Will Green: Is Selso Xisto your real name or pen name?
Selso Xisto: Believe it or not, it is my real name! My family is Portuguese though, not from another planet unfortunately.
Will Green: Lol. That is unfortunate. If you were from another planet then this would be my first alien interview.
Tell us about your books that you have available?
Selso Xisto: Particle Horizon is my first book. It's a real labor of love, an amalgamation of many ideas and themes I've been cooking in my head for years. It's an epic, fast-paced science fiction story which tells a galaxy-spanning story from the perspectives of three main characters on different sides of the conflict. Mankind is divided by faith and science; a dangerous new cult has started a civil war against the progressive Union of Free Worlds and the idyllic asteroid world of Angelhaven is the new front line. The greatest mind in human history has discovered a power that both sides want, but which may ultimately be the undoing of all. We follow Xavier, an uncompromising Marine commander with a secret ability neither science nor religion can explain; he's been sent to Angelhaven to stop the Legion invasion but he has a personal agenda - he wants revenge and answers. Una lives on Angelhaven and is caught in the middle. She is the first true artificial intelligence; a sentient machine with a human body. She fights for her humanity as her world falls apart around her. On the opposite side, Aja is a reluctant conscript in the Legion and wants only to survive… and protect her precious secret. All the while, an implacable, inscrutable nemesis stalks them all as unknown eyes watch events unfold with interest.
Will Green: Having read it already myself, with a book review to soon follow, it is everything you summarized right there and so incredibly much more! Any epic SF fan should definitely take the time to read Particle Horizon.
What can you tell us about your next project?
Selso Xisto: I haven't yet decided what it will be. I'm mulling over a new science fiction project or a sequel to Particle Horizon.
Will Green: Please let it be a sequel to Particle Horizon. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters were amazing! Of course I’ll have more to say in the review.
Selso Xisto: Thank you very much; I'm so happy you liked it! I really am torn over whether to do a new story or a sequel; I have a few definite ideas of where the Particle Horizon sequel will go and I think it's only a matter of time before I return to that universe and those characters I love, how's that? I'm currently so busy, I simply haven't found the time to start the next one, but I will soon!
Will Green: I suppose that’s all I can ask for; this isn’t Stephen King’s Misery. I can’t kidnap you and break your legs to force you to write the next one. Besides I don’t have a cabin where we can “work”. I hope you find this humorous and not at all scary.
Where do you get the information for your book(s)?
Selso Xisto: Everywhere! There are so many rich and stimulating SF worlds in books, comics, film and games that it is often hard to nail exactly where a theme or specific influence comes from. I read a lot of science blogs and magazines and a lot of speculative articles give me ideas for the science in my books. A lot of the religious and social stuff comes from my own background and studies and personal speculation as to how future history could plausibly go.
Will Green: Yes! Now that’s what I like to hear. You can’t pin it down, stimuli are everywhere. You surround yourself in all things SF it seems, but your story is very much its own things. Of course there are minor similarities to this or that, but that’s always going to happen. Did you know that there are people out there that do not want to read or watch anything in a certain genre in fear that their work will be too influenced by it? What are your thoughts on that?
Selso Xisto: I think that's both futile and self-defeating. Everything ever written was influenced by something else. Some of the best books I've ever read were unashamedly influenced by other books and yet better in their own way. There is very little truly original art in the world in my opinion. Originality is something we should strive for, but I think it's just human for your work to be colored by your own tastes. Conversely, I think particularly in a tough genre like SF, you need to be well read if only to avoid the many clichés established by others. SF is tough because of the amount of already established, brilliant ideas. Arthur C Clarke once said (I think rightly, too) that there are no ideas left in science fiction because he'd already done them all. Obviously, this isn't totally true, but I know what he meant. If you read his early stuff, he's basically covered all the main themes hinted at in pretty much all SF today. I think by not reading what everyone else is reading, you just diminish your own work. If you are some kind of creative genius, then why be so worried about being influenced by others? I think positive influences make art better. Peter F Hamilton, Arthur C Clarke, Greg Bear… these guys all heavily influenced my writing and I'm proud to say so. If they hadn't, I don't think the final result would have been quite as good. What I would say though, is that you can use genre influences in a positive way. For example; taking elements from other, quite different genres to spice up your own. If you bring a new paradigm into a firmly established genre with its own language and clichés and turn them on their head…
Will Green: Well stated, Selso. I have read it more than once and you have just confirmed it; “There is very little truly original art in the world…” Thank you for bringing up all those good points on the subject matter. There is nothing wrong with familiarizing yourself with other established works in the genre you plan to write in.
We could go on and on, but we won’t right now. So what was the most surprising thing you've learned since you started writing?
Selso Xisto: Twitter was a great discovery! I've made so many cool friends on there and I'm always pleasantly surprised at how helpful and supportive people can be. I've been writing since primary school so it’s hard to put my finger on one particular aspect of writing that's surprised me. I suppose when I got my first draft back from my editor I was surprised at how bad my grammar could be!
Will Green: Twitter is terrific for connecting all types of people, although I tend to lean on Facebook more than Twitter, somehow it feels more personal, for me anyhow. Lol. I wonder how many first time writers get their first draft back and say to themselves “Oh wow, that’s terrible.” I’m sure it’s a lot.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Selso Xisto: Hard to say; Particle Horizon took 7 years but it was a somewhat off and on project. I almost gave up on it for a while as it was such a complex story I wasn't sure I had the chops to finish it. I'm glad I persisted though, I'm very happy with it and have been getting very positive feedback from those who've read it - I also got my first review a couple of weeks ago and it was fantastic, five stars! Yay! I don't think the next one will take anywhere near as long - I've learnt a lot about character and structure that would have saved me a lot of re-writes and editing.
Will Green: Holy….! 7 years? That’s a long time, but I’m glad you put the effort into it and didn’t quit, it was well worth it. It was a very complex story; a lot was going on the whole time. I’m sure you had trouble juggling the different storylines, it isn’t any wonder you didn’t think you could do it, but I must say you pulled it off fantastically.
Selso Xisto: Again, thank you so much! The positive vibes I've been getting make all that work so worth it. I wish I could travel back in time and tell myself that someone one day would like it; I probably would've finished it in half the time! It's funny, looking back at my first draft, covered in my editor's notes, I realize how different the whole story was made by one or two tiny additions made at the very end of the process.
Will Green: It probably would not have been the same if you finished it in half the time. It’s funny how small moments can make a story so much more.
Who or What inspires you to write?
Selso Xisto: I think most writers have a similar 'itch' inside them to get their crazy ideas out. I've been scribbling silly stories since I could write but only in the last five or six years have I taken it really seriously or had the self-confidence in my writing to get it out there. My inspirations tend to be very visual; a lot of the themes and settings for Particle Horizon came from a drawing I worked on for about a year during University. I did an A3 sized drawing of a futuristic asteroid colony and lavished it with detail. This image stuck with me for years and must have had a big subconscious influence on the setting of the book. Reading a lot of classic science fiction is also bound to feed the imagination!
Will Green: Very nice. I have an itch, but I just need to hunker down and get it out, not sure when that might happen though. Was it just time and practice that put the confidence in you to take the next step?
I bet your fans would love to see this drawing of yours, myself being one of your fans.
Selso Xisto: Fan is a very unfamiliar word to me, this book was just ramblings in my head until a few months ago but it's very kind and flattering of you to say so! The drawing is not particularly good and was drawn a long time before Photoshop, but seeing as you've asked so nicely I'll reluctantly take a picture of it for you later; I promise I write better than I draw!
Will Green: Well thank you very much. I think it’s great how an image can spark a massive story.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Selso Xisto: Hmmm… Writing quirk… I did used to have an unhealthy obsession with semicolons which my editor has tried to beat out of me with a long stick; she has almost succeeded.
Will Green: You know a good way to prevent from using those altogether would be to pop that colon/semi-colon key right off of your keyboard. I’m sure your editor would be just fine with that.
Selso Xisto: True, but then I would NEVER get any writing done as the compulsive obsessive inside me would just stare at the gap in my immaculate keyboard and be completely unable to focus on ANYTHING ELSE EVER AGAIN.
Will Green: LMAO! Oh that’s great! Too funny! I could see it now. “What happened to Selso?” “Some guy told him to get rid of semi-colon key and he’s never been the same since.”
What book are you reading right now?
Selso Xisto: I'm reading Absorption by John Meaney which is an amazing SF novel set in a very strange future. It's disgustingly good and I hate the author for being such a good writer.
Will Green: I guess if it’s that good, it must be a recommendation of yours. Is he mainstream or is he an indie author?
Selso Xisto: He's mainstream and I've only just discovered him after getting a little tired of some of the hard SF that's around right now. A lot of it is a little cold and I don't care about any of the characters. Absorption is bursting with ideas and moves along at a fast pace, I highly recommend it (though you should obviously read Particle Horizon first if you haven't!).
Will Green: True, a lot of hard SF characters are cold and calculating and they tend to be rather solitary. I’ll put it on my ever increasing “To read” list.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Selso Xisto: I have many but I'd have to say the one who most consistently blew me away was Peter F Hamilton. The Night's Dawn Trilogy is the most epic and mind-bending story I've ever read, blending fantasy ideas seamlessly into hard SF and telling a breathless, page-turning tale. His multi-character perspective structure heavily influenced me too. He has so many great ideas is sickening! He blows them away!
Will Green: Fantasy and SF in one epic tale, count me in. I love sinking my teeth into something really grandiose and getting absorbed into it. Particle Horizon had me, I must say.
Selso Xisto: I can't tell you how gratifying it is to hear that. I worked really hard on the plot and really thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew on a few occasions during the first draft, so it's actually with a sigh of deep relief that I accept your compliment!
Will Green: You’re very welcome.
What kind of music do you listen to and why?
Selso Xisto: I listen to all sorts… When I really need to get some work done though, I have to go with the classics - White Album by the Beatles is my favorite :D
Will Green: Well of course you have to have the Beatles in your arsenal of music to write to.
What do you watch on TV and why?
Selso Xisto: I'll watch pretty much everything from HBO and most of the documentaries and comedies from the BBC. We're pretty spoilt for good TV in the UK! I do think the best TV show of time is undoubtedly the reboot of Battlestar Galactica… I've watched the box set about a hundred times. Such brilliant storytelling and compelling characters. I even forgave them for the slightly contrived ending because the whole thing was such an epic, emotional journey that I felt we had to cut the creators some slack at the end!
Will Green: I should really get into Battlestar Galactica. The reboot came around the time Stargate: SG1 was ending and I was heavily into that, but I never really watched Battlestar Galactica at all. Did you watch Stargate?
Selso Xisto: I did not and therefore don't feel qualified to talk much about the TV show; I did really love the main theme from the original movie though. It seemed to be a perfect setup for a series. I always felt it was such a shame such a hack director made the Stargate movie because the whole Chariots of the Gods story was pretty entertaining and had a lot of possibility that got smudged out by all the Hollywood guff. A lot of TV show scifi gets diluted by the special effects budget not being able to live up to the premise of the show and the ever-present ratings war. For me, Battlestar was the one main exception; the execution of the show was never held back and the great writing and plotting flourished. Just watch the pilot. If that doesn't blow you away, I'll eat my bike.
Will Green: Although seeing you eat your bike would not only be entertaining it would probably garner you some incredible attention. I’m sure I would be hooked after the pilot, so there would be no need to digest a perfectly good bike. And then passing it….ohhh boy.
What kind of advice could you give an aspiring writer?
Selso Xisto: Well, I still think of myself as an aspiring writer so I'm all ears! I've had a few people ask me related questions on Twitter and I guess the one thing I'd recommend to anyone getting started is to get a good editor because you'll NEVER spot all the problems and mistakes in your own manuscript and ultimately you'll get a better book. I'd also say that in my personal opinion it is pointless to jump on genre bandwagons; write what YOU love, don't try to write what you think will sell. I think for the most part, you can't fool a reader and love always shows through your writing.
Will Green: Thank you for your time, Selso. And thanks for all the recommendations as well as the great advice.
Selso Xisto: You're more than welcome!
Selso Xisto: Believe it or not, it is my real name! My family is Portuguese though, not from another planet unfortunately.
Will Green: Lol. That is unfortunate. If you were from another planet then this would be my first alien interview.
Tell us about your books that you have available?
Selso Xisto: Particle Horizon is my first book. It's a real labor of love, an amalgamation of many ideas and themes I've been cooking in my head for years. It's an epic, fast-paced science fiction story which tells a galaxy-spanning story from the perspectives of three main characters on different sides of the conflict. Mankind is divided by faith and science; a dangerous new cult has started a civil war against the progressive Union of Free Worlds and the idyllic asteroid world of Angelhaven is the new front line. The greatest mind in human history has discovered a power that both sides want, but which may ultimately be the undoing of all. We follow Xavier, an uncompromising Marine commander with a secret ability neither science nor religion can explain; he's been sent to Angelhaven to stop the Legion invasion but he has a personal agenda - he wants revenge and answers. Una lives on Angelhaven and is caught in the middle. She is the first true artificial intelligence; a sentient machine with a human body. She fights for her humanity as her world falls apart around her. On the opposite side, Aja is a reluctant conscript in the Legion and wants only to survive… and protect her precious secret. All the while, an implacable, inscrutable nemesis stalks them all as unknown eyes watch events unfold with interest.
Will Green: Having read it already myself, with a book review to soon follow, it is everything you summarized right there and so incredibly much more! Any epic SF fan should definitely take the time to read Particle Horizon.
What can you tell us about your next project?
Selso Xisto: I haven't yet decided what it will be. I'm mulling over a new science fiction project or a sequel to Particle Horizon.
Will Green: Please let it be a sequel to Particle Horizon. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters were amazing! Of course I’ll have more to say in the review.
Selso Xisto: Thank you very much; I'm so happy you liked it! I really am torn over whether to do a new story or a sequel; I have a few definite ideas of where the Particle Horizon sequel will go and I think it's only a matter of time before I return to that universe and those characters I love, how's that? I'm currently so busy, I simply haven't found the time to start the next one, but I will soon!
Will Green: I suppose that’s all I can ask for; this isn’t Stephen King’s Misery. I can’t kidnap you and break your legs to force you to write the next one. Besides I don’t have a cabin where we can “work”. I hope you find this humorous and not at all scary.
Where do you get the information for your book(s)?
Selso Xisto: Everywhere! There are so many rich and stimulating SF worlds in books, comics, film and games that it is often hard to nail exactly where a theme or specific influence comes from. I read a lot of science blogs and magazines and a lot of speculative articles give me ideas for the science in my books. A lot of the religious and social stuff comes from my own background and studies and personal speculation as to how future history could plausibly go.
Will Green: Yes! Now that’s what I like to hear. You can’t pin it down, stimuli are everywhere. You surround yourself in all things SF it seems, but your story is very much its own things. Of course there are minor similarities to this or that, but that’s always going to happen. Did you know that there are people out there that do not want to read or watch anything in a certain genre in fear that their work will be too influenced by it? What are your thoughts on that?
Selso Xisto: I think that's both futile and self-defeating. Everything ever written was influenced by something else. Some of the best books I've ever read were unashamedly influenced by other books and yet better in their own way. There is very little truly original art in the world in my opinion. Originality is something we should strive for, but I think it's just human for your work to be colored by your own tastes. Conversely, I think particularly in a tough genre like SF, you need to be well read if only to avoid the many clichés established by others. SF is tough because of the amount of already established, brilliant ideas. Arthur C Clarke once said (I think rightly, too) that there are no ideas left in science fiction because he'd already done them all. Obviously, this isn't totally true, but I know what he meant. If you read his early stuff, he's basically covered all the main themes hinted at in pretty much all SF today. I think by not reading what everyone else is reading, you just diminish your own work. If you are some kind of creative genius, then why be so worried about being influenced by others? I think positive influences make art better. Peter F Hamilton, Arthur C Clarke, Greg Bear… these guys all heavily influenced my writing and I'm proud to say so. If they hadn't, I don't think the final result would have been quite as good. What I would say though, is that you can use genre influences in a positive way. For example; taking elements from other, quite different genres to spice up your own. If you bring a new paradigm into a firmly established genre with its own language and clichés and turn them on their head…
Will Green: Well stated, Selso. I have read it more than once and you have just confirmed it; “There is very little truly original art in the world…” Thank you for bringing up all those good points on the subject matter. There is nothing wrong with familiarizing yourself with other established works in the genre you plan to write in.
We could go on and on, but we won’t right now. So what was the most surprising thing you've learned since you started writing?
Selso Xisto: Twitter was a great discovery! I've made so many cool friends on there and I'm always pleasantly surprised at how helpful and supportive people can be. I've been writing since primary school so it’s hard to put my finger on one particular aspect of writing that's surprised me. I suppose when I got my first draft back from my editor I was surprised at how bad my grammar could be!
Will Green: Twitter is terrific for connecting all types of people, although I tend to lean on Facebook more than Twitter, somehow it feels more personal, for me anyhow. Lol. I wonder how many first time writers get their first draft back and say to themselves “Oh wow, that’s terrible.” I’m sure it’s a lot.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Selso Xisto: Hard to say; Particle Horizon took 7 years but it was a somewhat off and on project. I almost gave up on it for a while as it was such a complex story I wasn't sure I had the chops to finish it. I'm glad I persisted though, I'm very happy with it and have been getting very positive feedback from those who've read it - I also got my first review a couple of weeks ago and it was fantastic, five stars! Yay! I don't think the next one will take anywhere near as long - I've learnt a lot about character and structure that would have saved me a lot of re-writes and editing.
Will Green: Holy….! 7 years? That’s a long time, but I’m glad you put the effort into it and didn’t quit, it was well worth it. It was a very complex story; a lot was going on the whole time. I’m sure you had trouble juggling the different storylines, it isn’t any wonder you didn’t think you could do it, but I must say you pulled it off fantastically.
Selso Xisto: Again, thank you so much! The positive vibes I've been getting make all that work so worth it. I wish I could travel back in time and tell myself that someone one day would like it; I probably would've finished it in half the time! It's funny, looking back at my first draft, covered in my editor's notes, I realize how different the whole story was made by one or two tiny additions made at the very end of the process.
Will Green: It probably would not have been the same if you finished it in half the time. It’s funny how small moments can make a story so much more.
Who or What inspires you to write?
Selso Xisto: I think most writers have a similar 'itch' inside them to get their crazy ideas out. I've been scribbling silly stories since I could write but only in the last five or six years have I taken it really seriously or had the self-confidence in my writing to get it out there. My inspirations tend to be very visual; a lot of the themes and settings for Particle Horizon came from a drawing I worked on for about a year during University. I did an A3 sized drawing of a futuristic asteroid colony and lavished it with detail. This image stuck with me for years and must have had a big subconscious influence on the setting of the book. Reading a lot of classic science fiction is also bound to feed the imagination!
Will Green: Very nice. I have an itch, but I just need to hunker down and get it out, not sure when that might happen though. Was it just time and practice that put the confidence in you to take the next step?
I bet your fans would love to see this drawing of yours, myself being one of your fans.
Selso Xisto: Fan is a very unfamiliar word to me, this book was just ramblings in my head until a few months ago but it's very kind and flattering of you to say so! The drawing is not particularly good and was drawn a long time before Photoshop, but seeing as you've asked so nicely I'll reluctantly take a picture of it for you later; I promise I write better than I draw!
Will Green: Well thank you very much. I think it’s great how an image can spark a massive story.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Selso Xisto: Hmmm… Writing quirk… I did used to have an unhealthy obsession with semicolons which my editor has tried to beat out of me with a long stick; she has almost succeeded.
Will Green: You know a good way to prevent from using those altogether would be to pop that colon/semi-colon key right off of your keyboard. I’m sure your editor would be just fine with that.
Selso Xisto: True, but then I would NEVER get any writing done as the compulsive obsessive inside me would just stare at the gap in my immaculate keyboard and be completely unable to focus on ANYTHING ELSE EVER AGAIN.
Will Green: LMAO! Oh that’s great! Too funny! I could see it now. “What happened to Selso?” “Some guy told him to get rid of semi-colon key and he’s never been the same since.”
What book are you reading right now?
Selso Xisto: I'm reading Absorption by John Meaney which is an amazing SF novel set in a very strange future. It's disgustingly good and I hate the author for being such a good writer.
Will Green: I guess if it’s that good, it must be a recommendation of yours. Is he mainstream or is he an indie author?
Selso Xisto: He's mainstream and I've only just discovered him after getting a little tired of some of the hard SF that's around right now. A lot of it is a little cold and I don't care about any of the characters. Absorption is bursting with ideas and moves along at a fast pace, I highly recommend it (though you should obviously read Particle Horizon first if you haven't!).
Will Green: True, a lot of hard SF characters are cold and calculating and they tend to be rather solitary. I’ll put it on my ever increasing “To read” list.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Selso Xisto: I have many but I'd have to say the one who most consistently blew me away was Peter F Hamilton. The Night's Dawn Trilogy is the most epic and mind-bending story I've ever read, blending fantasy ideas seamlessly into hard SF and telling a breathless, page-turning tale. His multi-character perspective structure heavily influenced me too. He has so many great ideas is sickening! He blows them away!
Will Green: Fantasy and SF in one epic tale, count me in. I love sinking my teeth into something really grandiose and getting absorbed into it. Particle Horizon had me, I must say.
Selso Xisto: I can't tell you how gratifying it is to hear that. I worked really hard on the plot and really thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew on a few occasions during the first draft, so it's actually with a sigh of deep relief that I accept your compliment!
Will Green: You’re very welcome.
What kind of music do you listen to and why?
Selso Xisto: I listen to all sorts… When I really need to get some work done though, I have to go with the classics - White Album by the Beatles is my favorite :D
Will Green: Well of course you have to have the Beatles in your arsenal of music to write to.
What do you watch on TV and why?
Selso Xisto: I'll watch pretty much everything from HBO and most of the documentaries and comedies from the BBC. We're pretty spoilt for good TV in the UK! I do think the best TV show of time is undoubtedly the reboot of Battlestar Galactica… I've watched the box set about a hundred times. Such brilliant storytelling and compelling characters. I even forgave them for the slightly contrived ending because the whole thing was such an epic, emotional journey that I felt we had to cut the creators some slack at the end!
Will Green: I should really get into Battlestar Galactica. The reboot came around the time Stargate: SG1 was ending and I was heavily into that, but I never really watched Battlestar Galactica at all. Did you watch Stargate?
Selso Xisto: I did not and therefore don't feel qualified to talk much about the TV show; I did really love the main theme from the original movie though. It seemed to be a perfect setup for a series. I always felt it was such a shame such a hack director made the Stargate movie because the whole Chariots of the Gods story was pretty entertaining and had a lot of possibility that got smudged out by all the Hollywood guff. A lot of TV show scifi gets diluted by the special effects budget not being able to live up to the premise of the show and the ever-present ratings war. For me, Battlestar was the one main exception; the execution of the show was never held back and the great writing and plotting flourished. Just watch the pilot. If that doesn't blow you away, I'll eat my bike.
Will Green: Although seeing you eat your bike would not only be entertaining it would probably garner you some incredible attention. I’m sure I would be hooked after the pilot, so there would be no need to digest a perfectly good bike. And then passing it….ohhh boy.
What kind of advice could you give an aspiring writer?
Selso Xisto: Well, I still think of myself as an aspiring writer so I'm all ears! I've had a few people ask me related questions on Twitter and I guess the one thing I'd recommend to anyone getting started is to get a good editor because you'll NEVER spot all the problems and mistakes in your own manuscript and ultimately you'll get a better book. I'd also say that in my personal opinion it is pointless to jump on genre bandwagons; write what YOU love, don't try to write what you think will sell. I think for the most part, you can't fool a reader and love always shows through your writing.
Will Green: Thank you for your time, Selso. And thanks for all the recommendations as well as the great advice.
Selso Xisto: You're more than welcome!
Particle Horizon on Amazon
Follow Selso on Twitter
Selso's On Wordpress
Selso is on a blog tour find out from Rainy Of the Dark for where he can be found for the month of June.
Follow Selso on Twitter
Selso's On Wordpress
Selso is on a blog tour find out from Rainy Of the Dark for where he can be found for the month of June.
RSS Feed