Vincent Valkier
Author Interview - Vincent Valkier
Author of Digital Soul
Digital Soul is a collection of three short stories bookended by two novellas that seeks to examine humanity’s rapidly changing relationship with technology and the hidden dangers and costs associated with technological evolution. The opening novella is set in the recent past, and the successive stories move forward in time and are set in the present, near future, far future, and very far future.
In Raven, the first novella, a high school senior has lost his faith and struggles to find his new spiritual identity. He becomes instantly drawn to a new classmate, only to discover that she may not actually exist. She leads him to an abandoned house, the site of a terrible tragedy, which may also serve as a key to another world. But is the higher power that world represents good or evil?
In Missing Links, a video from a college party spread without a girl’s consent has dire consequences for both the victim and the group of friends responsible.
In White Knight, two game developers explore their nearly completed virtual world. However, some of the game’s characters are behaving erratically and seem to have developed consciousness, leading to a schism between the two designers.
In The Broken Man, a game show in the future releases a murderer into the house of unwitting contestants, who must fight to survive. One contestant’s forced participation makes him unsure which is more important to him: his love for his spouse, or the fame and glory his victory will bring.
In Genesis, the final novella, a journalist interviews a scientist whose discovery unlocked untapped knowledge about the brain and mental illness. The interview reveals the unforeseen consequences and horrible costs when the initial discovery evolved into a key to immortality.
Author Interview - Vincent Valkier
Author I draw inspiration from:
Ted Chiang (Exhalation), Nina LaCour (Watch Over Me), David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas)
Author Interview - Vincent Valkier | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
In a comfortable chair by a fire, preferably when it's snowing.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland - I imagine it would be a very circular and not very productive conversation, but it'd be interesting! Plus, talking to a cat - pretty cool, right?
Author Interview - Vincent Valkier | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I think I've always known... or at least, I've known for as long as I can remember. However, the moment I knew that I could become an author was in college - I was taking a course on Gothic literature and our final project was to create something Gothic ourselves - I started a short story that just kept growing and growing, and I knew it could eventually become a novel.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Hardbacks are by far the most aesthetically pleasing, but they're unwieldy and difficult to travel with. Paperbacks are the sweet spot - they still have that pleasing tactile nature (plus, I love the subtle smell of books as well) but they are much easier to travel with. Ebooks are all about convenience, but it's not worth losing the feeling of reading an actual book, IMO. I don't partake of audiobooks very much, but they can help realize the characters more fully (like Andy Serkis's reading of LOTR) or the humor (Bill Bryson reading his own books)
The last book I read:
I'm just about to finish The City and its Uncertain Walls, the new book by Haruki Murakami. He's one of my favorite authors, but unfortunately I'm not enjoying this book as much as I normally enjoy his writing.
Author Interview - Vincent Valkier | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Computer, all day long. First of all, I like to listen to music while I write. Also, when I get really drawn into a scene or excited about what I'm writing, my brain is working a mile a minute and even though I type fast, I can barely keep up. I imagine that would be a much bigger problem with pen and paper. Finally, editing/re-writing is much easier on a computer.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Lee Scoresby from His Dark Materials, by Phillip Pullman. He is an adventurer and a world-traveler (by balloon, no less - how cool is that?). He avoids violence whenever possible but won't hesitate to defend himself or the ones he cares about. He's a man of his word, and lives by a consistent ethical code.
Author Interview - Vincent Valkier | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
Well, I am a veterinarian, and that is my (other) dream career.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
1920s - can't go wrong with the era of swing dancing
Place I’d most like to travel:
New Zealand - I have a life goal to get to all 7 continents, and Australia/New Zealand is one of the two I'm missing. Plus, I'm a Lord of the Rings fanatic (the books and the movies), and I'd love to visit the places where it was filmed.
My signature drink:
an Old Fashioned
Favorite artist:
That's a big question, but since I haven't said anything about music yet and its very important to me, I'll say Joanna Newsom
Number one on my bucket list:
I recently accomplished 2 of my 3 big life goals - write a book, and run a half marathon. Still working on visiting all 7 continents.
Anything else you'd like to add:
Thanks for your time and effort!
Find more from the author:
instagram.com/vincentvalkier
vincentvalkier.substack.com
About Vincent Valkier:
Author Interview with Vincent Valkier
Vincent graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Philosophy in 2009. After working at an animal hospital, he was accepted to veterinary school at the University of Georgia and graduated in 2016. He currently works as a small animal veterinarian in Atlanta, Ga. His stories are informed both by his love of fiction and his scientific background.
His work has been published in Cirsova, Dark Horses magazine, The Dark Lane Anthology, Gemini Magazine, and the Lunaris Review. Digital Soul was selected as a finalist for the 2023 Claymore Award from Killer Nashville.
