If a pen is truly more powerful than a sword then it must be the author that can make that statement come to life. It is Author Adric Laser’s goal to spend what’s left of his life bringing about positive change through publications as he helps people gain a better understanding of themselves through stories. Please welcome him to No Wasted Ink.
My name is Locke Dauch and I am a science fiction author that likes to publish work using the pen name “Adric Laser.” I’m also a featured author on several popular blogs and an educator with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Western Washington University and a PGCEi from Nottingham University. After a short career in corporate America, I decided it was time to travel and see the world to expand my horizons. As a result, I’ve spent over ten years living in Asia teaching primary and secondary students Science, Maths, History and English. I currently live in Vientiane, Laos and spend my days writing and raising a small kitten.
When and why did you begin writing?
I’ve been writing since I was in my early teens but most of my work remained in notebooks or files that never ended up getting published. I’ve spent the past few years publishing non-fiction books with an aim to help people solve problems in their lives.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
It wasn’t until more recently that I decided I wanted to focus my efforts on fiction writing and storytelling. I regret not having pushed myself harder in the past to begin doing this at an earlier age as I find it immensely enjoyable to create the stories that I’ve had the pleasure of working on over the past two years.
Can you share a little about your current book with us?
In the past year I’ve been actively working to produce a science fiction series entitled “Dystopity.” This series is authored using the pen name “Adric Laser,” because, well, I just thought it sounded so much cooler than using my actual name! A book I’ve recently authored and published that I’d like to share with you today is entitled “A Rebel Was Born on Horus.”
This is a short novella that is about a military officer named Annabelle that realizes that she may not be cut out for the type of work required enforcing policies she becomes to see as tyrannical. She is forced to make some very tough decisions throughout the course of the story as rebel terrorists occupy her space station with the intent of taking over full control.
You’ll have to read the story to find out if she ultimately becomes successful in wrestling back control of the station and figuring out what role she actually wants to play based on the events that end up taking place on Horus.
What inspired you to write this book?
There is always a lot to be learned from conflict and I thought creating a story about a female officer’s transformation from model cadet to rebel would be quite interesting in the context of a terrorist invasion. Sometimes we can only figure out who we really are when we are put under pressure. Furthermore we don’t always know who we are working with until a situation arises which gives us an opportunity to see how they react. Annabelle is a character I’ve written in to an upcoming novel and I thought it would be interesting for readers to understand what really makes her tick. This novella gives my readers an opportunity to learn about her in more depth and really understand the underlying motivations that drive her actions in the novel set to be released in late 2020.
Do you have a specific writing style?
For my science fiction titles I’ve developed a writing style in which I often remain in 3rd person while sometimes going into 1st person to give the reader a chance to get into the mindset of the characters I’ve created and better understand them. From a lifetime of reading science fiction titles it seems there is no hard and fast rule to writing styles in the genre so I prefer to focus on making sure I’m immersed in the story so I’m better able to immerse my readers in the story as well.
How did you come up with the title of this book?
This book is set on Horus space station. It is a corporate owned station built into a large asteroid. The story is about a transformation that the main character goes through as a direct result of the conflict she faces aboard the station and her difficult decision to abandon the loyalty she once had in her employer.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I suppose it’s a story that asks readers to reflect upon their own lives in a way and ask themselves if they are doing something that benefits them materially at the expense of others. It may make them think about their own loyalties and ask themselves if they are truly on the right side. If not, perhaps it could motivate them to change sides if they felt there was a way to right a wrong or gain integrity and righteousness by making a difficult pivot in their life.
Are experiences in this book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I’m definitely not a stranger to the concept of self-reflection and the experience of remaking myself into what I believe is a better person. As a young adult I realized that I had been quite selfish growing up and wasn’t nearly as respectful as I should have been to the people who have tried to help me. I regretted that fact and resolved to become a teacher in Asia to try to make up for some of my shortcomings growing up by helping others try to avoid some of the same mistakes and pitfalls that I found myself making during my early and late teen years.
What authors have most influenced your life? What about them do you find inspiring?
There are definitely too many to name. I remember reading “Of Mice and Men” when I was quite young by John Steinbeck. Something about it mesmerized me. Perhaps because I felt a deep connection and understanding with the crisis, conflict and nature of the characters. The story had a sense of realism to it beyond almost anything I had ever read.
Another book that left a serious impression on me was Fyodor Dostoevsky. I remember how the book just sucked me into the fearful situation of getting caught as if I was the main character trying to evade capture. It’s a rare gift to be able to connect with someone so well in your writing that they can imagine being in your character’s shoes as if they had been transported to some far off land.
In regard to science fiction, two authors that I really look up to are Orson Scott Card and Larry Niven. Their books have been a huge inspiration in deciding to become a science fiction author and pick up in some ways where they have left off.
Who designed the cover of your book? Why did you select this illustrator?
I actually designed the cover of the book myself. I’ve spent a lot of time working with designers and I just sort of felt that no matter how much guidance I give them it’s hard to get them to create what I envision for a project. Assuming one of my novellas or novels gets significant traction I may decide to hire professional help and update the cover but for now I’ve received a lot of good feedback based on the presentation of my novellas and don’t have any immediate plans to change any of them.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
I would say, forget about trying to make people happy and write about topics and stories that you find interesting, exciting and passionate about. Passion can be a very powerful tool for creating literary masterpieces, don’t underestimate it!
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I would just like to thank them for taking the time to read one or more of my stories. Time is probably the most precious asset we possess and wasting it is truly a cause for regret. I’ll always write with my readers in mind but I’ll do it in a way in which I feel that my time is being used productively and for a good cause. I write not just for myself but in hopes that the stories I bring to life can have a positive impact on that of my readers.
Adric Laser
Seattle, Washington
A Rebel Was Born on Horus
No Wasted Ink 