Author Interview : Arvind Wadhera

Author Interview with Arvind Wadhera, CHOPPINESS ON HIGH SEAS

 

How did you do research for your book?

I researched the book as I wrote. I decided that I would start the main character’s life in abject poverty in 1930s London and then I researched as and when the story developed. I had to do quite a bit of research on the shipping industry, which was not known to me at all.  Plus, I had to do research on Cancer and the potential post treatment hazards that can be fatal.

 

Which was the hardest character to write?

The hardest character, by far, was Matthew Stephens. Developing a three dimensional emotionally conflicted tycoon, husband, son and father needed many rewrites.

 

There are many books out there about rags to riches. What makes yours different?

I have tried to keep the narrative simple, while delving into inner victories and defeats of a human being. I was not looking to entertain or titillate but to just relate a human story without idolising the main character. There are many authors who deal with the human condition, but I wanted to do it in a manner that reflects my own value set, beliefs and spirituality.

 

Your book is set in London. Have you ever been there?

The main part of the book is in London, where I spent my adult life and formative years until I moved to the continent.

 

What is your next project?

I am working on a family story where the female protagonist, a well to do English family lady, makes an unusual compromise but eventually lives to regret it; she then looks for a purpose by travelling to India. Although I have Indian roots, I am having to research quite a bit on the area where she begins her journey. I intend it to be a complex story reflecting different levels of existence.

 

What genre do you write and why?

I write the only genre I read, literary fiction. I believe that my language skills are well suited to write in a sustained, deliberative manner while weaving the story.

 

GetUrBook Review: Choppiness at High Seas

Navigating Morality and Fortune in Choppiness on High Seas

 

Arvind Wadhera’s Choppiness on High Seas is a sweeping saga set in 1930s London. It follows Matthew Stephens, a boy born into hardship, who rises through intellect and perseverance to build a life in the shipping industry.

What makes the novel compelling is its balance of personal struggle and societal critique. Stephens’s journey is not just about ambition; it’s about confronting the moral choices that come with success. Wadhera paints London’s elite with sharp detail, showing both its allure and its shadows.

The prose is evocative yet accessible, and the narrative spans themes of family bonds, resilience, and the duality of fortune and misfortune. Readers who enjoy generational sagas and character‑driven storytelling will find this novel rewarding.

“A thoughtful tale of ambition and morality, Choppiness on High Seas invites us to reflect on the choices that shape our lives.”

GetUrBook Review - Writers of the Future Volume 42

 Writers of the Future Volume 42 — A Reflection of Contemporary Speculative Fiction

Anthologies often struggle with consistency. Some feel scattered, while others become repetitive despite strong individual stories. Writers of the Future Volume 42 avoids both problems surprisingly well.

What makes this volume interesting is not just the quality of the stories but the collective emotional and philosophical concerns running beneath them. Again and again, the anthology returns to questions of identity, memory, consciousness, emotional isolation, and survival in changing realities.

In many ways, the collection reflects the current direction of speculative fiction itself. Modern science fiction increasingly seems less interested in distant technological spectacle and more concerned with how technology reshapes human psychology, relationships, and meaning.

Several stories stand out because they balance strong conceptual ideas with emotional grounding. Even when dealing with advanced technologies, altered realities, or speculative systems, the emotional stakes remain personal.

Another strength of the anthology is tonal variation. Some stories lean philosophical and introspective, while others embrace adventure, mystery, or darker dystopian energy. This balance prevents the reading experience from becoming emotionally monotonous.

The illustrations also contribute heavily to the anthology’s identity. Rather than feeling decorative, they reinforce the classic tradition of speculative fiction magazines and anthologies while giving each story additional visual character.

Of course, anthology collections naturally contain uneven moments. A few stories introduce fascinating concepts without fully exploring them, and certain endings feel abrupt compared to the ambition of their premises.

Still, the anthology succeeds where it matters most: it leaves readers thinking.

For readers interested in discovering emerging voices in speculative fiction — especially those drawn to philosophical science fiction, emotional futurism, and imaginative worldbuilding — Writers of the Future Volume 42 is well worth exploring.

WHERE WORLDS PART- AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

 

“Ride with me Meghraj — now streaming free through Kindle Unlimited.” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GN8XXLZY?tag=universal

 WHERE WORLDS PART BY SACHIN KARNIK

✨My book Where Worlds Part is now live on Amazon — the journey begins.

Every story is a doorway. With this paperback release, the echoes of Silence and the vows rewritten step into the world, inviting readers to walk the quiet trail and discover the spiral within.

This is more than a book launch — it’s a homecoming of voices, memories, and myths woven across generations.

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GetUrBook Review: Mancala Moon By Asa Bowers

Mancala Moon 

Mancala Moon by Asa Bowers is a quiet, introspective novel that leans more into atmosphere and symbolism than conventional storytelling. Rather than relying on fast-paced plot or external conflict, it explores grief, inheritance, and identity through a deeply internal journey.

The story follows Micah Thorne, a young man grappling with loss and the unsettling patterns within his family’s past. What begins as a personal search gradually unfolds into something more surreal, as the narrative moves through dreamlike spaces where time, memory, and reality blur. The recurring imagery and symbolic elements—particularly those tied to cycles, choice, and unseen forces—give the book a contemplative, almost meditative quality.

One of the book’s strengths is its tone. The writing is restrained and reflective, allowing emotions to surface gradually rather than being explicitly stated. Readers who appreciate subtlety and layered meaning will likely find a lot to engage with here. The novel doesn’t rush to explain itself, which adds to its atmosphere, though it may also make the early sections feel slow for those expecting a more traditional narrative structure.

That said, the pacing and abstraction may not work for everyone. At times, the story prioritizes mood over clarity, and readers looking for concrete answers or a strongly defined plot may find themselves wanting more direction. However, for those willing to sit with ambiguity, the payoff lies in the themes rather than the events.

Overall, Mancala Moon reads like a modern spiritual fable—less about what happens, and more about what it means. It’s best suited for readers who enjoy reflective, symbolic fiction and are open to stories that unfold as much within the mind as on the page.

Rating: 4/5

GetUrBook Review:Native Species – A Tale of Two Civilizations by Michael Albergo

 NATIVE SPECIES

Michael Albergo’s Native Species takes readers into 1928 Los Angeles, a city simmering with bootleggers, crooked cops, and museum thieves. At its heart is Professor Horace Jennings, a widower from Rhode Island, who journeys west in search of a missing student. Alongside his sharp protégé Helen Parker, Jennings finds himself entangled not only in human intrigue but in the mysteries of a subterranean race longing to step into the daylight.

What makes this novel compelling is its blend of historical noir atmosphere with speculative imagination. Albergo captures the grit of Prohibition‑era Los Angeles while introducing Shila Ghiss, a scientist from a hidden civilization whose yearning for connection mirrors Jennings’ own search for meaning. The clash of cultures becomes more than backdrop — it’s the novel’s emotional core.

The pacing balances mystery with character exploration. Jennings is an unlikely hero, a sherry‑sipping professor thrust into danger, while Helen provides sharpness and energy. Their dynamic keeps the narrative alive even when the plot slows to linger on atmosphere.

For readers who enjoy historical settings with speculative twists, Native Species offers a thoughtful exploration of identity, belonging, and the fragile bridges between worlds. It is less about spectacle and more about resonance — the kind of story that lingers after the last page.

Verdict: A layered tale that blends noir mystery with speculative wonder, perfect for those who enjoy hidden histories and imaginative world‑building.

 

Book Details:

​Book Title: NATIVE SPECIES  -  A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles by Michael Albergo
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  240 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher:  Electric Torch
Release date:  March 2026
Content Rating: PG -13: Some F-words, religious profanities, crude terms; one very tame non-explicit sex scene

Book Description:

It is 1928, and the future is unwritten.

When widowed Professor Horace Jennings reluctantly volunteers to search for a missing student, he trades Rhode Island for the West Coast. This isn’t Providence; this is Los Angeles. And as his hired detective warns him, bootleggers, museum thieves, and crooked cops are no company for a sherry-sipping professor and his precocious protégé, Helen Parker.

But the truly dangerous characters aren’t criminals.

In fact, they aren’t even human.

Shila Ghiss, a scientist from a subterranean race, desires only to experience daylight. One day, she gets her chance—if she is willing to help reclaim the surface from humanity. She’ll need to become human, to learn about powerplants, facial expressions, and hair care. She’ll need to do something awful. But her mentor and his followers are planning to do something far worse—something apocalyptic.
​
To save both species, she’ll have to work closely with these bizarre, unpredictable humans and become both traitor and savior. She’ll have to decide who she is, and which native species will write the future.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N 
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

A professional engineer and graduate of MIT (engineering and humanities), Michael Albergo writes character-driven speculative fiction rooted in real-life early 20th century locales, people, and events. He teaches at New York University and is an avid player of board games and role-playing games. Native Species is his first novel.

connect with the author:  website ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

NATIVE SPECIES Book Tour Giveaway

Guest Post: Author Michael Albergo

 

What Lies at the Intersection of Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Horror?

 

I began writing Native Species as a horror novel in the style of H.P. Lovecraft, and it still retains some of those elements. It’s a sense of horror that is both visceral and intellectual: visceral, because it plays on our deepest fears and revulsions; intellectual, because it shows us a universe that undermines our very reason and rationality: one where humankind is insignificant in the face of omnipotent, uncaring beings.

I soon learned, however, that I am not a horror writer. Horror takes me to places I don’t want to visit. I’d rather spend my time in the familiar, fascinating realm of science and technology, where I can marvel not only at the mysteries of the universe but at the efforts of humankind to understand it. This novel might well be considered science fiction, or perhaps “speculative fiction,” because it has a strong undercurrent of science and technology and because it poses a “what if” question: What if there were an ancient civilization—an ancient species native to Earth, predating our own? What if we stumbled across that species in 1928, a time when we were just beginning to understand the nature of the universe and our place in it? (Okay, two questions.)

To bring that story to life, I wanted to ground it in fact, not speculation. So I drew upon actual people, places, and events of the time. If you read this book—I do hope you will—you’ll meet a real detective, a real engineer, a real doctor, and a real politico from 1928. You’ll see great public buildings, grand hotels, and hidden speakeasys that still stand today. And you’ll glimpse events—some of them awful—that actually happened. Does this story qualify as “historical fiction”? Judge for yourself.

At the intersection of these people, places, and events are our primary protagonists and antagonists. For me, a science fiction story without relatable, engaging characters is as empty as space. So once I came to understand my characters—their needs, desires, and dreams—I fell in love with them all, heroes and villains alike. Then I simply turned the story over to them and let them tell it.

What lies at the intersection of science fiction, historical fiction, and horror? A group of wonderfully flawed, all-too-human characters. Whether or not they live to write the future, I hope you will find them all unforgettable.

The Vow Rewritten

One Day Left — A Promise Across Lifetimes

 Stories sometimes wait centuries to be told. Mine has found its way into the Smashwords sale — but only for today.

If vows can echo across lifetimes, maybe they can echo across platforms too.

Ride with me, Meghraj.

FREE EBOOK

 

Free for 3 Days (Only Two Days left) – The Vow Rewritten (Smashwords Read an Ebook Week)

As part of Smashwords’ Read an Ebook Week, my novel The Vow Rewritten is available FREE for the first 3 days. It’s a reincarnation‑themed journey of friendship, legacy, and soulful echoes — with a horse named Meghraj at its heart.

📖 Grab it here: THE VOW REWRITTEN

After Day 3, it’ll be 50% off for the rest of the week.

Curious — do you think near‑death and reincarnation experiences are just cultural hallucinations, or something deeper?

Tagline: RIDE WITH ME MEGHRAJ.

GetUrBook Review: The young Stag by J.M. Hofer

 The Young Stag

With The Young Stag, J. M. Hofer brings the Islands in the Mist series into its most reflective and emotionally resonant phase. After the gathering shadows and rising responsibilities of earlier installments, this book feels deeply concerned with legacy — what is inherited, what is chosen, and what must be sacrificed.

The narrative carries a quieter confidence, focusing less on discovery and more on consequence. Threads carefully laid in previous books begin to tighten, giving the story a sense of purpose that feels both inevitable and earned. There is a noticeable maturity in the storytelling here, as the saga leans fully into the weight of myth becoming history.

Bran’s journey reaches one of its most meaningful stages. His evolution from warrior to leader now feels complete in many ways, yet Hofer wisely avoids easy triumph. Instead, the story explores the emotional and moral cost of growth. Leadership is portrayed as a continuous test rather than a final destination, which keeps the character grounded and believable.

Lucia’s arc remains one of the emotional anchors of the series. Her relationship with magic — once uncertain, then burdensome — now carries a sense of hard-won understanding. The author continues to treat magic not as spectacle but as something ancient, intimate, and demanding. This consistency strengthens the mythic atmosphere the series is known for.

What stands out most in The Young Stag is its sense of legacy and transition. The title itself reflects the thematic focus: renewal, succession, and the uneasy passing of responsibility from one generation to the next. The world Hofer has built feels fully alive here — politically, spiritually, and emotionally.

The pacing is measured but purposeful. Moments of tension are balanced with reflection, giving the narrative a feeling of quiet momentum rather than constant urgency. By this stage, readers invested in the characters will likely find the emotional beats especially satisfying.

⭐ Final Verdict

The Young Stag is a thoughtful and fitting continuation of the Islands in the Mist saga. Rich in atmosphere and grounded in mythic themes of legacy and responsibility, it rewards readers who have followed the journey from the beginning. A mature, emotionally aware installment that reinforces the series’ distinctive voice.

Also read the reaview of book 4: Into the Shadows

@ireadbooktours, @jmhofer

GetUrBook Review : Into the Shadows by J.M.Hofer

Into the Shadows

 If Rise of the Pendragon was about destiny taking shape, Into the Shadows is about what destiny costs.

The fourth installment in J. M. Hofer’s Islands in the Mist series shifts the tone into darker, more introspective territory. The mythic atmosphere remains strong, but the emotional weight intensifies. Alliances feel fragile, victories uncertain, and the line between light and darkness becomes increasingly blurred.

This book explores the aftermath of rising power. Leadership is no longer an abstract calling — it is a burden carried daily. Decisions ripple outward, affecting not only kingdoms but relationships. The political tension deepens, and the mythological undertones grow more ominous.

Bran’s evolution continues in a compelling direction. Strength alone is no longer enough; wisdom, restraint, and sacrifice take center stage. The internal struggles feel grounded and believable, making the larger mythic events resonate more powerfully.

Lucia’s arc grows even more layered here. Magic, once mysterious and awakening, now feels heavy and dangerous. There’s a noticeable emotional intensity to her journey — a sense that every choice carries irreversible consequences. Her development adds depth and tension to the unfolding narrative.

What stands out in Into the Shadows is its atmosphere. The writing leans into darker imagery, uncertainty, and moral complexity. Rituals feel more urgent, confrontations more personal. The pacing is deliberate but charged, giving important moments room to breathe while maintaining narrative momentum.

This installment feels like the quiet before a storm — or perhaps the storm gathering strength.

⭐ Final Verdict

Into the Shadows deepens the emotional and mythic core of the Islands in the Mist series. It’s darker, more reflective, and rich with tension. Readers invested in the characters will appreciate the layered development and rising stakes that prepare the saga for its next major turning point.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

@ireadbooktours, @jmhofer