A Conversation With My Character - Aaron Barnett

Guest post by IE Author Jordan Berk
Title: The Timestream Verdict (available in print and e-book from IE)

My book: The Timestream Verdict
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My story:  A time-travel mystery set in the utopian world of 2042, where a jury of travelers must come to a critical verdict for a momentous case of temporal homicide.
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My character: Aaron Barnett

Aaron Barnett is an everyman from 1985 Chicago. He has been plucked from his home time and placed sixty years later into the futuristic society of 2042 to serve on this unique jury. ​

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A conversation with my character, Aaron Barnett

Hello, Aaron, I'm New York Times Interviewbot 7.2. Nice to meet you. How are you liking 2042 so far?
Well, I guess I'm talking to a robot right now, so that's something! It's, I dunno, magical? Everyone is so healthy, and happy, and, well, tall. And great food too! But seriously, where are the flying cars?

Flying cars are technologically viable and occasionally enjoyed for recreational purposes, but largely rendered obsolete by teleportation technology.
Oh, sure. Makes sense. 

Tell us about yourself--and when you're from.
Good old 1985! I'm from Chicago; lived there all my life. Let's see... I'm an accountant. I have a dog. I have a girlfriend, Jennifer. Pretty typical, boring guy, I suppose. This trial is definitely the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me. 

This trial has captured the attention of the whole world. How will you handle your verdict?
Oh boy, done with the softballs already. Well, I don't know much about the case yet, but I do understand the victim is "The Mother of Time Travel," so I get it. She is revered, I know. So I will, er, strive to uphold the virtue of the position and come to a verdict that is well-substantiated and, um, proved. Proven. Well-proven. I'll do my best, I guess is what I'm trying to say. 

Along those stumbling lines, do you know why I was chosen? I seem utterly unqualified. 

Query denied. Access to jury selection rationale requires level-12 clearance or higher under Temporal Governance Protocol 9.1.
Oh...okay, fine. But can you answer this? One of my fellow jurors is a Cloud Engineer by title. Can you all actually control the weather?

That's our time, Aaron. It was good to meet you. Good luck with the trial.
So...that's a maybe?

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Jordan Berk is a software engineer by trade, and a certified nerd by nature. He has loved time travel stories for as long as he can remember. The Timestream Verdict is his first contribution to the genre.

​In addition to writing, he enjoys basketball, technology, and amateur songwriting (even though he can’t sing to save his life). ​He lives with his wonderful wife and two kids near Los Angeles, California.

Connect with the author on Facebook and Instagram @jordanberk_author or by email at [email protected]

The Timestream Verdict is available in print and ebook anywhere books are sold

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