E6: Electronic inspiration

I actually had the idea to write about AI before there was an improvement on that subject in the real world. After hearing all about chatbots, virtual assistants, and... well, you know the rest, I became inspired and went through a robot phase. Before and during the writing of Electronic Exodus, I watched many films about AI, which really helped me shape Anton, the main character who happens to be an android. Those films didn’t just give me ideas—they helped me build a strong bond between Anton, the robot, and Hudson, the human. By the end, I got so into this phase I was starting to think my toaster had feelings. I didn’t just get my inspiration from movies; one of my all-time favourite video games, Detroit: Become Human also motivated me. Seriously, I can’t express how good that game is—it’s like AI drama mixed with intense decision-making.

The main idea of the book started with a robot being brought to life as an evil object. But I wanted to mix things up by putting him in a scenario where he realizes just how much chaos his team is causing. I wanted to give the story a political twist—but don’t worry, not the kind that puts you to sleep. The moral of the story is about the robot fighting for his freedom—because who knew that even androids are tired of being told what to do?

What was difficult when making this book writing this book was how annoyingly right the opponent was. In the story, they argue that Anton is just property—he’s not free to roam around and has to follow orders, which, in my opinion, makes sense since he’s technically not human. The awkward part? Anton’s the first of his kind, a huge leap into the future, and suddenly, it’s not just a question of ‘who’s in charge?’ but ‘what even counts as being alive? It’s like arguing with your toaster—but this time, the toaster has a point. 

The story is set in various places in the USA and even a secret government facility in Russia. The main backdrop is Washington DC—the capital and a perfect spot for all things government-related. Since the characters are on an exodus, fleeing and trying to escape, they end up in many areas of the country. I believe that when writing a story, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just one location. Why settle for a single background when you can have a whole experience of thrilling new spots? It’s like turning your book into a travel adventure, minus the jet lag and overpriced hotel rooms! 

I wanted to give Electronic Exodus a different ending from Time Traitor, so here’s your spoiler alert: I decided to throw in a twist with Anton’s character development and had him show mercy to the villain and end on a high note. Like I said before, the ending is where all the magic happens! To me, leaving the readers on an exciting and unexpected note is the best part of writing a book—kind of like ending a movie with a surprise cameo, but with fewer popcorn bits stuck in your teeth. 

The front cover of this book—which, yes, I also designed—shows Anton's fight for survival with a nice touch of technological designs. While the book might seem a bit far-fetched, I always aim to make my stories as close to reality as possible. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of ‘what if that could actually happen?’ And while I enjoyed creating the ending, I had almost as much fun writing Hudson’s struggles when Anton got damaged. I think that having the characters struggle is very important for keeping a story entertaining—because, if your characters aren’t struggling, are they even really trying to win? It’s like making a superhero movie where the hero’s only challenge is choosing what pizza topping to have!