While the majority of EFA members are editors, many of us are writers as well. We’re happy to introduce a new feature to this space celebrating the authors among us. In each installment, we’ll take a look at a book by an EFA member and talk about how
their book came to be. So read on to enjoy a brief Q&A with the author and an excerpt of their book.
— Sheryl Holmberg, Freelancer editor in chief
Altered Bodies by Cody Sisco
New out this month is Altered Bodies by Cody Sisco, EFA co-chair. The latest installment in his Resonant Earth series, Altered Bodies is a cyberpunk alternate history novel featuring shifting geopolitical alliances, AI chatbot life coaches,
and troubling mind-machine interfaces.
We asked Cody a few questions about this novel and his writing and editing process.
A Chat with the Author
Cody Sisco
Talk a bit about your writing process.
I am a binge writer. Story ideas and scenes play in my imagination and start to take rough shape over weeks and months. I get to know the characters by imagining their lives, both the boring parts and the exciting parts. I’ll write a
hurried draft to get it all down and then let it sit and revisit it later with fresh eyes. It goes through several drafts as my intentions crystallize, and I make sure that plot developments, character motivations, and the language itself is as good
as I can make it on my own.
Talk a bit about the editing and revision of this book. What did it take to bring it from draft to done?
For each book in this series, I worked with at least one and sometimes two developmental editors. Partially because it’s a challenging project — an unreliable narrator in an alternate history world investigates a conspiracy. The other part is that I love
working with editors. They strengthen the story. They point out where I can go deeper or make things clearer or more subtle. They help me evolve my craft to be able to tell the story in a way that honors my ambitions. I also hire a copyeditor to make
sure the manuscript is as error-free as possible. I’ve been able to find and hire editorial professionals through the EFA’s Member Directory. It’s been fulfilling to be part of this community and to give back to it by hiring fellow EFA members!
What advice and encouragement would you give other writers?
Read widely. Study the books that hook you. Participate in critique groups and workshops; you’ll learn so much from analyzing works in progress. And probably most important is to find communities where you can participate, learn, and give back to other
writers.
The scene: Victor is in Las Vegas for a meeting with the Diamond King, the city’s shadowy ruler, who promises a brain implant technology that could help cure mirror resonance syndrome. In this scene, as they ride in helicopters to a high society gala, Victor’s friend Ozie explains how he came to work with the Diamond King.
Victor had heard vaguely that Organized Western States citizens had some sort of system to acknowledge and reward their contributions to society. He had no clue how it worked, though a rectangular image came to
mind.
“Something to do with playing cards?” he asked.
Ozie nodded. His fingers tapped on the braincap as he spoke. “Yeah, it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of, except it actually works. Privilege comes from your ranking. There’s a floor on wages, so everyone
makes enough to survive. Housing costs are capped, so you always have a place to live. All the basics of the economy are stable and guaranteed. Above that, though, is where everyone plays. There are incentives for cultivating and demonstrating ambition,
creativity, and innovation. Everyone starts at one, and you reach five by twenty years old if you work at it. It’s similar for immigrants. The scheme rewards service, altruism, and all the good things in life. The tough thing is that there’s no tolerance
for complacency. You can move down too, so there’s no getting lazy. There’s no time for selfish goals. Interdependence is hard-wired into society.”
The lights of the city receded as they headed over a dark landscape. The vehicle was oriented toward a string of lights on the horizon.
“I happened to be able to help people use and adapt technology in a place that prizes that kind of service. By the time I started Springboard Café, I was an eight, which for a guy in the wilderness is a lot. Usually,
you’ve got to be a district council member or a cutting-edge researcher to get that far. I was a hacker who happened to be ahead of the game. I beat it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I hacked the rating system.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
Ozie laughed loud and long. “Do I look like someone who can’t handle a little danger? Do I look that helpless?” Ozie laughed again, this time more quietly, like he was savoring a private memory.
Sheryl Holmberg Freelancer Editor in Chief, EFA Board of Directors
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