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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VORAKA
Article Published on 30th October, 2023 by Carla Daniel | www.vorakamag.com
Since a very young age, Author Omara Williams has had a passion for science and technology, reading, and writing. She would imagine characters and situations each day and write for hours. She would find inspiration in everything around her when writing stories, even the shapes of clouds or constellations in the night sky. Author Omara Williams’ favorite subjects were fiction and adventure, and she found herself drawn to authors such as Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov, and Alexander Dumas. At 17, she completed their first handwritten book, a collection of children’s stories that her friends and family enjoyed. However, she had many other interests and hobbies, so she did not see writing as something she should pursue and instead viewed it as a pastime. Author Omara focused her efforts on her university degree, her passion for software programming, and her astronomy projects. Writing became something she did occasionally and nothing more. Years after that first book, she wondered, “What If..?” She firmly believes it is never too late when you are determined to achieve something, so she started to get back into writing while working full-time. She found the creation process so enjoyable and satisfying that she had to write something every evening after dinner and during weekends. Soon, she started setting targets and goals and taking her writing seriously.
Omara Williams holds a BSc Honours degree in Nuclear Engineering from Havana University and several Information Technology diplomas from Leeds University, and she is currently an award-winning software manager. When she is not working, she enjoys watching the night sky, investigating ancient alien theories, and chasing total solar eclipses. Omara lives with her husband and daughter in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Her book “The Space Traveller’s Lover” was published five years later, in February 2022. The following year, it was selected as a Book Excellence Award Finalist and Global Book Awards Winner in the Science-Fiction Romance category. It became an international #1 bestseller in Amazon’s YA War & Military Fiction ebooks in August 2023.
A GLIMPSE OF "THE SPACE TRAVELLER'S LOVER"
In a future Earth on the brink of ecological collapse, a bright young student encounters an alien soldier who might rebuild or destroy the world. Rom-Ghenshar is the alien race who has come to take over planet Earth. Stronger, invincible, immortal, and with a technical superiority beyond comprehension, the aliens are fueled by a zest for revenge while plundering Earth’s remaining resources. However, a slight deviation to their plan occurs when a ruthless alien soldier, ‘Rothwen’, becomes infatuated with a human, ‘Erin’, a bright young student with a mysterious past. He takes her to his planet even though it will jeopardize the plan of occupying Earth. Erin finds herself in an alien world, kidnapped by Rothwen. He and his people have different clothes. A different language. A different life. Everything about him is strange to Erin, yet he claims she is one of them and that, soon, she will be just like them. Erin wants to flee in terror, but Rothwen’s telepathic powers hold her fast. Their two worlds are destined to collide, but one wrong step could mean the end of everything Erin holds dear.
Erin soon discovers the aliens’ immense destructive powers, and while Rothwen promises her that they have come peacefully, Erin suspects that not all is as it seems. Rothwen and Erin are undeniably drawn to each other, with a wild romantic chemistry they cannot control, even though they have key character traits that should fight against each other. Rothwen has a domineering presence and is used to always getting what he wants. However, he finds himself immensely attracted to Erin’s passionate yet strong-willed and defiant personality — all the aspects that make her human.
In Rothwen’s company, Erin meets other members of his race, eventually forming a close bond with them. She is given the new name of ‘Shaillah’, and as she accepts her unique ancestry, she finally understands why she has always felt different to those around her. She is wooed on two sides—by the all-powerful yet pleasing Rothwen and by the attraction to her unique heritage, journeying to the Rom-Ghenshar home world as her body is transformed to bring out her full powers. She becomes one of them, even admired by the fearsome supreme commander ‘Kuzhma-Or’. Still, she cares for the humans and their plight.
Shaillah’s future and that of planet Earth depend on her next actions. She often wonders where her loyalty lies. Even though she has been transformed into the alien race, her feelings and memories are still human, “and that’s what makes you unique,” Rothwen tells her.
Shaillah’s competing desires to be with Rothwen and to protect the planet she has called home all these years have a profound effect on her. There are also other things complicating her life, such as her loyalty to her best friend, ‘Sam’, and the uncertainty about her intoxicating lover’s intentions.
Will she stay with her best friend from childhood, who loves her deeply? Or will she stay with the ruthless alien soldier who shows no mercy? Will she be able to overturn the aliens’ destructive plans? Will she find true love with the all-powerful alien soldier who stole her heart?
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR OMARA WILLIAMS
Omara, how did your childhood love for science and tech influence your writing in "The Space Traveller's Lover"?
I read many scientific books from an early age to satisfy my infinite curiosity and zest for knowledge, so I gathered a wealth of information over the years. In addition, I have visited unique places on this beautiful planet while on my astronomy projects. Eventually, I was able to seamlessly merge all these experiences into the beautiful story of "The Space Traveller's Lover."
How did everyday inspirations, like cloud shapes and constellations, find their way into your storytelling?
I can make up any shapes I wish from the cloudy and the starry sky. I enjoy working on my imagination in such a manner. Every time I look up at the sky, daytime or nighttime, I wonder about the mysteries of our times. Then, I try to answer them, creating and writing stories along the way.
How did you go from writing occasionally to setting goals and taking your writing seriously?
To continue reading the full interview, click here to download the October 2023 Literature special issue IX.
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