Just recently, we found out about a great picture book by new author Katie Lynn Daniels. Katie was gracious enough to agree to do an e-mail interview with us.

Incredibooks: First off, tell us a little bit about your new book.

Katie Lynn Daniels: The Tale of Pirate Shishkabob is a picture book about a bunch of very unusual pirates. They sail the high seas terrorizing merchant vessels for a fresh supply of fruits and vegetables, rather than gold and treasure. I got the idea when my little pirate brother and I started sword fighting over a pile of meat we were supposed to be kabobbing.

IB: What inspired you to become a writer?

KLD: That’s a very old story, actually. When I was very little I wrote a one page story about a little boy who always asked “why?” My dad found it laying around and praised it. I was so proud of myself I started writing a whole book. It was several years before I finished it; all 45 pages written out in pencil. (some of it colored.) Finally I started on my second book and I simply never stopped.

IB: Incredibooks is a book review site, so we want to know about your favorite books. Can you share a couple of titles?

KLD: My absolute favorite book ever is the Riddle-Master Trilogy by Patricia A. McKellip. It’s absolutely brilliant, and little-known; a fact I’m attempting to change. My second favorite is the Queen’s Thief series by Magan Whale Turner. I love fairy tales, and often refer to myself as a fairytale writer.

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

KLD: I think most of my main characters are reflections of different aspects of myself, but I’m not always sure. I’ve several ideas for stories that are based on real life, but I don’t have the guts to write them. I’ve definitely based characters off of people I know in real life, but I usually alter them considerably. The main character of Pirate Shishkabob is, in many ways, my little brother Caleb, for example.

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?

KLD: I write my first draft by hand in spiral bound notebooks, usually. I only ever write in pen on lined paper. My second draft is when I type it up and from there on out I do all my writing and rewriting and rerewriting on the computer. It’s actually the family computer, so some battles can ensue. I write at any time of day, although I think best late at night. When I’m writing a first draft by hand I write anywhere and everywhere; in the car, at the dinner table, in waiting rooms, through noise and silence and disaster. I like listening to music when writing, but I’m not dependent on it. My writing music is movie soundtracks, celtic music, epic music such as TSfH, and Evanescence.

IB: Can you tell us what’s next for you?

KLD: I’m trying to finish one of my novels this summer. I’m currently working on four; two science fiction, one dark fantasy, and one fairytale. I do have other picture books but I won’t be working on them for a while yet. Hopefully, by the grace of God, I’ll be looking at publishing either City of Lies or The Justice Project sometime in July or August.

We’re looking forward to reading ‘em, Katie!

You can get The Tale of Pirate Shishkabob in a variety of places, so check out the official web site for details. Also, if you’re so inclined, you can follow Katie on Twitter to keep up with what she’s doing.

Amanda L. Davis is the daughter of one of our favorite authors, Bryan Davis. Her debut novel Precisely Terminated has been on our radar ever since we heard about it, and we can’t wait to get our hands on a copy. We recently caught up with Amanda for an e-mail interview.

Incredibooks: First off, tell us a little bit about your debut book.

Amanda Davis: Precisely Terminated is a futuristic dystopian novel. I’ll give you the summary. :-)

It is 800 years in the future, and the world is being oppressed by the ruling class. Millions of slaves toil under the Nobles’ oppressive thumb, but because of microchips implanted in the slaves’ skulls at birth, there can be no uprising. Monica, a young slave girl, escaped the chip implantation process. She is able to infiltrate the Nobles’ security and travel where no one else is able, but can one girl free the world? Precisely Terminated is the first book of three in the Cantral Chronicles.

IB: What inspired you to become a writer?

AD: I think my dad, Bryan Davis, most inspired me to be a writer. He worked so hard and never gave up while pursuing his own writing career, and once it was established, he traveled and spoke and did book signings all the time, and I went with him.

We’ve since been going to book signings and school events for seven years. During this time I learned the craft of writing and was inspired to write my own stories and share them after seeing what an impact stories can have on people.

IB: Incredibooks is a book review site, so we want to know about your favorite books. Can you share a couple of titles?

AD: Hhm. Some of my favorite books? That’s rather hard to say. It depends on my mood, what I feel like reading that day. Some of the books that stay at my top favorites are Howl’s Moving Castle, Ella Enchanted, To Kill a Mockingbird, and East.

IB: How do you come up with character names?

AD: Most of my character names just pop into my head, and I type it down. Essentially, the character tells me his or her name. It happened that way for Faye, Kat, and Monica, the main characters of Precisely Terminated’s first chapter.

For a few of my characters, however, it takes a bit more of a struggle to come up with them. I usually like making up my own names, at least in the Cantral world. When I need a new name and it’s not popping into my head, I’ll start with a letter or sound I want the name to start with and then go from there.

I might start with a ‘K’. Okay. I want a ‘K’ name. Hmm.  K . . .ar . . .ih… etc until I match the K with a sound I like and then continue building the name. I might end up with a name like ‘Karick’, but that’s probably more about my naming process than you ever wanted to know.

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

AD: I have never intentionally incorporated myself or anyone I know into my books, not even their characteristics. My characters are their own people, so to speak. They have personalities that show themselves as I write—I don’t assign any to them.  I know a lot of authors do, and there are t-shirts like ‘Be Nice to Me or I’ll Put You in My Novel’.  That’s probably never going to happen for me.  But be nice to me anyway. :-)

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

AD: I must admit I’m not very good at adding Christian themes into my books. I usually write my story without even thinking of themes and pray they fall into place as God wants them. This way they aren’t blatant, and they’re woven in through the character’s attributes and feel natural. You’ll see my characters being good, kind, and sacrificing, but you won’t see them talking about why they should be good, kind, and sacrificing. I, myself, really dislike preachy books and hope mine never come across that way.

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?

AD: A typical writing day? That’s sort of tough. I am not a fulltime writer, so my writing days can be very odd. You’re in for another long answer.

Most days I don’t get to start writing until 8:30 AM or around there, and then I’ll continue writing throughout the day if I have a deadline approaching. Since I usually don’t have a deadline that’s close at hand, I’m usually up and down from writing all day, sewing something, maybe spinning some yarn, working in the garden, or something like that. I do a lot of chores and cooking, too.

Currently I am working on a novel with a deadline of October 1, so I’m pretty busy at the moment, writing from 8 AM – 5 PM, or whenever I get 2,000 words or more written.

IB: What’s next for you, now that you’ve released your debut book?

AD: Precisely Terminated is the first in a trilogy, so the next two books are next! Noble Imposter is the sequel, and I have yet to title the third book. I’m working on Noble Imposter at the moment and it is currently around 82,000 words (as of this interview, September 1). It is due October 1, so I am writing rather frantically.

Coming up even closer than that, however, I am embarking on a 3-month-long book tour across the nation with my dad, promoting Precisely Terminated and his book, Diviner. Here is a map of all of our scheduled stops.

Amanda’s book Precisely Terminated is officially releasing on October 15, but you should be able to find it in stores tomorrow, September 24. Check out Amanda’s Facebook page for information on the Amazon Blitz event she’s holding to promote the book! Also, be sure to visit her web site for more information about both her and the Cantral Chronicles.

Aubrey Hansen is a brand new author debuting with her novella Red Rain. We’ve been excitedly watching her progress as she’s been working toward publishing the book, so we couldn’t wait to catch up with her for an e-mail interview.

Incredibooks: First off, tell us a little bit about your debut book.

Aubrey Hansen: Red Rain is a sci-fi drama about a girl and her quest to find the last Bible in the galaxy. When a computer virus deletes all the Bibles, 17-year-old Philadelphia hopes her deceased brother left a copy behind on Mars. But when her searches lead her into a secret hallway, Philadelphia disturbs a project that threatens to destroy her family and Earth. The book was inspired by the question “What if there were no Bibles left on Earth – none? What if the last copy was hiding on Mars?”

IB: What inspired you to become a writer?

AH: I’ve been making up stories as long as I can remember. When I was younger I designed elaborate worlds for my toys and mentally rewrote the books I’d read. But it wasn’t until I was a teenager that it occurred to me to write stories down on paper. I wrote my first novel for a fanfiction forum, and the author-gene in me broke loose. I haven’t stopped writing since.

IB: Incredibooks is a book review site, so we want to know about your favorite books. Can you share a couple of titles?

AH: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgenson Burnett was my favorite book growing up. Recently I read The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time and was very inspired by the way Tolkien handled religion in his fantasy world. My favorite modern book, however, is Angel Fall by Coleman Luck. I was deeply impacted by Luck’s honest and probing allegory.

IB: How do you come up with character names?

AH: Most of my characters come with a name. I’m not sure where they get these names, but the titles tend to stick! If I’m struggling to come up with names, I ask a friend of mine who can draw up a whole list of possibilities based on the character’s bio. Several of the names in Red Rain are derived from churches and sects mentioned in Revelation 2-3 — you’ll have to read the book to find out which ones!

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

AH: One of my early novel attempts was a co-authored fantasy which featured my writing partner and me as the main characters. Representing yourself on paper is harder than it sounds, and I’ve never had good success with it. However, when I let the novel develop naturally, I usually find pieces of myself reflecting in the characters.

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

AH: Keep it natural. I study theme during the planning process, but when I draft I let it morph on its own with the story. If you have to force the theme, it’s probably going to be contrived. I think it’s especially important to keep the characters relatable and the religion realistic. Make Christianity a regular part of your characters’ lives. If your characters pray repeatedly throughout the book as a habit, it won’t seem contrived when they pause to pray during the big climatic moment.

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?

AH: I’m a very diverse and erratic writer, so no two days are alike. If I’m in the thick of a project, I might put in 6-8 hours a day. Other days I may just work on a short project for an hour. I do most of my writing on a laptop in my bedroom, and I get the bulk of my work done in the afternoon. I’m almost always listening to music. I prefer instrumental, particularly soundtracks.

IB: What’s next for you, now that you’ve released your debut book?

AH: Currently I’m working on several short projects while pondering what my next novel will be. I’m tentatively planning to finish my fantasy epic, but it’s a very old (and long!) novel, so it isn’t the easiest book to write. It would be amazing to have it finally finished, however, and I’m eager to publish a second novel. Just keep writing!

Aubrey’s book Red Rain is releasing tomorrow, September 6. You can get your copy in a multitude of places, so visit the official page for a complete list. Also, be sure to check out Aubrey’s Facebook and Twitter profiles and give her a like or follow if you’re so inclined.

The Rockford Register Star posted a story about Incredibooks today. Check it out!

I believe we’ll be in the print version tomorrow.

I did a radio interview about Incredibooks with 101 WQFL today. Here it is:

(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.