China – FULL CONTACT NERD

Science Fiction – “The House of Styx” (Solaris, 2020) – Derek Kunsken interview

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2BEn6Jn

Derek Kunsken has worked as a scientist and a diplomat and has been frequently published in sci-fi short story magazines. He’s about to release a hard science fiction novel set on Venus. We spoke about the book and his writing process.

0:28 – Derek talks about the House of Styx and why he set his book on Venus.

2:38 – Derek talks about the details of the book.

4:33 – Derek talks about the amount of sci-fi technology in the book.

5:55 – Derek talks about the aesthetic of the story and his use of alien botany.

8:10 – Derek also explores the psychological aspects of colonists.

10:37 – Derek talks about the story itself being kept on Venus but Earth has its own backstory.

11:48 – Derek talks about researching Venus and various sciences for the book.

13:54 – Derek talks about what inspires him.

19:28 – Derek talks about his writing process.

22:20 – Derek talks about the serialization process in sci-fi magazines and his book.

24:14 – Derek talks about his approach to writing.

25:33 – Derek talks about having been a foreign service officer working on refugee issues.

27:19 – Derek about music and his novel.

29:11 – Derek about having wanted to adventure in Barsoom.

30:55 – Derek talks about how smoothly the writing of this book went.

32:37 – Derek talks about how note keeping process and his creative process.

34:53 – Derek talks about audio books.

36:03 – Derek can be found at derekkunsken.com and on twitter @derekkunsken and blogs on blackeight.com

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2BEn6Jn

https://rebellionpublishing.com/product/the-house-of-styx/

http://derekkunsken.com/index.html/

https://twitter.com/DerekKunsken

For more “Full Contact Nerd” please follow me at crisalvarez.com, on Facebook at CrisAlvarezFCN, on youtube at Cris Alvarez on twitter @CrisAlvarezFCN, on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi, and on Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts / Stitcher / Spotify for the podcast

Guests: Derek Kunsken

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: science fiction, writer, novel, novelist, fiction, hard science fiction, Venus, Quebecois, colonists, technology, dirigibles, plant biology, religious cult, Mars, Moon, Air cadet, comic books, X-Men, serialization, China, Barsoom, comic books, Covid, publishing

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2BEn6Jn

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Overwatch League – “Young Guns” (Hachette Books, 2020) – Austin Moorhead interview

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Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2WtYIRg

Austin Moorhead is a financial reporter and a gamer. He decided it would be really fun to embed himself into the Overwatch League and write a book about it so he did. We discussed the book and what it was like to be so close to the first season of this gaming league.

0:42 – Austin talks about how he got into writing about the Overwatch League.

2:56 – Austin compares video game leagues to amateur gaming.

6:51 – Austin talks about league players and the economics of their participation in the league.

7:57 – Austin talks about how Overwatch was creating a new type of video-gaming league.

8:37 – Austin talks about how the league planned to keep interest in Overwatch high.

13:42 – Austin talks about Robert Kraft’s involvement in esports and the Overwatch League.

14:54 – Austin talks about ad revenues in esports.

17:05 – Austin talks about how the Asian market compares to the US especially South Korea.

19:16 – Austin talks about the global nature of the Overwatch League.

20:37 – Austin talks about esports being shown live in stages and online.

22:57 – Austin talks about how the book discusses the financial picture of the league and then he talks about the investors, the coaches, and the players.

24:00 – Austin talks about player incomes and benefits.

26:22 – Austin talks about what it takes for a player to get picked up for these leagues.

29:18 – Austin talks about team chemistry.

31:48 – Austin talks about the book being about the first season of Overwatch League.

33:00 – Austin talks about coaching and training.

34:23 – Austin talks about the number of women in the league and attempts by the league to increase the number.

37:07 – Austin talks about having spoken to investors and how much he enjoyed that as well as interviews with the coaches and players.

40:24 – Austin talks about the personalities of the players.

42:04 – Austin talks about players who go on tilt.

43:25 – Austin talks about team leadership.

44:19 – Austin talks about how players convinced their parents to be allowed to join the leagues.

45:35 – Austin talks about getting access to players and people.

47:10 – Austin talks about hair, make up and so on for the camera.

48:39 – Austin talks about the fan experiences.

51:29 – Austin talk about cheating, hacking, and technical problems and sports betting.

56:58 – Austin can be found on twitter @fb29.

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2WtYIRg

https://www.hachettebooks.com/titles/austin-moorhead/young-guns/9780316421393/

https://twitter.com/FB29/

Guests: Austin Moorhead

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: video game, Plimpton, paper Lions, Overwatch, Video gaming, leagues, patriots, bob kraft, gamer, esports, e-sports, Blizzard, soccer, Counter-Strike, Blizzcon, fortnite, valorent, riot games, South Korea, China, gamebot, Sinatra, tilt, London Spitfire, Shock, scrim, Halo, Call of Duty, Starcraft, Magic, NRG, San Francisco, shot caller, Nate Nanzer, Olympics, football

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2WtYIRg

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.