Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Zilla: As activists and card-carrying science fiction nerds, we could not be more excited at Night Beats to welcome Helena Trooperman’s novel Power Within to our bookcases—and Helena herself to our interviews. Helena, can you start off by telling us about your book?

Helena: She’s a tech genius. But unless she can invent a daring rescue, her soulmate will die.

Toronto 2032, in a subtly alternate reality. Innovator Athena Cartwright wants to change the world with her self-charging coms device. But her focus shifts when her life-partner and oil company CEO leaves on an emergency trip to a stricken rig off the African coast.  And when she learns the worst has happened, she takes matters into her own hands to save him.

With everyone from the catastrophe presumed dead, Athena is furious the authorities refuse to take further action. But her partner carries one of her prototypes… and he’s just called. Though bringing him back alive will pit her against corrupt governments, greedy conspirators, and deadly high-seas pirates.

Can Athena’s daring strategy outwit global foes who want him dead?

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

Helena: In these times of climate change, where the world leaders are participating in the last great grab of land, power, and resources, I chose to embrace the other future that’s on offer, the sustainable future of cooperation, abundant power, and technological revolution. It’s exciting, problematic, fraught with dangers, and has a steep learning curve. Plus, I wanted to empower my growing teenagers that sci-fi is a great way to imagine better friendships, family, embrace diversity, inventiveness, and technology to help communities thrive sustainably.

Zilla: Is there a visual image that inspired you? A picture that sums up your hopes for a better future?

Helena: It felt great to have our say in Toronto. You don’t have to be an activist, and campaigning doesn’t have to be negative. Freedom of speech isn’t just for haters. Ordinary people can make a difference because we have power. Together that power is magnified!

Zilla: If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

Helena: To Athena, I’d say, “Thank you. Your small acts of courage and dealing with your fears, helped me be more courageous in my writing.” And to James, I’d say, “I don’t believe being in oil makes you evil. I think it makes you stubborn. Use the cash you donate to governments to help your organization. Are you courageous enough to pioneer transition away from fossil fuels?”

Zilla: And what would they reply?

Helena: “I catch my negative self-talk these days,” Athena would say. “And now, I make things happen, rather than let them happen to me. It takes every scrap of energy and determination I have.”

“Fossil fuel organizations are considered the villains but there was a time when we were heroes,” James would say. “Demand is still there but Athena’s right, the time is fast approaching where alternate energies could meet the world’s energy requirements. It’s time to transition.”

Zilla: Who is your favourite fictional character that you didn’t write?

Helena: El from the El Donasii series by Laurence Dahners. El is an inventor who hates hurting anyone. She’s humble and she’s kind. If she has to she’ll stand her ground, defend herself and those about her.

Zilla: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

Helena: Power Within is book one in the Age of Unity. Find out more at my website. Check out my (almost) monthly newsletter, Reader Hat On, and how Athena (green power) and James (Mr. Oil) meet, in my free downloadable Origin novella: Always On.

Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Zilla: From a gorgeous cover art to a thrilling plotline, F. David Schultz’s political fantasy Crown of Horns stands out. We got him here to tell us all about it—so David, take it away!

David: I recently published my first novel: Crown of Horns. It’s a political fantasy-–think 1984 meets The Witcher—about the fight against authoritarianism in a world inspired by the history and culture of Ukraine. 

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

David: My partner introduced me to her family’s rich, Ukrainian culture, and I fell in love. Not only with her, but with her traditions and the joy with which she celebrated them. I got to join in those celebrations and learn a lot along the way. 

Growing up, I didn’t have a cultural identity. Canadian was the only meaningful descriptor, offering little beyond national pride. It wasn’t until adulthood that I learned that much had been stripped away in the name of assimilation. 

This became one of the central themes in my book: the celebration of culture versus the forces that strip it away in the name of unity. 

Zilla: I know that you’re creative in a lot of mediums—why do you write?

David: I have a theatre background. Acting offers an opportunity to explore ideas outside my own, and to step into the mind of another person. I adjust my thinking, feeling, and actions based on the playwright. When I’m writing, I can shape the direction of my exploration. 

It’s funny. Sometimes I slip so fully into my characters that I stop thinking about them objectively. I once had a reader call Siranna, a young artist in Crown of Horns, incredibly naïve. I was shocked. Her actions felt so justified and honest. Looking back… yep, she’s very naïve. 

Zilla: And after writing comes the dreaded editing! So what’s the secret to editing well?

David: I took a wild approach while editing my novel. Realizing my early changes had big impacts on the ending, I jumped to the last chapter. Then to the chapter right before that. Before I knew it, I was spinning a wheel to decide what I’d edit next. While a little bonkers on the face of it, the method left me more aware of the sequence of events. 

If someone were looking for advice, I wouldn’t necessarily suggest spinning a wheel. I would say that a good working knowledge of the piece is key, so you are aware of how changes will impact other parts of the work.

Zilla: What’s your next writing project? Is there a next?

David: I didn’t plan to write a sequel… but I fell in love with the world. Since publishing, I’ve written the first draft of a sequel, with ideas for two to three more books after that. 

I’m excited for my next, still unnamed, novel. Crown of Horns was a political fantasy with an underline beneath political. This next one has an underline beneath fantasy. Less political thriller and more magic, monsters, and mystery. I love the change in tone—and the alliteration! 

Zilla: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

David: Check out my website for more on the book. You can follow me in many places, as @EmpyClaw. I’m most active on Mastodon and would love to connect: