Displaced
By: Stephen Drake
Allow me to introduce you to Kevin Murdock. He is a
character like none other I have encountered. His personality, for a character
in a book, made me feel like he was someone I have encountered. This man, who
honestly prefers to be called Murdock is like you and I. He talks to himself in
his head, and makes you laugh when he does it. He is funny, yet sophisticated
at the same time, and honestly, I think you will find him quite enjoyable to
read, as I did.
Murdock is aboard a transport pod, one that speaks to
him. And when it does, he wants to argue with it, but refrains because he knows
it is a ship, and it would only be a waste of his time.
Murdock is awakened on this ship, along with nineteen
others, and wouldn’t you know it, one of them is a Politician. And we all know
what that means.
The Politicians name is James Whittier, (and no he isn’t
witty in the least.) and all he wants is what all politicians want, is power. Murdock promotes common sense, as well as self-reliance,
teaching the others that they can do things on their own. But this isn’t what
Whittier wants and longs for, therefore the two begin to butt heads.
Once the group decides to exclude Murdock, only then
does he realize that there are entities and among them that are even more
powerful then all of them know and realize. Now the problem being, how does he
give this information to them, if they want nothing to do with him?
I honestly found this book very intriguing and I truly
enjoyed the character of Murdock immensely, as well as the ship. Honestly, the
book in itself has a great ‘personality’ to it, one I have never felt before in
a book, and that in itself made this book very entertaining and original. I
give this book five wonderful stars, because I have never felt this entertained
by a book in a long time. I also think Stephen Drake is a new writer I intend
to read more of and hope that he will keep entertaining us readers further! He
has a great gift!
Here are my questions for Stephen:
1. What made you write this book and
how long did it take you?
I have no idea what made me write it. Its first iteration was a short story
I wrote around 1974, which wasn't very good. In 2007 I started the novel
version, at the insistence of friends that anyone could write one book. It
was self-published in March of 2016.
2. Who designed this beautiful cover?
The cover was designed by Karen Gray. A very good author in her own right,
who also does graphic art. She lives in Scotland.
3. Do you have any photos or descriptions of the characters that you can
share with us?
All the descriptions of all the main characters is inside the book.
4. What are you working on now?
Currently, I working on the third book in the Displaced series, as well as
the second book in the Blackwing series.
5. What motivates you to write?
Just have a story rattling around inside my head that wants to get out.
6. If you were to get writers block, or have ever had it, what do you do for
it?
I go back and read a few of the previous chapters. Sometimes that is enough
to get the juices flowing again.
7. What suggestions can you offer for the aspiring writers out there?
Write the type of story you'd like to read. No matter how odd it seems to
you, there are others out there that will read it, if you write it.
8. How long have you been writing?
Full-time since 2007.
9. What are your hobbies?
Knitting, make my own wine (mead, grape wine, and hard apple cider),
reading, martial arts.
10. Do you put yourself into your characters?
Usually, there is some of me in all of them. How much depends on the story.
11. Where is your favorite place to write?
I only write in my office on my PC. I don't own or use smart-phones or
i-pads.
12. Who is your favorite writer of all time?
That is a tough question. My favorites are Heinlein, Tolkien, Scalzi, and
the Herberts (Frank and Brian). Then there are the indie authors I enjoy
reading. Greg Spry, Jonathon Fletcher, K.J. Simmill, Kelly Michelle Baker,
Karen Gray, to name a few. A lot depends on my mood at the time as each
author has something unique to offer.
13. Did you see yourself becoming a writer when you were younger?
Time out while I laugh.....absolutely not! English was my worst subject in
school and I hated writing 500 word essays, a couple hundred word book
reports, or term papers. However, I've enjoyed reading, just for the fun of
it, since I was quite young, 9 or 10, I think. So far, my largest book is
over 143,000 words and my smallest is 80,000 words. Go figure.
14. Please share with us your social media and book links:
www.facebook.com/stephen.drake.374549
I'm on Goodreads
https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Drake/e/B01LVYJTS1/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
My books:
https://www.amazon.com/Displaced-Drake-Stephen-ebook/dp/B01LZKB1EX/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
https://www.amazon.com/Civilization-Displaced-Book-Stephen-Drake-ebook/dp/B01LZDHWV1/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
https://www.amazon.com/Blackwing-Stephen-Drake/dp/1548058327/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
I have no idea what made me write it. Its first iteration was a short story
I wrote around 1974, which wasn't very good. In 2007 I started the novel
version, at the insistence of friends that anyone could write one book. It
was self-published in March of 2016.
2. Who designed this beautiful cover?
The cover was designed by Karen Gray. A very good author in her own right,
who also does graphic art. She lives in Scotland.
3. Do you have any photos or descriptions of the characters that you can
share with us?
All the descriptions of all the main characters is inside the book.
4. What are you working on now?
Currently, I working on the third book in the Displaced series, as well as
the second book in the Blackwing series.
5. What motivates you to write?
Just have a story rattling around inside my head that wants to get out.
6. If you were to get writers block, or have ever had it, what do you do for
it?
I go back and read a few of the previous chapters. Sometimes that is enough
to get the juices flowing again.
7. What suggestions can you offer for the aspiring writers out there?
Write the type of story you'd like to read. No matter how odd it seems to
you, there are others out there that will read it, if you write it.
8. How long have you been writing?
Full-time since 2007.
9. What are your hobbies?
Knitting, make my own wine (mead, grape wine, and hard apple cider),
reading, martial arts.
10. Do you put yourself into your characters?
Usually, there is some of me in all of them. How much depends on the story.
11. Where is your favorite place to write?
I only write in my office on my PC. I don't own or use smart-phones or
i-pads.
12. Who is your favorite writer of all time?
That is a tough question. My favorites are Heinlein, Tolkien, Scalzi, and
the Herberts (Frank and Brian). Then there are the indie authors I enjoy
reading. Greg Spry, Jonathon Fletcher, K.J. Simmill, Kelly Michelle Baker,
Karen Gray, to name a few. A lot depends on my mood at the time as each
author has something unique to offer.
13. Did you see yourself becoming a writer when you were younger?
Time out while I laugh.....absolutely not! English was my worst subject in
school and I hated writing 500 word essays, a couple hundred word book
reports, or term papers. However, I've enjoyed reading, just for the fun of
it, since I was quite young, 9 or 10, I think. So far, my largest book is
over 143,000 words and my smallest is 80,000 words. Go figure.
14. Please share with us your social media and book links:
www.facebook.com/stephen.drake.374549
I'm on Goodreads
https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Drake/e/B01LVYJTS1/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
My books:
https://www.amazon.com/Displaced-Drake-Stephen-ebook/dp/B01LZKB1EX/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
https://www.amazon.com/Civilization-Displaced-Book-Stephen-Drake-ebook/dp/B01LZDHWV1/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
https://www.amazon.com/Blackwing-Stephen-Drake/dp/1548058327/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Displaced by Stephen DrakeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Allow me to introduce you to Kevin Murdock. He is a character like none other I have encountered. His personality, for a character in a book, made me feel like he was someone I have encountered. This man, who honestly prefers to be called Murdock is like you and I. He talks to himself in his head, and makes you laugh when he does it. He is funny, yet sophisticated at the same time, and honestly, I think you will find him quite enjoyable to read, as I did.
Murdock is aboard a transport pod, one that speaks to him. And when it does, he wants to argue with it, but refrains because he knows it is a ship, and it would only be a waste of his time.
Murdock is awakened on this ship, along with nineteen others, and wouldn’t you know it, one of them is a Politician. And we all know what that means.
The Politicians name is James Whittier, (and no he isn’t witty in the least.) and all he wants is what all politicians want, is power. Murdock promotes common sense, as well as self-reliance, teaching the others that they can do things on their own. But this isn’t what Whittier wants and longs for, therefore the two begin to butt heads.
Once the group decides to exclude Murdock, only then does he realize that there are entities and among them that are even more powerful then all of them know and realize. Now the problem being, how does he give this information to them, if they want nothing to do with him?
I honestly found this book very intriguing and I truly enjoyed the character of Murdock immensely, as well as the ship. Honestly, the book in itself has a great ‘personality’ to it, one I have never felt before in a book, and that in itself made this book very entertaining and original. I give this book five wonderful stars, because I have never felt this entertained by a book in a long time. I also think Stephen Drake is a new writer I intend to read more of and hope that he will keep entertaining us readers further! He has a great gift!
View all my reviews
