Author Spotlight – Derek Borne

In an effort to introduce my readers to other authors and their work, every week I run an Author Spotlight, sharing information about an author, their work, and how they go about writing their books.

Derek Borne is a Canadian author of science fiction novels. When he’s not writing, he’s spending time with his lovely wife and their super fluffy kitty Libby. Other times, he’s eating pizza, belting out Broadway show tunes, playing guitar, eating pizza, watching anything to do with Marvel superheroes, and making movie references daily. Oh, and eating pizza.

And for added emphasis…pizza.

A conversation with Derek:

When did you decide to become an author and why?

Back in 2017, that’s when I decided to publish through Amazon. I’d already had a superhero-spy series finished beforehand, but decided to rewrite it, hire an editor, and finally put my stories out into the world.

How long have you been writing, and what was your first book?

I’ve loved writing since I was young, and even wrote my first superhero novel at 14, The Ultimate Agent: Book 1. It’s like 007 meets Marvel, but family friendly.

What genres do you write in?

I love Sci-Fi, since you can do almost anything you want within it. I do love to keep things fun and humorous for ages 10 and up, and the big kids at heart, like myself.

How many books do you have out?

Currently, I have 13, with books 14 and 15 in the works. For those who love audiobooks, the first two in my Dino-Rift series are on Audible.

Are you trade published, independent, or a combo?

I’m indie, and love being indie.

What is your writing style? Panster or plotter or?

I started out as a pantser, but as I get older, I’m finding I need to plot more. I always know where I want to go, but I need a little more planning to figure it all out.

Do you write more than one book at a time?

I’ve tried, but ultimately failed. Eventually, one of the books wins out and I have to see it all the way to completion.

How much research is involved in your writing?

Depends on the subject, and how many complex ideas I want to put in it. For the Dino-Rift series, I had a blast researching everything having to do with dinosaurs. Even to the point where I watched videos of elephants giving birth in order to make a scene with a mammoth feel more real. Unfortunately, YouTube continued to curate animal birth videos into my algorithm… It’s fixed now, thankfully.

Where do you write? Do you have a home office, write in a coffee shop, or what?

I write at home at my dining room table and sometimes sneak in some writing when I’m at work on the slow days.

Do you use any programs like ProWriting Aid, Grammarly, or ?

I stick to Microsoft Word and only use Grammarly when I need a tiny polish before moving on to sending it off to my editor.

How do you promote your books?

I’m on Facebook and TikTok and should be using Instagram more. Recently, I’ve been doing more signings at local malls with bookstores that carry my books via consignment.

What are your writing goals, long and short term?

As for now, I’d love to get 20 books under my belt. When I reach that summit, we’ll see where the writing winds take me.

Any advice to new authors or someone who wants to become an author?

Be real, be genuine, and write for yourself. If you get wrapped up in the “this isn’t going to sell unless it has X, Y & Z,” you will lose your joy very easily. Write. For. Yourself.

You can follow Derek on his Amazon authors’ page and find links to his website, newsletter, and more at https://linktr.ee/DerekBorneAuthor

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Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Anyone who is going to be a writer knows enough at 15 to write several novels. – May Sarton