Author Jim Cronin is pleased to announce the release of Aeon Rises.
What’s it about? Justin Madrid always considered himself an average nerdy freshman in high school, and an outcast because intense migraines prevent him from playing video games or watching television. Even looking at a phone screen hurts. But when the aliens, disguised as local librarians, started trying to kill him, everything changed. And now it is up to Justin and his cool new power to save the earth from invasion.
Let’s learn more about him.
Jim is a retired middle school science teacher, working part-time as an educator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. He’s been married for forty years to the love of his life. They have two sons and four grandchildren. 
He was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in Arlington, Virginia before moving to Denver where he attended high school and eventually college at Colorado State University, graduating with a degree in Zoology and a teacher certification. Jim and his wife currently live near Denver in the small town of Parker.
Which writers inspire you? The writers who inspire me most are the classic science fiction authors: Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, etc. I have always loved their work and can only dream of writing a pale imitation of what they accomplished.
So, what have you written? (*Include books, novellas, short stories, poems, blogs, awards or anything of interest, professional or hobby.) My most recent novel, Aeon Rises, has just been released on Amazon and is my first attempt at a Young Adult science fiction story. My previous work includes The Brin Archives trilogy: Hegira, Recusant, and Empyrean, all available on Amazon as well. I also have a couple of published short stories I hope to include in an anthology someday when I have more of them.
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? Justin Madrid is your average nerdy teen, living in Aurora, Colorado. He is bullied and an outcast due to his inability to even look at any electronic video screen without getting intense migraines. On his 15th birthday, Justin learns he is not at all who he has always believed himself, and it is also the day the aliens tried to kill him. He learns his migraines are only the symptom of a developing ability which puts the fate of all humanity in his hands.
What drew you to write in this genre? Science fiction has always been my favorite genre, and I am a retired science teacher (35 years in the classroom), and an educator/performer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, so I guess it was inevitable that I wrote something sciency.
When did you decide to become a writer? After I retired from teaching, I needed something to occupy my time, so I started helping my brother with a book he was writing. We started brainstorming ideas for something I could write, and the result was The Brin Archives trilogy.
How long on average does it take you to write a book? So far, each of my books has taken about a year to complete from initial concept to published date. Not too bad for only doing this part-time.
Do you ever get Writer’s Block, and do you have any tips for getting through it? For me, I am a very inspirational and seat-of-the-pants writer. If I get stuck, I have to give my brain time to rest. I take a few days off and usually find inspiration out of the blue on how to break through the block I was facing.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors. I read constantly. There are always at least two or three books lying around at some stage of completion. My favorite authors are the classic scifi guys, Assimov, Heinlein, etc…. But I also love many other genres. Fantasy, historical fiction, action adventure, science content, even an occasional mystery.
Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you? I am a terrible proof reader of my own work. I need others to proof read and edit all my work.
How are you publishing this book and why? (*e.g. Indie, traditional or both) I was fortunate enough to get picked up by Solstice Publishing. This was a stubborn part of me that always considered it a part of being a successful writer was to be traditionally published. To me, it meant another professional liked my work enough to work with me.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews? An author, like a teacher, needs to develop a thick skin. People will like your work, or not. Everyone has different tastes, some are simply more diplomatic about voicing their opinions than others. Plus, there are always those out there who made it their mission in life to tear down everyone else. I don’t enjoy the bad reviews, but fortunately they are few, so I can enjoy the good ones.
Did you make any marketing mistakes or is there anything you would avoid in future? This is my big nasty learning curve right now. I am still trying to figure out the marketing game. If any of you out there have something that works well, I would love to hear about it.
What do you think of “trailers” for books, and do you have a trailer/will you create one for your own work? I actually love making trailers and teaser videos for my books. I think they are fun to create and have quite a few.
How do you relax? To relax, I read, watch movies or baseball, go for walks and the occasional bike ride.
What is your favorite quote? Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and disguised as hard work. – Mark Twain
You can find more out about Jim and his novels at:
Webpage: http://jimcroninscienceedutainer.weebly.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/JimCroninScienceEdutainer/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/authorjimcronin
Stayed tuned for another author interview coming soon!
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