The End of The Nova Chronicles
Hopefully by this time next week Hero will be here… I’m overjoyed and sad at the same time by that. I’ve been writing Nova for a few years now and I’ve really become attached! But as I’ve said previously, it’s time to move on. So, to celebrate the end of the Nova Chronicles, I thought I’d answer some frequently asked questions about the series (and writing). If you have any more questions, just let me know in the comments and I’ll reply!
Is this really the end of Nova’s story?
I won’t give any spoilers… but suffice to say there is room for Nova’s adventures to continue. Yes, I’ve left it open so that if I want to come back to Nova in the future, I can. However, ten books is quite a lot for a series and I think at some point Nova has to go on her own way.
Having said that, the universe of The Nova Chronicles is massive. Those of you who have read The UnConnected know there’s a lot more going on than was covered in Nova’s books. So, it’s possible that in the future you may see “The Tanguin Chronicles” or “The Aart Chronicles”…. or maybe a series about the first outbreak of HAV. (If any of these especially appeal to you, tell me in the comments! – I won’t know if you don’t tell me!)
But for the moment… yes, Nova’s story has come to an end.
What will you work on next?
I mentioned a little while back that I was working on a fantasy series. Well I’m pleased to say that that’s now more than 50,000 words long and still going full steam ahead. Keep an eye on the Bounty Hunter Bulletin for the release of that towards the end of the year.
I also have a couple of sci-fi stand-alones in the works which should be out before too long.
Why don’t Nova and Aart ever get together?
I made a solemn vow when I started this series that I would not contaminate my sci-fi adventure with romance… and I’ve held to that for 10 books. I’m afraid that romance elements never appealed to me, and they always seem to get in the way of the sci-fi/fantasy that I read. So, no… no romance. Besides, Aart and Nova were always more like brother and sister to me (feel free to disagree in the comments section :p ).
How did you first come up with the idea for Nova?
I took three things I enjoy and my brain mushed them together:
Dr Who + Firefly + Tomb Raider = The Nova Chronicles
Are their hidden ‘Easter Eggs’ in The Nova Chronicles?
Yes. Some of them I think only I will get, but they made me laugh at the time, others hopefully the perceptive reader will find. Some are quiet references to other books that I’ve enjoyed, and some of them reference previous events in the series, or my other books.
But what are they!?
Okay, okay, I’ll give you a hint to one of them… Did anyone find the bird skull in Stranger hauntingly familiar? Nova does have a weird connection with time after all…
Why doesn’t Nova use her powers more?
A tough question. But I think it boils down to this;
1) It’s incredibly dangerous. She genuinely could fall through time/space, never to be seen again. So after the events of Survivor she did everything she could to lock that part of herself away. Sure it sneaks out every now and then, but mostly she’s got it under control.
2) Nova’s encounter with the Ancients really scared her (I know it’s hard to tell because she’s so tough, but it did), so she avoids everything to do with it – as evidenced by her never telling any of her friends about her experience on Archalon.
3) How could the bad guys possibly win if Nova was as awesome as she is AND had super powers??!! (just kidding, but still…)
I want to see more of Cal!
I hear from so many people saying that Cal is their favourite character. I didn’t expect it when I first wrote him, but the more I’ve gotten to know him, the more I like him too. He’s so fun to write, it’s like writing a character who says exactly what everyone is thinking, but is too polite to say. And yet, you can’t hate him for it because he’s a robot!
Unfortunately Cal’s history before he met Nova is very dull, so he probably won’t have an origin story. After all… it was the crash landing on Tabryn that shook a few wires loose and gave him his special personality that we all know and love 😉
I have more questions…
Just write them in the comments section and I’ll answer ASAP!
Thank you all for being such wonderful readers, I hope you enjoy the last instalment of The Nova Chronicles!
I’m halfway through “Justice” having purchased the 5-book set, and I know I’ll be purchasing the rest of the series. My Bounty Hunter quiz came out as Nova (must be my antisocial nature – LOL) and wouldn’t I love to have her grit!
Secondary or tertiary stories world be marvelous. Also, maybe it’s just me but when I visualize Cal/C4L, I imagine the cover of the original “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and the little blob with its tongue sticking out.
I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your books. What a joy to read some straight up sci-fi that isn’t patronizing in tone or topic yet still manages to touch upon matters of importance.
Just for the record, I’m 58 years old and have been a fan of the genre for nearly 50 years now.
Keep up the excellent work.
Hi Ruth,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so happy that you’re enjoying the Chronicles, and I hope the rest of the series is just as good! I also get Nova when I do that quiz, and I feel the same way about her grit.
That blob isn’t too far away from Cal I think. I have considered doing alternative series, e.g. ‘The Tanguin Chronicles’, we’ll see how things are going when I finish all of my current projects!
Thanks again for stopping by and for your compliments, they mean the world!
Saffron
Hello again, Saffron –
I’ve just finished “Adventurer” (oh, what a nasty business!) and have read “Unconnected.” Where, if anywhere, in the timeline does “The Confederacy Files” fit in?
I’d be interested in knowing more about the med tech on the Hunter ships and if labourbots on the ships have surgical skill programming. You leave little doubt as to their absolute necessity.
I’ve been leaving loving reviews on amazon and Goodreads. Woman, do you ever sleep, or do you write 24/7? You have as much stamina as Nova!
Hi Ruth,
It’s great to hear from you, thank you for your comment!
I hope you enjoy the last couple of books in the Nova Chronicles!
I wrote the Confederacy Files so that they do fit into the Nova timeline, but in different parts. So, The Last Man on Mars (Currently being written into a full length Novel! Keep your eyes peeled!) is set BEFORE the Nova Chronicles, well before in fact, when humans are just starting to colonise the universe. It’s around this time that the colonisation ships (like that mentioned in Pilgrim) set off. The plague mentioned in The Last Man on Mars is the same one that led to the Reapers you saw in Adventurer!
Steel Gods of the Arena is just Nova off on a bit of a jaunt, I imagined it took place sometime between the early books in The Nova Chronicles, or even just before Survivor.
Fly Away occurs a little bit after Book 8 of The Nova Chronicles (Prisoner). In fact, if you pay close attention in Prisoner you’ll see Doc and Mouse getting about!
Big Brother is set well before the Nova Chronicles, but after The Last Man on Mars. It’s the first beginnings of the Confederacy taking route. They come into power after the devastation left by the plague described in the Last Man on Mars.
The quality of med-tech on the hunter ships very much depends on the quality of the ship itself, and any modifications that’s been done to it. For example, Aart’s very fancy ship has all the latest technology. He could probably get half his arm blown up and provided he got there soon enough and had enough time, he’d be okay. (Like the technology the Confederacy had back in Survivor). Nova on the other hand has an old ship, and as much as we love Crusader and Cal, they’re just not as well equipped. However, they do make sure they have the latest portable medicine, like the Parapem tablets and the New-Skin-O. Like most computers, the Labourbots can learn most skills. However, depending on their hardware they might not be able to perform those skills. Luckily Cal has lots of different tools in his compartment, so he can be very useful in that area 🙂
I do sleep… occasionally 🙂 But I love writing so that’s how I can spend so much time doing it! (As a side-note, keep an eye out in the next couple of days – The first book in Aart’s series is coming out!)
I hope that makes sense and if you’d like any clarification on anything, please don’t hesitate to message me! Also, thank you very much for leaving reviews. I really appreciate it.
Cheers,
Saffron
Saffron,
Good thinking keeping Nova and Aart from becoming too involved. Look how many great TV series shows were destroyed when key Characters finally got married. You kept the focus on the events and the particular attributes of each character. I believe that’s a significant part of the staying power of The Nova Chronicles. BTW, add me to those who’d like more of Cal.
THE HOLEY ONE
Hey Bill 🙂
Thanks for commenting! I feel the same way about many TV shows being ruined by getting mixed up in all the gooey romantic stuff.
Haha, I’ll keep that in mind about Cal, maybe I’ll come up with some kind of short story for him (if there’s enough interest – so people reading, make sure you add your two cents!)
Saffron