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Sitting down with new author, RA Howes, to discuss her debut novel, Descent

  • pentoprintau
  • Nov 17, 2022
  • 3 min read

Even though we have been quiet on the social media front, the office has been buzzing! Since launching our Business Services back in July, we have been busy helping businesses and schools with their website content, as well as creating commemorative anniversary books for clubs.

Along with helping businesses and organisations, we have also been working hard with those at the heart of Pen to Print: our writers and authors. One author is RA Howes, who recently debuted her novel, Descent, the first book in Howes’ Tide of the Stars universe. In a style of genre described as ‘intergalactic cyberpunk’, we are thrilled to have been chosen as the editors for her publication.


'What did you leave behind, Captain?'

'Bad memories and a fuckin mess...'

4991 TCE : 09 : 21

Life is full of choices.

Eric Hillar's choices have led to the United Trade Confederate branding him their first terrorist in over 2000 revolutions. On the run, he finds himself in the sector of space known as The Rim. It is not just the slaver press gangs that notice his arrival.

Pirate Captain Hawke has a target she needs crew for, and she doesn't take no for an answer. If Eric plays his cards right, he might keep his freedom, his life and earn enough credits to finally disappear.

Or he just might be given the chance to make a choice that matters...


We know the benefit of writers gaining knowledge through shared experiences with one another, despite writing being a solitary craft at times. We thought what better way to help other aspiring authors by speaking to one who has just published her debut novel. Introducing you to RA Howes:


Renee, I couldn’t be prouder or happier for you on the release of Descent. Congratulations! As we all know, writing a book isn’t something that happens overnight. How long did it take you to write Descent?

I came up with the idea and a first draft for Descent a few years ago. It sat in my pile of unfinished manuscripts for a while, simply because something just wasn't right. Then late 2019/early 2020 I pulled it back out and completely rewrote it. From there, it has been about 18 months from the finished "first draft" to publishing.


How did you keep yourself motivated over that time, especially during the redrafting/rewriting stage?

I batch my writing to avoid getting burnt out on any work-in-progress (WIP). I will draft one, then edit a different work, then go back and redraft/edit another. I have about 3-5 WIPs in stages, from brainstorming and drafting to workshopping. Just as I am losing focus on one, I'm usually finishing up the latest stage and I can shift gears onto something else as a break.


What part of the process – from your very first draft to its recent release – did you find the most challenging? (Hopefully it wasn’t having an editor, haha!)

Despite my poor grammar, my editing stage was not the most challenging. For me, it's getting a single coherent draft from start to finish. Once I have the bones of my story, then things seem to move smoother for me.


Is there anything you would do differently?

Descent is not perfect. Even at this point, I can see imperfections in the writing and what I wanted to say in a particular scene, but I wouldn't change any part of the book for now (maybe for the ten-year anniversary release). Instead, I plan to take the lessons learned from Decent and make my workflow for the next book smoother and more succinct.


And lastly, what advice would you give to other aspiring writers out there working on their book?

This is a long game. There is no magic formula, no perfect system. Do it your way and enjoy the process as much as the final product.


Congratulations again on Descent and thank you for taking the time to chat with us today.




Where you can purchase Descent, in hardback, e-book and audiobook:


Descent is available in ebook, paperback, hardback and large print from most large retailers. You can even ask your local bookstore or library if they can order it. The audiobook is releasing across all platforms, including Spotify.

Follow RA Howes:

Newsletter : www.rahowes.com

Instagram: @r_a_howes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAMayVKZR_PAKZ4OP5zCMAA

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