Thomas Locke

Posts Categorized: Q&A With Thomas Locke

On Writing Books in a Series

Recruits is book 1 in a three-book sci-fi series for young adults. Readers often ask me how I come up with the storylines for the second and third books. Before I begin writing the second or third book in any series, I ask myself two questions that twine together like braids: How do I raise…

Romantic Twists in ‘Recruits’

In Recruits, my upcoming sci-fi novel for young adults, 17-year-old twins fall in love. There are three issues at work in this scenario. First, everybody loves a good romantic angle. Well, okay. I love a great romance. I love how it spices up even the taut friction of a solid thriller. Second, it was two guys,…

How I Weave the Element of Danger Into my Techno-Thriller, ‘Flash Point’

In my new techno-thriller, Flash Point, some of the voyagers “ascend” to a realm beyond physical confines. When they return, they’re possessed by a reptilian-like beast. My purpose in introducing this inhuman element of evil was straightforward. I wanted to rock the readers’ world. The issue was how to introduce an element of danger within…

How to Write Multiple Points-of-View in a Novel

Readers often ask how I develop multiple points-of-view in a story. In this blog post, I’ll use Flash Point as an example, since it includes three parallel storylines (Lena’s, Brett’s, and Reese’s), which eventually intersect. The real challenge for new writers in having a dueling point-of view (POV) is establishing clear and distinctively different characters….

Q&A with Thomas Locke: How to Pronounce Milantian

A reader of Merchant of Alyss writes: I have enjoyed Merchant of Alyss. I have a question that didn’t bother me when I read Emissary but does in Merchant. How did you pronounce Milantian in your mind when you made up the language? I have thought through three different pronunciations: My lan teean Mylanshun, like…

What I do in my spare time

Readers often send me interesting questions. Thought I’d respond to one I get asked often: Q: What do you do in your spare time? (Cuz authors have so much of that!) Thomas Locke: My first passion is surfing, but in England we live as far from the ocean as you can get on the entire…

Why stories set in different worlds are popular

Q: Why do you think that stories set in different worlds, like much of sci-fi/fantasy, are so popular? Thomas Locke: I believe the same reasons have been in place through the ages. People love fantasy and science fiction because it offers them an opportunity to reach beyond the limits of their reality. They come away…

Michael Crichton: My inspiration for techno-thriller writing

In this new feature, I’m responding to reader questions about writing – specifically, writing fantasy and techno-thriller novels. Here’s today’s reader question… and my response. Q: Author Michael Crichton has been an inspiration to you. Can you elaborate on that? Thomas Locke: When I started writing, I read how 90 percent of a professional athlete’s…

New Feature: Behind the Mind of Thomas Locke

I asked readers to send me your questions about writing – specifically, about writing fantasy and techno-thriller novels – and you responded. Here is our first reader question… and my response. Q: How do you research sci-fi, considering most stories in this genre are futuristic? How do you keep it real while inviting the reader…