Exploring the Interstellar Realms and Unraveling the Mysteries of Time Travel with the Mastermind Behind The Ultimate Agency Series
Meet Derek Borne, a talented Canadian author known for his captivating Sci-Fi novels. When he’s not crafting imaginative worlds, Derek enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and their super fluffy cat, Libby. A true pizza enthusiast, Derek’s love for this culinary delight is matched only by his passion for belting out Broadway show tunes, playing guitar, and immersing himself in all things Marvel superheroes. With a knack for weaving movie references into daily conversations, Derek’s vibrant personality shines through both in his writing and his everyday life. And yes, he really loves pizza!
What inspired you to write stories that blend science fiction with elements like time travel and genetic enhancements?
Even though everything has been done, I wanted to challenge myself at putting my own spin on them. Sometimes it can be difficult finding the right angle to make it new and exciting, but when the right mix comes together, it’s pure fun! And I’d written The Ultimate Agent at 14, then rewrote it later in life. I do feel that my young mind and imagination is still within me, which, I still love writing the books I wish I’d had when I was a kid.
How do you balance the action-packed sequences in your novels with the development of characters like Kamren and Vivienne?
Even the big action sequences should affect the main characters in some way. It was a real treat writing two teens like Kam and Viv, and thinking to myself, “Okay, how would they both come out of a situation where their friend got attacked by a giant millipede?” One found their bravery, the other froze up because…scary giant millipede. There’s always a way to balance and blend.
Your books often feature high-stakes missions and conspiracies. How do you approach building tension and suspense throughout your narratives?
In a way, just as the action can affect the characters, I believe it works vice versa. Every choice the character makes, right or wrong, when written the right way, can add so much depth and tension throughout. There’s the saying of “show, don’t tell”, but it depends on how much you want to show the reader. Just when they might ask, “Hey, but what about this character?” Then BOOM! They just reappeared and made a play no one expected.
Can you share any insights into your creative process, particularly when crafting the intricate plots and technological concepts in your stories?
To be completely honest… I tend to write by the seat of my pants, a pantser, if you will. I always know the general direction I’d like to go with the story and characters, but if I can surprise myself along the way, then hopefully it will surprise the reader, too. It’s only when I’m stuck that I’ll brainstorm with my wife or a trusted author friend.
The Ultimate Agency series seems to explore themes of heroism and sacrifice. What messages or themes do you hope readers take away from these adventures?
With that series, there’s one message that I always repeat. It’s said by the main character of Devon, “It’s not about how many people you save. It’s not about defeating the villain. If you have the ability to help someone else, you do it, no matter the sacrifice.” Every day we see people in need of some kind of help. An act of kindness might be small to us, but could mean the world to someone else. Do we take the opportunity to help?
With Dino-Rift and SauraCorps: Salvation being set in the same universe, how do you ensure continuity between these interconnected stories while still allowing each book to stand on its own?
Once I introduced Dino-Rift and it’s sequel SauraCorps, I made sure to leave little subtle references to my past Ultimate Agent books for my loyal readers. The UA series doesn’t have to be read before the Dino-Rift books, but if you enjoy Easter eggs, then you can enjoy my full catalog.
