Stella Atrium’s Home Rule: Book Three of The Tribal Wars Named Finalist of Top Book Award

Stella Atrium is an award-winning novelist, playwright and university instructor.

She is the author of the highly acclaimed THE TRIBAL WARS series, featuring female protagonists of diverse ethnicities who encounter obstacles relatable to our lives today. For her literary prowess, Atrium has received numerous international book awards including a Book Excellence Award, an Editor's Pick from BookLife, an Independent Press Award, a ReadersView award, a Literary Titan medallion and a Reader’s Favorite award.

Atrium worked with Harridan Theater Productions to mount two short plays; one of which went on to become part of an international production for a Festival of Shakespeare Shorts in Calgary, Canada.

Atrium has 18+ years’ experience as a university instructor, teaching and developing online courses at DePaul University and Southern New Hampshire University. Atrium lives in Chicago, Illinois and continues to teach online creative writing courses.

This one-on-one interview shares Atrium’s background and experience writing HOME RULE: Book Three of The Tribal Wars.

Tell us about HOME RULE: Book Three of The Tribal Wars.

On the distant mining planet of Dolvia in the galaxy’s Westend, photojournalist Hershel Henry sees tribal women using immolation to agitate for home rule. He embraces their cause and opens a local gazette to document the triumphs and losses of local heroes, finding his own purpose in their struggle.

What inspired you to write HOME RULE: Book Three of The Tribal Wars?

I was a great reader of science fiction as a young person, but I began to wonder why theprotagonist in a sci-fi or fantasy story was always a man, even when the writer was female.

Where were the stories that presented a woman as the problem solver?

A real heroine cannot call on armies to follow her, or pay assassins for special work. She may have children already, so adventure is out of the question, and her family must be secure before she can enter the public square where she has no voice.

So how does a story shape if the young hero must solve problems that girls experience in ways that females address problems?

I could find no books that started with this premise, so I had to write some—and that was my first reason to write.

How did you feel when you found out you received a Book Excellence Award?

The Book Excellence Awards offers far more than just a medallion. The organization labors to increase a novel’s visibility amongst readers, bookstores, media, and film producers. This boost to a writer’s reputation can be instrumental in obtaining new opportunities and brings a renewed sense of energy and vigor to the writing process.

How did your background and experience influence your writing?

The voices of women are stifled in many science fiction stories, or they follow rigid archetypes. I wanted to open the genre to all types of characters.

I’ve found local theater to be a great outlet for displaying the choices available to women, and have had two plays produced in Chicago. I began teaching in a mixed community and gained some understanding of diverse outlooks. I still teach writing for drama, and I enjoy engaging with young people who view the classic plays through a modern lens.

What is one message you would like readers to remember?

Science fiction is for entertainment, and several male hero types populate the stories such as warriors, generals, doctors, and scientists. Women are often pushed into submissive and non-verbal roles, living in a world of networking among aunties, cousins, wives of husbands, convenient friends and neighbors.

I wanted readers to remember that women come in all types and attitudes—some brave, and some more private or reflective. My hope is that through my work, young female readers can learn from and look up to the women protagonists, ultimately finding their favorite character to follow and emulate.

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