I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SPACE HOLES: FIRST
TRANSMISSION by B. R. Louis Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Author: B. R. Louis
Pub. Date: March 26, 2024
Publisher: CamCat Books
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 320
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/SPACE-HOLES-FIRST-TRANSMISSION
Saving an alien planet is nothing compared to meeting your sales quota.
Marcus Aimond, untrained tag-along aboard humanity's first intergalactic
exploratory commerce vessel, has a singular mission: sell off-brand misprinted
merchandise.
When the rookie and his crew encounter the Nerelkor, a frog-like
civilization, he is thrust head-first into an alien civil war. The opposing
factions, Rejault and Dinasc, are stuck in an ill-fated feud driven by
deep-rooted ineptitude. To avoid the planet’s total annihilation and establish
a local sales office, Aimond and the crew must survive arena combat, reshape
the very structure of the planet, establish world peace, and stay alive—for the
sake of positive branding, of course.
Interview:
For
the readers: can you tell us a little bit about your book and the characters?
Space Holes is what happens when you merge Hitchhiker’s Guide to
the Galaxy, the movie Office Space, and Futurama all into one. It’s a
multi-layered satire that takes jabs at everything from politics, to
capitalism, to corporate culture, to sci-fi as a genre itself.
One company has purchased all of Earth, with the exception of
Florida which they built a wall around. The company establishes a space program
with the sole purpose of discovering new species to pawn off their misprinted
novelty garbage.
The characters are the ship’s crew who are described as: the best,
brightest, and most available.
What
are you working on now?
I’m plotting out the sequel to Space Holes: First Transmission,
drafting a fantasy novel, and working on releasing my first indie video game
(hopefully out early next year). When it fits into one sentence like that,
doesn’t seem like a lot, but there’s a good amount to balance!
Were
any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
The characters themselves are not based on anyone in particular,
but many of the jokes, gags, and scenarios are grounded in experiences or
conversations I’ve had. Some of them are quite ridiculous. Each of the
characters has a unique sense of humor or wit. A lot of the dry humor is an
extension of my own whereas some of the more situational based jabs from
characters can stem from personal conversations.
Who
was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
The ship’s pilot, Hoomer, and the ship’s AI, Galileo, occupy my
favorite spot. The two share a bitterly sarcastic relationship which pours out
into their interactions with each other and other characters. Dry humor is up
there as one of my favorite categories, and their reactions to situations and
other characters are always the most natural thing to create. As the story has
a constant humors undertone, all of the characters contribute to the general
voice in some way—so I can’t say that I had anyone that I didn’t enjoy writing!
What
is your favorite passage/scene in your book?
Without giving away any spoilers, a character who is teased
throughout the story makes a sudden and unexpected grand debut. The way in
which they appear would seem almost nonsensical without the build-up and
background following the character for a majority of the story. But their
unexpected arrival on scene fits perfectly, even as a surprise.
What
kind of research did you have to do for the story?
There are a few odd scientific measurements I had to look up to
make sure some of the claims, while intentionally outlandish, remained somehow
feasible. A prime example of this is when the Science Officer, Osor, comes in
contact with a failed experiment that rewires his brain.
The average human brain consists of
around one hundred billion neurons. An electrical field traveling over a wire
could send signals nearing light speed. Meanwhile humans were stuck with a
transit time between neurons clocking between seventy-five and one hundred
twenty meters per second, or rather four hundred billion two hundred
seventy-six million nine hundred fourteen thousand two hundred thirty-eight
quintillionths the speed of light. This meager speed allows a man to recognize
the face of a friend in an instant, recall in full a detailed web of
literature, yet simultaneously fail to recall his own birth date unless he sits
down and contemplates for the better part of half an hour.
Were
that speed doubled, the human brain would be able to access an archival of
memories while continuing to process the new data around it. If tripled, it
would rival an early computer, or allow the average human to operate three
internet browsers at once while still failing to absorb any items on the
screen. Once the rate approaches forty-two times the average speed, normal
function becomes complicated.
Kaitlyn Hoomer stepped into the
Science Lab, her straight black hair reflecting back the lights inside. Having
grown up stealing and salvaging rudimentary spacecraft, Hoomer had been around
her share of eccentric people. But to walk in on one of the world’s most
renowned scientific minds dangling from a light fixture by his knees,
attempting to lick a light bulb while being swatted down by a curious new crew
member—that reached a new level of unusual.
“Nope,” Hoomer said as she walked
back out.
Lightning Round Questions:
Favorite social media site?
If YouTube counts as social media, then that, but mostly because of the limitless free music. I stay away from the commenting part. (I guess that’s the social aspect.)
Favorite Superhero or Villain?
I grew up on Dragon Ball Z. So it’s hard for me to list anyone but the iconic Goku/Vegeta pairing.
Favorite TV show?
Nothing has yet to top Firefly. Fans of the show might notice a subtle reference in Space Holes!
Sweet or Salty?
Yes. “But wait!” you’ll likely decry. “It’s one or the other!” Whatever General Tso’s chicken is, which I assume is just heavily sugared salt; that’s the answer.
Any Phobias?
Heights used to freak me out. Then I jumped out of a plane—now I’m good!
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
An easy to pronounce song titled: ITIIITIATIIHYLIHYL, by the band Blackshape. (The title will make sense if you listen to it.)
2024 Movie you’re most looking forward to?
I am so far behind on movies. To be honest, I have no idea what’s out right now or even on the way!
Do you play video games? If so what are some of your favorites?
Story intensive games are always a highlight for me. Red Dead Redemption 2, Deus Ex, Skies of Arcadia, Cyberpunk 2077 — all games I have explored way too deeply.
About B. R. Louis:
B. R. Louis is a
pediatric critical care nurse, outdoor enthusiast, and tech nerd with a love
for storytelling, writing, and making people laugh. Travels around the world
have introduced him to different cultures and unique forms of storytelling.
Through all of the exploration and time spent in countless discussions, he's
found the one innate thing that ties all people together is our ability and
desire to share laughter.
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B.R.’s newsletter!
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Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a finished copy of SPACE HOLES: FIRST TRANSMISSION, US Only.
Ends October 8th, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveawayWeek One:
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9/23/2024 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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9/23/2024 |
Excerpt |
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9/24/2024 |
Interview/IG Post |
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9/24/2024 |
Guest Post |
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9/25/2024 |
Guest Post/IG Post |
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9/25/2024 |
IG Post/TikTok Post |
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9/26/2024 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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9/26/2024 |
Excerpt |
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9/27/2024 |
IG Post |
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9/27/2024 |
IG Review |
Week Two:
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9/30/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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9/30/2024 |
Review |
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10/1/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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10/1/2024 |
IG Review |
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10/2/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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10/2/2024 |
IG Review |
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10/3/2024 |
Review/IG Post |
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10/3/2024 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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10/4/2024 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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10/4/2024 |
IG Review |
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