I'm very excited to have Troy Jackson stopping by today for an interview and giveaway! Troy is the author of The Elementals...
The Elementals
(The Elementals #1)
by Troy Jackson
10/18/12
Virtual Bookworm
Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Virtual Bookworm
Upon unifying the seven warring states under one banner, the First Emperor of China began solidifying power for what he envisioned as a thousand-year reign. Using those he conquered, the Emperor began a series of arduous projects, including the first Great Wall, the Linqu Canal, and a national system of highways. Ignoring the physical and emotional toll exacted upon the people, his insatiable desire to further his own power has led to a growing, and secretive insurgency. One such organization is the Dragon's Spite which wishes to usurp control of the throne by nearly any means. But first they must marshal their forces strewn throughout the kingdom. More importantly they seek out three extraordinary girls who hold vast supernatural powers that can tip the balance in their favor. But do these unknowing heroines realize the talents that they possess? Will the Dragon's Spite reach them before the agents of the Emperor?
***
What
three words best describe THE ELEMENTALS?
Action packed intrigue
Can
you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers
(especially reluctant readers) why they must give THE ELEMENTALS a
try?
If you remember your days in history class, did you ever wish a piece of history could be spruced up with some intense action and intrigue - THE ELEMENTALS does exactly that by taking a period in ancient Chinese history and retelling it with a supernatural twist.
Grab
a copy of THE ELEMENTALS and answer the following:
Favorite
chapter?
CHAPTER 1
Favorite
page?
Page 336 in the hardcover because of a quote I used (I use quotes periodically at the beginning of some chapters and this page has one that the author is listed as 'Unknown' but was actually mine - "When in troubled times, you must persevere.")
Favorite
character?
Jin Wei, a.k.a. Master Jin (I see a lot of him in myself)
Flip
to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentence teaser?
Page 138 of the hardcover edition:"We may have different names, different families, and different stations in life, but that does not mean we cannot be cordial," Fusu said, looking over at the great General. "I see you are taking Sun Tzu's words quite literally these days," Meng Tian said with a smile.
What
inspired THE ELEMENTALS? Where did the story idea come from?
I am a lover of history. I have a History degree, and specifically remember taking a few courses regarding China and was fascinated by their rich traditions, culture, and history. I am also a lover of all-things fantasy, so why not mix the two?
The story spawned from a scene that replayed in my head over and over again. Interestingly enough it turned out to be the very first chapter of my book. I took a period in ancient Chinese history and crafted it with a supernatural flair.
Was
it difficult infusing so many genre elements (historical,
supernatural, fantasy, adventure, etc) together or did you find a
nice balance?
I would say not at all. I had a strict vision of how the story would unfold and all of those elements (pun intended) just flowed throughout the story. As one reviewer wrote about it (and I'm paraphrasing here), "It has a little of everything for everyone."
Let's
talk about that awesome cover for THE ELEMENTALS...how does the cover
represent the story inside?
Dragons are a part of Chinese lore. The First Emperor of China is known to many as a tyrant, which leads to certain groups to rise up against him - including one aptly named the Dragon's Spite. A friend of a friend was a graphic artist and I told him what I wanted and he did exactly what I had hoped for. I've had many compliments on it. Just wait for the covers of books two and three when they come out!
Why
did you decide to began a writing career? What have you found most
rewarding about writing?
I have always enjoyed writing, but never seriously tried to turn it into a career until recently. I have many crazy ideas floating in my head and I think it will drive me insane if I don't eventually put them all on paper.
Most rewarding was seeing the hardcover edition for the first time. Now THAT is a cool feeling! And no offense to the eBook readers out there, but nothing beats the paperback and hardcover editions of this novel. As you alluded to in the previous question, the fantastic cover really stands out when it's a physical copy in your hands.
Fill
in the blanks:
I'm
really awesome at ___.
DRIVING MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER NUTS!
I'm
really embarrassed to admit that ___.
I GET DISTRACTED EASILY WHEN I WRITE.
My
Superhero name would be ___ and my super-power would be ___.
DOCTOR DORK - superpower would be the ability to write an entire story from cover-to-cover in under one minute!
My
favorite genre to read is ___.
*TIE* Fantasy and Science Fiction
The
last great book I read was ___.
A MEMORY OF LIGHT by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (might be my favorite of all-time now)
If
you were to create and bake a cupcake inspired by THE ELEMENTALS what
would it taste and look like, and what would you call it?
The elements would be infused in the cupcake with plenty of sweets and a tad bit of spice!
Troy Jackson
Born in 1974 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Troy Jackson moved to the great state of Georgia with his family at the age of three where he has lived ever since. Currently he resides outside the city of Atlanta with his lovely wife and daughter. His passion for history, fantasy, and science fiction began at an early age with a little nudge from his older brother. Attending Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia he received a Bachelor's Degree in History and a Master's Degree in Teaching. In his spare time he enjoys being with his family, watching, and partaking in sports. Although new to the profession he intends on writing about subjects that have always fascinated him, including fantasy, adventure, science fiction, and history.
Win 1 of 5 ebook copies of The Elementals!
Troy has generously offered 5 e-copies of his book to 5 winners (you get your choice of ebook format)
DETAILS
-Open to anyone who can read ebooks
-Will run from 5/13 - 5/19
-Must be 13+, One main/free entry per person
-Winners will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours
Fill out the Rafflecopter form:
I'm looking forward to a great read.
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