The Gates to the Galaxies by J. Dalton

3/14/2026

A Story of Space and Time Travel Book One by J. Dalton

Multi-volume, multi-genre author J. Dalton introduces us to his exciting science fiction novel, “The Gates to the Galaxies:”
Captain Charles Chen and the crew of the superdreadnought, Zanzee travel through the Gates to the Galaxies and find themselves up against a new threat to the Alliance.

Luckily for them, Commander Sheeva Glatt has joined the crew as their new Tactical officer. Will she be able to prove to the Captain that her heroics on her previous ship was due to her talent, or was it just a stroke of luck that she had saved her former ship?

Sheeva is the only one of her species onboard the ship with five thousand other crewmembers. Can she find someone on board that she can confide in?

A strange transition through the gate sends them back in time. The actions, or lack of them, of Sheeva and the Captain, could impact the lives of millions, not only on her home world, but for the very existence of humanity itself, as the ship travels back in time to save Earth and the Apollo astronauts from certain death!

Was it an accident or was it preordained for them to be there at just that time?

An exciting story! Lots of action and tense moments! There was barely time to breathe in parts of the book. Having a discreet influence on American history is a tantalizing thought. I can't say more to avoid spoiling the surprise.
I am picky about certain things, so I award four point nine stars.

You can buy this book or get it free from the author, see the instructions below:
https://www.amazon.com/Gates-to-the-Galaxies-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-gates-to-the-galaxies

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

I have reviewed other books by the author:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-dead-ship-by-j-dalton
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/planet-of-diamonds

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 repay 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.

73 Comments

J. Dalton link

3/16/2026 01:31:51 pm

Good afternoon, Mark.

Great to be back with you.

Thanks for the nice review!

Mark

3/16/2026 02:28:08 pm

I enjoy your writing a lot. It's a pleasure to have you back for another chat.

First question.

What are common traps for beginning writers?

3/16/2026 02:41:04 pm

That's a very good question, Mark.

I've been helping several new authors from our writing group lately, clean their stories up and get them ready for others to read. For me, their biggest problem is overwriting.

They seem to think they need to describe every tiny detail about a room, or some event in order for them to be a writer.

I always ask them, does this section move things along, or can you tell your story without it. How does any of this play out as the reader goes along. Will they miss something important? Have you hidden a clue in there? If not, cut it to make the story flow better.

That, and run on sentences! You don't ever need over 50 words in a sentence. Let the reader take a breath!

3/16/2026 04:37:05 pm

That is all good advice! Common actions can be glossed over if even mentioned. Nobody wants to read two and a half pages of leaving the house and driving to the office unless it's critical to the story. Then, only mentioned if a significant event occurs in that process.

New question.

Do you think a strong ego is an asset or a liability for a writer, and why?

3/16/2026 05:17:43 pm

Egos can be both.

You need to be confident, but not braggadocious.

What you think is the next best thing, others might think is terrible.

Having thick skin is more important.

You need to be able to take constructive criticism without taking it personally.

That's hard to do when you pour heart and soul into your work, but that is how you learn, and grow.

3/16/2026 06:43:56 pm

I agree. A thick skin is necessary. It's important to believe in what you write. But you must expect that not many books will sell without a lot of effort.

You have learned that face-to-face selling works pretty well. You go to writer conventions, comic cons and you sell books to people. So many of our transactions are online and free of human interaction. People crave the authenticity of dealing in person. It's so rare. You also offer an autographed copy of your books when people make a donation to your charity.

Note to readers: the details to get an autographed copy are at the bottom of the review if you missed it.

New question.

Other than every person on earth, who do you wish would read your book?

3/16/2026 06:57:39 pm

I would hope young people would read my work.

I think my stories can make them think about what might be possible.

Just because it hasn't been done, doesn't mean it CAN'T be done.

That's one of the reasons I read an episode of my Sci-Fi trilogy, "The Tales of Mordratha!" every night on tiktok. That audience is mostly younger viewers, and they have embraced my story telling, big time.

I don't care if they can't afford to buy my books right now, I just want to get them to see what books are about, and when I get over 200K views on a video, that gives me hope for them.

So few young people read books anymore, thanks to video games, I want them to see there are other pieces of entertainment that have value too.

Someday, they may become fans of reading, and remember listening to an old man telling stories every night and seek out my books.

If that happens, even once, I win!

3/16/2026 08:45:50 pm

Stories have been shared verbally for many centuries; writing them down preserved them and expanded their distribution and reach. Video games are a form of stories also. The gamer gets to experience the story from within and influence the ending. As wonderful as that is, it leaves much to be desired because the plot doesn't change, only the details. But entertaiment is provided and that is one of the main jobs of stories.

Note to visitors: You will find the author's Tiktok link just under the buy links in the review above.

New questions.

Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader?

Who is the person most likely to buy your book?

3/16/2026 09:28:31 pm

Wow!

Now THOSE are very tough questions!

Demographic? Probably male. 18-40? I think the younger ones would enjoy the suspense and battles, while the older reader would enjoy how I try and weave several story lines together until they meet at the end.

Really, I'm just guessing as I have no idea where my stories are going from the minute I start, to the minute I finish. It all depends on what I dream, as that's where my stories come from.

I don't think I could ever write commercially, as I have no plan, and sometimes the words flow like water, and sometimes it's as dry as the desert on the planet Swizzan.

If I, or anyone could figure out who was most likely to buy our books, it would make marketing a much easier thing,. (Which it is not!)

I've sold books in several different countries now. I have no idea who buys what there, but when I sell one on one, it's almost always to a woman who is buying an autographed copy of one of my books for a husband, boyfriend or son, although I have noticed more teenaged girls buying the first trilogy in the series.

I have no idea why that is.

My book of poems, "Words from a Broken heart" is almost exclusively bought by women, so... There is that.

3/17/2026 10:34:44 am

Knowing who is likely to buy your books would make advertising easier, in theory. But, with so many options available, I wonder if it's worth the effort. It seems that few authors make a profit from their books; many sell only a few hundred copies of their writings.

New question.

Do you have an item or a routine you consider to be your writing lucky charm?

3/17/2026 11:31:42 am

Good Question.

I wish I had a lucky charm!

Since I write based off my dreams, I don't have any schedule for writing.

Sometimes, after a good dream, I'll sit down and write for hours, describing what went on in my dreams.

Then, there are days or weeks where nothing goes on in my dreams I remember, and I've learned NOT to try and force myself to write.

That's when the words come out as crap, and I have to go back and re-write everything I've forced myself to do.

For me, it's just easier to wait for my brain to figure out where the story is going, or as my kids say, what the aliens tell me to write.

Last night, after supper, I fell asleep in my recliner and after waking up, I knew I had at least two, possibly three new chapters swimming around in my head. I was up until 1 am putting the words down.

That's just how it works for me.

Weird, right?

3/17/2026 02:18:20 pm

Weird? No, unusual, perhaps. Every author seems to have a unique relationship with inspiration or their muse. But your muse communicates in ways perhaps more unique than what most others report. Maybe your muse speaks in your dreams only when you are in the recliner.

New question.

What is your writing Kryptonite, and how has it affected you?

3/17/2026 02:31:21 pm

My writing Kryptonite, the thing that kills the creative process is time.

There are times when I can, and do write for 12-14 hours/day.

Those days nothing else gets done, including making real meals. I'll grab a snack, something I can eat while I'm writing, and a glass of iced tea and just keep going.

If I could only spread the inspiration out evenly, that would be a good thing, but that never happens.

Days when I have other things that HAVE to be done, like mow the lawn, do laundry, go shopping, get gas in the car, clean the house, (Yes, I'm alone, and have to do all those things too) Those days can be a kind of Kryptonite too

On those days, I may make a few notes if I dreamt about my book the night before, but life, real life, has to go on too.

3/17/2026 04:00:57 pm

Time is most writers' kryptonite, I think. Most of us, writers or not, have external demands on our time including the normal activities of daily living.

Making those notes is a smart move.

I heard another good idea some time ago. When you are certain about how a chapter goes, stop halfway and leave a few notes for yourself. Then when you get back to it it will be easy and more inspiration might well start flowing to continue the story.

New question.

Do you struggle with writer's block, if so, how do you overcome it?

3/17/2026 04:17:09 pm

I never worry about "Writer's Block".

I don't write for commercial sales, I write as a hobby, and donate all my royalties and book signing fees to charity.

If I don't write for a few days, weeks or months, it doesn't bother me because I know, at some point, the words will come.

When writing my latest Sci-Fi book, "The Dead Ship!" there was a point where I didn't write a single word for over a month. Then, one night, I started dreaming about the story again and I wrote every day until it was done.

When you don't put any pressure on yourself to write, and only write for the joy of putting your thoughts down for others, "Writers Block" means nothing.

3/17/2026 06:51:08 pm

So many writers are envious of you for not having to struggle with writer's block. It is a common topic among writers.

I think worry is a common source of writer's block. Another common cause for new writers is trying to produce a perfect first draft. Focusing on details is inimical to the flow of inspiration. The first draft only needs to exist, it's supposed to be a dumpster fire. Far from a polished and ready-to-publish final draft.

Write for the joy of sharing a story is a great perspective.

New question.

Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?

3/17/2026 07:03:22 pm

Ha, ha!

That, is a funny question, Mark.

When I wrote my very first book for my grandkids, and wanted to publish it, my wife said...

You're not going to use your real name. What if your book sucks? I don't want to be embarrassed and have people make fun of you.

Back then, I thought she was speaking words of wisdom, but now, now my books are getting fairly good reviews, I wish I had used my real name.

I think a lot of people who know me would be more inclined to buy my books because of that, simply by the reactions of people when I do vendor shows.

People ask me, J. Dalton? You write under the name J. Dalton?

I didn't realize that was you.

Now, it just doesn't make sense to go by my real name.

All that marketing would have been a waste of time.

On the plus side, I don't have thousands of screaming fans standing outside my house, wanting me to come out and sign their unmentionables.

3/17/2026 08:18:34 pm

Ha-ha-ha! Signing unmentionables is a whole different level of autographs!

Your wife might have been right, though. Keeping your private life separate from the business life is a smart move.

Don't waste the marketing!

New question.

Do you foresee ever publishing something using your real name?

3/17/2026 08:25:51 pm

NO.

I have worked very hard to build up the J. Dalton name and I can't see changing that just to put my real name on something.

Besides, J. Dalton is part of my real name.

Dalton is my middle name, so in a sense, I do use my "Real" name.

3/18/2026 09:35:32 am

That is a good plan. Even your X handle is consistent.

I have seen numerous authors use the title of their book as a handle on X or other platforms. That is all well and good until they write a second book. Most authors have more than one book to write. I have suggested to those authors that they change their handles to something that will be useful regardless of how many books they write.

New question.

Are there any issues that are particular to writing this genre that might not apply to other genres?

3/18/2026 09:48:55 am

I do a lot of research with regards to some of the scientific concepts I dream about.

For instance, did you know, it IS possible to survive in the vacuum of space with out a spacesuit?

You can only do it for about 10 seconds, and you have to expel as much air from your lungs as possible beforehand so your lungs don't explode when the oxygen expands. Plus, you end up with burst capillaries all over. Your eyeballs, your tongue, your face. Painful, but survivable.

I don't know how I come up with some of the technical things, but lots of my ideas turn out to be theoretically possible.

I don't think researching how to "Fold Space" would come up for someone writing romance novels.

If you write Sci-Fi, yes, you can stretch reality as we now know it, but you really need to make the reader believe what's happening is possible... someday.

The hard part is making the reader believe.

I hope I've at least done that.

3/18/2026 01:04:04 pm

I had no idea that you could survive in space for 10 seconds. I never thought about how long or short an unprotected person could live. I knew it wasn't very long because space being a vacuum means no air to breathe. A person's natural instinct is to take a deep breath and try to hold it when entering a dangerous environment. Whether a person expels the air in their lungs or tries to hold in as much air as they can is immaterial to their survival in outer space without protective gear.

I like the explanation of folding space in your stories. It's believable. So is the gate technology.

New question.

Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but came to like after reading a book or two?

3/18/2026 01:30:23 pm

I'm not a big fan of fantasy, but several of the young authors in our writing group are into that.

It took me a while, while working on their stories, to get the feel for what they are trying to do, but it still seems too fantastical for me to believe, and for me, that is something I need in any story.

Believability.

Still, I am warming up to that genre.

3/18/2026 02:29:26 pm

Science fiction is my favorite genre and has been for as long as I can recall. I was introduced to fantasy, high fantasy if you will, when a relative gave me a paperback set of a little story called The Lord of the Rings. Fantasy became my second favorite genre. I read the trilogy three times before graduating from high school. I also read The Hobbit once or twice.

A few years later, I was introduced to another writer of the same genre, C. S. Lewis, by reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I found that Lewis wrote many other types of books including science fiction. Out of the Silent Planet is a sci-fi trilogy with the protagonist patterned after the author's close friend, also an author, J. R. R. Tolkien.

Fantasy is a lot like science fiction in some ways, rules (established by the author) must be followed.

New question.

Do you think reading, watching movies or listening to music helps you be a better writer? Please explain why or why not.

3/18/2026 03:03:05 pm

I don't know if it makes me a better writer or not, but I often include references to different musical artists in my books.

Captain Reijo DeLeucee, Captain of the toxic waste tug Jessie, in particular loves Earth's 60's, 70's and 80's music and has a playlist going almost all the time.

Often, the song I mention just happens to be playing in the background as I'm writing.

Music also plays a strong role in my "One" characters, as they don't speak in actual words, but rather musical notes and psychic emotions.

I've often thought about how music can change your mood or take you deeper into a movie scene, and I think that's how my crazy brain came up with the concept.

Imagine watching a scary scene in a move, first on mute or just subtitles, then with the musical background playing.

It changes everything, right?

It brings your emotions to the surface and can make you laugh, cry, angry or sad, love or hate a character, simply by the music being played.

As far as making me a better writer?

That's up to the reader to decide, I guess.

3/18/2026 06:07:24 pm

I find it interesting that some writers, including you, mention songs in the story. I enjoy the references to music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I was listening to music quite bit during those decades, although I was transitioning from music to talk radio in the 1980s.

Music does have a powerful effect on people in general. I offer the example of the movie, Jaws. With two notes, a driving beat and increasing volume the viewer is warned that dreadful action is imminent and likely fatal for a character in the movie.

New question.

At this time, do you read books for entertainment or just research homework?

3/18/2026 06:27:36 pm

For me, reading is for enjoyment.

If I need to do research, it's usually done through the internet search engines.

I want my reading time to be about escaping into a different time, a different era or different world.

I do read different genres, often. I find reading other authors and feeling their writing style has affected mine in small ways. (Yes, I said feeling. If you are reading, feeling is part of the experience.

Things like learning to keep the pressure up, or how to describe a scene I've dreamt, by reading the words others use, has helped.

I'm just a novice.

I've never had any formal training, so I learn from others.

Reading a wide variety of stories by different authors, (mostly indie, as I want to support others like me), not only relaxes me, but I think, has improved my limited writing skills.

3/18/2026 08:12:59 pm

I think there is a lot to be learned about not just writing but life and the world by reading. I love to read also, I like to be entertained while I read. Fortunately, I am easily entertained when reading. I must choose wisely because some genres are more entertaining than others.

I encourage authors to read outside of their chosen genre, there are things to learn from other authors and genres. I also encourage authors to take a class or two in screenwriting. A different medium but still storytelling.

New question.

What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read or listen to for fun?

3/18/2026 08:46:54 pm

Favorite guilty pleasure?

Why, Sci-Fi, of course.

I prefer to read indie Sci-Fi authors, not only because I like to support them, but they tend not to follow the "Commercial" script, and can be more entertaining than the "Big" guys who have to please the publishing houses and meet the marketing parameters they set out.

Too many of them rely on all the cliche, stock scenarios.

Not every ship from a different world or species is going to use "Warp" technology.

That's one of the reasons I came up with Folded Space, Whip drive, time compression and dimensional distortions to move the ships through space.

I enjoy authors who take a step off the edge, and write just for the story's sake.

3/19/2026 10:04:35 am

I share that pleasure with you. Reading a multitude of writers allows me to find new favorites.

I remember visiting the public library in the small town we moved to. I was in the sixth grade and loved our small school library. The public library was so much bigger than the school library. I remember thinking I want to read all of the books. I was so happy when I got my library card.

New questions.

Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?

If so, in what way did your writing change?

3/19/2026 10:23:05 am

Actually, I have.

When I started reading Terry Mixon's Sci-fi books, (I've loved them all so far) It changed the way I thought a book should be paced.

His books never let you take a breath. It's always one thing right after another.

I've edited some of my earlier work to reflect that more, but I always try to include some of the softer and funnier things I dream about, so my books aren't quite as intense as his.

I always try to get better, and I think learning from other authors is a positive thing.

3/19/2026 12:36:37 pm

Mixon's books sound quite breathtaking. Literally. I like pauses in action and being able to catch my breath sometimes. I get deep into a story and feel the tension building and stretching out pretty easily, unless something knocks me out of the author's spell. That being said, I might have to get one of Terry's books. Which one should I buy?

New question.

Do you think that a writer needs to read books, why or why not?

3/19/2026 01:36:07 pm

I don't think they "Need" to read books, but I do think it helps one develop into a "better" writer from seeing what, and how others write.

Often times, we get stuck in a rut, and seeing different techniques can break you out of that

I know I say I write based off my dreams, and that's absolutely true, but that doesn't mean I don't tweak the way I originally saw the story develop.

You can't be so set in your ways that you won't learn new things that make you better at whatever you do, not just writing.

3/19/2026 03:50:51 pm

That is a good perspective to carry with you. There is always room for improvement in any skill or activity. Writing is no exception.

New question.

What hurdle did you face in writing this book and how did you overcome it?

3/19/2026 04:18:06 pm

For me, the hurdle is not in the writing, but in the marketing.

Telling the story comes easily, as I just write what I dream at night.

It's marketing!

Marketing is a tough one.

I don't take any money for my books, everything I earn through royalties or autographed copies, goes to charity.

That means, my books don't generate any money for me to put into marketing.

I buy hundreds of copies and give them away, including paying the postage for anywhere inside the continental US.

That means I can't really afford to pay for marketing.

I have to rely on social media to get the word out, and despite trying to do what other authors do, I am not that good at that.

3/19/2026 05:57:10 pm

Many authors would concur with you about marketing. It is hard and getting harder, between the scammers and the market being flooded with two million books published each year, the difficulty of getting noticed is increasing. There is no easy answer to this dilemma. It takes a regular investment of time or money so people can see your book. So many authors suffer from a lack of both.

New question.

Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?

3/19/2026 06:18:20 pm

I'm really not sure.

I know suffering can make you understand many things and it gives you insight into what actual suffering really means, but I don't think one has to actually go through that to be a good writer.

I know when I was diagnosed with leukemia and went through the chemo process, there was some suffering from the side effects, but other than making me decide to write the first book for my grandchildren, I don't think it had any other influence on my whether my writing was good or bad.

The high doses of chemo did have an effect on my Trilogy, "The Tales of Mordratha!" as I think they are some of my darker themed books.

Are the books that came after better because of it?

I don't know.

That's up to the readers to decide.

All I do know is I'm proud of all of them, mistakes and all.

3/19/2026 08:20:01 pm

Suffering is part of the human condition. There is no getting around it at times. We all have periods of suffering, regardless of how hard we try to avoid them. Some of us go to great lengths to avoid suffering.

Cancer is a source of great suffering for so many, but sometimes the treatment is worse. Chemo is one of those things. It works well for a lot of people, helping to shrink tumors and prevent the regrowth of cancer cells in other parts of the body. For a small percentage of patients, it's very devastating. My wife thought she was really going to die after her first chemo treatment. Her second chemo treatment, 6 or 7 months after the first, while the dosage was reduced, the side effect was nearly as severe as the first treatment. She said no more after that.

New question.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?

3/19/2026 08:28:34 pm

Boy, that is a tough one.

I don't spend much money at all on this.

It's my hobby and I don't do it for the money, (Thank God!).

I'd probably have to say the money I've spent on business cards and bookmarks.

Both have the links to all my social media, and I give them out for free at vendor shows.

I do know I've gotten some after show sales from them as people get a chance to go online and read the free samples.

I also autograph the back of the bookmarks.

3/20/2026 09:14:33 am

Those are good investments in my book.

I give out business cards also. I like bookmarks; I have about a dozen in my 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. I like to collect bookmarks from authors I chat with at comic cons and book fairs. Many include an email on the bookmark. I follow up with a note to the author thanking them for a nice conversation.

New question.

Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career? Feel free to share as many as you would like.

3/20/2026 09:34:11 am

No.

Most of those things cost money, and by giving away my books in exchange for donations to charity, my writing keeps me financially in the red.

Those I have seen, seem to be focused on traditional publishing and how to get an agent and publisher.

I'm my agent, and Kindle is my publisher simply because at the start, when I was first diagnosed with leukemia, I didn't think I had the time left to go that route.

Fortunately, I beat that.

My writing isn't a career anyway.

It's a hobby I do to "Pay it Forward!"

3/20/2026 11:52:43 am

That makes a lot of sense given your situation. You're the only author I know not actively seeking a profit. Most authors sell a few hundred books of any title in their lifetime and very few of those books become bestsellers unless the category is small. Writing is truly a labor of love for most authors; they seldom break even on their books, including marketing and promotion.

New question.

What are your favorite reference books, sites or software for grammar and writing?

3/20/2026 12:06:00 pm

I write in word, so for the grammar part I usually defer to it.

I know it doesn't always get it right, but it's better than relying on my own knowledge of writing rules, which admittedly is limited.

For reference, I no longer have any physical books left in my house as I know when I pass, my kids will just toss them in the dumpster. I've donated all of them to my local library for their annual fund raiser.

For research, I usually google the questions I have about science and physics.

3/20/2026 03:19:43 pm

Microsoft Word has a huge installed user base. It's used nearly universally. It's available in many different languages, including 4 versions of English. A few years ago, it showed almost 30 different versions of English; I don't know what happened to those other versions.

English is such an odd language; it has borrowed many words from other languages, including slang. So it's hard to master.

Donating those books was probably a good idea. I have lightened my load of physical books a lot also.

New question.

Have you ever created a supporting character that developed into a major player?

3/20/2026 03:45:55 pm

Now there' an easy question.

One of your favorite characters, Kreig, started out as just a guard for the prisoners, Jessie and Patrick.

I had no idea he would become such a big part of my stories, but there he is.

His innocence and his difficulty understanding the high tech things going on around him make him the perfect tool to help me explain some of the science to my readers.

I didn't plan this, but he kept getting bigger and bigger roles in my dreams.

Toxic waste hauler, Reijo DeLeucee is another one. Originally he appeared only as a witness to some of the nefarious activity of "The Master", but again, his role got bigger and bigger in my dreams.

Now, in my latest WIP, Colonel Kat-Rynee of the Ones seems to be getting a bigger role.

I don't plan this, it just happens.

3/20/2026 06:16:41 pm

Yes, Krieg is my favorite character! He is so honest and clear, he doesn't mince words, though he doesn't know very many. I love how he is an essential part of the story.

I am looking forward to learning more about the other characters.

New question.

Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first or second POV?

3/20/2026 06:22:28 pm

Probably because it's easier.

You are looking at what is going on, rather than being right in the middle of it and having to find ways to show, not tell from the character's view.

In third, you are a viewer, a watcher of the play being performed in front of you, and you can choose what you want the reader to know, or not to know about the scene.

3/20/2026 08:20:09 pm

It does sound easier.

The third-person point of view is somewhat detached. First-person POV is very intimate because the reader is seeing everything through the eyes and feelings of one person at a time, if it's done correctly. Some authors make the mistake of head-hopping, switching which character the reader is experiencing the story through. That can make a story hard to follow when the reader isn't sure who is speaking or acting.

New question.

Was it hard to learn the craft of writing?

3/20/2026 08:28:01 pm

You think I've learned the craft of writing?

Mark, I'm just a beginner.

I've only been doing this for 10 years.

No formal training, just hit and miss, picking up tips as I went along.

The good thing about being an indie and using the Zon to publish my work, is I get to fix my mistakes and re--upload them as soon as I find them, no matter how long that is.

Trust me, the first few times were not that good.

If it looks like I know what I'm doing, well, I guess I'm getting better at faking it till they believe it.

3/21/2026 09:49:24 am

Ten years is a good start. Old age and cunning will beat youth and skill every time. You are writing well. Certainly well enough to keep me entertained. Of course, there is always room for improvement.

New question.

How did you celebrate when you published your first book?

3/21/2026 09:57:23 am

When I published my first book, I thought I was going to die soon from my leukemia.

I was on chemo, so there wasn't really a celebration, just a sense of relief that I got it out there before I was supposed to die.

Still, 14 books later, I don't celebrate, just enjoy the feeling of having gotten another story out there before the grim reaper gets me.

3/21/2026 01:06:57 pm

You are certainly building up your score, 14 - 0! Congratulations. Each book is its own celebration! I hope you have a lot more stories to tell.

New question.

Who are your favorite dead authors?

3/21/2026 01:24:10 pm

I've always been a fan of Asimov, Arthur Clarke and H. G. Wells.

Jules Verne is another.

These were the authors I read when I was young.

(I'm not that anymore)

3/21/2026 02:42:32 pm

Those were some of my favorite authors when I was a boy also. Zelazny and Frank Herbert are two more I can easily add to your list.

I recently read Nine Princes in Amber by Zelazny and was impressed with his handling of first person POV. Early in this century, I finished reading the Dune books by Frank Herbert and his son. A couple of those were pretty strange, but all in all I enjoyed the series.

New question.

Who are your favorite living authors at this time?

3/21/2026 03:53:12 pm

Most of my favorites now are indie authors, like Terry Mixon, MR Forbes and GB Holley.

They write awesome Sci-Fi!

3/21/2026 06:03:14 pm

I have some names to look up, thanks.

Have I mentioned science fiction is my favorite genre? I think I did.

New questions.

How many times did you rewrite the first page, the first chapter of this book?

Or did the last chapter need the most work?

3/21/2026 06:11:55 pm

OK. That's a hard question to answer.

The way I write is, I put down what I remember from my dream.

Then, I have the computer read it back to me, one chapter at a time.

I may make a change or two, correct punctuation or fix the flow, depending on how it sounds.

I rarely completely re-write anything.

I know that sounds strange, but that's how I write.

It goes down almost word for word as it comes out of my memory.

3/21/2026 08:03:37 pm

Most writers sweat the most over the first paragraph, the first page and first chapter to hook the readers. Many also labor over the last chapter for a variety of reasons.

You, my friend, dream your book in a near, ready-to-publish condition. You might have the hardest working muse known to writers.

New question.

Do you have a favorite filler word or two that you have to keep taking out of a story, like just, like really, or like like? ;-)

3/21/2026 08:50:01 pm

I personally hate using "That" in my books.

I have to use it once in a while, but in most cases, the sentence can be written without using that, and still have it work just fine.

One of the new authors I'm working with tends to use it constantly, and it drives me nuts.

Don't know why, it just does.

I have an excerpt from "The Search Through the Gates!" being published in a local magazine, and the editor insists on putting two that's in my story.

I don't like it, but I'm gonna hold my nose and let it go so the excerpt can be included and my work can be seen by a new audience.

I'm pretty sure I would not be happy being traditionally published and having to let someone else "Tweak" my story.

3/22/2026 10:30:38 am

That's news to me. ;-) Seriously, I tend to avoid that word also, but sometimes it must be included. I find I use the word "just" frequently and Grammarly doesn't like it, but it does favor "that". Sometimes, Grammarly just drives me nuts and that's the truth.

New question.

Do you have a hidden message in your writings for a particular person or group?

3/22/2026 10:44:56 am

There are several "Easter Eggs" throughout all my books, only my family and close friends would catch.

The most notable is the name I gave the Superdreadnought, "Zanzee".

My daughter couldn't say chimpanzee when she was little, and called them Zanzees.

Several characters are named after neighbors, people I workd with and family members.

My grandson worked at McDonalds for a short time, and so I named the handsome fighter pilot and Commander Air Group, (CAG) Gordon McDonald, after him. My neighbor and friend is a potato farmer, and I named a character Vincent Patates (Greek for potato) after him.

Alyssa Armstrong is named after my granddaughter.

There are several others sprinkled throughout my books.

3/22/2026 01:31:34 pm

Kids can be quite inventive when it comes to names! I love these stories about the names!

When I was 3 or 4, I couldn't pronounce grandpa, so I called him Pama. It stuck with him for a long time in the family.

Some authors need historically accurate names, so they hit baby name sites and websites posting church and state records. Some of those sites go back hundreds of years. There are genealogy websites also.

New questions.

What is the message, moral, or takeaway that you hope people will get from reading your book?

Is there more than one?

3/22/2026 01:55:46 pm

This is what I say in my "About the Author" section in 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.

That still holds true today.

There is so much out there we know nothing about.

Just think, the Wright Brother's first flight was on December 17, 1903. We landed astronauts on the Moon in 1969.

Think of all the knowledge and beliefs that changed in those 66 years!

Now, the cell phone you carry around in your pocket has more computing power than those astronauts had on Apollo 11.

Some of the technology I use in my stories may come true someday.

With billions and billions of planets "Out There" we can't discount the possibility of other intelligences existing.

Our civilization has only existed as we know it for about 12 million years.

That's a blink in time when compared to how long other planets have been in existence

There is so much more for us to learn, and I want people to question everything we have been told.

Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't, but we can't stick our heads in the sand if we want to continue to grow as a species.

Maybe Elon is right. The only way to save humanity, is to colonize other planets and moons. Diversify and spread out our species so no one cataclysmic event wipes us out like it did the dinosaurs.

3/22/2026 03:57:59 pm

There are lots of possibilities out there. No question about that. The example of the time between the first flight at Kitty Hawk, NC, and landing on the Moon is a great example of rapid change in the world.

New question.

You mentioned that events where you can meet readers resulted in selling lots of books. What else are you planning to do to promote and market your books over the next few months?

3/22/2026 05:17:54 pm

Right now, I have three vendor shows booked for the next few months, and I may join a fellow author for his "Bookapalooza" in May.

He is trying to get 100 local authors to join him at one of the area's bigger malls for a giant book signing. (The books aren't giant-sized, but the number of authors that will be there).

I'm trying to decide if the cost will be worth the investment, since I give my books away in exchange for donations to charity, and I don't generate any money for myself.

Even though it will be a fantastic chance to get my books in front of a new audience, that's gonna be a big financial cost, I'm not sure I can afford.

3/22/2026 06:10:52 pm

That is quite a pickle! I empathize with you. The exposure would be great. Exposure is the name of the game. Without it, few books will be sold.

New question.

What is the biggest myth about writing that you can dispel that would help aspiring authors?

3/22/2026 06:49:15 pm

Your first draft is always crap.

That's not always true.

I have a friend who's first drafts, other than the punctuation, are usually pretty good.

It's weird, because his wife is a retired English teacher.

She won't read his stuff because they both get mad at each other when she tries to correct him and he thinks she's being picky.

Tact is not one of her virtues.

You don't have to write crap, but if you do, it can be fixed.

No story is too broken it can't be fixed by patience, a few helpful beta readers and a good editor.

3/22/2026 08:16:34 pm

That surprises me. I have seen so many poorly edited books that I thought the first draft is always a dumpster fire. I have repeated that mantra so many times, explaining that you can't edit it if it's not on paper or on the screen. Crap can always be fixed. Don't publish until it is fixed.

New question.

Do you base your characters on people you know or have met, or is it easier to invent them completely?

3/22/2026 09:10:49 pm

When I dream, I see my characters as they are supposed to be. Their faces, their voices and all their mannerisms.

However, I sometimes change their names to fit someone I know.

My grandson, granddaughter, my neighbor, a co-worker or two and the two nurses who took care of my wife in her final days.

While their actions are mostly laid out in front of me in my dreams, they are super easy to write when I change them to people I know.

Those little mannerisms, the way they talk and react to others are unique to them and add that little extra my dreams never intended them to have.

The villains are always true to my dreams with no deviation.

3/23/2026 10:05:11 am

That sounds very easy. Most authors I have talked to don't come across their story characters so well developed. Many authors spend time discovering who the characters are. They develop a file with some history, likes, dislikes, mannerisms and more. Some create pictures or look for pictures on the internet to match the image in their head. Some authors use psychological tests to learn more about the people in their story.
Here is a copy-and-paste link for a guest blog elsewhere on my website or you can hit the search box below. https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/character-creation Rick is also a client. In this blog he describes a website he created to help authors create psychologically congruent characters. He uses multiple scales and offers examples from literature and movies. I have recommended it to many authors.

New question.

Do you have any problems when writing about characters of the opposite sex, why or why not?

3/23/2026 01:28:04 pm

Interesting question.

I don't think I have problems doing that. It seems natural writing from either perspective.

I haven't heard anything negative about my female characters so far.

I guess, I would have to ask a woman if she thinks my female characters are realistic, or not.

3/23/2026 01:39:33 pm

Since there have not been any complaints, you are probably doing fine. No news is good news, as the adage goes.

Many authors have given similar answers. We live in a world full of people of both sexes and natural observation coupled with a good imagination allows most writers to deal with either sex in writing, regardless of their own. If a writer questions their judgment about a particular point, it's easy enough to ask another person for their opinion, as you said.

Last question.

How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?

3/23/2026 02:00:17 pm

I'm a retired widower.

I don't feel any pressure to write, and only do so whenever the dreams come.

I'm not looking for another love interest or relationship.

I've had one of the best, and nothing else can ever match that, so why try.

I have lots of friends, both male and female, just not all that many close ones.

I enjoy living at the edge of the woods, and not bothering anyone else. My closest neighbor is my son who is about a third of a mile away.

I've lived a good life, and my desire now is to "Pay it Forward" for others.

Sometimes, that means giving my books away in exchange for donations to charity.

Sometimes it means giving up part of your day to help a friend with getting their own story published.

I'm not looking for fame or fortune.

I'm just hoping what I do makes other people smile, if only for a moment.

The Gates to the Galaxies by J. Dalton

A Story of Space and Time Travel Book One by J. Dalton

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