PUTNAM COUNTY
Kim Conrey will be Georgia Writers Museum’s “Meet the Author” presenter on Feb. 7, at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. She will be discussing Stealing Ares, her first in-a-series science-fiction book that’s already a runaway seller.
The Georgia Writers Museum recently conducted a brief interview with Conrey.
GWM: The main character in Stealing Ares is a female thief with special gifts. You are a part of a podcast group called “Wild Women Who Write Take Flight.” Is there a personal connection?
Conrey: I was originally in a critique group with these women. If we can critique each other’s work (constructively) with a smile and a “thank you,” then we can podcast together. But yes, we have our own unique gifts. I feel like I do well with interviews and social media, Kathy Nichols is an idea machine, Gaby Anderson is not afraid of audio technology, Kat Fieler is a PR pro, and Lizbeth Jones is a fantastic editor. They’re all gifted writers. I can’t imagine our podcast if any of these talents were missing.
GWM: What attracts you to the sci-fi genre?
Conrey: I grew up in a very charismatic church where it was natural to believe in realms we couldn’t see. This started my love of physics and quantum physics, which led to reading sci-fi. I don’t believe that science and faith are at odds with each other. One promotes the other beautifully. And romance stories are, at their heart, tales of resurrection. That’s what we are all looking for, in our relationships, careers, lives. It’s cyclical, beautiful.
GWM: Can you give us a sneak preview of your next book in the series, Losing Ares?
Conrey: In Losing Ares we see everyone’s best intentions backfire on them. UK Prince Jack Windsor has given up his crown to ensure the colonists can make more than slave wages, yet many on Mars become loyalists who threaten his life for cutting ties with the Earth coalition. The love story also shifts from Harlow and Jack to First Sgt.
Carlos Gonsalves and Safia Asfour. All Carlos wants to do is marry Safia and make her happy, but she’s dealing with a tormenting past. The closer Carlos gets to her, the more she pulls away. In many ways, these are people on a journey to find joy with what they already have.
GWM: What advice can you give new authors to bring their book idea to a finished product?
Conrey: Don’t wait until you have time. Nobody does. Don’t stall out because you’re too busy. Everybody’s busy. You must accept this hard truth: you’re going to have to give something up. Your dream is worth it.
Georgia Writers Museum encourages everyone to bring a friend to this special science-fiction-themed event that will feature a “moon” shine tasting, along with finger foods and out-of-this-world desserts like Moon Pies, Milky Ways and Mars bars.
Thanks to Vizitech USA for sponsoring this event. Admission is $45 each, or $40 apiece for a couple. Following the presentation, Conrey will be signing books. Contact Georgia Writers Museum (109 S. Jefferson Ave., Eatonton) at 706-991-5119 or visit www.georgiawritersmuseum. org for tickets and to pre-order a copy of Stealing Ares.
-Contributed