Cargo 3120: Ties that Bind follows a retired mercenary on one last mission, which ends up in the middle of a galactic power struggle to control the new energy source. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The efforts to find viable alternative energy sources for fossil fuels in our world today was a major part of that inspiration. For our story, the creative team, Daymond C. Roman, Lloyd Walker Jr., and I wanted to raise the stakes. In our universe, the powers that be left the energy crisis unaddressed for far too long. Now, the need for a new energy source is critical, as countless terraformed planets and moons across the galaxy are in jeopardy. Specifically, the technology that these planets rely upon to maintain their modified atmospheres are on the verge of failing due to the growing scarcity of the existing energy source: Krillium Ore. In Cargo 3120, Marcus finds himself caught in the middle of that power struggle, forcing him to make hard choices that will forever change his life, and the life of his family.

Captain Marcus La’Dek endures a great deal in this novel and has to make difficult choices at times. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

Our goal for character development for Marcus, as well as the rest of the characters, was very simple. We wanted to make characters that feel real, even though they exist in the distant future. The reason for this was so the readers would hopefully make a real connection with them, and would want to follow them throughout the series. We didn’t want an action hero that existed for the sake of just being an action hero. Likewise, we didn’t want villains that existed for the sake of being “the bad guy”. In the case of Marcus, while he does have skills from his former occupation, he also has many things in his life that drive him to do the things that he does. He’s not perfect. I believe that Marcus having these flaws is something to which we all can relate, thereby making him feel more “real” in the process.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

As I started writing the book, I wasn’t shooting for any specific theme. I just wanted to tell the story the way I saw and heard it in my head. However, there were a number of themes that did emerge during the course of telling the story. Themes such as the power of family bonds, love, redemption, and even forgiveness. But there were also other themes that emerged, such as revenge, betrayal, and the fact that our actions have consequences. And that in the end, you have to step up and take responsibility for your actions.

Where does the next book in the series take the characters?

Because cargo 3120 is intended to be an ongoing series, the second book will pick up where the first book ended. It’s difficult to tell you exactly what happens without giving anything away, but what I can say is that the next book largely takes place on the war torn planet of Bion IV, the home world of one of the characters. I intended to release book two last year, but due to health and other personal reasons, I was unable to meet that goal. The good news is that I’m back on track, with plans to release the book this year. And I want everyone to know that I’m working hard to make sure that the second book (subtitled: “Severed Ties”), will be worth the wait.

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