Generally, real people will always influence my development of a character, for they help inform veracity; but none of the characters in Three Shades represent a specific person I know.

J.D. Grubb – 24 July 2023

The Back Flap

We venture forth, adding color to this mysterious, ever-changing world.

A Sky Rider, a sage, and a spirit—forced together, they must find a way to navigate barriers of language, race, and time. Each needs the other to succeed. Each has a unique reason for doing so.

About the book

What is the book about?

Three Shades explores how unresolved identity can drive a person’s path, whether in terms of motivation, interpretation of events, or even who is deemed friend and foe. The story is set in a post-war land that is both harsh and wondrous. Some individuals use anything to serve their interests, while others carve a way through rigid traditions to unfamiliar possibilities. A few even recede like ghosts into the shadowed corners of wilderness and memory, all the while searching for new meaning and power. The three protagonists of Three Shades represent each of these kinds of survivors. As the realities of the world are unveiled to them, layer by layer, they must grapple with the limitations of who they are and what they are meant to do next.

When did you start writing the book?

Character and plot outlining began in November 2020, but I started to write the manuscript the following month.

How long did it take you to write it?

6 months. The first draft was completed in June 2021.

Where did you get the idea from?

It began during the Covid-19 pandemic with a conversation between me and a client across the world, Angus, who wanted me to edit a Fantasy novel he had contracted to be ghost written as a gift for his partner. Ultimately, that book was scraped due to how much work would be needed to make it satisfactory, and, after reading my first novel, There was Music, Angus asked if I would be interested in authoring the book instead. His basic idea was to have three characters, each a different race, with a distinct point of view on the same circumstances. He wanted their characterization to be rooted in three Enneagram types and draw a trace of inspiration from the Greek myth of Hephaestes, Aphrodite, and Ares. Everything else was open to interpretation. Having developed my own Fantasy world with all its textures, I was quite free to craft a narrative that inspired me. In short, Angus was like a patron of the arts. While he was part of the creative dialogue, providing feedback and final approval, he ultimately trusted and empowered me to make something true to the spirit of my own storytelling interests.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The most deliberation and editorial work pertained to the third perspective of the novel—how to not make it feel redundant to the previous two parts, while also imbuing it with fresh narrative layers and a distinct character voice.

What came easily?

The first perspective of the novel is arguably the most conventional in terms of a Fantasy narrative; though the heroine is complex, writing and editing her story took the least work compared to the other two.

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

Generally, real people will always influence my development of a character, for they help inform veracity; but none of the characters in Three Shades represent a specific person I know.

Do you have a target reader for this book?

Generally, adults who enjoy both Fantasy and Literary Fiction—world conflicts full of mystery, horror, and wonder, while comprised of or focused most on the intimate motivations and struggles of the individuals involved.

How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?

The primary difference lay in the partnership with a patron, but also in experimenting with a different narrative structure.

What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?

Pushing past the boundaries of narrative convention takes an immense amount of effort, but persistent, passionate, and trustworthy partnerships in crafting the final work can lead to truly rewarding outcomes.

End of Interview:

For more from J.D. Grubb, check out his website, follow him on Instagram and Facebook, and if you’d like you can watch some videos on Youtube as well.

Get your copy of Three Shades from Amazon US or Amazon UK.