Colette Obrien

By keeping as close as possible to what is believable the reader will come almost anywhere with you.  Fantasy, science fiction and fiction in general rely on trust; trust that the writer knows of what they speak, and that even if it is outside the readers experience, if the writer is convincing, the reader will want to come on the journey and enjoy the ride.

I read fiction for the ride.  It is also why I write.  When I convince myself that the story is real, I get an even bigger thrill than when I’m reading because I get to be part of the process.

So the science part of the science fiction aspect of “Nobility” was deeply researched in terms of what physicists today believe about time travel and, if it is possible, how it would be done.  By the way, most agree that it is possible.  However, what would make it possible is outside the scope of our current ability to manifest enough energy to propel an object from one time to another. Something like the energy of a supernova could do it, but how would one harness such energy?

How to Build a Time Machine by Paul Davies, and The New Time Travelers by David Toomey were both important references and great fun to read for any reason.  One new theory I came upon called VSL, the variable speed of light, flies in the face of Einstein’s theory about the speed of light being a constant and suggests that,  in some places at some times light speed can vary.  A radical idea whose proof is not accepted by everyone but holds potential.

By understanding the need for vast energy to time travel and that light speed may vary,  my heroine, the physicist,  Claire could put together a believable theory for time travel. She would discover that there is enough energy at the earth’s core to accomplish her desire, and in Iceland, because of it’s seismic activity, that energy could be accessed.  At least as far as I as writer was concerned.

Iceland then became an important place for the novel, and I discovered new and unexpected twists to add to the  thriller aspect.