Yesterday’s Tomorrow unravels a slightly futuristic, alternative Earth, where a protagonist challenges a system gone awry, leading readers on an introspective journey that questions the essence of humanity. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The world Mr. Orwell described in 1984 scares the living life out of me.

Though at the moment I wrote this response, I slightly chuckled, that doesn’t change my sentiment. And since I drew heavy inspiration from dystopian books of the past, it should be evident that I am looking at the future under that light.

I don’t speak out of academia, most of my youth was spent in a country governed by a totalitarian regime. I have an intimate knowledge of what it feels like to have your entire life dictated by someone you have never met.

One thing that should be obviously visible in the novel is children. Or the lack thereof. That in and of itself is a cautionary tale that humanity should take note of. Technological advances will, at some point, step in. And if we aren’t careful to maintain our human lineages, we will inevitably lose our humanity. Might as well become robots.

Previous dystopian works weren’t my only inspiration, however. I did consult actual research papers. One of the most notable is the Mouse Utopia Experiment.

The combination of these works gave birth to the framework I used to build Yesterday’s Tomorrow.

Your protagonist, Elton Nett, is an intriguing character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

I wanted to portray the world as seen through the eyes of someone that walked on the streets of all the worlds in the novel. Not someone that was special or gifted in any way. I wanted to show the little nooks and crannies of this reality. And I believe the best way to do so is by putting myself, and the reader, in the shoes of Elton as he just tried to make do with what he had. Heroes, or those who find the fortitude to make a change, aren’t usually who we think they are. His strength didn’t come from some deep-seated belief. It doesn’t take someone special to push back and say enough is enough.

Throughout the novel, you subtly weave in philosophical questions about humanity. How did you approach integrating these themes without overwhelming the adventurous plotline?

The big overall questions were posed as I began my research. They set in as I further developed the world and finally were accented with the events in the book.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

It’s a little early to say when, but I currently have two books in my hands. The continuation of Imprint Legacy, which now is at almost 90k words. (I know I promised this book years ago. I am diligently working on it.) And, together with Cozy Reads Publishing, I’m working on a novella that involves time travel.

Additionally, together with a comic book artist, I am developing This Is NOT a Bedtime Story from the Morning Star in a comic book with the goal of transforming the entire Morning Star in that form as well.

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