1 As this is the first time I've ever heard of it, I have to ask what is Christian Speculative Fiction?
Good
question. Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more
fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy,
supernatural, superhero, utopian/dystopian,
apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic, and alternate history in literature as
well as related static, motion, and virtual arts. How is THAT for an all
encompassing genre? Fortunately, the face of Christian publishing is
changing, and hopefully, all these genres will be split into their own
sections, because I’m not sure fantasy and post-apocalyptic belong in
the same genre. But I digress. RUNAWAY CHOICES
is undoubtedly in the fantastical fiction genre. We have suspense, a
bit of romance, some supernatural, as well as some strange apocalyptic
sprinkles, all of which is why it is labeled Speculative Fiction. It
starts off with the main character having conned her way onto a flight
to London, and when she hits the ground, the adventure explodes. At
times, almost literally. Soon after her reality spirals out of control,
she meets up with the swoon-worthy Colin. The adventures they encounter
from there may have you going through a sea of emotions of your own as
Beck learns that running away isn’t her only choice.
2 I know you have an MG series called Dragons Forever out there, was it difficult to write for another age group?
You
know, I actually wrote RUNAWAY CHOICES many years ago. It was written
in the calm of another Young Adult Fantasy series I’d written (Which
will hopefully see the light of day within the next couple years). I
needed a change of pace and RUNAWAY CHOICES ran away with me. It wasn’t
until a year or more later that the idea for DRAGONS FOREVER came into
the limelight. It wasn’t difficult for me to switch gears because I
homeschool so I am in my childrens brains all the time. Writing from one
of their point of view’s was pretty easy. ;) Now that I’ve written two
books in the DRAGONS FOREVER series and working on the third (after
writing PIECES OF ME- YA), I am finding it more difficult to adjust. In
order to dive back into the mindset, I read through BORN TO BE A DRAGON
and BLINK OF A DRAGON again, then buried myself in Magic Tree House and
Adventures in Odyssey. That was I can really adjust my thinking back to a
ten year old. So, to really answer your question… I have no idea. We
will see shortly.
3 If you could runaway to another country, where would you go?
It’s
funny you should ask that. I just got back from England, Ethiopia,
Germany, Spain, Poland, and Czech. So right now, I just want to run away
to the worlds in my head. But, if you were to ask me in six months or
so, after the jetlag has been forgotten, I would probably say Italy.
I’ve never been and I’d love to go!
4 Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I’ve
actually been both. Usually a panster but recently turned plotter. When
you have a series that you are working with, it’s much easier to plot
what is going to happen because you are setting up details for later
books. When they are stand alone novels, it’s okay to just fly by the
seat of your pants (like I did with PIECES OF ME, my YA Fantasy). So
while I love being a pantser, it’s safe to say I am currently a plotter
almost as often as not.
5 If you could pick one of your characters to spend the day with, who would it be and why?
I
would probably spend a day with a character no one has met yet, but
will soon enough. Her name is Asmiath and she is a Hemmelighet Elf from
another world. She is a graceful warrior who is slow to speak and quick
to listen. I think I could learn a lot from her in the way she lives and
moves about her day. Nothing is hurried and everything falls into place
the way it should because she gives it time to do so. I’m a busy person
and sometimes I let the stresses of my day dictate how it will go… if I
could just slow down and take it easy, I think things would fall into
place more often.
6 If you could invite six authors to dinner, dead or alive, who would you pick and why?
Oooo,
well mostly likely I would pick C.S. Lewis, Frances Hodgson Burnett,
Madeleine L'Engle, Lewis Carol, Jules Vern, and L. Frank Baum. Mostly
because their stories have captured the hearts and imaginations of the
children in their generations. I would love to just sit and listen to
them talk about their love of words. All together, I think the
conversation would never be lacking and I would never have to utter a
word. Just sit and glean in the light of such word masters.
Runaway Choices - A Christian Speculative Fiction Novel
Everyone
runs from their past; Beck has it mastered. She’s been running for so
long, stopping is a foreign concept. With her conning skills and wits at
the ready, she's on a plane to London, free of charge.
Beck
believes everything is going as planned, but when reality twists on its
axis, she soon wonders whose plan? Teaming up with the gorgeous
bellhop, Colin, is a no brainer, especially when they discover their
connections are anything but accidental.
In
their quest for answers, both are confronted with the demons of their
pasts. Beck panics and does what comes naturally -- runs. However, she's
not only running from herself, but from the superhuman who has made it
his life's goal to track her down and either remove her from the
equation or convince her to join him.
-----------------------
Dragons Forever BOOK ONE - Born to be a Dragon
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
This
is what Lord Edric wants you to believe. He will do anything in his
power to see that humans never come in contact with dragons again.
However, he doesn't plan for Meia, the foster child who dreams of
dragons, believing they are real. Or Deglan, the ten-year-old dragon who
bears the ancient mark that threatens everything Lord Edric has worked
for.
Join
these two unlikely friends as they discover the truth behind a legend
so extraordinary it will alter each of their lives... forever.
-----------------------
Dragons Forever BOOK TWO - Blink of a Dragon
Discovering
Meia's tied to the dragons is one thing, but when a rival dragon is
caught hanging out in the fifth grade, Meia knows things couldn’t get
any worse. Is she ever wrong!
Trouble
is brewing in the cosmos, but Deglan can't put his claw on why. That
is, until the sinister leader of the exiled dark dragons ambushes them
and takes everyone captive.
The
fate of the dragons and possibly the whole world falls to Deglan and
Meia when they escape to search for the only creature powerful enough to
send the dark dragons back into the abyss.
What they encounter along the way will make this adventure worth fighting for.
--------
Let me know what else you need J
Eisley Jacobs
BORN TO BE A DRAGON – Book One (July 2011)
Purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Create Space
BLINK OF A DRAGON – Book Two (January 2012)
Purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Create Space
RUNAWAY CHOICES - A Christian Speculative Fiction Novel (January 2012)
Purchase on Amazon or Create Space
For a chance to win one of Eisley Jacobs' books please leave a comment with your email address! Good Luck!
Awesome interview! Great discussion on writing for different age groups!
ReplyDeleteMore books to add to my to read list :)
ReplyDeleteHaven't read a dragon book in a long long time. Looks like it's time to start.
ReplyDeleteEisley's books are great. I've read them all and seem to enjoy each one more than the one before!
ReplyDeleteI love "Runaway Choices." It's nice to see a Christian novel where the characters are real and have problems that require more to solve than just reading a Bible verse. I highly recommend this one!
ReplyDeleteI imagine you would have to plot with a series. This is the first I have heard of Christian Speculative Fiction. It's a wide umbrella indeed. The books all look amazing.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com