Interview with Daniel Arenson, Author of We Found a Starship (Journey to Earthrise Book 1) – NewInBooks

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

At its heart, We Found a Starship is about memory. About our personal memories and our collective ones. The heroes – Marco, Addy, and Einav – are suffering from amnesia. They wake to find themselves living on a jungle world far from Earth. They need to understand who they are. How they got here. And what those dark, shadowy entities hunting them really are.

The characters begin to explore the jungle and find… well, I’ll leave it there for now.

This is a new story. But Marco, Addy, and Einav are old characters of mine. They’ve also appeared in my series Earthrise (15 novels) and A Prayer for Earthrise (6 novels). So I suppose the inspiration was… memory. Memory of these old characters of mine – and where they find themselves today.

But don’t worry, if this sounds heavy – it’s not. The book is action-packed. Short, punchy scenes. Scary aliens. Exploration. Adventure. It’s all there, and if I may say so myself, this is a fun sci-fi romp. But yes, beneath the layers of action – there is melancholy and nostalgia.

Oh, and even if you haven’t read the earlier series – you can start right here. You can pick up We Found a Starship and understand everything. So if you’re new, feel free to start with this book!

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? (Meant to be fun. Skip if you need to!)

Marco is the hero. He’s world-weary but not bitter. He’s somber, fiercely loyal, and honest. In many ways, he’s the moral compass of the group. His theme song is Hanan Ben-Ari’s “Champion of the World.”

Addy is his wife, a wild gunner and huntress. She has a big attitude, a foul mouth, and a fiery temper. Her song would be Paralandra’s “Despicable.” Just because the song’s attitude suits her.

Einav is the leader of the group (and the captain of the titular starship). She’s a wise leader, diplomatic when it suits her, ruthless when it doesn’t. She carries the burden of command with quiet dignity. Despite her strength and wisdom, there is bittersweet sadness to this character, a lingering yearning for a home she can barely remember. Her song would be Pe’er Tasi’s “What Will Be Tomorrow?”

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I read different genres. Last winter, I was reading Kafka, Solzhenitsyn, Viktor Frankl, and (in a surprise twist) Brandon Sanderson. Right now, I’ve got a Thomas Sowell, a Steven Erikson, and an Ursula K. Le Guin on my nightstand. So… what would you call that? A mix of tragedy and escapism, maybe.

For years now, I’ve only been writing science fiction. But I used to write a lot of fantasy. And in the future, I will write another fantasy series (probably set in Requiem, my dragon universe).

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Favorite part? Just letting the characters do their thing. To let them guide the story, to banter, to argue, even to fight. To follow their own path. I didn’t outline the novel in advance. I only had a vague idea of the ending. I pretty much just plopped down Marco, Addy, and Einav in the middle of a jungle. I removed their memories and tossed in monsters. Then I let them explore the world and forge their own path. The results surprised me. I hope you enjoy how it came out!

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Not really, unless it’s quirky to spend your life writing every day. Because I’ve been writing every day for decades. I guess that’s my quirk: wake up, write, write some more, go to bed, repeat. No lucky mugs, but I’m very lucky that I get to write every day.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I don’t have a punchy motto, but I would say—it’s important for everyone to find a purpose in life and to work toward that purpose. For me, that’s writing books and supporting my family. In our modern society, we’re always chasing happiness—from entertainment, from money, from stuff. And I get it. I love stuff too. I buy stuff. And I get the boost of dopamine too. But ironically, the quest for happiness leaves us unfulfilled, and the high can fade quickly. Instead, maybe we should spend more time searching for purpose. To have a goal and to work toward it, and to find meaning in work, art, or helping others—that, to me, is how we make this life a bit more tolerable. At least that’s what I try to do. Does that work as a philosophy?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

The characters. Marco, somber and cynical. Addy, fiery and funny. Einav, wise and strong. I hope they become like real people to you. I hope they feel almost like friends. I hope you remember them long after you’ve forgotten all about the plot. The stories that stick with me personally – for years, often for life – they do this because of the characters. Honestly, I can’t remember most of the details from Chronicles of Amber, or Lord of the Rings, or Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, or any number of sci-fi and fantasy novels I read decades ago. But decades later, I remember Corwin, Frodo, and Marvin. If you remember any of my own characters, that to me is the best compliment.