Gareth Worthington Interview - Children of the Fifth Sun ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content from Gareth Worthington

Gareth Worthington is a trained marine biologist and also holds a doctorate in comparative endocrinology. Currently, Gareth works full time for the Pharmaceutical industry helping to educate the World's doctors on new cancer therapies. In his spare time Gareth has a number of passions, including: martial arts - he trained in Muay Thai at the prestigious EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and currently trains in MMA at Phoenix Sportkampf, Switzerland; playing acoustic guitar; studying ancient history; drawing; and most of all writing fiction.

An award winning author, he hopes to one day hang up the pharma hat and write full time.

Series: Children of the Fifth Sun (Book 1)
Paperback: 414 pages
Publisher: Vesuvian Books (July 25, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1944109404

Praise for CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH SUN

"An action-packed, globe-hopping science fiction thriller... pedal-to-the-metal pacing and relentless action make it easy to turn pages..." ―Kirkus Reviews

"Insane! What Gareth did here was incredible! This author took a global look at America, China, and Russia, and added a species from another era into the mix, to create a well-researched novel of suspense, intrigue, with dashing individuals. The characters travel the world on a unique mission while trying to stay out of the line of fire as rogue government agencies from several different countries try to stop them. It's a wild ride from California to Peru, from Egypt to Siberia. The amount of research put into this novel is on par with a Michael Crichton novel. The main character, Kelly Graham, reminded me of Dirk Pitt from Clive Cussler's novels. Overall, an incredible read and a book I'm recommending." ―Jonas Saul, Best-selling author of the Sarah Roberts Series, April 2017

Suspend disbelief and let yourself travel on a downriver, undersea, and overland adventure in this well-constructed novel. The author takes you on a fast paced journey full of intrigue, government secrets, unusual creatures and just a tad of romance. Superlatives abound and the literary illumination paints an image so clear you feel you are there with the characters. For those who know the author, there are bit of his personality revealed which makes reading the novel even more enjoyable. A bit Tom Clancy, a hint of Dan Brown -- authentically Gareth in his debut work. ―Charity Scripture

"Scientist Worthington's understanding of the complexities and possibilities of marine biology and endocrinology are evident." ―Publishers Weekly, May 2017

***WINNER, SCI FI CATEGORY, 2017 LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL***
***2018 SILVER FALCHION AWARD FINALIST***
***2018 CYGNUS AWARD SHORTLIST (WINNER TBD)***

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
When I attended the Dragon Awards in Atlanta with my co-author Stu Jones. We were up for ‘Best Science Fiction Award’ for our book ‘It Takes Death to Reach a Star’. Up against Andy Weir’s ‘Artemis’ and ‘Persopolis Rising’ by James SA Corey, we knew we wouldn’t win—it was a contest judged by public votes—but to even be there meant we had enough fans to put us on the ballet in the first place!

When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid, on and off. I spent a few summers writing short stories. I had a big idea—which eventually became ‘Children of the Fifth Sun (COTFS)’—all about the pyramids in Egypt. I wrote a little story based on the idea for a school project when I was maybe 14 years old. My English teacher said I should be a writer. I guess she was right.

Where were you born and where do you call home?
I was born in Plymouth, UK. But to be honest, home is where my kids are. I have lived in California, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and Singapore. I move around, but if my kids are with me, it’s home.

What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 30 or less words, what would you say?
My most recent book… that’s hard, I’m working on few: the sequel to ‘It Takes Death to Reach a Star’ called ‘In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon’; a new book tentatively titled ‘Endo: Condition Black’ with Stu Jones; a Nordic noir thriller at the request of my publisher, and of course the final book in the Children of the Fifth Sun trilogy called ‘COTFS: Rubicon’.

COTFS: Rubicon is challenging to write as it is the end of a twenty-year journey, both literally for me but also in the story which spans the same time frame. The appeal of the COTFS series is that while it is heavy in grounded sci fi, and draws on elements of Indiana Jones and The Abyss, it is at its heart about what it means to be human and flawed. Book one was Kelly’s journey through pain and letting it define him as a person. Book two was about Freya and her being thrown into motherhood in a scary world. Book three is about KJ, Freya’s son now grown, trying to live up to the memory of a father he never knew. Of course, the military, intrigue, thrills, ancient knowledge bringers and fanatical cults are all a big part!

Which character have you enjoyed getting to know the most?
Kelly Graham for sure. Kelly represents a specific time in my life where the pain of my past very much defined me, and the fear of letting that go was overwhelming. Who was I without it? If I let the pain go, do I let the people who endured it with me go also? It was cathartic to write him.

Can you tell us when you started CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH SUN, how that came about?
Well, as mentioned initially it was based on a school project. I was obsessed with ancient Egypt. And then in maybe 2010 I started reading non-fiction books by Graham Hancock and the like regarding alternate history and things that make little chronological sense by archeological terms. I started to piece these fragments together and build a ‘what if’ story. It just exploded from there. Initially it was only ever meant to be one story, but my publisher—who firmly believes in the cinematic potential of the story—said: “I need two more books!”

TEN FAVORITE GUY/GIRL CHARACTERS FROM YOUR BOOKS, INCLUDING RANDOM FACTS ABOUT THEM.

1. Kelly Graham – when nervous, his balls tingle (nutflies).
2. Freya Nilsson – screws her nose up when she’s annoyed.
3. Mila Solokoff – has a favorite insult: “Jackbag”.
4. Demitri Stasevich – has a thing for classical music.
5. K’in – likes mashed beans.
6. Vedmak – has disdain for pretty much every other human on the planet.
7. Faruq – is honorable to a fault, even if it means giving his life.
8. Jonathan Teller – likes Star Trek a bit too much, annoying his colleagues with quotes.
9. Mos – has a crush on a Gracile he meets.
10. Ghofaun – likes to make moonshine he calls ‘Dreamy Clouds’.

For those who are unfamiliar with Kelly, how would you introduce him?
I have people who love Kelly and people who hate him, which is interesting given he is in a large part me. Kelly is broken, guilt-ridden for being unable to prevent a tragedy in his past. Because of this, he willingly throws himself into situations that will likely get him killed, and keeps everyone at arms-length by being sarcastic and foul-mouthed. To love again would open him to hurt he couldn’t take. But, if you mean something to him—even if you don’t know it—he’d charge in where angels fear to tread to save you.

Who has had the most influence in your life?
My kids by a country mile. Most of my life I have had to rely on myself and my own instincts on what is right, where to go, what direction to take. When my kids were born, something chemical changed in my brain. I thought I’d be a terrible father—but it feels so right to be one now. My son is autistic and he shows me every day what it means to see the world in a different light. My daughter is a little bundle of emotion, and makes me laugh constantly.

Do you play a musical instrument?
I play guitar, badly—haha! I taught myself. I don’t read music, I can play by ear and hear notes. It’s therapeutic sometimes.

What was the best memory you ever had as a writer?
Opening my first box of books. It was amazing to see something I’d created that technically could last forever.

What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?
To go to the moon or Mars or even the ISS. I am an official citizen of Asgardia, the space nation. The universe is so vast and we are so small. I want to feel that sense of insignificance.

What was a time in your life when you were really scared?
Ha. Most of my childhood. My father was very abusive. I grew up scared. Who knew he gave me the tools to be a writer? I think pain helps, and it comes through in my writing. Every lead character has a piece of me in them.

Which incident in your life that totally changed the way you think today?
My kids being born. Before my problems mattered. Now, only they matter.

Genre: “Science Faction” - science fiction, action and adventure with fact-based science, theories and mythology

IN ALMOST EVERY BELIEF SYSTEM ON EARTH, there exists a single unifying mythos: thousands of years ago a great flood devastated the Earth’s inhabitants. From the ruins of this cataclysm, a race of beings emerged from the sea bestowing knowledge and culture upon humanity, saving us from our selfish drive toward extinction. Some say this race were “ancient aliens” who came to assist our evolution.

But what if they weren’t alien at all? What if they evolved right here on Earth, alongside humans . . . and they are still here? And, what if the World’s governments already know?

Kelly Graham is a narcissistic self-assured freelance photographer specializing in underwater assignments. While on a project in the Amazon with his best friend, Chris D'Souza, a mysterious and beautiful government official, Freya Nilsson, enters Kelly’s life and turns it upside down. Her simple request to retrieve a strange object from deep underwater puts him in the middle of an international conspiracy. A conspiracy that threatens to change the course of human history.

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