Introducing Author Bob Welch

Bob Welch’s debut novel, Into the Dax, tackles themes of climate change, political and religious oppression, technological progress, and ​disinformation. I was excited to read an advance copy, and Bob agreed to an interview!

Born and raised in Western New York, Bob Welch is an author, game designer, and producer. Bob designed best-selling games like Bop It and oversaw the creative development and production of global video game hits including Civilization, RollerCoaster Tycoon, and Act of War. Building on a game career that focused on creating immersive, emotionally engaging experiences and worlds, Bob now brings that same depth of storytelling and worldbuilding to fiction.

So, Into the Dax is your first novel! Congratulations! What was your reaction seeing it in print for the first time?

Good question. My first reaction was to feel the weight of it, physically. Then, feel the weight of it mentally. Also, happy to have captured a lot of thoughts and feelings on those pages, I was eager to hear what readers thought the book was about! I mean, I know I wrote it, and I know what the story is, but I am interested in reader feedback -- entertainment-wise -- and what deeper thoughts, questions, or insights they might have taken away from it.

I hear you’ve been working on this novel for some time. What was the most challenging part in writing it?

This is my third novel (first published), so I felt confident in the craft of writing. The biggest challenge was finding an editor I could vibe with. I worked with three different ones over the course of writing the book, and they all bring their own points of view, so staying true to what I wanted to say, and my writer’s voice was important. I had to distill what I thought was vital in their feedback but know when to push back on certain suggestions. When I decided to self-publish, writer friends (including you) were extremely helpful in offering their time and suggestions on book layout tools, cover art resources, publishing and distribution partners, marketing channels, etc. But the amount of work in being your own publisher is not to be underestimated!

You tackle some big topics. Where did the ideas for Into the Dax come from?

The initial spark happened in 2016. Suddenly, lifelong friends began filling their social media feeds with the language of a rising movement that used religion as a cudgel, casting anyone who disagreed with them (like me) as enemies. The idea that people with different opinions or political points of view were not just opponents anymore, but enemies, was striking. I couldn’t make sense of it. We had all grown up together and shared the same values—or so I thought. Values that were also being crushed by an American culture that had morphed into Wolf of Wall Street thinking: that greed and self-interest are good.

This made me reflect on my Catholic upbringing and Western thought in general, and how we’ve lost a sense of community and reciprocity, not just with each other but with all living things on the earth. So I began to write as a way to make sense of what we’re living through. I also read. I read books by philosophers, naturalists, indigenous leaders, comparative mythologists, religious thinkers, and scientists. These were all topics I was interested in from a lifetime of experience and being curious. I was raised in an area where I was exposed to and became interested in Iroquois/Haudenosaunee/Native American culture. I was raised a Catholic and, through many scandals and hypocrisies, became disappointed by Catholic and Protestant leadership. I explored world religions, awakened to the intelligence of nature by a book called The Hidden Life of Trees, and learned to be concerned that our culture of unbridled capitalism and exploitation is stripping the Earth of its health and diversity. And last but not least, having worked in technology, I’m fully aware of future-tech, science-tech, and their pros and cons. So, the topics in the book are my brain --made story.

All of your characters are very well developed. Who is your favorite? Why?

Geesh. You’re asking me to choose my favorite child? What I find interesting and satisfying is that when I ask this question to readers, they all have a different character they love. For me, Kiley is my hero, so I love her. But if I do say so myself, the cast of characters is a great ensemble. They all bring something different.

Your descriptions of your settings are very vivid. How were you able to make that happen?

I’m a visual person, so when I write I see the movie in my head and I describe it. I also use settings I know about, so I’m recalling places, experiences, emotions, smells, and tastes that I know. I have the ability to be completely ‘gone’ when I’m writing and to have my mind fully and completely in the place I am writing about. I also think it helps that I created video games because creating worlds is part of the craft, as is conjuring future-tech and action scenes.

Where will Into the Dax be available?

At launch, June 30th, it’ll be exclusively available on Amazon. Later in the year I’ll expand retail, but that’s TBD.

So, what’s next? Any new projects on the horizon?

First, I’m ripping up more of my lawn and planting wildflower pollinator gardens, which is something I’ve been doing over the last few summers. I have ideas for a Dax prequel and a sequel. I vacillate between which to do. I also have two middle-grade books that I should go back to and self-publish. One is a coming-of-age summer camp story set in the Adirondacks. The other is about a high school inventor, a brilliant but socially awkward student who is thrust into an adventurous high-stakes rescue! So, we’ll see. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss all things Dax. Wyun, and Blue is The Eye.

For more on Into the Dax and its author Bob Welch, visit bobwelchauthor.com