Interview With Author Joel Roy
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book.
I am a pilot, now actively passing my knowledge to the next generation. After 30 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, as a fighter pilot as well as a helicopter pilot, I felt I needed to give back to aviation.
I am also now a hobby farmer. Over the last few years I learned to do my own hay for our two horses.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Book Title: Magzi – and the Mars Academy
What inspired me: curiosity.
Curiosity about the world, about ancient myths, about scientific discovery—and about the questions we are only beginning to ask. I’ve long been fascinated by the idea that
our understanding of history and civilization is still incomplete.
What if our story is older and more complex than we assume?
And as humanity moves closer to sending people to Mars, I find myself wondering: are we exploring something entirely new, or rediscovering something long forgotten? Science tells us that Mars was once far more Earth-like than it is today.
That possibility alone opens the imagination.
Those questions helped shape MAGZI — AND THE MARS ACADEMY, which is set 66 million years in the past. Not to provide answers, but to invite readers to explore possibilities
in an engaging, hopeful way.
The concept lived with me for years. It finally took form during a quiet winter stretch—when it was -30°C outside, the aircraft I instruct on were grounded for maintenance, and my wife challenged me to stop talking about the story and actually
write it.
But beyond curiosity, what truly energized me were the events unfolding around the world. Division, tension, inherited conflicts. It felt like the right moment to tell a story about young people from radically different civilizations who must learn to work together.
A quiet sentence runs beneath the entire novel:
“If only they could see what we can accomplish together.”
I firmly believe that the next generation, if given the opportunity, can overcome the biases and struggles they inherit. This book is my way of imagining what that could look like—on Mars, and here at home.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As this is my first book, I don’t really know what would be unusual.
I guess I would describe myself as the “adventurer” type of writer, where I discover the details of the story as it unfolds.
Perhaps how I developed the characters is a bit unusual. From the beginning, I resisted building the characters from a formula. I outlined them broadly at first, but they truly
became themselves through multiple revisions. As the story evolved, so did they. Their strengths, flaws, humor, and doubts emerged naturally, often surprising me in the process.
Some of the secondary characters, however, are drawn more directly from life. Readers will meet Misty, a three-legged dire wolf in the story. She is inspired by our real dog, Misty, whom we fostered through a rescue organization on the very day she underwent the amputation of a back leg and part of her tail. We cared for her through recovery and ultimately adopted her. Her resilience, dignity, and quiet strength deeply moved us—and she became an emotional thread in the novel. Her portrayal in the book reflects her spirit quite faithfully.
A few other characters were also inspired by residents of our small ranch. Life around us quietly found its way into the story.
At its heart, the character development in MAGZI comes from observing real beings—young people and animals alike—who adapt, persevere, and grow in unfamiliar environments. That, ultimately, is what the academy on Mars represents.
Is this unusual? You tell me…
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Two books come immediately to mind: Skyward and The enders game.
Over my military career I tried to always have 3 books on the reading table: one related to work, one about leadership and a fiction book, mostly science fiction. Books like Star Trek – Destiny, or next generation – Imzadi. I must say that I also truly enjoy stories like The lost symbol, and Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) where fiction and reality are intertwined.
What are you working on now?
As French is my first language, I am currently translating my book.
I am also working on the follow on to the first book. The title will be MAGZI – the beginning.
This will be an opportunity for readers to understand what happened before the Academy, and see what follows.
The end of the first book gives a glimpse of the story before the Academy. The next book will take it from a very different angle.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wish someone could tell me!
My book just got published. It took a few weeks for Amazon to adjust (my book showed up under someone else’s profile).
I am not in a hurry. I will see what best advice I can get and then maybe later I will be able to answer this question 🙂
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author… on the listening mode.
So, from my limited experience I will simply offer this:
– doubt is normal. Is it ever. Just keep going, keep writing you story. You can always decide later what you’ll do with it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I am going to limit this to my short writing career, otherwise this may be a book in itself.
I believe the best adive was to post a writer’s creed on my door, and to live by it (just like the Mandalorian – This is the way). Mine was inspired by Alyssa Matesic, a person I find inspiring in the advice she provides.
What are you reading now?
I wish I was reading more. The same book has been on my table for a few months: The long way to a small angry planet, by Becky Chambers.
I have accepted to assist a company to start an air transport service. So as their interim (hopefully short time) chief pilot, a lot of time is devoted to develop documentation and courses for aircrew.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next steps are to market my first book, finish the translation and publish it in French.
On the side, I will also complete the follow-on book.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I assume the island is off grid (otherwise, Facebook), and an encyclopedia is not allowed… 🙂
So,
Logic first: a book about the island’s vegetation and wildlife so I know what to eat, what to avoid, and what to be prepared to face. One can retire from the military, but it’s hard to retire the military from the person.
Second: to be practical, a really good survival book.
Then, please allow me to bring Becky Chambers book so I can finish it!
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