Jeff Foster said he was confident when he began writing in high school that he would someday publish a book. And earlier this year, that confidence paid off.
Last summer the 24-year-old graduate student wrote “The Engine of the Gods,” a science fiction novel published this August, while working on a master’s degree in polymers and coatings at Cal Poly.
“It’s just something I really wanted to do,” Foster said. “It was one of my life goals.”
Foster said his book explores the idea that a black hole is discovered that threatens to destroy humanity, following a team of scientists searching for a new place for mankind to live. And on Earth, archaeologists find an ancient device in the ocean dating back to before humans existed.
To Foster, it’s important as a scientist to make his writing scientifically accurate. He wrote a lot about the solar system, planets and suns and researched details about elements and atmospheres thoroughly, he said.
Foster said he looked to literature such as the works of Isaac Asimov and movies such as “Star Wars” for inspiration. According to Foster, something from an episode of the History Channel show “Ancient Aliens” was what inspired his idea, as well as ideas from an Einstein biography and a book by the physicist Kip Thorne.
“Not many people understand Einstein’s theory of relativity,” Foster said. “When you travel at the speed of light, time travels at a different speed. I wanted to capture the real science, not just what you’re seeing in popular culture.”
Once he was finished, Foster left the book alone for the school year before coming back to it.
Foster said that break was an opportunity for others to look at his work, including his primary editor: his grandfather Ross Clayton, a retired professor with experience in editing and writing books.
“He has a very good head on his shoulders,” Clayton said. “He tends to do well in whatever he takes on. Scientifically, there’s a lot of basis for the story.”
Once he returned to the book, Foster added 50 to 60 pages to the beginning and also altered the structure of the plot.
Then Foster turned to publishing. Larger publishers are more about making money than the author’s work, Foster said, so he self-published using a subsidiary of Amazon called CreateSpace.
Foster said the book is only online now but will be in Barnes & Noble soon.
While self-publishing means he doesn’t get a major publisher’s advertising, knowing people want to buy his book is pretty exciting, he said. It’s a daily ritual for him to check how many books have been ordered.
His family has always been supportive, but they also reminded him to keep up with school, Foster said. The actual writing didn’t conflict with school, but now he doesn’t have much time for promotional events.
Foster’s wife Kelsey (who wrote the book’s back cover description) said they probably aren’t putting as much time into getting the word out as they could because they’re dealing with school and life.
“We’re trying to find balance,” Kelsey said. “I think he’s doing well.”
If he could be successful enough, Foster said he’d write full-time, but until then, he’ll continue with his education.
In the meantime, he’s almost finished with his second book and is eager to get it out and read by the public, he said.
Cal Poly English professor David Kann said Foster’s accomplishment is impressive.
Science fiction gets us to examine what we know to be true and consider the possibility that it might not be, Kann said.
“Science fiction has always been popular with young people,” Kann said. “It’s just that some of us don’t grow up.”