What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Hard Drop?
Hard Drop continues the Three Colonies saga that began with my Autonomous Weapons Division series. As a former Marine, I’ve always wanted to write a proper squad story—and bringing back a fan-favorite character from the first series was the perfect way in. The ground combat perspective also gave me a chance to show the colonies up close, something readers had been asking for.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Absolutely. Military sci-fi and space opera are my bread and butter, both as a reader and writer. I grew up on Starship Troopers and Honor Harrington, and as a former Marine, I love stories that get the small-unit dynamics right while still operating on an epic scale.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
I just finished Black Library’s Siege of Terra series. Next up is James SA Corey’s The Captive’s War.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
Definitely the climax. I had multiple storylines running throughout. Different characters and different goals all racing toward the same critical moment. Watching those separate threads finally crash together in one explosive sequence was incredibly satisfying to write. Everything I’d been building suddenly paid off, and the characters had to deal with all of it at once.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
Walking my two German Shepherds, Pepper and Barley. I can sit at the keyboard for hours getting nowhere, but twenty minutes on the trail and suddenly I know exactly how to fix that broken scene. They’re basically my co-writers at this point.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
Memento mori. Remember, you will die. When you live each day knowing it could be your last, you focus on what actually matters. Family. Friends. The things you leave behind. It’s not morbid; it’s clarifying.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
Good or bad, family is everything. Whether it’s the family you’re born into or the one you build in a foxhole, those bonds shape who you become and what you’re willing to fight for. Bresto and his squad understand that better than anyone.
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