Interview with Robert Roth, Author of Rise of the Renegade Child

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Rise of the Renegade Child (The Gates Saga Book 2)?

I was excited to start working on the follow-up for Into the Lightning Gate. Rise of the Renegade Child is the second of four books I’ve planned for the series. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of a populated multiverse. It’s a big part of the series. Renegade Child also deals with themes of identity, acceptance, and what makes us human. Is it our genetics? Or is it our actions? It was also fun to change up the style of the second book and put the characters into more new and unfamiliar situations. While Lightning Gate was more of a sci-fi spy thriller in tone, Renegade Child ends up as more of a sci-fi heist story.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Rise of the Renegade Child (The Gates Saga Book 2), what would they be?

The main character, Cam’s, theme song would definitely be Dynasties and Dystopia from the Arcane series soundtrack.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love reading and writing science fiction. Sci-fi is an excellent genre for communicating core concepts–like identity, humanity, and morality–from a fresh, engaging, and exciting lens. I can shift the scene and point of view away from current events while still commenting on them.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I recently finished Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse. It was a great follow-up to Black Sun. Roanhorse is one of my favorite authors. Next up will probably be Noor by Nnedi Okorafor, a story about technology, identity, and community in a near-future Nigeria.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

No spoilers, but my favorite scene to write is the foot chase through my book’s fictional Seattle. My second favorite, and probably the toughest to write, is the aerial chase through the lofty towers of an alien Earth city.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I almost always write to music. I had the soundtrack from the Arcane series on Netflix on repeat for most of the book’s first draft.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

All of my characters are facets of me to some degree. When you’re reading my work, you’re reading about me.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Several themes revolve around identity and the internal and external factors impacting our view of ourselves. How does our environment impact our identity? What about technology? How much of our identity is predestined by our birth? How much of who we are is what we do?

Robert Roth is the author of the new book Rise of the Renegade Child (The Gates Saga Book 2)

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