A warm love bytes welcome to author J.A Jaken joining us today to talk about new release “The Magician’s Apprentice”.
Check out some questions who J.A answered for us , check out an excerpt of the book and have a chance to win an ecopy!
- What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
Immersion. When I read, I look for books that I can get completely lost in. I want to forget about where I am, and who I am, and become entirely caught up in the world and characters the author is creating. My favorite books are always the ones that make me feel like I’m truly experiencing the fictional world between the pages. I want to see the sky, feel the air, I want to smell and taste and breathe it all in as if I were truly there.
That is the kind of effect I try to achieve with my own writing. I want the readers who experience my books to feel as if it is a visceral experience, like they’ve been transported to a place that might actually exist. I want my characters to feel layered and complex, just like real people. I want the plots of my books to be intriguing and absorbing, so that the readers feel as if they are being pulled into the story. That, in my opinion, is the mark of truly good writing.
- What comes first, the plot or characters?
For me, the characters usually come first. It tends to starts fairly simply, with just one character that I create inside my mind. I’ll start to see what the character looks like, what he sounds like, how he speaks and moves. Then I’ll start to wonder where he came from. What his family is like. What he wants and dreams about, and what he might be afraid of. Is he educated? Does he have any particular skills or talents? How does he dress? Does he have a lot of friends, or is he more of a loner? What does he need? What flaws does he have? Also, because this is not always the same thing, what flaws does he think he has?
Then, because I am a m/m romance writer at heart, I tend to move from there to imagining my second lead character. Who is he? What does he look like? What does he sound, move, and think like? What relationship does he have to my other lead character initially? How do they meet? How does their relationship progress?
The plot of the story will develop from there. With my two main characters firmly established in my mind, I’ll probably already have a good idea about what genre the story is going to be, and what kind of setting they’re going to be in. I tend to outline my plots in a fairly linear fashion once I get into the meat of it, from beginning to middle to end. This is generally my favorite part of the writing process, where I can let my imagination run wild without any real filters in place. The time for tightening it all up and forming it into a coherent story comes later, once I begin writing the first draft.
- How do you handle writer’s block?
Writer’s block is a very real issue for me, and it can be extremely frustrating at times. It’s not a matter of having no desire to write (which happens sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by work or family or whatever else might be happening in my life on that particular day). The most frustrating thing for me is when I sit down to write, when I have the time and the energy and the desire to craft a story, and the words just will not come no matter how hard I try to force them out.
For me, the best thing to do when that happens is to shut down my computer and walk away. I’ll go for a walk outside, or bake something in the kitchen, or put on a movie, or binge watch a few episodes of a show on Netflix. Sometimes that’s enough to shake loose whatever obstacle is clogging my brain, and I end up going back to my computer the next day feeling refreshed and ready to work again.
Sometimes, of course, it isn’t that easy to break free of writer’s block. Those can be very depressing days, when I start to lose my confidence and begin to doubt my ability to be a writer. At those times, I tend to turn my attention to reading books by other authors. Just completely losing myself in a story, feeling all of those highs and lows along with the characters, and indulging in a good escapist fantasy, often helps me remember why I fell in love with words in the first place. That will sometimes invigorate me enough to the point where I can start writing my own stories once again.
- What was your inspiration for The Magician’s Apprentice?
At the time I initially wrote this book, I hadn’t yet tackled writing anything longer than a short story. I found myself wanting to try writing a story in a quasi-medieval fantasy setting, complete with magic and dragons, romance and mystery, sword-wielding soldiers and mages both light and dark. I’ve always enjoyed reading books in this genre, and had always dreamed of writing one of my own someday.
I never could have dreamed that this idea would develop into my first complete novel, or that it would extend into the four-volume series that followed. I still feel amazed that this series is really something I created. I’m so very proud of these books, and I have so much love for these characters and the world they live in. Putting them out there for all the world to read makes me feel excited, and anxious, but most of all just really happy to share these characters and this fantasy world that at one time existed only inside my head.
I’ve often been asked what my inspiration was for the character of Gabrielle, my lead character’s pet kitling. I suppose she is based primarily on a ferret named Gilbert that I used to have several years ago, who loved to ride around on my shoulder just as Gabrielle enjoys riding on Jander’s in this story. A lot of her mannerisms and actions are patterned after his, including her general affectionate nature, her enthusiasm for life, and her (at times) haughty demeanor.
- How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
There are at least a dozen WIPs sitting on my hard drive, possibly more. Some are just snippets of notes jotted down in a Word document, some are fully fleshed-out character and plot outlines, while others are at the point where they already have multiple chapters written. There never seem to be enough hours in the day to write as much as I’d like to. I dream of someday being able to devote myself full-time to writing instead of trying to fit it in around the hours I spend at my “real” job, and other distracting tasks like house chores and shopping and sleep. 🙂
But for now, I do what I can. One of the more developed stories I have in the works is titled The Demon Thief. It takes place in an urban fantasy setting where the supernatural exists alongside the mundane, and a young man struggling to survive on the streets draws the attention of one of the city’s more determined predators, a demon by the name of Roca. There are a lot of interesting and fun characters in this one (including a trio of werewolves that I’m absolutely in love with), and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to devote some serious time to it once all of my current publishing projects are done.
Title: THE MAGICIAN’S APPRENTICE
Series: The Dragon Mage Chronicles (prequel)
Author: J.A. Jaken (jajakenfiction@gmail.com)
Length: 108,000 words
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, M/M Romance
Summary:
Jander Teregnan has never wanted anything more than to become a mage–to serve his king and defend his country as he explores his natural talent at commanding the strange power known as magic. Of course every apprentice needs a master, which comes with its own set of challenges…especially when the master he’s chosen for himself is none other than Andrei Teresh, personal advisor to the king and master mage of the city of Vallerin. Andrei, however, has more pressing problems on his mind than dealing with the unsolicited advances of one untrained mage-apprentice. A fierce and merciless army of unknown intent is sweeping across the land, threatening the kingdom he has sworn to protect. Even worse, dragons–long thought to have withdrawn from the world of mankind–are emerging once again and spreading chaos in their wake. Somehow, Jander must find a way to help; not only to prove that he can be of use in the defense of his kingdom and become a mage, but also to secure his place at the side of the man he hopes to claim as master both of his magic and his heart.
“There’s Teresh.”
Boaen’s voice snapped Jander from his reverie, and he stared across the crowded floor to the far end of the hall, where he caught his first glimpse of the master mage known as Andrei Teresh.
The first thought that crossed his mind was that this couldn’t be the great sorcerer he had come to find, and right on the heels of that was a second thought…stunning. Teresh was a large man, standing head and shoulders above most of the others in the crowd, his strong form draped in a clinging earth-brown robe that looked totally incongruous among the brightly dressed courtiers. His hair was a deep golden brown and thick, cut chin-length at the sides and tied back in a short knob at the base of his neck in a severe style that accentuated the stern lines of his bearded face. His eyes were chips of dark mahogany, cold and hard. The sight of them sent an inexplicable shiver down Jander’s spine.
“I didn’t know he’d be so…so….”
“Fuckable?” Jander glared at his friend with barely contained irritation, and Boaen held up his hands in surrender, laughing. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry.” After the slightest pause, he added, “But he is, isn’t he?”
Boaen’s irreverence notwithstanding, the other man was absolutely right. Jander cleared his throat uncomfortably. “He looks very intimidating.”
“That’s just part of the wizardly mystique.” Boaen spoke with the casual flippancy of one who is well-versed in such matters. “You’ll learn how to do that, too, once you become a mage. It’s all a part of the act. We normal folks are supposed to feel intimidated by your kind.”
Jander was slightly put out by the phrase “your kind” but sensed that his friend meant nothing hurtful by it. Gathering his courage, he handed his wineglass to Boaen and lifted one hand to stroke down Gabrielle’s smooth flank before setting off into the crowd.
The crowd faded to nothing around him as he approached the stately figure of Andrei Teresh. Jander had eyes only for the mage. His heart pounded with nervousness as he drew near, and the magic seemed to whisper in rising excitement around him. Teresh was engaged in a low conversation with one of the guards stationed by the rear door that opened further into the palace, but his eyes moved to Jander as the younger man approached. One elegant eyebrow rose fractionally in silent question.
“Master Teresh,” Jander said, bowing slightly. His heart was hammering in his chest, threatening to choke the breath from his lungs. “I’ve come a long way to find you.”
“Have you?” It wasn’t really a question. There was a note of mild amusement to the voice that made Jander flush darkly.
“Yes. I…I want to be a mage.” The words spilled from him now; he couldn’t stop them if he tried. “I want you to teach me. I have the talent, I know I do. I want to learn. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. Please, sir, I want you to take me on as your apprentice, and train me in the ways of magic.” He paused, breathless, and waited for Teresh’s reply.
The mage was regarding him with a certain degree of amused tolerance. “So you want to be a mage, do you?” His tone was not particularly kind. “I’d guess you were more suited to being someone’s bedservant, wouldn’t you?” The guard behind him smirked rudely.
Jander felt his hands clench at his sides and stared up at the man in open astonishment. “Master Teresh…?”
Teresh nodded towards something over Jander’s shoulder, and Jander turned to see Boaen standing at the periphery of the room, watching the confrontation anxiously. “Go back to your tutor, boy,” Teresh said. “You’ll have to find easier marks than me.”
It was clearly a dismissal. Mustering up what was left of his dignity, Jander turned and walked away, his cheeks flaming. Boaen met him halfway across the floor and clutched at his sleeve fretfully. “What is it? What happened?”
“He said no.” Jander’s voice was frigid. He didn’t know which hurt more—the humiliation he felt or the absolute certainty that he had been treated unfairly. Either way, it stung. “Can we leave now?”
“Just like that? He just turned you down? Why?” Boaen was relentless.
“I’m not sure, but I believe he thinks I’m a whore.” The absolute absurdity of such an assumption made his cheeks flame all the hotter.
Boaen was silent at that. He appeared to be thinking. After a lengthy pause, he said, “So that’s it, then? You’re just going to pack it in and run home with your tail between your legs?”
“What would you have me do, Boaen?”
“Not give up, for one thing. Nothing worthwhile is ever gained on the first try.” He looped one arm around Jander’s shoulders and started weaving a path toward the open front doors. Lowering his voice, he said, “You, my friend, need to learn the fine art of seduction.”
Jander ground to a halt. “What…?”
Boaen laughed. “Figuratively speaking, of course. You can’t expect Teresh to take on just anyone as his apprentice. You have to hunt him a little. Seduce him.”
“And how do you suggest I go about doing that?” Half-sarcastic, half not.
Jander’s questioning gaze was met by a wicked flash of those deep emerald eyes. “Leave that to me, my friend. You just leave that to me.”
J.A. Jaken has been writing fictional stories and novels for more than ten years, most frequently in the fantasy and science fiction genres. She got her start in the profession writing slash fanfiction, where she has published numerous stories under the pen-name Rushlight. Over the years she has written short stories and novels in genres ranging from science fiction/fantasy to gothic horror to modern detective mysteries, most with at least a touch of m/m romance to them. She lives at home in the southwestern U.S. with her college-aged son, a cat, and the family Rottweiler. Outside of writing, her interests include studying foreign languages, practicing martial arts, riding horses, and collecting medieval weaponry.
Author’s email: jajakenfiction@gmail.com
Author’s website: http://jajaken.com/
Author’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jajakenfiction
Author’s Twitter page: https://twitter.com/#!/jajakenfiction
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44798996-the-magician-s-apprentice
Series Webpage: http://jajaken.com/novels/dragonmagechronicles.htm
Have a chance to win an ecopy of The Magician’s Apprentice!
Neat excerpt, sounds good.
I really enjoyed the excerpt.
enjoyed the excerpt
nice excerpt
I love how you condensed everything under ‘immersion.’ When I write reviews I try to address each of these elements. For me, it feels natural to look at stories that way. You’re the first author who has described it so succinctly.
Your book sounds fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the post. It sounds like a fun read.
You had me at Dragons… 😉
This sounds quite good.
I have read the first three books. and loved them