Ask the Author: Jared Garrett
Answered Questions (12)
Jared Garrett
Narnia. I would not bring eternal winter, but eternal fall, because hot cocoa is still good in the fall but you're not in danger of frostbite.
Jared Garrett
I dropped my cell phone into the toilet. I hadn't flushed yet.
Jared Garrett
Sorry for the delay! Life is busy busy.
You're right that there's some mesoamerican influence. In fact, I took Aztec, Mayan, AND Incan mythology and culture, mashed it all together, then created the world that this trilogy lives in. And the mythology and world are actually a character in the story-- having a huge impact on the journey that Lakhoni and his family go on.
As for Lakhoni's story, I was reading some scriptures and adventure stories like Tarzan and Conan and couldn't stop thinking about a character that kept jumping up and down in my brain. So I started writing a chase scene-- and then just kept going. Lakhoni was born.
Thanks for asking!
You're right that there's some mesoamerican influence. In fact, I took Aztec, Mayan, AND Incan mythology and culture, mashed it all together, then created the world that this trilogy lives in. And the mythology and world are actually a character in the story-- having a huge impact on the journey that Lakhoni and his family go on.
As for Lakhoni's story, I was reading some scriptures and adventure stories like Tarzan and Conan and couldn't stop thinking about a character that kept jumping up and down in my brain. So I started writing a chase scene-- and then just kept going. Lakhoni was born.
Thanks for asking!
Jared Garrett
I am reading several books this summer:
1. Witchy Eye by D.J. Butler
2. Shadow Above the Flames by Daniel Swenson
3. The End of Average by Todd Rose
4. All of Shannon Hale's new stuff
5. The last two John Cleaver novels by Dan Wells
1. Witchy Eye by D.J. Butler
2. Shadow Above the Flames by Daniel Swenson
3. The End of Average by Todd Rose
4. All of Shannon Hale's new stuff
5. The last two John Cleaver novels by Dan Wells
Jared Garrett
This question required much thought. Probably the biggest mystery that would work as a book plot would be the mystery of the scar under my right eyebrow. I have no recollection of getting it-- but it's big! I noticed it when I was about 20 years old and was totally shocked, Where had it come from? Sadly, I wasn't raised by my parents and the people did raise me were in a cult I escaped from when I was 17. So there was nobody around to help me solved the mystery.
I still have no idea how I got this scar.
I still have no idea how I got this scar.
Jared Garrett
I have two.
1. Petruchio and Katherina in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew and Benedick and Beatrice from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing tie for first place. These are couples who gained respect for each other through fiery, brilliant conversation and who see in each other somebody who respects and loves them. These are relationships done right.
2. Sam Vimes and Lady Sybil in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series are the second. Fully realized, somewhat insane, quite flawed characters who just love each other no matter what. Their love story is simple and straightforward and touching.
1. Petruchio and Katherina in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew and Benedick and Beatrice from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing tie for first place. These are couples who gained respect for each other through fiery, brilliant conversation and who see in each other somebody who respects and loves them. These are relationships done right.
2. Sam Vimes and Lady Sybil in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series are the second. Fully realized, somewhat insane, quite flawed characters who just love each other no matter what. Their love story is simple and straightforward and touching.
Jared Garrett
It doesn't exist.
Someone who is suffering from writer's block is more than likely waiting for a muse or inspiration.
Remember: we don't wait for the muse. We go find that muse, no matter what it takes, and get to work.
If what I'm writing is crap, fine. I'm still going to write it. Tomorrow's words might not be crap. And I'll come back later and polish that crap into diamonds.
Writer's block? Mostly laziness.
Someone who is suffering from writer's block is more than likely waiting for a muse or inspiration.
Remember: we don't wait for the muse. We go find that muse, no matter what it takes, and get to work.
If what I'm writing is crap, fine. I'm still going to write it. Tomorrow's words might not be crap. And I'll come back later and polish that crap into diamonds.
Writer's block? Mostly laziness.
Jared Garrett
Making people cry big tears as they read the terrible things that happen to my characters and as they journey with my characters through the inferno into something better.
I bathe joyfully in those tears.
I bathe joyfully in those tears.
Jared Garrett
Stop thinking of yourself as an aspiring writer. Seriously. There are thousands of people who are career aspiring writers.
You want to be a writer?
Be one. Take it seriously. This is your life's work. Don't let anyone tell you that you're not a writer.
You want to be a writer?
Be one. Take it seriously. This is your life's work. Don't let anyone tell you that you're not a writer.
Jared Garrett
Marketing and publicity for BEYOND THE CABIN and polishing another book for possible independent publication AND prepping another novel for submission to smaller publishing houses.
As for new projects, I gots 'em, but I have found that I can't work on them until I get at least BEYOND THE CABIN out in the world. Every time I sit down to work on my newest project, the following goes through my head, "Artist got to get paid."
As for new projects, I gots 'em, but I have found that I can't work on them until I get at least BEYOND THE CABIN out in the world. Every time I sit down to work on my newest project, the following goes through my head, "Artist got to get paid."
Jared Garrett
I think, "Gosh I like to eat. I also like my kids to be healthy. Gee whiz, keeping a roof over our heads is kind of important too."
No, seriously. I write for fame and profit. The fame is less than secondary, but the profit is for real. I write because I love telling stories, I'm good at it, I want to get better at it, and I want it to be my career. My day job has me in the corporate world and I'm not down with doing that for the rest of my life.
How do I get inspired? I remember that waiting for inspiration is for losers. I go find inspiration by sitting down, putting my hands on that keyboard, and getting to work.
No, seriously. I write for fame and profit. The fame is less than secondary, but the profit is for real. I write because I love telling stories, I'm good at it, I want to get better at it, and I want it to be my career. My day job has me in the corporate world and I'm not down with doing that for the rest of my life.
How do I get inspired? I remember that waiting for inspiration is for losers. I go find inspiration by sitting down, putting my hands on that keyboard, and getting to work.
Jared Garrett
I'm calling BEYOND THE CABIN my most recent book for the purposes of this question. That said, I've completed two other novels since I first drafted BEYOND THE CABIN, and have started my next series as well.
If you know much about BEYOND THE CABIN, you know it's inspired by true events and circumstances. So the place I got the idea for this book is my childhood! The story is certainly fictionalized for the purposes of telling a good and engaging story, but the core of it is from my own experience.
If you know much about BEYOND THE CABIN, you know it's inspired by true events and circumstances. So the place I got the idea for this book is my childhood! The story is certainly fictionalized for the purposes of telling a good and engaging story, but the core of it is from my own experience.
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