Inspirational Indie Author Interview: X. Ho Yen. Aerospace Engineer and Neurodivergent Writer Redefines Science Fiction with Realism and Hope

November 10, 2024

My ALLi author guest this episode is X. Ho Yen, a science fiction author whose work challenges traditional genre boundaries. X draws on a career in aerospace engineering and his own experiences with neurodivergence to create what he calls ‘realism-based' science fiction. He avoids typical tropes in favor of narratives grounded in complex human challenges.

Sponsor

Our Self-Publishing with ALLi podcasts are proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote.

Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?

If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.

Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center. And if you haven’t already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally.

Listen to the Inspirational Indie Author Interview: X. Ho Yen

On the Inspirational Indie Authors podcast, @howard_lovy features X. Ho Yen, a science fiction author and aerospace engineer whose realism-based work moves beyond typical genre tropes. Share on X

Don't Miss an #AskALLi Broadcast

Subscribe to our Ask ALLi podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify or via our RSS feed:

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: X. Ho Yen. About the Author

X. Ho Yen writes realism-based sci fi because you’ll never meet a less magic-minded person, and he’s in his own autistic world anyway. An aerospace engineer and lifetime space nerd, he thinks on scales of time and space ranging from the quantum to the cosmological. As an autistic, Multiracial CPTSD survivor and child of immigrants, he has the widest definition of personhood, and a strong personal emphasis on human nature. His fiction is irreverent, inclusive, hopepunk sci fi, and he’s happy to leave science fantasy writing to those better equipped for it. After two well-received novels, in November 2024 he is releasing an immersive, educational brain tasks book for ages ~10-12+ promoting emotional health and critical thinking. You can find him on his website.

About the Host

Howard Lovy has been a journalist for more than 35 years, and now amplifies the voices of independent author-publishers and works with authors as a developmental editor. Find Howard at howardlovy.com, LinkedIn and X.

If you’re a published indie author who would like to be interviewed by Howard for the Inspirational Indie Authors podcast, you need to be a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Then contact Howard, including your membership number, explaining why you’re an inspirational indie author and what inspires you.

If you haven’t already, we invite you to join our organization.

Author: Howard Lovy

Howard Lovy is an author, book editor, and journalist. He is also the Content and Communications Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors, where he hosts and produces podcasts and keeps the blog updated. You can find more of his work at https://howardlovy.com/

Latest advice, news, ratings, tools and trends.

Happy Holidays, Indie Authors!

Happy Holidays! The Alliance of Independent Authors hopes you have a wonderful time this holiday season, and we'll see you in 2025!

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Kevin G. Chapman. Attorney-Turned-Author Finds Success with Patience, Planning, and Award-Winning Thrillers

My ALLi author guest this episode is Kevin G. Chapman, an attorney and independent author who has released a book a year for the last eight years. He explains how patience, planning, and a passion for storytelling have helped him balance a demanding career with writing award-winning mysteries and thrillers. Kevin also talks about his approach to plotting intricate stories and why taking your time can make all the difference.

UK Government Seeks Responses to AI Consultation; ‘Brain Rot’ is Word of the Year: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway

Is it just me, or have there been more “words of the year” than usual this year? Maybe I’ve just noticed them more. If so, that could be a result of “brain rot,” which is the word of the year for the Oxford English Dictionary. It refers to the gradual degeneration of cognitive powers in the face of social media pablum—which, of course, you will never find here! I was absolutely delighted to see that the shortlist contained one of the words I’ve used most this year: “Romantasy,” whose popularity the OED specifically attributed to the BookTok community.

View all articles