Act II of Nyra’s Journey
New Adult Romance
Date Published: November 2022
Publisher: PhoenixPhyre
He’s nothing like her hopeful dream—and everything she wants.
Nyra’s transition from college grad scrambling for her first career job to full independence is as on track as it can be, these days. With her new marketing job is going well, even if she’s still living at home,Nyra’s pretty sure the light at the end of the tunnel is not an onrushing train.
Still, she gets bored, sometimes. A whimsical decision to take up surfing brings her together with Tai Abrega, a professional surfer and shaper so delicious Nyra’s imagination hasn’t even gotten around to fantasizing about a man like him, yet. Surfing awakens a latent, mystical connection with the sea along with a driven passion for the man himself.
But embracing one possibility often demands abandoning another. How can Nyra fit Tai and the seductive siren song of freedom into her “safer” vision of perfect? Can she blend her conventional world with his freespirited lifestyle, or is she doomed to disappointment and heartbreak? New Adult fans of It Ends with Us and Finding Perfect are sure to enjoy this upbeat tale of hope.
The Year of Maybe Act II of Nyra’s Journey continues the story begun in Best-Case Scenario.
What
is the hardest part of writing your books?
It
has to be the muddy middle. After authoring six books in three different genera,
I’ve gotten better at managing “the middle,” but it can still be a challenge.
Especially when I depart from the outline. The trouble usually starts when I
get a “brilliant” hair-fire that feels like it will be better than what I have
planned in my detailed outline. I frequently wind up writing myself into a corner.
I can get so excited about the possibilities, that I don’t always look as carefully
as I should into how it might fit with the rest of the story. Sometimes it
requires a revision or two and in one case, I had to go back to the original plan.
There was nothing wrong with idea, it just didn’t fit into the story.
What
songs are most played on your iPod?
Mood
matters, of course, but I listen to
jazz, (The Rippingtons & Russ Freeman solos), Craig Chaquio, acoustic jazz guitarist,
Native American Flute music, Buffy Sainte Marie, The Eagles, and the Moody Blues
come to mind. Ans some New Age, including Enya and Clannad.
Do
you have critique partners or beta readers?
Yes
to both critique partners and beta readers, as well as two editors who aren’t
inclined to let me get away with much.
What
book are you reading now?
I’m
currently reading The Destructionists, by Dana Milbank and Beloved,
by Toni Morrison. I just finished a science fiction yarn by Peter Caudron,
entitled Anomaly, and a thoughtful romance entitled 53 Letters for my
Lover, by Leyla Attar.
How
did you start your writing career?
I’ve
always written. My grandfather had a “byline” with the Associated Press, so I
grew up around a love of language. And I took several creative writing classes
in high school and college. But as a Marine officer, I started a lot of stories
I never finished. When I retired and went to work as a corporate trainer, I got
serious about my writing. I published a couple non-fiction articles and went to
work on my first full-length novel, entitled West of Tomorrow.
Tell us about your next release.
I’m
currently working on Vol III of The Knolan Cycle, the third book in my science
fiction series of first contact between Earth and the Knolan Concordant. It is (obviously)
the third book in the story begun by Tier Zero, and continued in Eryinath-5,
The Dancer Nebula. This third volume, as yet untitled, builds toward the
conflict that has been brewing between the Knolan Concordant and the Valdrōsian
Empire. Earth finds itself as the main battle ground—and the hypothetical prize—in
the next battle for hegemony over this corner of the galaxy.
About the Author
Dirk’s path to authorship wasn’t quite an accident, but almost. Through his two previous careers, first as a Marine officer and subsequently as a corporate trainer, Dirk started way more stories than he finished.
But when his employer filed for Chapter 11 in the backwash of the 2008 financial melt-down, he found himself cordially invited to leave and not return. Out of work and excuses, he focused on finishing his first novel, West of Tomorrow, while looking for another career position.
Since then, Dirk has written and published Best-Case Scenario, Act I of Nyra’s Journey a collection of short fiction entitled, Through the Windshield as well as Tier Zero and Eryinath-5, The Dancer Nebula, Vols. I & II of the Knolan Cycle.
The Year of Maybe, sequel to Best Case Scenario, is due out in Novemeber 2022.
Dirk also contributes to Medium, blogs on his website, and will accept editing work, by special request. Besides his work as a writer, he is an accomplished snow skier, woodworker, photographer and a compulsive gym rat.
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Thank you for sharing your interview, bio and book details, I have enjoyed reading about you and your work and I am looking forward to reading The Year of Maybe, it sounds like a wonderful story
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Dirk, The Year of Maybe sounds like a book that I will enjoy reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it with me and have an amazing day!
Nice interview. I wish I was floating in water like on the cover! So peaceful.
ReplyDelete