Ask the Author: Roger Jackson
Answered Questions (15)
Roger Jackson
There are times when I look for things (glasses, phone, keys, etc.) and cannot find them anywhere. When I find them, they are right where they should be in plain sight. I swear either I entered an alternate universe and came back, or the object did. Maybe plane-hopping creatures and messing with me. It could make a fun story.
Roger Jackson
That's probably a difficult question for anyone to answer. There are so many incredible worlds created from the imaginations of incredible writers. I'm sure Narnia is a popular one, but I don't think that one would be for me. Pern, the world of Anne McCaffrey, would be more my style, where Dragonriders soar through the skies.
What would I do there? Ride a dragon, of course!
What would I do there? Ride a dragon, of course!
Roger Jackson
I generally don't make specific reading lists, but I'm always on the hunt for the next good read. Right now I have two books on my to-read list, Hollow Kingdom and Shadow. They both sound intriguing.
I try to read as many books as I can from my fellow self-published authors, but I still find a few from published authors that I like.
I try to read as many books as I can from my fellow self-published authors, but I still find a few from published authors that I like.
Roger Jackson
I turned on the television. They were showing reruns of past presidential campaign debates.
Roger Jackson
I may be stretching it with this "fictional" couple, but my favorite is James and Helen Herriot from the series beginning with All Creatures Great and Small. The books are loosely based on the life of James Wight, but are mostly fiction, so I think I can get away with this one.
The books are excellent. The characters are even better. James is a veterinarian (a very good one), but he gets easily rattled by his employer and his clients. Helen has the gift of keeping James on a more even keel. They have different personalities that compliment each other that makes for a fun and well-balanced relationship.
Although, they are not a "couple" in the traditional sense, I also enjoy the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Neither personality is that interesting without the other.
The books are excellent. The characters are even better. James is a veterinarian (a very good one), but he gets easily rattled by his employer and his clients. Helen has the gift of keeping James on a more even keel. They have different personalities that compliment each other that makes for a fun and well-balanced relationship.
Although, they are not a "couple" in the traditional sense, I also enjoy the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Neither personality is that interesting without the other.
Roger Jackson
Well, I am an independent author and I am an author who is also a Christian. However, I wouldn't exactly classify my novels as Christian literature. Yes, two of my novels have titles that are somewhat biblical in nature (The Lions and Lambs Saga). They are post-apocalyptic novels that have a main character that struggles with his own faith while trying to survive -- and help other people survive -- an event that kills 99.9% of the world's population. He has to deal with a multitude of moral issues that take a toll on him.
Roger Jackson
HI Michele, yes I did meet Gene Roddenberry once, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Oh, sorry, wrong universe.
While in college, some friends and I made a Star Trek spoof movie using homemade costumes, props, and a super 8mm movie camera. Like I said, it was long ago. We had a premier showing at our college, Arkansas State University. It so happened that Gene Roddenberry was visiting the university during a speaking tour and he caught wind of our movie. He visited with us before and we received front row tickets to his speech. It was quite exciting since we were all trekkies.
He was a gracious, sincere man who went out of his way to personally speak with his fans. It is something I will cherish always.
That was my first brush with fame. I also happen to have known Wes Bentley (Seneca Crane from The Hunger Games movie) since he was about two years old. We got a special invitation to his premier of the movie American Beauty. His father is a Methodist minister and he actually presided over my wedding.
While in college, some friends and I made a Star Trek spoof movie using homemade costumes, props, and a super 8mm movie camera. Like I said, it was long ago. We had a premier showing at our college, Arkansas State University. It so happened that Gene Roddenberry was visiting the university during a speaking tour and he caught wind of our movie. He visited with us before and we received front row tickets to his speech. It was quite exciting since we were all trekkies.
He was a gracious, sincere man who went out of his way to personally speak with his fans. It is something I will cherish always.
That was my first brush with fame. I also happen to have known Wes Bentley (Seneca Crane from The Hunger Games movie) since he was about two years old. We got a special invitation to his premier of the movie American Beauty. His father is a Methodist minister and he actually presided over my wedding.
Roger Jackson
Well, it's been multiple decades since I was in college. There are noticeable differences in how I write. I'll call my college days, "Back then".
Back then, I only wrote short stories. My whole style was very different. In fact, I dug one of them out of the dusty old closet and had a good laugh when I read it. But I also saw some potential in it. I rewrote it and retitled it, and it came out to be decent. I published the story, now entitled Currents of Thunder. It is available at Smashwords for free. Amazon hasn't caught on (or doesn't care) yet so it is 99 cents there.
Currents of Thunder is a science fiction tale of two immortal beings caught up in a personal war. The MC must outwit a creature capable of devouring a being's life force, the only way an immortal can truly die. I like the story enough that I may write a whole series of books based on it.
It takes time, a lot of time for some of us, to learn the craft of writing. I've spent several years doing it until I got to the point I was satisfied enough with my work to get it published.
Back then, I only wrote short stories. My whole style was very different. In fact, I dug one of them out of the dusty old closet and had a good laugh when I read it. But I also saw some potential in it. I rewrote it and retitled it, and it came out to be decent. I published the story, now entitled Currents of Thunder. It is available at Smashwords for free. Amazon hasn't caught on (or doesn't care) yet so it is 99 cents there.
Currents of Thunder is a science fiction tale of two immortal beings caught up in a personal war. The MC must outwit a creature capable of devouring a being's life force, the only way an immortal can truly die. I like the story enough that I may write a whole series of books based on it.
It takes time, a lot of time for some of us, to learn the craft of writing. I've spent several years doing it until I got to the point I was satisfied enough with my work to get it published.
Roger Jackson
Carol, I haven't read it yet, but I have it on my to-read list. It sounds good. I think I will relate to it, being from the South.
Roger Jackson
I think best in the mornings, when I'm still half asleep. Over several days, the idea for Lions and Lambs worked itself out while I was kind of dreaming, day-dreaming, but still awake enough to try out different paths the story could take. Then the idea began take a more definite shape until I knew it was going to work. Some ideas do that, some of them just fizzle out.
Roger Jackson
When a good story takes shape in my mind, I have to write it down. That's all it takes.
Roger Jackson
I am working on a series of books called The Lions and Lambs Saga. The first book is called A Gathering of Lions and Lambs. The second is A Reckoning of Lions and Lambs. Both are out as ebooks for the Kindle, Nook, iPad, and most other readers. They can be found on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, and the Apple iBook store. I am currently writing the third book of the series. It will be called A War of Lions and Lambs. It is a post-apocalyptic saga with a teenage main character who must recreate his world after a viral plague kills off most of Earth's population. It is a character driven story that is emotional and realistic.
Roger Jackson
Writing is not that different than most anything else. The more you do it, the more you practice, the better you get. Don't get discouraged. It doesn't matter if no one else likes what you've created. It only matters if you like it. If other people like it, then that's just icing on the cake.
Roger Jackson
It's the personal satisfaction of seeing the story and the characters that have only existed in my head put into words on a page (paper or electronic). And then listening to people talk about the story and characters; getting their point of view and marveling at how differently they see my work. That fascinates me.
Roger Jackson
I haven't had many bouts of writer's block. My main issue is time. I have a full time job, a family, house, yard, dogs, etc. I'm not the kind of person who only sleeps three or four hours at night, so my time for writing is limited. Maybe that's why I don't get writer's block much. I have time to think through most of my story before I start writing it.
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