Interview with John Reizer, Author of The Homecoming

What can you tell us about your new release, The Homecoming?

My latest novella, The Homecoming, is a science fiction story that begins in the year 2036. The Earth faces a natural disaster that alters modern society. The world is thrown into chaos and becomes devoid of the most advanced technology. The United States, China, Russia, and other superpowers are quickly reduced in strength and prominence.

The survivors are determined not to repeat the mistakes of their ancestors as they methodically rebuild society from the ground up. A New World Government is created and runs the planet; it has outlawed the existence of sovereign countries and all acts of war.

As the global community enjoys world peace for the first time in Earth’s history, humans are suddenly contacted by an extraterrestrial race of beings called the Tresantarians. The alien species is mysteriously connected to the people of Earth and immediately offers humanity a fantastic gift. But there’s a catch, and the people of Earth are about to uncover a mind-bending secret about the extraterrestrials that will forever change the way humans view life, the Tresantarians, and most importantly themselves.

I wrote the basic template for The Homecoming back in 2011 and published it as a novelette titled, Tresantaras. In 2020, I rewrote the manuscript and developed it into its current version.

I think the story is unique because of the many underlying societal issues it addresses. Hopefully, the work entertains readers and makes them think about certain things they might otherwise never contemplate.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2. 1984
3. Fahrenheit 451
4. The Giver
5. The Hunger Games

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Don’t be nervous about taking chances in life. I used to be very shy and introverted as a teenager, and if I had it to do over again, there would be certain things in my earlier years that I would approach differently. You learn these valuable lessons as you progress through the journey of life. I think this bit of information would be the best advice that I could give to my teenage self.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

If I had an extra seven-hours each week, I’d probably spend it working on stories or writing articles for my blog. It never seems like there’s enough time in a day to get these projects done. The extra time would certainly come in handy.

What makes your world go around?

I am a chiropractor who works three days a week in my private practice. On the days I am not seeing patients, I am writing, walking, and spending time with my wife and daughter. These are the people and things that make my life complete.

What scene in The Homecoming was your favorite to write?

The scenes I enjoyed writing the most in The Homecoming take place at the beginning of the book, the first three chapters. I believe they’re an integral part of the story, laying down the crucial background information that is quite essential to appreciate the more character-driven portions of the novella.

I have always enjoyed works of fiction crafted with the right balance of telling and showing. The appreciation I have for this writing style has undoubtedly influenced my writing and the way I design stories.

John Reizer is the author of the new book The Homecoming.

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