(Eighth in a series of interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

Jonathan Rogers grew up in Georgia near the swamps and river bottoms, where his The Wilderking series is based. He has a degree in English, and a Ph.D in seventeenth-century English literature. Recently, Incredibooks did a brief e-mail interview with Mr. Rogers.

Incredibooks: Why did you choose fantasy to work with instead of some other genre?

Jonathan Rogers: My favorite thing about the fantasy genre-broadly defined-is that it gives a writer a lot of freedom to mash together things that don’t normally go together. As the Wilderking took shape in my mind, I knew I wanted to use the David story as a way of talking about wildness and the role of wildness in a boy’s growing up. I didn’t want to do historical fiction for several reasons, one being the fact that I wasn’t comfortable making up dialogue to put in the mouths of actual Bible characters. Free from the constraints of historical fiction, I thought a medieval-esque, knights-and-castles setting would be a fun way to tell the story. And while I was at it, I decided to indulge myself by making the physical setting look like the swamps and forests of South Georgia and Florida. By that point, I really had nowhere else to go but an imaginary world. So for this story, the fantasy genre made sense. 

IB: How do you make your characters seem like real people instead of just figures who move the plot along?

JR: I spend a lot of time thinking about motives. I try to understand my characters well enough to know what would motivate them in a given situation. And I know my characters because I pay attention to the people around me. I’m forever asking myself what motivated a person to do this or that; I don’t so much mean the people I know as the people I don’t know. When you see a stranger do something unusual in public, all you have are the external facts: that guy is dressed in business attire and is sleeping on a bus bench. That’s interesting, of course, but more interesting is the game you play with yourself: Why is a guy in business attire sleeping on a bus bench? That’s where storytelling comes from. A good story is a constant back-and-forth between external facts and internal motivations: characters react to the external facts of their situations, characters change the external facts of their situations. Sometimes characters succeed in bringing their motivations to bear on a situation, and sometimes they don’t. When you think in those terms, character and plot begin to work hand-in-glove with one another.

IB: Who is your favorite character from all of your books so far, and why?

JR: That’s an easy one: the main character in the Wilderking books is a boy named Aidan, but my favorite is a wild swamp boy named Dobro Turtlebane. When he’s on the scene, something wild and funny is going to happen. His behavior seems erratic-courting danger, fighting with people he actually likes, etc.-but if you can accept a few basic premises about his unusual worldview, his behavior is actually quite logical. Dobro is a great example of what I was saying in an earlier question about character driving plot. He’s a game-changer, for sure.

IB: How do you work allegory or Christian themes into your books without it being blatantly obvious or sounding preachy or clichéd?

JR: The gospel speaks to human yearnings that are universal. Everybody, Christian or not, knows what it is to feel that we are living in a world that stirs up more desires than it can fulfill. Even people who don’t talk about sin know what it is to feel that you are broken and unable to fix yourself. Everybody hopes that love is stronger than hate, even if they’re not sure it really is. In short, everybody knows they need grace. I hope my writing is always, always about grace, in many forms. And grace, almost by definition, doesn’t lend itself to preachiness. It suddenly doesn’t feel like grace anymore if it’s given to you ungracefully, unbeautifully. Fiction and grace were made for each other. Think of the parable of the prodigal son. That’s great fiction, and it gets inside you in a way that a sermon can’t. I like sermons too, but they work in a different way.  

IB: Do you ever write something that you love, only to look at it later and discover it’s not as good as you thought?

JR: Yes. Something similar happens in one of my recurring dreams. In this dream I tell a joke and it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. I laugh and laugh, and everybody around me agrees that I’m the wittiest man they’ve ever had the pleasure to know. Then when I wake up, I realize not only that the joke wasn’t funny, but it didn’t even make sense-not even grammatical sense. I’ve never written anything that was quite as bad as that, but suspect the dream comes from the same fear your question touches on: how do you know you’ve written something that is really good? I’m learning to trust my judgment, though: if I think something is interesting and funny, there’s a good chance a lot of other people will think it’s interesting and funny too.

This is the final interview. Our thanks to all of the authors from the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour!

(Seventh in a series of interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

Eric Reinhold (ryannwatters.blogspot.com) lives in Longwood, Florida with his wife and three children. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and he is a certified financial planner. His first book, Ryann Watters and the King’s Sword is his first, and the first in the Annals of Aeliana series. Recently, Incredibooks did an e-mail interview with Mr. Reinhold.

Incredibooks: Have you always liked writing, or was it an acquired taste?

Eric Reinhold: I’ve always enjoyed writing; however taking on a novel became an acquired taste.  The more I wrote the more I wanted to improve and deepen my plots.

IB: What were some of your favorite books growing up?

ER: I was a big science fiction and fantasy reader growing up.  C.S. Lewis, Narnia series and his Science Fiction series were favorites, as was a science fiction book entitled Hunters of the Red Moon.

IB: When you were younger, did you ever imagine that you would become an author?

ER: No, I actually imagined being the illustrator or a comic book artist.  I loved to draw, especially cartooning, and still do.

IB: What inspired you to become a writer?

ER: My children. I used to tell stories to my two girls every night before putting them to bed.  Each night we would continue the saga of three girls and their adventures in moving from this world to a fantasy world.  At one point they both said, “Dad, you need to write a book so that other kids can enjoy your stories.”  That got me thinking.  Maybe I can do this.

IB: Why did you choose fantasy to work with instead of some other genre?

ER: I enjoy mixing reality with the fantastic. I enjoy asking myself the question, “What would happen if?” Then fill in the blank: I could find a portal to another universe, there were different species to interact with, I could fly or had other super powers, and so on. Plus, I get to make up my own worlds and no one can tell me they’re wrong!

IB: How do you make your characters seem like real people instead of just figures who move the plot along?

ER: I had to work into this. A friend of mine at Disney who works on character development helped me ask questions about my characters and develop flaws that the reader could relate to. To have a good story, I believe the reader needs to be able to imagine themselves as the characters I am writing about.

IB: Where do you get your characters’ names?

ER: I love Ancient Welsh names, so most of my fantasy characters get names that are translations of the current English word.  My human characters typically have names that relate to qualities of characters by the same name in the Bible.

IB: Who is your favorite character from all of your books so far, and why?

ER: Ha! I’ve only had one book published, so I would say it’s a tie between Ryann’s father and Noah, both of whom give Godly wisdom to Ryann as he goes about the task given to him by the Arch-angel, Gabriel. I’m writing book two now and enjoying one of my other characters, Terell. He’s a 13 year old with a sarcastic sense of humor that I laugh with as he makes jokes in the story.  

IB: Have you ever incorporated yourself or anyone you know into one of your books?

ER: I patterned Liddy after my 13 year old daughter and biggest fan.  In book two I used an Elven Language translation of her name for one of the characters.  It doesn’t look or sound anything like her name, but she knows it’s her.

IB: How do you work allegory or Christian themes into your books without it being blatantly obvious or sounding preachy or clichéd?

ER: Actually, I would say my books are probably the most blatantly obvious in regards to Christian themes of any fantasy books on the market.  I use scripture throughout my books and don’t hesitate to invoke the name of God or have my characters pray.  The key is to still make them real and to not come off as preachy.  Judging from feedback I receive from readers, they enjoy the overt Christian message and say it makes them want to read their Bible more, which is the best compliment I could receive.

IB: Do you ever write something that you love, only to look at it later and discover it’s not as good as you thought?

ER: I was asked by a young reader if there was anything I would change about my first book.  I responded that there was quite a bit I would change, because I believe an author should always be seeking to improve. The most recent book I write should always be better written than the one before it.

IB: What is a typical writing day like for you? For example, where do you write? Do you always write at the same time of day? Do you listen to music when writing? If so, what?

ER: I’m a Naval Academy Graduate and have spent most of my life getting up early.  Couple this with the demands of my everyday job and family in the evening and I find that getting up at 4:30 A.M. and writing for a few hours is the most productive for me.  I have a study with all my favorite books and décor that my wife calls, “the cave.”  It’s perfect for writing and very quiet.  The only sounds I like to hear when writing are the tapping of my keyboard.

IB: What are you currently working on?

ER: I am more than halfway done with my second novel in the Annals of Aeliana series.  I’m planning for there to be at least 5 books in the series.  The cover artwork is already completed and the planned release is the Spring of 2009.  It is twice as long as book one and will have quite a few shockers in it.

IB: In round numbers, how many books do you think you’ll sign during the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour?

ER: Wow! I actually have no idea.  I’ve had school venues where I’ve signed 150 books in a few hours to bookstores where I’ve only signed 20.  Let’s aim high and say 1,000.  That would be awesome.

The next interview is with Jonathan Rogers, so stick around!

(Sixth in a series of a interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

Donita K. Paul (www.donitakpaul.com) is a retired school teacher and grandma from Colorado. Her passion for literacy compels her to speak in schools and libraries about the importance of story. She has written seven books, including the five-book DragonKeeper Chronicles series. Mrs. Paul took some time out of her busy schedule to do an e-mail interview with Incredibooks.

Incredibooks: Have you always liked writing, or was it an acquired taste? 

Donita  K. Paul: I always loved reading. I was always good at writing. It took me awhile to realize I could write what I love to read.

IB: What were some of your favorite books growing up?

DKP: I read Nancy Drew. There was a discount store down the street and every Friday night after dinner, my father would take me there. He shot a roll of film every week. He’d drop off this week’s shots and pick up last week’s, and get me a Nancy Drew hardback. They were $1.25. And some weeks they were a dollar and he’d buy me two.

IB: When you were younger, did you ever imagine that you would become an author?

DKP: Oh my, no! Growing up, I wanted to be a wife and mother. But part of being a mother is telling stories, teaching through tales. My father was a good oral storyteller and one brother in particular took after him. My mother was a Sunday school teacher and gifted in telling Bible stories. Through various venues, God impressed upon me the power of storytelling. 

IB: What inspired you to become a writer?

DKP: Necessity. I couldn’t teach any more and I had to occupy my time. I never thought I’d make a living by writing. But I did hope to pay some bills.

IB: Why did you choose fantasy to work with instead of some other genre?

DKP: I have a stupid leg. The other leg seems to get what being a leg is all about, but this one just messes up from time to time. An infection flared up in the stupid leg, and I was sentenced to six weeks with my foot elevated above my heart. My son brought me Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series to keep me in the recliner. I hadn’t read much fantasy as an adult. When I finished the series and got out of the chair, I thought, “Well, that was interesting.” (The fantasy and the time spent incarcerated in a chair.) Eight months later, I had the urge to write something different from the Christian Romance I had been writing. Fantasy was “different.”

IB: How do you make your characters seem like real people instead of just figures who move the plot along?

DKP: I can’t imagine having figures who just move the plot along. I create the characters first, and they create the plot. Creating characters is the easy part. Learning to depict them on a page is harder. Make sure you observe more than just their actions. Kind of like including the five senses in your descriptions, you need to touch on more dimensions of the character: looks, feelings, motivation, goals, movements, speech patterns, habits, etc. Be careful to include more than one aspect and keep the camera moving to pick up more than one side of your character.

IB: Where do you get your characters’ names?

DKP: Here is how I come up with names: I use my friends’ names or name from the phone book, and I take them apart syllable by syllable, then I put them back together in a different order. For example, my secretary’s name is Rebecca, and I named a dragon Becca-ree.

IB: Who is your favorite character from all of your books so far, and why?

DKP: This is like asking which one of your children is your favorite. Some I appreciate because they taught me something about myself. Some are just fun to be with. Wizard Fenworth, for instance, is a hoot, but I wouldn’t want to live with him.

IB: Have you ever incorporated yourself or anyone you know into one of your books?

DKP: All the time, but I’m not going to get myself in trouble by telling you who and when.

IB: How do you work allegory or Christian themes into your books without it being blatantly obvious or sounding preachy or clichéd?

DKP: I don’t “work” at putting it in. I recognize it when it shows up and fine tune it a bit, but my main objective is to tell a great story. I concentrate on that and the more pithy elements sneak in.

IB: Do you ever write something that you love, only to look at it later and discover it’s not as good as you thought?

DKP: Oh my! Yes! The worst is when you wrote something that was really funny and the next day you read it and think, “huh?”

IB: What is a typical writing day like for you? For example, where do you write? Do you always write at the same time of day? Do you listen to music when writing? If so, what?

DKP: When I am actively pursuing the production of a story, I eat, walk, think, dream the story. I leave a sinkful of dishes and run to the computer to record what the main character just said to the villain. I burn what’s on the stove, because I went back to the office for “just a minute” to add a paragraph. Instead of counting sheep at night, I plot the next scene. Usually when I get some time to sit in front of the computer, the story has been percolating and I write down what I have been musing about. Sometimes, however, I sit down and think, well the characters are here and I want them there, so “here goes.”

IB: You just finished a series. Are you enjoying starting afresh, or has it been difficult getting started on something completely new?

DKP: I did a novella in between the last project and starting the next. 35,000 words for fun and not related to anything in the Dragon Keeper Chronicles. Now I am digging in to do book two of the current series that takes place in the same world as Amara but on a different continent and at a different time.

IB: What are you currently working on?

DKP: A series of books that will be set in the same world as Amara, but on a different continent and in a different time period. 

IB: In round numbers, how many books do you think you’ll sign during the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour?

DKP: I have no idea, and really, I don’t think that is the focus of the trip.  One of our catch phrases is “to motiv8 young readers to choose positive fiction.” I want to meet the readers who already enjoy our books and encourage them. I also want to introduce new readers to books that will nourish their souls. There is way too much negative media that tears down instead of builds up our youth.  But Christian Fantasy Fiction is out there, too. Let’s draw some attention to it, and give it a chance to grow.

Next time, we’ll be interviewing Eric Reinhold, so stick around!

(Fifth in a series of interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

Christopher Hopper (www.christopherhopper.com) is an international speaker, recording artist, and ordained minister who has also written two books in a trilogy that will be completed in late 2009. He travels internationally to speak at schools, churches, and conferences. Recently, Mr. Hopper did an e-mail interview with Incredibooks.

Incredibooks: Have you always liked writing, or was it an acquired taste?

Christopher Hopper: I was always a highly imaginative boy, so when I took creative writing in 7th grade, it was something I excelled at. Not for the grammatical reasons of some of my brighter friends, but for the content and thought flow of my story lines. All through high school my teachers encouraged me in my writing. Despite the “slow reader” label I received in elementary school-something I struggled with for many years-I know that those encouraging words were jewels that have enabled me to this day. Words of a teacher are powerful things, to be sure. 

IB: What were some of your favorite books growing up?

CH: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and Tales of The Kingdom by David & Karen Mains. I loved having stories read to me as a youth, something my parents always did as well as certain teachers in school-something my wife and I try to do for our children today. 

IB: When you were younger, did you ever imagine that you would become an author?

CH: Not really. I loved creating things, however. My parents said, “Christopher had a new project everyday.” I was always constructing, drawing, taping, building, planning. I’m a producer, in the most fundamental sense of the word. I began recording music in my father’s recording studio a very young age, as well as printing my first comic books. I actually “thought” of writing a book one day, knowing it would be a big project, but I knew I could handle it. 

IB: What inspired you to become a writer?

CH: After the world of reading was really introduced to me at age 18 through Stephen Lawhead’s Song of Albion Trilogy, I told myself that if I ever wrote a book, I wanted to write one like that. I couldn’t believe how real he made everything feel. I really connected with that work, and with reading in general. The curse of being called a “slow reader” was broken and the fire for writing had been rekindled. 

IB: Why did you choose fantasy to work with instead of some other genre?

CH: Because I love stories-parables, the Old Testament, things that paint pictures in the mind-those kind of things are what capture me. I live in such a fast paced reality, I don’t want to read more about reality (meaning non-fiction), I want something to escape into. And more importantly, something to convey a truth or principle that people will consider in a way they wouldn’t if it was just blatantly told to them. When I read Lawhead, I realized that I could communicate to people on a whole new playing field. 

IB: How do you make your characters seem like real people instead of just figures who move the plot along?

CH: I suppose I put parts of myself and other people that I know into my characters. Being a Pastor, I deal with peoples’ real life issues and problems everyday, especially those of young people. More often than not, it’s overwhelming. I believe it’s not our perfections that make us “human,” it’s our imperfections. How we deal with stress, conflict, the concept of failure. And then our response to divine grace. The success of my characters is in finding the universal truths that all humans share and exploiting those within the vehicle of a story. 

IB: Where do you get your characters’ names?

CH: Ha! Great question. Everywhere and anywhere! I keep a file on my iPhone just for character name ideas. Highway signs are a big inspiration. And you know those little security images you have to type into a dialog box on a web page when logging in? Yeah, I’ve gotten lots of ideas from the random words they make. But most of the time I just make them up, starting with consonants and piecing vowels with them; if you were to hear me writing in my house, you’d hear my speaking loads of gibberish. I’m just listening to how names sound. (I have a very patient wife!). 

IB: Who is your favorite character from all of your books so far, and why?

CH: Probably Li-Saide of Ot. He just conjures up such a unique image in my mind. Quirky. Stoic and wise, but playful when the time is right. Something about his beard and hat just make me laugh. You can’t take him seriously because of his appearance, yet he is a force to be reckoned with and the longest living soul in Dionia. 

IB: Have you ever incorporated yourself or anyone you know into one of your books?

CH: As mentioned above, yes. Many of my friends and family members find their way into certain portions of characters. I’m not quite sure how an author couldn’t do that. The reverse is also true: I named my son after Luik! 

IB: How do you work allegory or Christian themes into your books without it being blatantly obvious or sounding preachy or clichéd?

CH: I don’t think true Christian themes are ever preachy or cliché, at least if you are doing them justice. Nothing could be more relevant then they, in my opinion. Everything else is preachy and cliché. Creating believable characters who confront the universal truths of God’s Word is the most “real” story of life. However, I do think the context and the target audience of the work will influence the message’s subtly. For instance, my first trilogy is blatantly Christian, yet the next book I’m working on are all mean to find their way into the public school systems and open doors for me to speak there; the messages of integrity and righteous living are clear, yet it is devoid of “religious” content. That’s because Biblical truth can stand on its own, regardless of content. 

IB: Do you ever write something that you love, only to look at it later and discover it’s not as good as you thought?

CH: Sure. But that’s because we’re always maturing as people—as writers. My learning curve over the past five years had been straight up. The more you read, the better your writing becomes. The better your writing becomes, the more you want to read. I believe we should always be in a cycle of “betterment.”  

IB: What is a typical writing day like for you? For example, where do you write? Do you always write at the same time of day? Do you listen to music when writing? If so, what?

CH: I prefer writing early in the mornings. That’s when I think best. When I’m working on a book under a deadline, I normally write from 6:00 am to about 11:00 am, or until I breach 3,000 words, whichever comes first. I’m currently co-authoring book with a friend, but he’s a night owl like my wife. So when we need to write together and be on AIM at the same time, I adjust my schedule and stay up until midnight with him. It’s hard, but it’s what works best for him as my schedule is more flexible. I tend not to write to music, only because I’m a musician and I can’t turn off the “musical critique” mode of my brain. 

IB: What are you currently working on?

CH: I’m currently working on a new YA title for Thomas Nelson which I’m not really allowed to discuss yet. ;)

IB: In round numbers, how many books do you think you’ll sign during the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour?

CH: I guess that all depends on how many great kids and their folks come out to meet us! Hopefully at least one for someone that was touched by my writing…that would be a joy. 

IB: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer curious fans! We are looking forward to the tour!

CH: You’re very welcome. Thanks for the great questions. See you on the road!

Next time, we’ll be interviewing Donita K. Paul, so stick around!

(Fourth in a series of interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

Sharon Hinck (www.sharonhinck.com) writes stories about ordinary people experiencing God’s grace in unexpected ways. She was named “Writer of the Year” in 2007 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. She is the author of many books, including the Sword of Lyric series. Recently, Mrs. Hinck took time out of her busy schedule to do a short e-mail interview with Incredibooks.

Incredibooks: Have you always liked writing, or was it an acquired taste?

Sharon Hinck: I wrote my first story (very derivative of The Three Little Pigs) in second grade. It’s always been one of my favorite means of expression.

IB: What were some of your favorite books growing up?

SH: Louisa Mae Alcott, Jack London, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, C.S. Lewis, Catherine Marshall, Madeleine L’Engle. And I still adore Harold and the Purple Crayon.

IB: When you were younger, did you ever imagine that you would become an author?

SH: I found an old journal entry from eighth grade where I shared how I dreamed of writing a novel one day…but to me it was such a lofty dream, I didn’t really imagine it could happen. 

IB: Why did you choose fantasy to work with instead of some other genre?

SH: I love adventure, sword fighting, and stories of heroic choices – but I also like contemporary and relatable characters. So I enjoyed combining a modern American family with an “alternate universe” fantasy adventure. It’s a story that explores the good that can happen when our faith is stretched and we’re willing to surrender ever more deeply to God. 

IB: Who is your favorite character from all of your books so far, and why?

SH: I think I’ve enjoyed Kieran the most, because he was never predictable. In some ways, he reflected my own times of wrestling with God…struggling to understand His purposes (and feeling mighty cranky about it at times). 

IB: Do you ever write something that you love, only to look at it later and discover it’s not as good as you thought?

SH: Most days. :-)

IB: How do you work allegory or Christian themes into your books without it being blatantly obvious or sounding preachy or clichéd?

SH: Madeline L’Engle said that fiction is revelatory. I believe that’s true. In an odd way, fiction reveals the truth with more potency than nonfiction. What I as the author believe about God’s love and power will bleed through into any story I write – because that is the nature of storytelling and storytellers. The spiritual journey of my characters is as integral as their external plot threads – because in my own life, the spiritual journey is a vibrant and important as what is happening in my external life. 

Stick around! Our next interview is with Christopher Hopper.

(Third in a series of interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

L. B. Graham (blog.lbgraham.com) is a teacher and author who has written The Binding of the Blade, a five-volume fantasy series. Incredibooks recently did a brief e-mail interview with Mr. Graham.

Incredibooks: When you were younger, did you ever imagine that you would become an author?

L. B. Graham: Actually, I did. I loved reading and even storytelling, and I thought it would be neat to tell my own stories when I grew up. That’s why in High School, I started signing things with my initials — L.B. —since some of my favorite authors used their initials, like “C.S.” and “J.R.R.”

IB: Why did you choose fantasy to work with instead of some other genre?

LBG: A few reasons. First, I like reading it. Second, as a teacher, I know a lot of kids who like reading it. It struck me that while I was not Tolkien or Lewis, they were dead now and if others didn’t take up the torch to create fantasy stories from a Christian worldview, then kids looking for other fantasy stories would still read them, they would just read ones with other worldviews. This isn’t necessarily horrible, but it could be, and I thought there should be other options. 

IB: Who is your favorite character from all of your books so far, and why?

LBG: My favorite character in The Binding of the Blade, if I can slightly amend the definition of favorite, was Rulalin. He’s not the most likable, but he was fun to write because he was so reviled by most of my readers and I tried to show that his failures were indicative of human failings in general. I found that I identified with him in places, pretty strongly, because I’m a sinner who screws up and he came to really represent that in my story.

IB: How do you work allegory or Christian themes into your books without it being blatantly obvious or sounding preachy or clichéd?

LBG: I don’t go for allegory, a “this equals that” relationship between my world and Christianity — e.g., Pilgrim’s Progress. Instead I try to instill Christian principles and worldview in my world — i.e., there is a God who has created a moral structure and our actions have consequences. And, to avoid moralism, a sort of “be good” generic message, I try to show that all have flaws and redemption is possible. Specifically, the Christian theme I worked most to incorporate is the longing we all have for restoration — that the day will come when God will fix this broken world. 

IB: You just finished a series. Are you enjoying starting afresh, or has it been difficult getting started on something completely new?

LBG: Yes and No. Five books and  6+ years is a long time to spend telling a specific story. The world and characters in it were dear to me. At the same time, it was time to be finished, and it felt right to move on. I get ideas faster than I can execute old ones, so the pile of “possible stories to write” grows faster than the pile of “actual stories written.” So, it was nice to turn to something new. 

IB: What are you currently working on?

LBG: A non-fiction book and several different fiction projects. I recently changed agents, and when he and I have sorted out what direction to go, I’ll devote myself more fully to just one of those fiction projects, but we’ll probably try to market both the nonfiction book and a new fiction project in the near future.

Next time, we’ll have an interview with Sharon Hinck, so stay tuned!

(Second in a series of interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

A former computer professional, Bryan Davis (dragonsinourmidst.blogspot.com) has written two best-selling fantasy series, Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire. He is also the author of Echoes from the Edge, a contemporary fantasy series. Incredibooks caught up with Mr. Davis to do an e-mail interview.

Incredibooks: Have you always liked writing, or was it an acquired taste?

Bryan  Davis: I never disliked writing, but it wasn’t something I enjoyed or looked forward to. It was definitely an acquired taste. 

IB: What were some of your favorite books growing up?

BD: I remember loving Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham when I was very young (I still do!). Later, I read the Hardy Boys, but not much else since I grew more interested in sports, math, and science. Most of my reading came when I became an adult. That’s when I discovered C. S. Lewis and his wonderful books.

IB: When you were younger, did you ever imagine that you would become an author?

BD: Not even once. Baseball professional, astronaut, king of the world, yes, but not an author.

IB: What inspired you to become a writer?

BD: I started writing almost twelve years ago when I was looking for a way to teach writing to my children. Being a homeschooling family, we were responsible for trying to inspire our kids to love writing. I decided that a good way might be to write a story myself and perform a weekly reading to help my kids see how it is done. After many weeks, my story grew into a novel, and I developed a passion for communicating truth through storytelling. 

IB: Why did you choose fantasy to work with instead of some other genre?

BD: Fantasy opens the door to an unseen world, giving readers an idea that such a world really exists. Understanding that fact is an important part of the maturing process in our walks of faith. As Paul said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” How can we do battle if we can’t imagine what’s out there? Elisha opened such a portal for his servant, saying, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 

The key is to provide readers a way to see the good side of the unseen world in order to give them reason to rely on its power. God has often provided a vision of the holy for His people, and Christian fantasy is one of the best ways to stretch minds beyond the here and now and give them a view of the heavenlies.

I believe that Jesus used fantasy elements in his stories. In fact, if I were to write a story about His miracles that didn’t include His name or where He got His power, it would be a fantasy story. Yet, Jesus made a fantasy story come to life, knowing that we learn and remember best when the story is fantastic.

I wrote an article that elaborates on this subject. You can find it online at http://www.daviscrossing.com/fantasy.pdf

IB: How do you make your characters seem like real people instead of just figures who move the plot along?

BD: I give them hobbies, quirks, odd clothing choices, habits-anything to give them depth. They can be predictable at times and surprise people at times. I go deep into their heads and let them ruminate over both big and little things. They both proact and react, giving the reader an idea of what makes the character tick.

IB: Where do you get your characters’ names?

BD: Some just pop into my head, and they feel right. Some have important meanings in ancient languages like Hebrew or Greek. I have also consulted an online fantasy name generator and pulled a few from a random list, then tweaked the names until I liked them.

IB: Who is your favorite character from all of your books so far, and why?

BD: A favorite character? Will you next ask me which of my children is my favorite? That’s so hard to decide! I think, however, that Bonnie Silver from the dragons’ series has given me the most emotional satisfaction. From the letters and emails I have received, it’s clear that she has changed the lives of hundreds of people, young and old, male and female.

IB: Have you ever incorporated yourself or anyone you know into one of your books?

BD: There is a lot of me in a new book I’m finishing up, I Know Why the Angels Dance. The father figure is logical, academic, and has a hard time understanding emotionally based people, something I had to learn as a young husband. It was fun and challenging to write that character.

IB: How do you work allegory or Christian themes into your books without it being blatantly obvious or sounding preachy or clichéd?

BD: I think there is a place for both subtle and “preachy” themes, so I have done both, if by preachy you mean that the “lesson” is obvious and easy to comprehend. I don’t like, however, a clichéd story that is heavy-handed, a sermon in plastic wrap.

The way I avoid it is to let the characters live out the story. I don’t allow them to tell each other the lesson. With young protagonists, I don’t let an older character tell them what they should have learned. They might raise questions in their minds, but their actions answer them, and sometimes their thoughts and passions. But I try to avoid two puppets telling each other what they have learned.

IB: Do you ever write something that you love, only to look at it later and discover it’s not as good as you thought?

BD: Yes, almost anything I wrote more than three or four years ago. I have improved a lot, but the troubling thing is that I wonder in four years, will I dislike what I’m writing now? 

I wrote I Know Why the Angels Dance over twelve years ago. I loved it then. Storywise, I still loved it when I pulled it out of the proverbial drawer upon receiving a publishing contract for it, I rewrote it line by line and changed nearly every sentence. It just wasn’t written very well, though the story still brought me to tears several times.

IB: What is a typical writing day like for you? For example, where do you write? Do you always write at the same time of day? Do you listen to music when writing? If so, what?

BD: I have an office in my home, and during writing seasons, I write there all day long, and into the night when a deadline is approaching. I listen to music when I am writing an emotional scene or when I feel kind of dry, usually classical, especially Beethoven.

I also have promotional seasons when I will go on the road and speak at schools, homeschool groups, libraries, etc. During those weeks, I rarely write at all. 

IB: (We originally thought that this question applied only to Donita K. Paul and L. B. Graham.) You just finished a series. Are you enjoying starting afresh, or has it been difficult getting started on something completely new?

BD: I also just finished writing a series, though the last book won’t be out until May of 2009. I am also finishing another series now, so I will get to start afresh in January.

IB: What are you currently working on?

BD: I am writing The Bones of Makaidos, book four in the Oracles of Fire series due out in April of 2009, I am editing Nightmare’s Edge, book three in the Echoes from the Edge series, which will come out in May of 2009, and I am also editing I Know Why the Angels Dance, a standalone book scheduled for August of 2009.

IB: In round numbers, how many books do you think you’ll sign during the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour?

BD: That number will be completely pulled out of a hat. How about 500?

Stick around! Next time we’ll be interviewing L. B. Graham.

(First in a series of interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

Wayne Thomas Batson (enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com) is a middle school teacher and author. He has written five novels, three in the fantasy genre and two about pirates. Recently, Mr. Batson took time out of his busy schedule to do an e-mail interview with Incredibooks.

Incredibooks: Have you always liked writing, or was it an acquired taste?

Wayne Thomas Batson: I probably took to writing in high school. I was a student assistant one year, helping the Chemistry teacher grade papers and set up labs, but it gave me a lot of time on my hands. I started writing poetry and song lyrics. It was kind of therapeutic writing for me because I was always one of those kids who thought about a lot of deep things. I also co-wrote a humorous editorial column in the school newspaper. It was called Pat & Bat, and we took on everything from Cabbage Patch Dolls to slothful police forces.   

IB: What were some of your favorite books growing up?

WTB:

• Elementary School: The Mouse and the Motorcycle
• Junior High: The Hobbit
• High School: The Lord of the Rings

IB: When you were younger, did you ever imagine that you would become an author?

WTB: I had no idea. I would have laughed and said, yeah right. 

IB: What inspired you to become a writer?

WTB: I owe it to God first because there’s nothing of worth that I am or have that He did not give me. But my students were the driving human force in my writing. I wrote a short story for them because they challenged me to do the assignment I had given them. They loved that 17 page story and over the years were relentless in encouraging me (okay, threatening me) to write more. If it weren’t for my students, I don’t think I’d be an author today. 

IB: Why did you choose fantasy to work with instead of some other genre?

WTB: Easy. I’m at home there. I think somewhere in my genetic make-up I am part Hobbit. I so long for a peaceful life full of good friends and good cheer and all things green and growing. And I’ve always loved the heroic element of fantasy where even a regular guy can do something spectacular. 

IB: How do you make your characters seem like real people instead of just figures who move the plot along?

WTB: Give them flaws. Give them quirks. Let them do what they want to do not just what you (the author) wants them to do.

IB: Where do you get your characters’ names?

WTB: That’s an essay question for me. I am very, very determined to have just the right names for my characters. I often spend hours on one character’s name. I’ll look in other languages: Olde English, Saxon, Norse, Greek, Celtic, etc. and search for word parts that bring a certain image to mind. Then, I’ll mix and match parts until I’m convinced a certain character could have no other name but the one I’ve given them. I know, I’m OCD that way. 

IB: Who is your favorite character from all of your books so far, and why?

WTB: Difficult question. But if you dangled me over hot coals until I divulged a name, I’d have to say Captain Valithor from The Door Within Trilogy. He is such a wonderful mixture of English field marshall and teddy bear. Plus, he can really wield a sword. 

IB: Have you ever incorporated yourself or anyone you know into one of your books?

WTB: Any writer worth his/her salt does this, consciously or unconsciously to an extent. I didn’t understand this as I wrote, but Aidan, Robby, and Antoinette in The Door Within became a kind of representation of me in three phases of my Christian life: despair, cautiously optimistic, and well-versed & confident. Cat in Isle of Swords deals with identity issues that I’ve struggled with over the years. 

IB: How do you work allegory or Christian themes into your books without it being blatantly obvious or sounding preachy or clichéd?

WTB: Well, I try to tell a good story. I think a well-plotted story eliminates the preachy nature that some allegory might otherwise reveal. Often a story concept comes about because of something I’ve learned or discovered or maybe even from a worship song at church. So themes and allegories are important to me, but I must have a strong plot and real characters to carry it. A novel cannot be a Bible tract dressed up as a story. Readers don’t want that and will be offended. 

IB: Do you ever write something that you love, only to look at it later and discover it’s not as good as you thought?

WTB: Daily. When I’m in the middle of a scene, I’m seeing the mental movie and thrilled to death that I’ve written something spectacular. Then, I’ll read it the next day and wonder who screwed up my manuscript while I was sleeping.

IB: What is a typical writing day like for you? For example, where do you write? Do you always write at the same time of day? Do you listen to music when writing? If so, what?

WTB: I don’t have one. I’m a full time middle school Reading Teacher and a father of four active kids. I don’t have a set writing time. I wish I could, but this isn’t the season in life for that for me. I write when I can, mostly at night. 

IB: (We originally thought that this question applied only to Donita K. Paul and L. B. Graham.) You just finished a series. Are you enjoying starting afresh, or has it been difficult getting started on something completely new?

WTB: Actually, I just finished a series as well, uh, if you can consider two books a series. And I am really enjoying a new project. I’m getting back to fantasy and having a blast with a new concept.

IB: What are you currently working on?

WTB: Top secret. But it’s WAY cool. 

IB: In round numbers, how many books do you think you’ll sign during the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour?

WTB: Hard to guess. I suspect that we’ll have a much bigger turn out as all of our fan bases have grown exponentially since the last tour. And this time we’ll have the added draw of four new authors. I’m going to guess about 25 books per event, perhaps 300-400 total, maybe.

IB: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer curious fans! We are looking forward to the tour!

WTB: My pleasure. Thanks, Incredibooks for doing this great feature.

Next time, we’ll be interviewing Bryan Davis, so check back soon!