Friday 27 April 2012

Author Interview with Jason D. Morrow

Prophecies are not always clear. That is what seventeen-year-old Silas Ainsley learns when he finds himself in a realm called Marenon. The people of Marenon are nearing the brink of war and many of them claim that Silas is the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. Each group wants to use him for their own purposes, and he doesn't know who is trustworthy. With the help of a lawless band of mercenaries, Silas must journey to uncover the meaning of the prophecy before Marenon falls to ruin. The only way to get to Marenon is to die, and Silas has just arrived. 




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With the war in Marenon escalating quickly, Silas Ainsley is running out of time. The relentless Stühocs are attacking villages, and an assassin is tracking his every move, making it difficult to find the one person who has all the answers: The Gatekeeper.

Meanwhile, after learning that the Dunarian Council is compromised, King Julian Hobbes scours Marenon for the truth about how deeply the Stühocs have penetrated the freedom fighters.

When Julian discovers what he must do to uncover that truth, he must decide whether the result can justify his actions. 

BUY ME: AMAZON  ~  SMASHWORDS  ~  CREATESPACE

Interview:
When and why did you begin writing? What inspired you? 
I began writing when I was a small child. I've loved it my whole life. It started with really bad drawings, but then I learned that words could tell a story. So, I made little stories, usually involving some sort of element of fantasy. As I got older, I got into authors that really knew how to write and truly make a story come alive. About the time I reached middle school, I knew I wanted to be a novelist as a profession. But, I didn't write my first novel until last year. Now, The Deliverer is out there for all to read, and it's so much fun.

Where did the ideas come from for The Deliverer? 
It started with a word. Marenon. I don't know where it came from or what it meant, but I knew I wanted to use it to create a world. I love reading fantasy, but I wanted to write something different. I didn't want a vague world on in nowhere in particular, though, I love reading those stories. Marenon is different, because people must die in order to get there. It's a world that is war-torn and looking for a deliverer. Many elements will be familiar to fantasy readers, but I think there is plenty of intrigue to get hooked.

What book are you reading now? 
Like everyone else, it seems, I have just finished reading all of the Hunger Games books. They were good, and I can see why people love them. I really like to read books with a lot of action. A book has to keep my attention with every word. If it doesn't, I get bored quickly. Somehow I'm able to write books with the short attention span I have. 

Can you share a little of your current work with us?
It is an exciting time for me. I just finished Book Two in the Marenon Chronicles, and the third book will be available this summer. The Gatekeeper, (book 2) picks up right where The Deliverer left off.

What were your feelings when you first saw the finished product of your first book?
It was amazing. I've never felt more accomplished about a project before. The Deliverer was about 95,000 words, and that's a lot of writing to do when you've never tried a novel before. But it was totally worth it. My wife took me out to dinner, and it was just a really fun night. But then, of course, the editing process came, and it was more difficult than writing the book! But I've enjoyed it all.

In your opinion, what elements do you need to make a good story? 
First you have to have characters that people care about. Everything else will follow that. Yes, you need a strong plot, and a lot of other elements to make a good story, but first you MUST have good characters. In my books, I mainly follow two people. Silas and Julian. These two characters are very different. They are placed in similar situations where people are looking up to them, but they go down a very different path in how they work things out.

I'm excited to see what people think about The Deliverer and The Gatekeeper. I've put a lot of thought and work into both of these works, and I think people will truly enjoy it. So far, the reviews have been good. I'm crossing my fingers, hoping they stay that way.

Contact Info:
http://www.jasondmorrow.com/
www.facebook.com/jasondmorrow
www.twitter.com/jasondmorrow

5 comments:

  1. Great interview. I will definitely be checking out both books :D

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  2. I love interviews that make me feel a little less alone as a writer. Interviews where I find myself shouting out, “Yes, that’s exactly how I feel, too!” Thanks for writing a great interview Jason. And, you, Shut Up and Read, for posting them.

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  3. Thank you for a very interesting interview. I totally agree on the importance of characters. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

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  4. I really enjoyed the interview. Thanks S U and R and Jason. I like a book that is character driven and I love to follow my favorites from book to book. I will be checking these out:)

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  5. New world..cool! You've to die to get there..even cooler!

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