Author Bio:
Erasmo Acosta was born in Cantura, Venezuela, and moved to the United States in 1996 to pursue a software engineering career, sponsored by a small Silicon Valley company. He retired to Portland, Oregon, in 2020 after achieving 32 successful years in the industry. In 2015, Acosta became interested in the implications of the Fermi Paradox as it relates to the prospects of finding another civilization in the universe. Further research into Futurism, upcoming technologies, and the works of American physicist Gerard O’Neill, led him to write K3+. The dystopian novel explores human migration, triggered by inequality and climate change, to rotating habitats in space, based on many currently available technologies. Acosta tells the story of how humanity moved past the unsettling times we live in to a post-scarcity and egalitarian society—absent of fear, uncertainty, inequality, and despair.
What inspires you to write?
I watched a YouTube video that discussed both the Fermi Paradox and Dyson Swarms. It had a profound personal impact, leading me to drop some of my most deeply held beliefs. Less than two years later, after plenty of research on these and many other subjects, I started writing the K3+ book.
Tell us about your writing process.
I write a note on my phone whenever I get an idea, so I won’t forget it. I also write as I feel inspire. When I'm feeling blocked, I go for a walk, ask my friends, or watch something on TV.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
While I don't carry on conversations with my characters, per say, I drew on personal experiences, and borrowed from others, to bring some of the characters to life. Yasmin is an amalgam of 4 different people I knew. Other characters are completely organic, and materialized as the narrative evolved. Kaira was inspired on a dear friend’s daughter. Len is probably the most diverse individual, due to the fact I merged two separate characters into one.
One of my early editors recommended I give SueLing more agency, so she would raise to the plot. Enzo was conjured out of the need to make Federico’s work more real. I didn’t want a single character to be “the hero”. You’ll see many of the characters throughout the story, to rise above the main character.
Who are your favorite authors?
Isaac Asimov, Larry Niven, and Arthur Clarke are my childhood heroes. I make references to them throughout the story. J. K. Rowling had a different kind of influence. Ever since reading the Philosopher’s Stone—I read all seven books many times—I was deeply impressed by her light and easy-to-digest style. The interactions between Fedrix & SueLing are an example.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I wanted to be able to share my vision and I felt that self-publishing would be the best way to do that. I feel that this is my opportunity to make a contribution to humanity.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think that book publishing will continue to expand in the self-publishing scope as readers continue to pursue opportunity to reach the masses with their books.
What genres do you write?
Science Fiction
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Audiobook
Website(s)
Erasmo Acosta Home Page Link
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
