I recently removed my free poetry book from the Amazon catalogue. I haven’t looked at it for a while, and I forgot that I had written my own testimonials. Like my self-interviews, I found them quite amusing, so I thought I would share them.
There’s fake news, now there’s fake testimonials:
Read what people are not saying about this book [Lines by Leon]
“Opening this book is like looking into the head of Leon. It’s a little odd…”
– Noel Snevets
“It kept my interest and it keeps my coffee mug off the table.”
– Elon Ven Sets
“Just when you think you’ve had enough, you haven’t!“
– Lone Vessnet
“I had to ask myself, where has this book been all this time? I then realized it had slipped under the sofa.”
– Olen Nessvet
“Wow. Just, wow. Wait, what was the question?”
– Anon
“Thirty-one.”
– A. Prime
-Leon
In Conversation with N.T. Narbutovskih
Today I have the pleasure of sitting down with author N.T. Narbutovskih. Thanks for dropping by. Can I offer you a beverage?
I’m a straight espresso kind of guy, so if you have one of those laying around I’ll indulge. I blame chow hall coffee for that habit.
That I can do!
What book got you hooked on science fiction?
Oh man, there’s so many. I kind of just turned it on to 11 and left it there. I remember reading Ringworld at a tender age, I want to say nine? I missed most of the more subtle innuendos, but I then read every Known Space book I could find.
Ringworld is one of my all-time favorites. What made you start writing?
I used to tell stories all the time, but I didn’t have the good grace to tell people I’d made them up. Eventually I channeled that into writing my first short story at 16, which I thought was pretty long at 30 pages. I needed a credit in college so I found an English professor that would develop a Science Fiction Writing course just for me, so I wrote a few stories in college. But I really started writing for my second master’s degree. That was mostly military theory and application stuff, but I found I could write pretty well and pretty quickly, and then I got a short story published and a few articles. I was hooked after that, wrote a story a week for a few months. Sadly, none of those sold, but I learned a lot, more about what I don’t know than what I do!
What was the first story you wrote?
It was called Thought Clash and centered around a salvager trying to get to a wreck that held something super valuable before two fleets closed on the Jupiter systems and shot everything all to hell. That was back in, gosh, 2004? I think it was actually a good hack though, as I had a full overlay of cyber warfare, intelligent hunter-killer programs, local network, different sides with different philosophies. It was fun to write, and if I ever get around to it, it will be fun to re-write.
You are an aviator. What is that fastest speed you have achieved?
Hmm, if the FAA is asking, just under the sound barrier. I saw 666 knots on the airspeed. Would have snapped a picture but was busy not shooting out of the assigned airspace.
I read on your website that you do 3D printing. I learned 2D printing in Kindergarten. What kind of ‘things’ have you designed?
Ah, a common misconception! One does not have to design anything to print things; mostly I have been tinkering with things other folks far smarter than I have designed and posted out of the goodness of their hearts. Tree ornaments, pen clips, spoon rests, DnD minis for friends a work, that sort of thing.
I have never run an ultra-marathon, although some of the marathons I have done have felt like one. Which one has been your favorite?
I think the Lake Martin 100 was my favorite. I ran the first 50 miles by myself per the rules, but then I got to run all night while being “paced” by a 7-foot-tall marine. There were a few times I hallucinated he was a bear, but that was mercifully short. The course was beautiful too, until you realized that you climb 14000’, 50’ at a time. There’s no flats!
You also claim to be a dabbler in home repairs. Any home improvement disasters of note?
I think every home improvement project is an opportunity to learn. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that if I don’t have to do a thing more than once it’s probably worth my time to hire a professional. Maybe when I’m retired and writing full-time, I’ll build a house myself, but that is pretty far down the road. I call it a win if I only have to make one or two extra trips to the hardware store per project!
I’ll agree with that. You know it’s too many times when the cashier says, “Back again?”.
As an avid music fan, I like to hear what other people like. What are some of your favorites?
I grew up in the 90s, so my time capsule playlist is full of Dave Grohl and Incubus. I’ve recently been into instrumental jazz, modern blues rock, but I can always get down on some 80s hair metal.
Are you ready for the lightning round?
Shock it to me
Go-to race fuel?
Chia seeds in water
Have you seen all the Fast and Furious movies?
I quit after three I think.
I accidentally saw 4 and 5.
Platypus. Ingenious design or freaky creature ?
Spare parts animal!
Favorite city?
Portland, last time I went.
Name all the atmospheric layers.
Trophosphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, but I am better with cloud types. Never been to
the Mesosphere, but I’d love to visit some time!
What does N.T. stand for
Nicholas Theodore, one name given, one chosen.
This has been a pleasure. Thanks for chatting. Any links you want to share?
Follow me on social for snarky comments and pictures of food! https://linktr.ee/ntnarbutov
Want more entertaining interviews?: https://linesbyleon.com/the-interviews/
Onto the books!
Kindle Unlimited Sci-fi
April is National Poetry Month! Here are some freebies and purchase links to help support indie poets:
Book Funnel Promos
Purchase Links
Story Origin Promos
Purchase links
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Lines by Leon 