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07 September 2019

Saturday Spotlight | CassaSeries By Alex J Cavanaugh

In addition to the usual blog posts every Monday and Wednesday about our travel adventures and day-to-day life living aboard a sailboat, I also occasionally post on Saturdays, focusing on things related to writing such as cover reveals, book launches, reviews, interviews with authors etc. So if you're a bit of a book nerd like I am, check in on Saturdays - you never know what might pop up.


Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Alex J. Cavanaugh the author of the Amazon best-selling CassaSeries, as well as the founder of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. I'm a big fan of Alex's books and if you like space opera, you'll love them as well!

Have a read below for details on the CassaSeries and how Alex comes up with his character names, as well as a cool giveaway!

Where Did the Character’s Names Come From?

Some people labor over character names. I read posts and comments from writers who struggle to find the right names or have to rename characters. Fortunately, I’ve never struggled with names.

Byron and Bassa came to me with their names in place. So did Athee, who appears in the next two books. Byron’s son was easy – Bassan honored his friend.

As for the rest of the names? I spent a whole thirty minutes per book making them up! That’s right – I just brainstormed unique, alien-sounding names that were also simple to pronounce and wrote them down. (My apologies for Ernx – it’s pronounced Urnks.) From that point, I paired them with the right character.

Yes, that meant that while I was writing each story, there were a lot of blanks in the manuscript. Which made it really fun filling them in later!




CassaDawn
CassaStar Series Prequel
By Alex J Cavanaugh
Genre: SciFi Adventure, Space Opera 

The prequel to the Amazon best-selling Cassa series!



A pilot in training...

Fighting the odds, Byron is determined to complete Cosbolt training and join the Cassan space fleet. Poised at the top of his class, only one situation holds him back–his inability to work with anyone in the cockpit. Byron’s excellent piloting skills won’t be enough without a good navigator…



**Get it FREE!! **


CassaStar
CassaStar Series Book 1 

To pilot the fleet’s finest ship…

Few options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only hope. Slated to train as a Cosbolt fighter pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life as he sets off for the moon base of Guaard.

Much to Byron’s chagrin the toughest instructor in the fleet takes notice of the young pilot. Haunted by a past tragedy, Bassa eventually sees through Byron's tough exterior and insolence. When a secret talent is revealed during training, Bassa feels compelled to help Byron achieve his full potential.

As war brews on the edge of space, time is running short. Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive, and Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?


“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal


Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * BAM






CassaFire
CassaStar Series Book 2

From the Amazon best-selling author - CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…







CassaStorm
CassaStar Series Book 3

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

With a talent for worldbuilding and a compelling cast of characters, Alex J. Cavanaugh combines high powered space battles and the challenges of family dynamics to provide readers a space opera with heart.” - Elizabeth S. Craig, author of the Southern Quilting and Myrtle Clover mysteries







Get the CassaSeries Boxed Set Here! 




Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the award-winning site, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, CassaStorm, and Dragon of the Stars. The author lives in the Carolinas with his wife.




Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!



18 comments:

  1. Congrats Alex! Really fun series especially on audible. I got a kick out of listening.

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  2. Thanks for hosting me, Ellen!

    Juneta, glad you enjoyed the audio books. The narrator did a great job.

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  3. Thank you so much for hosting Alex today.

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    1. I loved his books so it was a no brainer to be part of his blog tour :)

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  4. How fun that your characters names come to you so easily! A couple of mine will still not tell me their names, and it's been years.

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  5. It's great the names come easily to you. One of mine was unpronounceable (sort of). When I got the rights back and re-issued it, I added a couple of vowels so people could pronounce it. Love your series.

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  6. I appreciate the mention of unpronounceable names. That's a pet peeve of mine. And Ernx isn't bad at all! Happy Writing!

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  7. You did a great job making up character names, Alex! Hi, Ellen!

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  8. Diane, that was probably a smart idea.

    Darla, thanks!

    Thanks, everyone!

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  9. Great post. I've enjoyed this series so much. I've read the first book at least three times. I haven't listened to the series on audible, I think I'm afraid the narration will interfier with the imagery in my head. I like seeing these characters in my own special way. Still, I love the cover art on the covers and may try the audio one day.

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  10. Wonderful to see Alex in the spotlight! It's amazing that you came up with character names so quickly.

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  11. Thanks for hosting Alex, Ellen. His series is great!

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    1. P.S. I enjoyed reading about how Alex chooses his character names. I agree with his point about making alien names pronounceable.

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  12. Awesome to see Alex featured here, Ellen. He has such an amazing imagination and truly is a ninja of many sorts! It's quite a talent as well to have character names pop up this easily. I guess that's also part of the amazing imagination! :-)

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