IndieView with J.M. Shaw, author of The Callum Walker Series

Scene descriptions and dialogue have always come naturally, and I jokingly explain how I imagine each scene in my head, playing out as a video, and I am just along for the ride, writing down what I see. 

J.M. Shaw – 14 December 2024

The Back Flap

THE ASCENSION (Book 1)

A magical war is brewing. While humankind is blissfully unaware, two evil brothers, a sorcerer and a necromancer, are marshalling deadly supernatural forces and armies of mythical creatures in a bid to destroy one another. The triumphant warlord will be free to impose their dominion over Earth’s natural world and a coexisting magical realm concealed from human knowledge behind an ethereal veil.

Meanwhile, Callum Walker is an introverted young man born with gifts that he struggles to understand. As monsters begin wreaking havoc in his city, Callum is compelled to use his unmastered arcane abilities to combat the growing menace. Unfortunately, the scheming warlords notice his vigilante escapades, and both see Callum as a potential threat.

Before coming to terms with his extraordinary powers, Callum discovers a cryptic prophecy that proclaims he will end the pervasive warfare now breaching the veil. However, Callum soon finds himself pursued by the agents of both factions, plus those seeking personal sanctuary or offering to help.

Ultimately, Callum Walker must overcome his fears and doubts if he hopes to survive, let alone bring the conflict to an end.

About the book

What is the book about?

All my novels are rife with magic, fantasy, and adventure, but there is an overlying theme woven throughout that points to the importance of trusting in those you care about—whether that be friends, family, or ourselves—and appreciating that we all need a little help every now and then.

In my third novel, The Fractured Veil, Callum’s profound challenges, while entertaining, demonstrated how he is learning to identify his strengths, weaknesses, and accept them both as integral parts of his character. Through his suffering, I demonstrate how trauma, emotional and physical, can skew our thinking, twist our understanding of the past and present, and poison our hopes for the future. By that same token, I establish that seeking out help, sharing our experiences, and leaning on the support of friends and family is vital to one’s recover. While pain and anguish will always remain, the love and support from those we trust can minimize our suffering and strengthen us when we are weak.

When did you start writing the book?

I wrote the rough draft for The Fractured Veil two years ago. I revisited this third novel in my Callum Walker series following the publication of my second book, The Convergence, in preparation for its eventual release.

How long did it take you to write it?

The rough draft took me approximately three months to complete, the editing, however, took three times that long.

Where did you get the idea from?

As an introvert, I enjoy my alone time and have spent a lot of it observing the world around me, pondering life and exploring “what if” scenarios. If I’m really stuck for ideas, I will put on my headphones and go for a long walk, letting my mind wander wherever it wants to go. Usually, inspiration soon follows.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The Fractured Veil was a unique challenge because, not only was I having to portray the appropriate symptoms of PTSD and properly represent how trauma can alter ones thinking and behavior, but I was also developing a secondary main character who plays an integral part in this story and future projects. Despite the challenges, I feel that this novel allowed me to grow as a writer.

What came easily?

Scene descriptions and dialogue have always come naturally, and I jokingly explain how I imagine each scene in my head, playing out as a video, and I am just along for the ride, writing down what I see. With The Fractured Veil, I enjoyed writing the back and forth banter between my two protagonists, drawing upon my experiences and conversation between myself and my four younger brothers.

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

My characters are not based on anyone specific, but rather bits and pieces of myself as well as those real and fictious personalities I have encountered throughout my life.

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?

I’m partial to the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Their stories are the epitome of good versus evil, played out in a vast fantasy world, with magic, adventure, and enough action to keep my attention from wavering. The descriptions are amazing, and the characters are extremely well done and easy to relate to. I loved these stories so much that I read through all these novels during a single weeklong Christmas vacation.

Additionally, I enjoy reading Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, and Micheal Crichton. I believe it is the variability in their stories that intrigued me as well as their ability to draw elements from nearly every other genre and incorporate these threads into their novels. Every one of these authors seems to possess the same wild imagination as I do and are unafraid to see the world as it could be, rather than what it is.

Do you have a target reader?

My novels are geared toward young and new adults, but I have had everyone from my eight-year-old son to octogenarians enjoying my stories. It really depends on what sparks your interest. For example, Harry Potter is aimed at a middle grade audience, but I enjoyed reading the entire series as a college student. That said, many of those who purchase my novels are either teenage girls or men and woman in their thirties and older.

About Writing

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

I am first and foremost a wife and mother. My husband and I have two very busy boys who demand a great deal of our time and attention. While I spend as much quality time as I can with my family, when everyone else is occupied, I will slip away with my laptop to a quiet corner of our house and write as much as I can until someone notices me. I usually get about twenty to thirty minutes of creative writing before my kids either start fighting or demanding snacks. Needless to say, most of my writing happens during the weekdays, when my husband is at work and my kids are at school.

I will typically rush through my chores and errands in the first hour or two so that nothing is left waiting when I finally take a seat at my desk. Being that I have autism and ADHD, writing can easily become a hyperfocus, which is why I must set an alarm before I begin because I have been known to spend several hours working without realizing the passage of time. Once my children and husband return home, I put away my writing for the rest of the evening. Occasionally, I will try to work after my sons have gone to bed, but more often I choose to relax.

If I’m ever stuck for ideas, however, I will put on my headphones and go for a long walk, letting my mind wander wherever it wants to go. Usually, inspiration soon follows.

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

I typically have a good idea of where to start my novels, where to end, and approximately what needs to happen in the middle to move my story toward a resolution. The rest is undecided. Beyond this loose plan, I usually have an overarching theme that is woven into my novels which typically comes in the form of a question. In fact, my Callum Walker series was prompted after asking myself “what if fairy tales were more than stories, and the monsters were flesh and blood?”

Once I have my stories premise, I will develop all-encompassing meaning or message and carefully sow those seeds into my protagonist’s journey. Case in point, the overall undertone of my fantasy adventure is our shared desire to find acceptance and belonging, as expressed through Callum’s longing for friendship, family connections, and a place to call home.

This process allows me the freedom to let my creative juices flow, and, at times, the story feels as though it is writing itself, and I’m just along for the ride. These moments of in the zone writing have often created the scenes for which I receive the most compliments.

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

I try hard not to edit as I write because I can become easily bogged down by sentence mechanics, grammar, and spelling. I will typically write out a chapter to its end, then go back and do a quick tidy of my writing, making notes/comments to myself in the margins for those elements that may need to be expanded upon or flag any details that will be revisited in later pages. This once over is brief, typically half the time it took me to write out the rough chapter, I do not allow myself to go back over it a third time until I am finished with the entire novel. Following this quick perusal, I will thus move on and write the next chapter.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Absolutely. One can become so entrenched in the meat and potatoes of their story, that they can no longer see those errors that would be glaringly obvious to any other reader.

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

I don’t usually listen to music while I write, but if I did, it would have to be a song with a good beat and a wholesome message sewn into its lyrics. Something by Adele, Reba McEntire, Jewel, or any Disney movie soundtrack usually fits the bill. I particularly appreciate any tune that portrays someone discovering some facet of inner strength and/or overcoming adversity.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Initially, yes. I submitted the first book in my series to agents and publishers, and though I received a couple offers of representation, they were conditional on signing away the rights to my stories. I ultimately turned them down and choose to go self-published instead.

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

After pouring my heart and soul into my creative works, it felt wrong to just sell my stories. Besides, traditionally published authors make less commission, have less control, and still need to promote their own novels. If I was going to have to do all the same work, why would I choose to give up ownership of my creations and take a smaller commission.

Admittedly, self-publishing is not an easy task, and it has been a huge learning curve, but once I decided to take this route, I ploughed on without looking back. I have had to teach myself about marketing, social media, creating an online presence, and the millions of other details required to publish a novel. Thankfully, I only had to muddle my way through for the publishing of my first novel before streamlining the process for all my subsequent books.

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

Finding a cover designer was relatively easy. After joining a writer’s group at the local library, I was recommended an artist from an online site called “fiverr.com”. I reached out to this artist, told her what I envisioned, and within a couple of days, she had designed me a smashing cover. I have, therefore, commissioned her to design every one of my covers to date.

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

The upside to having autism, is that I can hyperfocus like nobody’s business, and I have a keen eye for patterns. Thus, I researched what other authors are doing, implemented their examples—adding my own personal touches of course—and determined what worked and what didn’t based on the resultant comments, follows, and reviews that I received. As it turns out, my favorite form of marketing is in person events, such as author talks and book signings, where I can interact with readers on an individual basis and share my passion. It may not be for everyone, but word of mouth is a powerful tool that should not be underestimated.

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

Perseverance, especially in the face of criticism, is a necessary requirement for a great author. It is impossible to please everyone, and there will always be those who despise your work. Writing is a passion, and each creation is an individual expression. It is important to cling to your reason for writing, otherwise you will be lost trying to meet the needs and expectations of everyone else, and your art will become stale and emotionless. Thusly, every time I sit down to write, I take a moment to remind myself that whatever story I create must come from my heart.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the Rockies of Western Canada, residing in both British Columbia and Alberta. I have lived in sizable cities, small towns, hamlets so small they barely qualify for a postal code, and acreages surrounded by miles of woodland. Truth be known, I prefer the latter. There is something awe-inspiring about the quiet calm of the wilderness that never fails to spark my creative juices.

Where do you live now?

To date, I reside in Airdrie, Alberta with my husband and two children.

What would you like readers to know about you?

While I have been writing for most of my life, I was never brave enough to share any of my stories. After discovering that I had autism and ADHD in 2019, I wondered if writing was my special interest. My diagnosis gave me the courage to send my rough manuscript for the first book in my Callum Walker Series, The Ascension, to an editor, keeping in mind that the worst they could say was “it sucked”. To my relief, my editor said that my story was not garbage and encouraged me to publish. While my neurodivergence is not without its difficulties, I have decided to view it as a gift rather than a disability. After all, my unique brain is what allows me to the see the world from outside the box.

What are you working on now?

I am currently completing my fourth novel in my Callum Walker Series, with a fifth and sixth one already in the works, and I am toying with the idea of creating a standalone novel independent of this series. My fourth book will be released early 2025.

End of Interview:

For more from J.M. Shaw visit her website and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

If you’re interesting in reading The Callum Walker series, start out with The Ascension that you can get from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

 

 

 

 

 

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