Stefan Vucak

Biography

Stefan Vučak has written eight Shadow Gods Saga sci-fi novels and six contemporary political drama books. His Cry of Eagles won the coveted Readers’ Favorite silver medal award, and his All the Evils was the prestigious Eric Hoffer contest finalist and Readers’ Favorite silver medal winner. Strike for Honor won the gold medal.

Stefan leveraged a successful career in the Information Technology industry, which took him to the Middle East working on cellphone systems. Writing has been a road of discovery, helping him broaden his horizons. He also spends time as an editor and book reviewer. Stefan lives in Melbourne, Australia.

To learn more about Stefan, visit his:
Website: www.stefanvucak.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StefanVucakAuthor
Twitter: @stefanvucak

Smashwords Interview

1. Tell me a little bit about your book 'Legitimate Power'.
After reading ancient texts like Popl Vuh and the Indian Vedas, I always wondered about man’s ancient and enigmatic past. Could one of those lost civilizations have produced a quantum computer? Or perhaps someone else may have left behind such a device? All are tantalizing possibilities, which developed into a plot for Legitimate Power.

On the outskirts of Jerusalem, a person digs up two ossuaries and finds a strange orange crystal the size of a smartphone able to repair itself when scratched, and turns into a perfect mirror under laser light. Needing money, he sells it to a local merchant, who puts it on the shadow gem market. Suspecting that it is not natural, Dr. Morrison, a part-time mineral collector, purchases the crystal and discovers that he has a quantum computer device that could revolutionize the information technology industry—if it could be made to work.

A Chinese official, also indulging a hobby in rare minerals, thwarted that his bid failed, realizing the crystal’s special nature, sends a Second Bureau operative to get the crystal from Dr. Morrison using whatever means necessary. A trail of murder leads Israeli authorities to the crystal…and they send a Mossad agent to retrieve a national treasure. Learning of the crystal’s existence and its potential, the American government becomes involved, resulting in a collision of conflicting interests, leaving Dr. Morrison to pick up the pieces of his shattered life.

I don’t explore the origins of the crystal in the book, content to leave that to the readers’ imagination.
2. If you had to write this one all over again, go through the whole editing and publishing process from the beginning again, is there anything you’d do differently?
I don’t believe that I would approach the editing and publishing phase differently, having gone through these things with my other books, but like most writers, I might consider rewriting or adding elements to the book. Perhaps a prologue chapter giving some details how the crystal came to be buried in a Jerusalem hillside, and about the people who buried it? A little more material about Dr. Morrison’s struggle to produce a quantum dot pigment? I don’t know. There are lots of possible avenues that could have led to a larger work, but I am fairly satisfied with what I have written. There is a point of diminishing returns where further fiddling will not add anything substantive to the work, except contribute to the author’s frustration, and I don’t want to go there. That effort would simply keep me from starting my next novel.
Read more of this interview.

Books

Night Sirens
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 97,440. Language: English. Published: January 5, 2023 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Police Procedural, Fiction » Alternative history
The feeders sap our energy and cause sudden old age death. Governments tell people it’s a virus. If told the truth, it would shatter the fabric of humanity. Frank Hram, a Covenant Keeper, he hunts rogue feeders responsible for sudden old age deaths...and finds love. The US-based Project Purple wants to unmask the Covenant.
28th Amendment
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 119,090. Language: English. Published: January 16, 2022 . Categories: Fiction » Themes & motifs » Political
A clash between US and Chinese destroyers results in open military confrontation. To curb influence of Super PACs, the President urges the Supreme Court to reverse its decision on the ‘Citizens United v FEC’ case. He introduces the 28th Constitutional Amendment to set Congressional term limits. This threatens corporate influence and the secretive Omicron Group orders the President assassinated.
F/X-26
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 127,690. Language: English. Published: July 15, 2021 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Psychological thriller
A radical new sixth generation air superiority fighter…Betrayal and murder…A fight for survival. The future of air combat lies in unmanned remotely controlled vehicles. All Ogdan Kostan had to do is prove it.
All My Sunsets
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 123,460. Language: English. Published: September 5, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General
Andrew Payne was dying and knew it. Struck down with a melanoma, his doctor told him he had five years, then twelve months, then four weeks. The only thing that could save him is an experimental drug, but fates had other things in store for him.
Autumn Leaves
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 117,430. Language: English. Published: December 29, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Adventure » General, Fiction » Romance » Contemporary
Dural had everything: wife, daughter, successful practice – until fates conspired to take it all. Could he find happiness again?
Lifeliners
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 131,260. Language: English. Published: August 19, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi, Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
When everybody is against them, it is tough being a lifeliner, as Nash Bannon found out. Lifeliners can draw energy from another person; they live longer and are smarter. Scientists claim that Western high-pressure living living and growing sterility has triggered the rise of lifeliners, and homo sapiens will replaced by homo renata within ten generations. So, what’s not to like about lifeliners?
Fulfillment
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 69,930. Language: English. Published: February 2, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories
Anthology of science fiction tales and stories that will make you sit up and reflect.
Legitimate Power
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 114,590. Language: English. Published: July 28, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Adventure » Action, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense
A strange crystal…The U.S. has it and China wants it, but it belongs to somebody else. Why is everybody scrambling to get their hands on it? A political drama so real, it will make you wonder if it isn’t already happening.
Proportional Response
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 126,130. Language: English. Published: November 11, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Adventure » Action, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Psychological thriller
The Chinese populist Tuanpai faction trigger a global disaster that will humble America. Fearful of American retaliation, he invites U.S. investigators to help him find the proof while outraged countries apply economic sanctions. Under a cloud of mutual suspicion, the investigation stumbles and America readies itself for a military conf
Writing Tips for Authors
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 48,700. Language: English. Published: October 19, 2013 . Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Literacy » Editing & proofreading, Nonfiction » Reference » Publishing & books
Writing Tips for Authors is a collection of essays for authors on aspects of writing and book publishing, and the traps that lie in the game.
Guardians of Shadow
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 109,420. Language: English. Published: August 9, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
After destroying a Kran invader, Terr, Teena and his brother Dharaklin, head for Orieli space where they will begin their cultural exchange mission. In a devastating Kran attack, Teena is taken and Terr seeks to rescue her. To win a war that threatens to consume the Orieli and the Serrll Combine, the fabled Wanderers must march against the Krans wielding the hand of Death.
Through the Valley of Shadow
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 99,270. Language: English. Published: April 1, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
Bent on revenge, Terrllss-rr pursues his Anar’on brother to the fabled world of the Wanderers - and face judgment by the god of Death. On their frontier, the Serrll Combine is plunged into a savage encounter with a Kran invader, showing them a glimpse of a dark future.
With Shadow and Thunder
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 98,630. Language: English. Published: April 1, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
The Orieli are caught in an interstellar war and now they are about to drag the Serrll Combine into it. Betrayed by his Wanderer brother Dharaklin, First Scout Terrllss-rr crashes to Earth in a sabotaged ship. He now has a whole world after the secrets he holds.
Shadow Masters
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 116,430. Language: English. Published: March 28, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
With his mission on Earth completed, Fist Scout Terrllss-rr is returning home, only to be intercepted by an Orieli Technic Union survey ship. The encounter sends ripples of consternation throughout the Serrll Combine. In an attempt to establish a link between a raider network and the AUP Provisional Committee, Terr’s cover is compromised. To extricate himself, he has to raise the hand of Death.
A Whisper From Shadow
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 98,860. Language: English. Published: March 23, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
An extraterrestrial craft is discovered in an ancient Mayan pyramid and the knowledge throws Earth into social and political turmoil. As a new agent in the Diplomatic Branch, First Scout Terrllss-rr is tasked to destroy the craft before international tension throws Earth into open conflict.
Against the Gods of Shadow
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 101,960. Language: English. Published: March 20, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
Facing economic sabotage by Palean raiders, Pizgor pleads for help from the Serrll government. Second Scout Terrllss-rr is tasked to find the raider base and expose Palean's duplicity. Terr is forced to battle a Fleet ship that leaves them both badly damaged and leads Terr to confront forces that threaten to destabilize the Serrll itself.
Immortal in Shadow
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 111,610. Language: English. Published: March 17, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Hard sci-fi
On his way to a prison planet, Tanard, a renegade Fleet officer, escapes and vows vengeance. He is recruited by an extremist Palean group to raid Kaleen worlds. First Scout Terrllss-rr must find the secret base that is supporting him before the Wanderers rise up and unleash Death’s wrath on the Serrll.
Towers of Darkness
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 109,310. Language: English. Published: March 15, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Plays & Screenplays » American
A Wyoming mine worker discovers a human hand bone embedded in a forty million year-old coal seam. An anthropologist, Larry Krafter is sent to recover the bone and unearths a human skull. Instead of receiving acclaim when he publishes his discovery, vested establishment interests seek to discredit him, using murder to do it.
Cry of Eagles
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 108,500. Language: English. Published: March 15, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense
Iran’s nuclear capability represents a clear national threat to Israel.A Mossad black ops team sabotages a refinery complex in Galveston, plants evidence that incriminates Iran, confident that an enraged America will strike back in retaliation. But the Mossad team makes one small mistake, which the FBI exploits to uncover the plot before America vents its wrath on Iran.
All the Evils
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 113,260. Language: English. Published: March 15, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense
A researcher in the Secret Vatican Archives uncovers a papyrus that claims Jesus was John the Baptist’s disciple and the second Messiah. To prevent the tractate from becoming public, the Vatican secret service engages an assassin to silence anyone who has knowledge of the papyrus. It is up to an FBI agent to unravel a series of murders and prevent the assassin from killing him.
Strike for Honor
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 129,580. Language: English. Published: March 14, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Spies & espionage, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense
In a joint exercise with the Korean navy, Admiral Pacino’s son is one of the casualties from a North Korean missile strike. Enraged that the President is more interested in appeasing the North Koreans, forgetting the lost American lives, Pacino decides to make a statement by bombing military facilities in both Koreas. His court-martial puts American foreign policy under public scrutiny.
In the Shadow of Death
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 95,390. Language: English. Published: March 14, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
Suddenly a simple mission to uncover slavery in the Four Suns becomes a flight for survival for Terrllss-rr. Crashing on the Wanderer planet leaves Terr without a memory, a past or a future - until he is touched by the God of Death.