A juxtaposition, dystopian novel of terror, hope, and faith. Written for the Christian market, this novel will inspire you. You’ll cheer the heroes in the face of war and death, and your heart will dip and rise on the roller-coaster ride of their romances and heartbreaks.
Beliefs are tested. Amish and English—the Remnant—forced to choose how to survive. Can they trust each other? Betrayal, honor, bravery andcowardice on full display.
Their mission—an impossible feat—defeat an Artificial Intelligent entity created in the image of man, yet lacking all emotions—including empathy, pity, and mercy. The stakes—all life on Earth. The unlikely heroes of this thriller will fight against an omnipresent, omniscient god while demonstrating principles of virtue and defining what it means to be human.
Hello book lovers! Today is a day where I will be writing another author spotlight for a well-accomplished author whose work I have loved. As you know book lovers I love learning about authors and the inspiration behind their work, it fascinates me and adds to the depth of the book because the reader will be able to better understand it. That is how the author spotlights were created because I soon discovered that you lovely readers ALSO love learning about author’s, so I am excited to tell you a little bit more about author RD Palmer whose book The One thrilled me from beginning to end. I personally would recommend this book to all of those that love mystery and suspense but really the book can be read by anybody as it is flawlessly written and highly enjoyable. With today’s author spotlight for RD Palmer, a biography of the author and an interview between us both will be shared, and I hope that you book lovers enjoy reading it! To kick this off here is an author bio about the wonderful RD Palmer!
Mr. Palmer, before his retirement, was a Solution Manager, working for one of the largest software companies in the world. Before this, Mr. Palmer worked for one of the largest computer hardware companies in the world, and he worked in numerous countries in South and North America as well as Asia, implementing various software solutions. Also, Mr. Palmer wrote software for robots. Mr. Palmer is a proponent of technology, but like others wants to bring the possible threat of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) to people’s attention. He lives with his loving wife of 30 years, Mary, in Wisconsin.
Now, how wonderful does RD Palmer sound?! The author is a truly exceptional writer and I hope that you lovely readers have a read of the author’s work because you will not regret it! Please see below an interview between us both, I hope that you enjoy the author’s answers to my questions, they are incredible and provide some great advice too!
Thank you for joining us today at Red Headed Book Lover! Please tell us more about yourself
Before retirement, I was a Solution Manager, working for one of the largest software companies in the world. Before this, I worked for one of the largest computer hardware companies in the world, and I worked in numerous countries in South and North America as well as Asia, implementing various software solutions. Also, I wrote software for robots. I am a proponent of technology, but like others I want to bring the possible threat of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) to people’s attention. I live with my loving wife of 30 years, Mary, in Wisconsin.
Could you please tell us readers about your book and what inspired you to write your book?
Very few people understand AGI, so, to help the public, I decided to write a book. In January 2018, historian Yuval Harari presented “The Future of Humanity” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He said, “The world is divided into a very, very small minority of people concentrated in a few corporations and governments that have a clear, or clearer idea of what is really happening and what is at stake. And the vast majority of humanity, they just don’t have the time, they don’t have the volition, they don’t have the education or the ability to make sense of what is happening. This is very, very dangerous.”
What is the danger?
Well, hundreds of scientists and engineers signed an open letter proposing safeguards to AGI. Physicist Stephen Hawking said, “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race. Elon Musk said, “AI is the biggest risk we face as a civilization.” Kai Fu Lee, Artificial Intelligent expert, and venture capitalist said that within fifteen years, 40% of the world’s jobs will be replaced by robots. Approximately two-billion jobs will be displaced.
People may think that AGI will not affect them; however, In December 2018, Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, stated that Artificial Intelligence could be more profound for human society than electricity or fire. Many have said this will be the last invention of humans because it will be that monumental.
While the advancement of AGI is progressing, the collection of everyone’s data is accelerating. Today, every movement people make on the world wide web is monitored and cataloged. Today, every movement by foot, car, train, etc. is captured, stored and analyzed. In January 2019, Shoshana Zuboff released a #1 best selling book, “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power,” in which she details the surveillance. While some may believe that companies are simply trying to help their users, there is more to it.
In 2012 Facebook released findings from an experiment they did on unsuspecting customers of theirs. Facebook manipulated user’s news feeds. Additionally, on December 19, 2018, The New York Times published an article about Project Alabama, where AI was involved in swaying people’s vote in 2016.
Neuroscientist Sam Harris may have said it best when he remarked, “We have to admit that we’re in the process of building some sort of a god. Now would be a good time to make sure it is a god we can live with.”
“A god?” Someone may ask.
Yes. A god that has no body. A god that has superior intelligence to all humans. A god that is, omnipresent, everywhere around the world at the same time. A god that can see and hear everything.
From a religious point of view, people believe that God is their creator. But what if God created robots or AI, instead of humans? What makes us humans the same – regardless of race, creed, background? The book addresses this.
The book, The One, includes scenes of death, pain, and suffering, and these themes are examined by asking questions, such as, is there truly a God and, could a God that is good allow bad things to happen? Answers to these questions are supplied from a Christian perspective. Scripture is laced throughout the novel, providing guidance to the heroes and comfort for those suffering.
What would your advice be for aspiring writers?
Three things: infectiously positive, eyes wide open, and the journey.
Infectiously positive.
So many things can go wrong when writing a book. Relax and be positive about everything and with everyone. While a book may be important to an author, it pails to other things in life. When working with editors and marketing personnel, be gracious, flexible, and learn.
Eyes wide open.
Obviously writing a novel is difficult, but once the book is written, the writer must choose to work with a publisher or self-publish. As is told by sage authors, writing the book is only twenty percent of the work. The remaining effort is in marketing the book.
It is extremely rare that an author can be both an excellent writer and a superb marketer. And actually, if you’re a new author, you are unknown. As such, the odds are stacked against the new author, considering that somewhere between six-hundred-thousand and a million books are published each year in the US.
While I don’t want to discourage anyone, realize that lottery odds are better at being financially successful. The reason is that with the lottery, all numbers are equal. With your book, you compete against the whales of the ocean. Your writing and your wit may be better than New York Times best sellers, but unless you can create several strong novels, you’ll scarcely be noticed.
A writer may choose to work with an agent and publisher but be aware of the often-told story by J.K. Rowling that none of the publishing companies wanted to accept her book.
Journey.
The journey of writing a book and meeting so many wonderful people may be the best thing about being an author. For example, Aimee at Red Headed Book Lover, reached out me. I’m glad she did. Additionally, I’ve been asked to do radio interviews, and my book has been nominated by several organizations.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing about your book?
Many things threaten human existence. Examples are an asteroid, nuclear war, biological plague. Hundreds of scientists believe that our greatest threat is with AGI, and we are not sure if we can control it.
Additionally, as humans, while we are different, we are really the same. We want to be loved and to love. We bleed and feel pain. We express empathy and concern. We have hope for tomorrow and faith that things will be better. The protagonist of the story said this….
Dear Lord. You could have created robots to worship You. If You wanted.
Instead, You created us, to be in Your image.
Your image is one of feelings; expressing love and concern.
Thank you for this opportunity to show the world—those that will read this memoir—that You always keep Your promises. Thank you for revealing to me the need for Bible virtues. Through our actions. By the recordings in this memoir, they will know of these virtues.
What is your writing process like?
I have an idea for a chapter then I let my fingers type. It flows. After I’ve written the chapter, I read it and work to make everything in active voice with strong descriptions. I intentionally look for places in every chapter when I can twist the plot and create mini-cliffhangers.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Fortunately, I started with a book that I could draw upon experience and knowledge of the software industry. While I know how software works, and I know what is being built, I needed to explain it in everyday language. The idea came to me when I saw some Amish working on a barn. For if the Amish could explain the technology, then everyone could understand it. Additionally, writing about and combing subjects that few people know about – AGI and Amish, provided an opportunity.
While Amish communities are the North and the East of me in Wisconsin, I delved to understand more about what they believe. Sure, I talked to few, but I gleaned more about the Amish by reading. I was fascinated with their history and their beliefs.
Do you have a set schedule for writing, or do you only write when you feel inspired?
I write when I feel I’m inspired. There is no set time, and the idea has to come naturally. The ideas come from observing everyday life and the activities of people and projecting what may happen in the near future. In my writing, I do everything possible to keep the science realistic because the book portrays events happening within the next decade.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
I read all the time and rarely watch TV. I read a wide range of genres from religious, to history, to science, to romance, to travel, to suspense, to thrillers, to horror, to war, to action adventure, education, and philosophy. About the only genre that I do not read is westerns.
Lastly, when can we readers expect to read more wonderful books from you?
I’m just a little shy of 20,000 words for the next novel and I have the ideas for the remaining chapters. This book, like the first one released, is full of tension and mystery and adventure. Again, I push things to the max for excitement; however, I am pausing. I would like to be successful in marketing the current book. This is an example of why I appreciate Aimee at Red Headed Book Lover. Aimee provides access to readers that I would never have met.
Its official book lovers, I am obsessed with RD Palmer! If you have liked what you have read about the author and are interested in learning more about RD Palmer, then please do have a browse of the links below and be sure to have a read of the preview too! You will not regret it.
Goodbye for now book lovers,
