Penny de Byl is the author of Disciples of Cassini Trilogy. It’s a sci-fi story with elements of crime and mystery. The third part of the series White Clay Gods was released on October 28. Let’s here more about it directly from the author in our next interview.

– What is your latest book White Clay Gods about?
– White Clay Gods is the third book in the Disciples of Cassini Trilogy. The series follows the exploits of a bio tech company aiming to build the first human colony on another planet. In this case, the planet chosen is Saturn’s moon Titan as its the most likely to be able to support life (with a few scientific innovations). The series has crime and mystery weaved throughout it, so its not only about the science of the new future but also about the political and religious agenda’s of others and these kind of get in the way.

– How did you decide to write the story?
– To tell you the truth, I’ve started and stopped many novels during my lifetime. One evening I saw a documentary about Matthew Reilly and it inspired me to write the first in the trilogy: Lost Souls. I love pretty much everything Michael Crichton wrote and the way he brings science, technology and fiction together and therefore, given my computing science background and other day job of being a Professor in games development and interactive media, I wanted to write something based in scientific truth. The series gently introduces the reader to the realm of possibilities that science and technology can bring the human race.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– I think working another full time job and trying to find the time to write. Often inspiration comes at very inconvenient times and you just have to write them down. But its very frustrating when you want to write, you’re brain is in “the zone” but then you’ve got other commitments.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– From the beginning their were two main female protagonists: Marcela and Constans. My best friend, Kayleen, who helps me with editing decided early on Marcela was me and Constans was her. Truly they never started out like that and look nothing like us, but their personalities became us.
– How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I write quick! Really quick. When I’ve got dedicated time. At a chapter per day it took about a month give or take.
– ‘Til Death Don’t Us Part is another of your writings. Give us some insight about it?
– ‘Til Death is a short story. It also focuses on science and technology. Its a police procedural examining the death of a social media mogul and where the definition murder and death get blurred in legal, political and religious domains.
– You wrote some books about game developing. Please share what the reader may find inside?
– My game development books Holistic Game Development and Holistic Mobile Game Development explore and teach game design and production examining both the art asset creation and programming sides. As a teacher in this domain I always found it strange how a field that requires both artists and programmers integrally entwined in development teams teaches either art or programming, but never both together. The first one is used at over 30 universities internationally as a text. It is also available in Korean.
– Who are you?
– I’m a creative. I love creating all types of things programs, art, games and books.
– What are your writing habits?
– I’m focused. I have to be or I get lost in what’s going on in the story. Its just the way my brain works. I have to get it all out in one go otherwise it gets lost. I’m the same with my art and painting. If it doesn’t get finished in a short time, it never gets finished.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book?
– I’m hoping to be. White Clay Gods only came out last month. The entire trilogy was released after June 2014 so I don’t yet have concrete numbers from all the places that it is sold.
– What are you doing to promote your book by the best possible way?
– I’ve my website at http://www.pennydebyl.me, my FB page at https://www.facebook.com/pdebyl, I have Goodreads giveaways and write short stories and release them for free.
– When we will see your next novel?
– My next novel, entitled “Revoked” will be out early in 2015. In Revoked, the first book of her new trilogy Chastised Renaissance, the reader is introduced to an ominous and yet insightful, version of our world in the 26th century. The religious and political wars of the first half of the millennium that left the surface of the earth in perpetual winter and have given way to a neo socialist system where birthright indicates the transference of leadership, but the real power is wielded by corrupt political brokers. At the age of 25 each citizen is psychometrically tested to determine their place in society. Now two centuries after the last uprising of the people, there are again rumblings of revolution in the mines and the prisons. Caliph Devlin rules with an uneasy mind, and is under pressure to produce an heir to ensure the continuation of the Regency. His choice of bride will ultimately determine the future of the earth.”
I also have a new short story: “Til the Seventh Hour” that brings back the characters in Til Death. It should be out free on Kindle before Christmas.
– I never knew that computer games are now kind of science that may be learn in University. You’ve been teaching classes since many years, but how you failed in love in gaming industry?
– I love art and I love programming. Computer graphics brings both things together brilliantly. So I love games.
– What are your all time Top 3 of computer Games and what memories did you have with them?
– Quake: I don’t play these types of first person shooters anymore, but I remember when Quake was released. The first true 3D immersive game. For the time the graphics and sound were amazing. I recall playing it late at night with all the lights off and the speakers turned up really loud. The background growls from unseen monsters sent shivers up my spine.
Simcity: Ever since the original black and white version on the Mac. I own all evolutions of it. I love sim games and I enjoy the fact that no two games are ever the same. It has a high level of replayability.
Bioshock (entire series): I love the story behind this series. Its so unique and shows the scientific future ideas from the art deco period. The graphics throughout the series is superb.
– If you may ask yourself one question in the interview what it will be? (Don’t forget to answer)
– What types of books do I like to read? British police crime procedurals mostly. Mark Billingham and his character Tom Thorne are my favourite. I also like Lynda La Plant’s DI Anna Travis. Besides these, obviously there is always Michael Crichton but also Douglas Adams.

Learn more about Penny at her Web page
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Take a look at her books:

‘Til Death Don’t Us Part
Lost Souls: Book One of the Disciples of Cassini Trilogy
The Chaldean Legacy: Book Two of The Disciples of Cassini Trilogy
White Clay Gods: Book Three of The Disciples of Cassini Trilogy
Holistic Mobile Game Development with Unity
Holistic Game Development with Unity: An All-in-One Guide to Implementing Game Mechanics, Art, Design and Programming