Eventually, a story began to emerge in my mind. A story that I hope will bring our two cultures closer together.

JDeVereS – 1 May 2019

The Back Flap

Warder Garith De’ Graoin and Doctor Lan De Tian lead a team of “Misfits” on a quest to save their universe from a plague that is sweeping through an entire civilization. Utilizing the power of bonded mind stones, they shape the energies of the universe to reach across time and space seeking out the enemy.

As the most elite team of Warders in the Elfkin Federation… they are assigned the responsibility to enter an alternate universe… find the weakness in the aggressor’s system and stop the plague. Unfortunately, the enemy they face possesses genetic mutations that make them the equivalent of ‘minor gods’.

Tragically, this team knows that the reason their universe is under attack is the result of their Federation meddling in the affairs of the alternate universe. To win… they must save ‘the Mother’, defeat a minor god, and restore order to the alternate universe.

What can this tiny team of 7 multi-racial Elfkins do against an entire Empire?

WIN! They either win or two civilizations will devolve into primal chaos.

From their tiny resort camp on the third planet from a minor sun… they must embark on a journey that does not understand the concept of time as a linear progression. They must win a battle using the curvature of time and the energies of two universal sources.

In this battle there is no safe place to hide… your dreams, your future, your past… even the shadows of the night are all susceptible to attack.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing this novel in 2016 while traveling back and forth from China.  My wife is from the Guangxi province in China and the cultural transitions spurred my creativity!

How long did it take you to write it?

As I was frequently in a travel mode between the USA and China – it took me nearly 2 years to complete this book.  The creation of this novel required embracing new universal concepts, following the latest scientific trends/discoveries, while researching various periods in the development of this planet.

Where did you get the idea from?

During my travels between the USA and China, I developed a great appreciation for both cultures.  While visiting the many natural wonders in the Chinese province of Guangxi and the similar wonders in the USA, I began to meld them with my love for science fiction and fantasy!

Overtime, I began to mix the rich cultural fantasies of Chinese legends with epic sagas from around the world.  Viola!

Eventually, a story began to emerge in my mind.  A story that I hope will bring our two cultures closer together.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Sigh! I’m a “guy”!  I would have many sleepless nights while I waited for my female leads to help me understand their feelings… how they would react in the situations portrayed in the novel!  But – like my wife – they always came through for me!

What came easily?

Amazingly, the ‘bad guys”! I have no patience with close minded people!  Small thinkers!  Small hearts!  The “bad guys” in this novel are all those closed-minded souls who believe there is only one way to live… one way to believe… one way to love!

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The characters are entirely fictious… but – the essence of their being reflects the many open and closed minds/souls I have encountered in my lifetime!

On my blog, one of my repetitive themes is that all fiction is +98% non-fiction.  As writers, we can create a new setting… add pointed ears… shape-shifting… et cetera.  But in the end – we are writing about real human emotions, real human interactions… we are seeking to capture the essence of the human soul/spirit.  We are amazing creatures with an incredible capacity for love… but we can also be small and petty.  I try to stress the great potential held inside each person!  In the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, we lose track of the many heroes and heroines that touch our lives on a constant basis.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Lord! Shakespeare, Dickens, Verne, Andre Norton (Alice Mary North), Ursula K. Le Quin, Heinlein, Tolkien, Asimov, the late great Robert Jordan… heck… the list is endless.  What I looked for as a teenager and an adult has been pretty constant…

Show me!  Don’t lecture me! Give me a story… an adventure that lifts my soul… opens my heart… helps me to grow… while entertaining me!

Do you have a target reader?

Everyone with a soul and a desire to see all people live in peace and support one another!

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

May sound crazy – but – I start a story and wait for the characters to visit me in my dreams! Frequently, I awake in the middle of the night with one of the characters “patiently” explaining to me that I got it wrong!  They would never react this way in a given situation!  They helped me understand what they were feeling and how they reacted!

The characters told me the story and I simply recorded their actions!

Okay, maybe there is a little bit of me added into the mix!  ?

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I typically storyboard with extensive notes.  However, the great tool I have for writing is dialogues with family and friends

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Thanks to the many applications/tools available to writers in this day and age, I edit as I go… then I seek independent objective reviews… then I run spelling and grammar checkers again and again.  Then I set it aside for a few days and read it all again.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I am fortunate enough to have family and friends who are not only avid readers but also skilled editors.  They have repeatedly saved me from many character errors (e.g. red hair on one character that suddenly appears blue in a subsequent chapter).

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Typically, I work in silence… but when I do listen to music it can be totally eclectic!  “oldies”, classical, Country western… I also love a lot of the newer romantic singers of China.  I find their love ballads very soothing!

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

The literary world is changing… I want to remain flexible.  If I can find an agent that truly believes in my work I would certainly team with them.  But presently, I’m am following my instincts and working alone.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

The answer to this question is pretty much the same as the last question.  I read many peoples thoughts on “traditional” versus “Indie” but because I have a strong background in managing “IT” systems I made the decision to go “Indie”.  There are several e-book publishers out there that really work to help the “Indie” artist.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I’ve won several awards for my computer art and photography over the years.  Many of these images are gradually being added to my website.  In this case, “Hues of Creation” (the cover art for this novel) was a “blue ribbon” winner.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

There are numerous venues available to “indie” writers… many are relatively inexpensive.  For a minimal fee they will handle “the heavy lifting” and help a new author “spread the word”!  This is another recurring theme on my website.

I try to share my experiences in publishing so that other writers can avoid my mistakes and focus on methods that I know lead to success!

I am still on a steep learning curve, but I’ve learned so-o-o much!  I frequently speak about the culture shock I experienced in transitioning from artist-oriented writer – to business-oriented marketing.  Fortunately, I have an extensive background in both arenas – so I was able to make the mental transition.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

As a writer, you already have a key ingredient necessary to develop your marketing skills.  YOU UNDERSTAND WORDS AND THEIR IMPACT ON PEOPLE!

Build a website blog… go to seminars… interface with colleagues and other literary professionals!

But – FIRST AND FOREMOST – WRITE A GREAT NOVEL!

Put your heart into it – give it due diligence – polish it!  Then move on to the next novel!

If you are a true writer – you must write!

About You

Where did you grow up?

Most of my formative years were spent in the hills, valleys and on the beaches of Sonoma and Napa Counties in California.

Where do you live now?

I presently live in San Diego County, California

What would you like readers to know about you?

One take-away?  I care about people, I care about Nature, I care about “fair”!  I am constantly told that “life is not fair”.  But as a trained leader – I know it is the responsibility of every leader, every person who holds any amount of wealth or power, to make life as fair as possible.

So, my one take away?  “Do onto others as you would have them do unto you!”  Follow the “golden rule”!

End of Interview:

For more from JDeVereS visit his blog.

Get your copy of The Elfkin Journals: Blending of the Races from Amazon US or Amazon UK.