Rachel Aukes is the bestselling author of over forty novels spanning science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her acclaimed 100 Days in Deadland was named a Best of the Year by Suspense Magazine, and her work has been recognized as a “recommended read” by USA Today. One of the original Wattpad Stars, her stories have garnered over eight million reads and a loyal global following.
In this spotlight, we talk about Redline Corps series, where the enemy is vicious. Hope seems lost. But a few brave heroes can turn the tide. Humanity will prevail!
Liv transitions from a video journalist and influencer to a war correspondent drafted into an interstellar conflict. How did her background in media shape her perspective on the war and influence her interactions with military personnel?
As a news journalist, Liv couldn’t be afraid to jump into danger to get her story. Being drafted as a war correspondent was no different. Even though she wasn’t officially a soldier, she ended up on the front lines.
The Raptors are portrayed as a formidable alien enemy. Can you delve into their origin, societal structure, and motivations for waging war against humanity?
Raptors are feathered pterodactyls that have roamed star systems in search of new territories. Without giving away spoilers, they have evolved into aggressive predators, taking any worlds to preserve their own survival. TLDR; They’re not nice guys.
The concept of deploying soldiers in cryosleep is intriguing. What inspired this idea, and how does it impact the dynamics and morale of the troops upon awakening in hostile environments?
The greatest risk of space travel is keeping fragile humans alive, so I wanted to lower that risk. And, since the military would try to find the cheapest way possible to get their troops from point A to point B, reusable cryosleep pods would cut the need for food and other biological needs. In the troops’ minds, one day they were finishing basic training, and the next day they were on the front lines—while their new skills are still fresh.
Sam Carter is described as a cocky pilot willing to fly anything, even at great risk. How does his daring nature affect team cohesion and mission outcomes throughout the series?
Sam’s the type of guy that annoys the crap out of people while also being endearing to them. As he matures, his leadership comes forward, and he’ll do anything for his friends—and humanity. Liv and Jason wouldn’t be alive without Sam.
In fact, something that might surprise readers is that, while Liv is the “voice” of the series, Sam is the story’s main hero. Liv is essentially reporting the story, but her and Jason also play an integral role.
Jason’s ability to fix and reverse-engineer almost anything is pivotal. Can you share instances where his skills turned the tide in critical situations, and what inspired his character’s technical prowess.
Jason may have started as an engineer to fix squawks and keep the ship running, but if it’s got parts, he can fix it. Of the trio, he is the most gifted. And it doesn’t stop with human technology. Spoiler alert: he just may have the skills to bring a singular back to life!
Given Liv’s background, how does the series explore the influence of media and propaganda in shaping public perception and morale during the interstellar war?
The first book, Expendable, digs into the darker side of media when it is manipulated to serve as a propaganda engine. There’s no evil involved—it’s just a tool in trying to keep people from losing hope (and to entice more people to join the war effort).
Can you elaborate on the evolving relationships among Liv, Sam, and Jason, and how their diverse backgrounds contribute to their camaraderie and conflicts?
Each individual has the perfect set of attributes to make their small team exceptional. Liv is courageous and inquisitive, Sam is confident and fearless, and Jason is pragmatic and optimistic. It’s those combined traits that will enable them to evolve both figuratively and literally through the three books.
What inspired the cover design for your latest book?
Even though the main characters aren’t soldiers, Expendable takes place in a military science fiction world, and I wanted to convey that to readers. I bounced some ideas off my publisher, Steve Beaulieu, and he worked his magic in turning my vision into a fantastic cover.
If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I always envision my main characters in movies, and this series is no different. Michelle Monaghan would play Liv Reyes, Steve Lund would play Sam Carter, and Michael Peña would play Jason Rodriguez.
If you could bring one fictional object from your books into the real world, what would it be?
Working spaceships—the Gray Ships, specifically—that any of us could fly and travel the stars (and I’d take my dog with me, of course).
Have you ever snuck a favorite quote or line from another book into your own work?
Oh, yes. The first that comes to mind is a quote attributed to Terry Pratchett: “Build a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life.” It provided the perfect, fitting line of dialogue in Bounty Hunter.
Are there any elements in your books drawn from personal experiences?
Since I’m a pilot, there’s a pilot in every one of my books. In space-based series like Redline Corps, I’m winging it (lame pun, I know) in terms of FTL flight characteristics, but then again, so it every other writer out there.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice about writing, what would it be?
Turn off the distractions and get that (expletive) writing done.
Do you ever imagine how your characters’ lives continue after the book ends?
I often envision my characters’ lives after The End. Some settle down into a quiet life, others continue their adventures, and others… well, let’s say things have never worked out for them, and their future is no different. After Redline Corps, Liv, Sam, and Jason’s lives will continue on new, epic adventures.
Check out Rachel Aukes’ Redline Corps series on Amazon
Join the Space Corps. Journey to the stars. Meet aliens—and then vaporize them.
A news journalist arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Liv Reyes now serves as a war correspondent in a war where anyone can be drafted and everyone is expendable.
It’s a war we’re losing. Badly.
Outmatched, outsmarted, and outmaneuvered—humanity is running out of options when it comes to the Raptors. They destroy anything and anyone we send their way.
Our last line of defense never even made it through basic training.
Liv catches a ride on a transport filled with five hundred soldiers in cryosleep, but Raptor space is dangerous. Half of all ships deployed are destroyed before ever reaching the front lines.
Relentlessly pursued by the vicious alien enemy, Liv arrives at the aftermath of a brutal space battle and unearths a story that is the key to saving humanity from the Raptors once and for all.
But first… she must survive the trip…
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