions.

New question.

Have you ever participated in theater in some way?

2/13/2026 05:13:43 pm

I was in several school plays (50+ years ago) and I was the MC for one of our Kiwanis Club comedy shows, but other than that, I've just done some reading of excerpts from my books, and of course there's my nightly Tik-Tok episodes. I have no problem speaking in front of others.

2/13/2026 06:15:45 pm

I was in a couple of high school plays, also. If I had a speaking part, it was small because I had a serious stammering problem. I probably would have done better in a musical; I didn't stammer when singing.

Now, I enjoy public speaking.

New question.

What kind of marketing, besides working with me this week or in-person events, are you doing or planning on doing for your book?

2/13/2026 06:25:34 pm

I'm really not sure at this point.

My goal is to "Pay it Forward!" by raising money for charity.

I take nothing, so I have to be careful how I spend money in relation to my writing and promotions.

If I think something will further my cause, I'll do it, otherwise, it takes money away from the charity.

I won't do that, just for the visibility for my books.

Do I want people to read them?''

Of course!

Anyone who writes does that so other people will see their words, and have some kind of reaction to them, but paying it forward for those in need is more important to me.

2/13/2026 07:30:19 pm

Paying it forward as you are doing is a noble cause. I can understand the tension you are feeling. There is no easy answer here.
We both hope that more people will buy your book or make a contribution to your charity, as outlined above at the end of the review.

New questions.

How much research did you have to do for this book?

What were the major topics?

2/13/2026 08:04:54 pm

Actually, I did very little research for this book.

A lot of the technical thigs I had already looked up for my previous books.

This one, I probably only spent an hour or two looking up technical terms and definitions, unlike the book I wrote after this, "The Dead Ship!"

I spent quite a bit of time doing research on what would happen to someone who was exposed to outer space without a suit.

In "Planet of Diamonds", most of the research I did was on electricity and what it could and could not flow on, and if planets had that kind of energy inside them.

2/14/2026 09:18:01 am

Research is one reason why I am not a writer.

When I was a boy, in the 60s, we had an unabridged dictionary. It was 4 or 5 inches thick, nearly full-size pages with some color plates and several, tiny, pen-and-ink illustrations on every page. It was easy for me to spend another hour in the dictionary after I found the information I sought.

The electricity powering the subterranean boats was very interesting. I loved the concept.

New questions.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of this book?

How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

2/14/2026 04:24:10 pm

This book took just under six weeks to write.

When the dreams are coming and the words begin to flow, it doesn't take long before the story is done.

I usually edit each chapter as I go along, then have word read it back to me to make sure it sounds right.

After that, I go through and try to find mistakes.

That process is not always a perfect one.

I know I should hire a professional editor to catch them, but I write to raise money for charity.

That would cut down on the money I could donate, so I just do my best, and fix the mistakes I find right after I press send.

2/14/2026 04:40:58 pm

You are one of the faster writers I know. Many authors take much longer to write a story. You are definitely on a fast track.

My latest personal blog might be useful for you. It is all about doing your own editing/proofreading by tricking your brain. You can find it elsewhere on my website, on the Words For Thought page.

New questions.

Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?

What was the catalyst that propelled you into writing?

2/14/2026 05:16:19 pm

Other than writing reports for work or writing a Christmas or Birthday card, i never did any writing until I started this.

In August of 2016, I was diagnosed with leukemia and told I probably wouldn't last until Christmas.

I wanted to leave my grandkids something to remember me by, so I wrote a little Sci-Fi story with them as the characters.

I found out I liked it, and started dreaming new stories.

The rest, they say, is history. (BTW... I have no idea who "They" are.)

2/14/2026 05:29:17 pm

Well done. You have created quite a legacy with your stories for your grands.

I don't know who "they" are either. But, I do know that Paul Harvey had a nationally syndicated radio show and he signed off each episode by saying, "And now you know the rest of the story."

New questions.

Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing?

If you don’t, why?

If you do, how did you find them?

2/14/2026 06:03:09 pm

I don't have any alpha or beta readers as such, but I do have a couple of friends who I let see the story before I publish it just for their feedback.

They aren't authors, but they do read a lot, and usually give me great feedback on the story. Editing stuff, not so much.

2/14/2026 06:43:49 pm

Those are good friends to have. Their input is valuable. I think they qualify as beta readers.

Editing and proofreading are quite different from their creative suggestions. Every author needs help with both.

New questions.

Do you give your beta readers an e-version like a PDF or a hard copy you printed?

Do you ask them particular questions to get the feedback you want?

John D Marsh link

2/14/2026 07:04:03 pm

They get a PDF file. I just tell them to let me know what they think.

Most of the time they give me good feedback.

Sometimes they can be very blunt.

2/14/2026 07:41:15 pm

A wise man once said, wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy.

You have chosen well.

New question.

Do you reward the alpha/beta readers in any particular way?

2/14/2026 07:49:43 pm

I have offered several times, but they know I do this for charity, and they will not take a cent.

One of them is starting to write, and I am helping them get self published.

Kind of a "Pay it forward" in reverse, right?

2/15/2026 09:46:49 am

As the famous philosopher, Horace Vandergelder in "Hello Dolly" said, "Money is a lot like manure, it doesn't do much good unless it's spread around." My paraphrase.

What? Yes, I did watch that old movie recently.

Helping others is noble and paying it forward. Keep on keeping on.

New question.

What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?

2/15/2026 09:58:13 am

Marketing is hard.

I try to bookmark my promos to see what kind of reaction each one gets compared to others, then tweak my next one to hopefully improve on the quality and interaction.

What worked once before, doesn't necessarily work now.

I've tried re-posting book promos for my earlier books that got great response and link clicks, that now don't get any.

You have to pay attention to what works, and what doesn't.

If a post isn't getting views, it makes no sense to keep posting it.

That being said, if you don't promote your own book, who else will?

Planet of Diamonds by J. Dalton

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