My Book: Linked

My thoughts and inspirations

After returning to my passion for writing, I joined many online and local author groups. The most common advice was to write the most gritty, dark and intense story you could think of. I had written scifi previously and decided to go with a dark urban fantasy. A story where a kitten shares its abilities with a young boy.

The start of any story is always the hardest. The kitten of my story escaped a watery death and the little boy he connects to begins the story dealing with the loss of his father. Tragedy is a common story element. I was recently told that tragic childhood events are depicted in the U.S. as losing a parent and outside the U.S. as being an orphan. Whichever element is chosen, the loner aspect brings us closer to the characters and allows us to feel their ups and downs.

Linked is an introduction to both characters and abilities. I’m always looking for the connections that bond each of us to one another, be it in the music we listen to, the movies and shows we watch or the stores we shop. Part of the Linked series was identifying and showing the unseen links we all have. Even the hardships we have endured and the struggles we face, become key ingredients to the bonds we share with our friends and family.

The abilities Snowy the cat bestows on Tommy originates from the concept known as psychic residue. In paranormal circles, it identifies cold spots in homes, intense emotions left from tragic events or psychic imprints from death. The concept of feng shui is similar, using the process to recognize, remove and cleanse psychic imprints and negative elements from your environment. With this in mind, Snowy became Tommy’s key into seeing his world like no one else. Together, they see dark moments, learn hidden secrets and discover the memories of the world around them.

Even with the gift of mind reading, I needed to include another ability. Teleportation. This was necessary for two reasons. First, it helped reveal the intensity of connections we all share despite distance, and second, it allowed the characters to go places no child or animal could go. Both qualities were necessary for the story and the challenges Tommy and Snowy would face.

Lastly, the villains of the story needed to be as dark as possible. I knew Tommy would be a quiet child, having lost his father. This made it easy to depict bullies in school. However, the worst villain would end up being Hap. A merciless killer from a long-ago story. In Linked, he is no longer part of his past organization and believes he was rejected for failing to complete a mission. When he crosses paths with Snowy, he immediately realizes the value of the cat and becomes obsessed with possessing it and its powers.

Bullies and mind reading are in many stories. So are cats and kids. However, when I began writing Linked, these elements and many more brought my story to life. Tommy’s mother has qualities I picked from my own and his friends are reminiscent of my childhood friends. Linked has dark moments but is mostly an urban fantasy with suspense and drama mixed in. Having a Psychic, Teleporting Cat may not be common, but most cat owners know the unique disposition of a feline companion. We all have seen our furry friend jump up or run out of the room for no discernable reason and we know how easily they can disappear when we aren’t watching. In the end, Linked, like the rest of my books, comes from the inspirations I have discovered from everyday life.

We all have stories to share. Some are told in conversation and some get written down. I have tried many creative outlets and enjoy writing the most. I always hope my own creative journey reveals the gifts we all have and the many outlets with which to share them.

The Linked trilogy can be found on Amazon.com along with many other scifi and fantasy books I’ve published. I appreciate every reader that finds my books as well as all feedback, reviews and comments. I can be found on alexgzarate.com and on social media under alexgzarate. Thank you.