Noam is an award-winning and bestselling author, screenwriter, and director. He is also a serial technology entrepreneur with numerous successful companies founded and a past as an Airforce Captain. Noam's love for speculative writing and Science Fiction began with the genre classics he read in his childhood - from Asimov and Heinlein to Clarke and Douglas Adams.
His scientific enthusiasm for space led him to pursue studies in Astrophysics and aviation, and his prose combines deep technological and scientific knowledge with a unique focus on human drama, values, and personal journeys. He spends his time leading Artificial Intelligence product development at the world's top technology firms and writing novels, screenplays, and fake tooth fairy letters for his 3 young kids.
His scientific enthusiasm for space led him to pursue studies in Astrophysics and aviation, and his prose combines deep technological and scientific knowledge with a unique focus on human drama, values, and personal journeys. He spends his time leading Artificial Intelligence product development at the world's top technology firms and writing novels, screenplays, and fake tooth fairy letters for his 3 young kids.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. When I was 14, I represented my country in a global NASA competition on planning a scientific solution for a mission to MARS. My mother still never neglects to mention that to anyone new she meets. I’m 47.
Q.2 What inspired you to write Generations?
A. I started the journey that became Generations as the COVID crisis was taking over the world, and many ‘perfect storms’ seemed to align simultaneously: political forces, economic power structures, social patterns and the media chaos around the notion of ‘truth’ - all unravelled their underlying nature under the weight of global stress.
Enter the rise of Artificial Intelligence a year later, and things started moving so fast on such fundamental levels of our modern existence, that one had to start asking themselves: who has the power to make basic decisions about my life? What are the boundaries of one’s responsibility to our community, family, and self? And what are the foundational values that make us human, and that we envision our future generations to uphold?
Science Fiction was the perfect stage to engage in such discussions, and the story opened up as more traditions, assumptions and ‘known truths’ about our lives were allowed into that speculative experiment lab.
Q.3 Can you offer any hints about your next writing project or upcoming work?
A. Generations has such a vast world and timespan of a few centuries, that the story doesn’t end with book no. 1! I’m already working on the 2nd book in the series, and as readers will discover when they finish the book - there’s a special link included at the end of the book to read a free, short story illuminating one of the cool characters and storylines in Generations.
Q.4 Sandrine Liet is described as an introverted Archivist thrust into a world of intrigue. What drew you to this character archetype, and how does her personality shape the narrative?
A. I always knew the story HAD to be led by a smart, sharp female protagonist. From “Silo”s Juliette to “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”s Lisbeth Salander to “The Hunger Games” Katniss Everdeen, those characters have always drawn me as complex individuals operating in a rigid, unforgiving world.
Sandrine is definitely not your boilerplate Sci-fi “badass heroine”. She’s super intelligent but very vulnerable, very scarred, very self-doubting. One of the main challenges she (and me as her writer) needed to face was finding her self-confidence and conviction in her cause that would let her face the strongest, most intimidating forces obstructing the truth she was seeking.
Q.5 Can you share any challenges you faced while writing this book?
A. Writing Generations was a long process for me - about 4 years including editing and refinement. I am a slow writer. Maybe it is because I HATE editing, so I make sure every sentence is as close to the final puzzle piece as possible before committing to it.
Q.6 Generations promises a heart-pounding tale of personal sacrifice. What do you hope readers will take away from Sandrine's journey and the world you've created aboard the Thetis?
A. The confined world of a generation ship carrying the remnants of humanity to resettle on a new planet is, of course, a microcosm of our own reality, and a great experimentation lab to test what values really matter and would make a difference for our long-term survival as a species.
I hope readers, beyond having a lot of fun reading the book, will go out thinking - what is it in our nature that prevents the Utopia we all could be living in already? What’s really important to preserve and amplify as humans, and how do the physical characteristics of Earth play a role in challenging those aspects?
And, ultimately, I hope readers will experience the courage of standing for what’s right even if it isn’t popular, and not bowing to tyranny even when personal prices must be paid.
Q.7 Political intrigue is a central aspect of Generations. How did you approach crafting the intricate power dynamics and conflicts within the society aboard the Thetis?
A. With social media, COVID, wars and elections surrounding us for the past few years, politics are essentially everywhere. And even what was not part of politics tends to now get politicized. So when I take the reader to the future, to a setting where we are separated from our “normal” Earth environment, incentives and power structure - what then?
How does power look when there is no money system? What do family and allegiance look like when all population growth is pre-planned and controlled? Who even wants to rise to power in a world where everyone has a home, food, time and resources? Will human nature still push certain individuals to try and possess power, legacy and influence?
I guess that by the genre of Generations, you can already guess the answer…
Q.8 When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
A. Writing has been part of my life ever since I tried to start my great adventure novel at 9 years old. That project ended after 8 pencil-scribbled pages, but I didn't give up!
Q.9 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. I did a LOT of research before writing a single word. Months of research. So, I learned so many fascinating elements about generational space travel - the physics of it, the biological forces at play, and the genetic and health considerations in such a long journey in confinement.
The one thing so one is writing about is the cultural and societal implications of spending generations in space. This is where the book, in my view, treads very interesting waters and tries to build a vision for that reality and its challenges.
Q.10 How do you handle feedback and criticism from readers or editors during the writing process or after the publication?
A. I am a very seasoned writer, and I have also founded 4 tech startups. So, naturally, I’ve heard so many “NO”s and so many put-downs on my ideas, chances, future, talent, you name it. It’s all good. I take criticism as a chance to learn, but I’m not obliged to believe every single word of it, right?
Q.11 Do you have any quirky or interesting writing habits?
A. Not really. I can write anywhere - back seats, aeroplanes, coffee shops… once I put on my noise-cancelling headphones and put on my ambient music playlist, I’m quickly “in the zone”.
Q.12 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. Names were one of the most important parts of Generations. What will people call themselves in such a futuristic scenario? Maybe names that will remind them of Earth? Maybe space-related names as their new culture adapts to the new reality? What about the origin of names?
I guess that by the genre of Generations, you can already guess the answer…
Q.8 When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
A. Writing has been part of my life ever since I tried to start my great adventure novel at 9 years old. That project ended after 8 pencil-scribbled pages, but I didn't give up!
Q.9 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. I did a LOT of research before writing a single word. Months of research. So, I learned so many fascinating elements about generational space travel - the physics of it, the biological forces at play, and the genetic and health considerations in such a long journey in confinement.
The one thing so one is writing about is the cultural and societal implications of spending generations in space. This is where the book, in my view, treads very interesting waters and tries to build a vision for that reality and its challenges.
Q.10 How do you handle feedback and criticism from readers or editors during the writing process or after the publication?
A. I am a very seasoned writer, and I have also founded 4 tech startups. So, naturally, I’ve heard so many “NO”s and so many put-downs on my ideas, chances, future, talent, you name it. It’s all good. I take criticism as a chance to learn, but I’m not obliged to believe every single word of it, right?
Q.11 Do you have any quirky or interesting writing habits?
A. Not really. I can write anywhere - back seats, aeroplanes, coffee shops… once I put on my noise-cancelling headphones and put on my ambient music playlist, I’m quickly “in the zone”.
Q.12 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. Names were one of the most important parts of Generations. What will people call themselves in such a futuristic scenario? Maybe names that will remind them of Earth? Maybe space-related names as their new culture adapts to the new reality? What about the origin of names?
People must have mixed up quite heavily in 8 generations, so why not have a character with an African first name and a Chinese surname? I played with those elements quite a lot to give the world a more natural, chaotic feeling that will feel relatable to the reader.
Q.13 How do you know when a story is finished?
A. The characters tell me. They’re done. Leave us alone and go write somebody else!
Q.14 Who designed your book cover? What was the selection process?
A. As a former movie director, I have a lot of top-notch designer friends, editors, special effects pros etc. So the cover design was a really fun process for me where we iterated with hundreds of concepts until something gave the “click” I am so familiar with by now - this is the one! I did, however, know in advance that the title would be orange. Don’t ask me why.
Q.15 It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your book. Tell us about your marketing campaign.
A. Marketing Generations focuses on getting reviews. The novel isn’t a clear genre-play - it’s partly sci-fi, partly mystery, partly personal drama. It fits well, apparently, with both adult and YA/NA readers. So I am not marketing it using a narrow trope or target audience, but strive for a wider adoption plan.
Q.16 Do you have a favourite scene or moment from this book, and what inspired it?
A. One of my favourite scenes from Generations is actually a minor moment, a memory of Sandrine, our female lead character.
Remember - the humans on the generation ship “Thetis” have been away from Earth for 180 years. By now, 8 generations down the line, none of them has ever seen a real sky, open nature, most animals, real sunlight or wind.
In the scene, Sandrine is with a childhood friend of hers, playing a kind of imagination ping-pong, trying to challenge each other to imagine something that existed on Earth or may exist on the new planet they’re all headed toward.
This scene is kind of a breather between intensive chapters of Sandrine chasing down the conspiracy which is the main plot of the book, and so I like it because it’s quiet, delicate and understated.
Here’s a moment from that scene:
We didn’t care. In our imagination, we were lying on a vast ocean shore, gazing up at the infinite marvels of the star-sprinkled night sky of our future home planet.
“Imagine a vast galaxy stretching across the sky, each twinkle — a whole new star system!” Marco whispered in my ear.
“Imagine a warm breeze,” I said softly, “caressing your cheeks, carrying the scents of fresh grass and open fire and cooking from a nearby village.”
I could feel Marco smiling beside me. “Imagine tiny, yellow fish brushing against your feet, tickling your toes.”
I smiled too, then inhaled deeply through my nose and closed my eyes.
“Imagine rain.”
We just lay there, silent, for a few long minutes, lost in imagination. We had so much yet to relearn.
Q.17 How many books have you written? Which one is your favourite?
A. My main writing has been screenplays - movies, TV episodes, commercials etc. Generations is my first novel and in that - it will always carry a special meaning.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. Very supportive! I’ve been a screenwriter and director for years so no one is surprised anymore by a new artistic venture or an ambitious project!
Q.19 Are there any particular authors or books that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your books?
A. As for influence, I have always been re-reading the greats: in sci-fi - Asimov, Heinlin, Herbert. In other fiction - Kundera, Kafka, Hesse. Specifically on writing inspiration, I mix the screenwriting basic theory books of McKee and Field, and also really connected with Stephen King’s “On Writing”.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far.
A. Writing is a funny beast - you spend years alone with the story, either in your head or closed-in, tapping away. And then it’s out and BAM - you’re out there in the open with thousands of eyes reading your most inner thoughts and dreams. You have to enjoy both states to be able to keep this up.
Q.13 How do you know when a story is finished?
A. The characters tell me. They’re done. Leave us alone and go write somebody else!
Q.14 Who designed your book cover? What was the selection process?
A. As a former movie director, I have a lot of top-notch designer friends, editors, special effects pros etc. So the cover design was a really fun process for me where we iterated with hundreds of concepts until something gave the “click” I am so familiar with by now - this is the one! I did, however, know in advance that the title would be orange. Don’t ask me why.
Q.15 It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your book. Tell us about your marketing campaign.
A. Marketing Generations focuses on getting reviews. The novel isn’t a clear genre-play - it’s partly sci-fi, partly mystery, partly personal drama. It fits well, apparently, with both adult and YA/NA readers. So I am not marketing it using a narrow trope or target audience, but strive for a wider adoption plan.
Q.16 Do you have a favourite scene or moment from this book, and what inspired it?
A. One of my favourite scenes from Generations is actually a minor moment, a memory of Sandrine, our female lead character.
Remember - the humans on the generation ship “Thetis” have been away from Earth for 180 years. By now, 8 generations down the line, none of them has ever seen a real sky, open nature, most animals, real sunlight or wind.
In the scene, Sandrine is with a childhood friend of hers, playing a kind of imagination ping-pong, trying to challenge each other to imagine something that existed on Earth or may exist on the new planet they’re all headed toward.
This scene is kind of a breather between intensive chapters of Sandrine chasing down the conspiracy which is the main plot of the book, and so I like it because it’s quiet, delicate and understated.
Here’s a moment from that scene:
We didn’t care. In our imagination, we were lying on a vast ocean shore, gazing up at the infinite marvels of the star-sprinkled night sky of our future home planet.
“Imagine a vast galaxy stretching across the sky, each twinkle — a whole new star system!” Marco whispered in my ear.
“Imagine a warm breeze,” I said softly, “caressing your cheeks, carrying the scents of fresh grass and open fire and cooking from a nearby village.”
I could feel Marco smiling beside me. “Imagine tiny, yellow fish brushing against your feet, tickling your toes.”
I smiled too, then inhaled deeply through my nose and closed my eyes.
“Imagine rain.”
We just lay there, silent, for a few long minutes, lost in imagination. We had so much yet to relearn.
Q.17 How many books have you written? Which one is your favourite?
A. My main writing has been screenplays - movies, TV episodes, commercials etc. Generations is my first novel and in that - it will always carry a special meaning.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. Very supportive! I’ve been a screenwriter and director for years so no one is surprised anymore by a new artistic venture or an ambitious project!
Q.19 Are there any particular authors or books that have influenced your writing style or the creation of your books?
A. As for influence, I have always been re-reading the greats: in sci-fi - Asimov, Heinlin, Herbert. In other fiction - Kundera, Kafka, Hesse. Specifically on writing inspiration, I mix the screenwriting basic theory books of McKee and Field, and also really connected with Stephen King’s “On Writing”.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far.
A. Writing is a funny beast - you spend years alone with the story, either in your head or closed-in, tapping away. And then it’s out and BAM - you’re out there in the open with thousands of eyes reading your most inner thoughts and dreams. You have to enjoy both states to be able to keep this up.
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Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558323000519
Twitter - https://twitter.com/NoamJosephides
Website - https://generationsnovels.com/
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