Today, we’re talking with Elmont Kristiansen about his book, Forty-Nine
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I was raised in the southeastern United States, but my favorite places on earth are in the desert. The desert plains, dramatic mountains and broad skies are inspirational.
Why do you write?
I am driven by the narratives that pop up in my imagination. I ignored them for a long time, but I found a great sense of enjoyment out of bringing them to the written page.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
I’ve been following UFO disclosure as a topic for many years. I always found it interesting that the threat angle has been pervasive in Hollywood and in the recent disclosure chatter. What if we have it wrong? That’s the premise that I started exploring in Forty-Nine
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
I enjoy the variation of themes, tropes and general flexibility in the science fiction genre. It can span from a space opera to an exploration of a troubling mathematic proof.
How would you describe your writing process?
I usually start with a scenario or even a scene in my imagination. From there, I’ll form around that initial idea the outline of the narrative, the characters at play and how these come together. I’ll also usually start collecting snippets of dialogue that support the plot direction, before finally writing and assembling scenes.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
Audience is the most important thing an author can gain from social media. Not sales, not likes, but a forum to find the readers that connect with your work.
What advice would you have for other writers?
I have two pieces of advice:
One, surround yourself with the support you need as a writer. It’s a tough business putting your hard work out there into the world. Find editors and writing partners that can help prepare your work to be the best it can be.
Secondly, trust your gut. Ultimately, your writing is your own and you owe it to yourself and your readers to reflect that intuition you have in your work.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
For titles, I try to find as singularly as possible, the core notion of the piece, even if it’s not immediately apparent. Forty-Nine is titled this way for a reason, but the reason for the title in my next novel, Vanish, is evident early on.
For covers, I really try to match the cover to the mood and audience. For Forty-Nine, I went more abstract with bold typography because it communicated the novel is more on the literary side of the fence than a pure genre novel. My next novel, Vanish, will focus more on the relational tension it covers.
What’s your next step?
I’m working to get my next novel, Vanish, out this year. I also have two novellas I’d like to prepare for 2027 release. I’m also working on scenes and outline the follow up to Forty-Nine.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
When I see a new review or rating, I get very excited. It means someone took the time to read my work, but also were so moved by it to write a review.
