Lawrence “Ace” Parlier is an author/poet/musician from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the author of three novels, Sierra Court Blues, The Frontman, and the newly released sci-fi epic, Voided.
A lifelong musician, he fronted the art rock metal band The Malevolent right out of high school. He has played in The Cosmic Zombies, Chaos Ritual and now fronts his first solo creation, Flux Corporation. Their single, Bail, is out now.
In Voided, Nena Videt’s epic struggle for redemption, survival and freedom takes readers through an exhilarating journey through the Cosmos. With breathtaking space battles, gripping interpersonal drama and unexpected alliances, this science fiction odyssey explores the depths of human resilience, sacrifice and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to defy fate.
Why do you write in the genre(s) that you do?
Voided is my first science fiction novel. My first two, Sierra Court Blues, and, The Frontman, were rock-n-roll based.
Sierra Court Blues is a coming-of-age tale about friends growing up and falling apart as their rock-n-roll band starts to takeoff.
The Frontman is a murder mystery turned upside down as the title character is remembered by the friends conspiring to solve the mystery and fulfill his final wish.
I didn’t consider genre or hadn’t considered genre at that point in my work because my focus was on the story itself and how to best tell it. Being new to the form, I was more worried about not screwing it up than where it would land on the bookshelf.
When I started Voided, I felt much more in command of the elements and was able to just dive right in and create. I love sci-fi and I’m glad I waited before trying my hand at it. I had a lot of fun writing this because I wasn’t sweating the technique anymore.
Fill in the blank: People will like your book if they like stories about…”
Redemption and the courage of an indomitable spirit.
Nena is a deeply flawed character propelled into extraordinary circumstances. She never once feels sorry for herself. She has no illusions about what’s at stake and does her duty with verve and a smart-ass comment in the offing.
What are your thoughts on typewriters?
Love them! I’m old enough to have started my writing journey on an electric typewriter. I think I still have a couple stored somewhere. They might come in handy someday if this whole computer thing doesn’t work out…if I can find ink.
Would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?
Own a bookstore. It’s a much more relaxed atmosphere. Some great writing scenes have been fostered around indie bookstores, most notably City Lights in San Franscisco.
When things get a little wild you can just lock the doors and chase the Muse into the dawn.
How did you name your characters?
That seems to be an art unto itself in science fiction. Books have been written about it. Ninety-nine percent of my names are rooted in some terrestrial language with spelling skewed to accent syllables or smooth rough edges. As far as character names, I tried to make them reflect some aspect of the character. There are easter eggs abound for a good linguist.
What is your favorite social media platform?
Instagram. That’s where I have my biggest following. I like their tools for processing videos and pictures. I feel free to experiment there and post weird stuff. It’s a hipper audience with a lot less trolls.
If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or series?
Both. I think there are a lot of stories to be told in the Nenaverse. Really, I would be stoked to have an opportunity at either.
Who is your dream audiobook narrator?
I think Patricia Tallman would be perfect for Nena. She possesses the right mix of strength and vulnerability as well as a great sense of humor.
How many words or pages do you typically write in one writing session?
I try to do at least five pages a day during a first draft and most times more. My second drafts are much more precise, and five or six pages is a good limit to maintain focus and break a story down to its essential elements.
Do you have any writing rituals?
I like to start first drafts in the winter. As long as I’ve been writing my output always increases in the late fall and winter. I guess it’s just easier to park myself in a chair and dream.
What do you like to read?
I’ve been on a biography kick here lately especially rock star bios. A recent standout was Bruce Dickenson from Iron Maiden’s autobiography, What Does This Button Do? He’s been a big influence on me lyrically, he and Steve Harris. It was through their work that I discovered Tennyson and Taylor, Robert Heinlen. Their work ignited my interest in literature more than anything assigned in school.
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Have you made any public appearances to promote your book?
Not yet, I’m working on getting into some sci-fi conventions. I’m still learning the ropes for promoting in this genre.
Is there a book that somebody gave to you that helped you pave the way to becoming a writer, or is there a book on writing that you recommend all writers read?
Another rock-n-roll related book that changed my life was, No One Here Gets Out Alive, a biography of Jim Morrison by Danny Sugarman and Jerry Hopkins. A close friend’s older brother gave that book to me sometime in my freshman year of high school. That book altered the course of my life.
After reading it, I started chasing down all of Morrison’s influences, Rimbaud, Huxley, Camus, all the Beat writers, Kingsley Amis. It opened up a whole new world for me.
Music will always be my first love but through it the wide world of literature opened for me. After that I went wild. I’d found my purpose. School became just a cool place to hang out and talk to girls.
Is there a piece of writing advice that you learned in school or in a class that stuck?
I had a writing instructor pass out a few pages of a first draft he’d written. It was the most chaotic document I’d ever seen reproduced. There was prose, digressions, notes, pieces of verse, random thoughts, all in a mad conglomeration down through the pages.
His lesson was in learning to let go in a first draft and letting it all hang out, wringing your brain of all associations and emotions. It’s you telling the story to yourself and no one else need ever see it. That really struck a chord with me.
Do you like to physically write on paper?
That’s how I draft all of my poetry and lyrics. I don’t create a document until I have the final version, which usually isn’t until after a few performances.
Have you ever gone away to work on a piece of writing? If not, where would you go if you could?
I haven’t yet but if I had the means I’d rent one of those secluded island bungalows for a few months and give it a shot. I think I could get something cool out of it.
What is an annoying thing that a non-writer has assumed about writers or the act of writing?
That we’re all rolling in money.
How do you measure the success of your book?
If it makes people happy, I’m happy. My first job is to entertain. If I can drop in a quick lesson or help someone consider something new from a different point of view then that’s just icing on the cake.
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