Bitten by Books
Welcome to my second release party of this summer! Today I am happy to be with you to talk about my newest book, which came out yesterday. It’s called His Father’s Eyes, and it’s the second volume in The Case Files Justis Fearsson, a contemporary urban fantasy that I write for Baen Books under my own name, David B. Coe. (Last month I was here to promote Dead Man’s Reach, the fourth book in the Thieftaker Chronicles, which I write as D.B. Jackson.) Many thanks to Rachel and the Bitten By Books crew for hosting me again.
The Justis Fearsson series began with Spell Blind, which came out in January. Jay Fearsson, my private detective hero, is a weremyste, a sorcerer who on the night of the full moon, and the nights immediately before and after, goes temporarily insane, even as his magic grows stronger. In other words, during these moon phasings, at the very moment when he most needs to control his magic, he is least capable of doing so. The phasings are slowly driving him permanently insane, just as they did his father. Think Jekyll and Hyde meets the Wolfman meets Sam Spade, and you’ve about got it.
Jay was once a cop, but, as you might imagine, his monthly battles with madness made it hard for him to keep his job. Still, his former colleagues on the police force sometimes need his help in solving crimes that have a magical element. In His Father’s Eyes, Jay is called in to help investigate the murder of a man who seems to have been plotting to blow up a commercial airliner. Of course, he has to tread carefully: There are still people on the force who see him as nothing more or less than a disgraced ex-cop, and the Feds who are looking into the failed terrorist plot are even less tolerant of PIs than they are of local police.
But he can tell right off that the would-be terrorist was killed with a spell, and as he delves into the details of the case he soon finds himself neck deep in a case involving blood magic, ritual killings, a powerful drug lord, and a werecoyote who lives in an old single-wide trailer. He is attacked by dark sorcerers, pursued by an ancient Celtic priestess, and nearly blown up himself by a magical bomb that comes within a hair’s breadth of killing the woman he loves. In other words, it’s just another average case in the life of Justis Fearsson, PI and weremyste.
The Fearsson books have been a labor of love for me, and also a tremendous challenge. The first book needed to be reworked, torn apart and rebuilt, rewritten and revised, and reworked again before I got it right. I nearly gave up on the series several times, but each time I found that I simply couldn’t walk away from it. I loved the characters too much. And eventually that love was rewarded. I finally shaped that first book into the story it was meant to be, and, after years of struggle, was rewarded with a bidding contest between two publishers that led to my contract with Baen. I love these books not only because I enjoy writing the characters and plotlines, but also because they represent to me the power of perseverance, of creative obstinance.
I hope you enjoy them as well.
Buy a print copy of His Father’s Eyes from Amazon by clicking here.
Buy a Kindle copy of His Father’s Eyes from Amazon by clicking here.
Books in the Case Files of Justis Fearsson series in the order they should be read:
Spell Blind
His Father’s Eyes
Excerpt from His Father’s Eyes:
“The image flickered in my scrying stone, like a candle guttering in the wind, before becoming more fixed, more substantial. I hadn’t been sure the spell would work, but there he was — “he” being Mark Darby, an employee at Custom Electronics, in Mesa, who had been stealing computers, phones, stereo equipment, and pretty much anything else you could think of. He was by the loading dock at the rear of the store, shoving boxes into the back of a beat-up old Subaru wagon.
“Gotchya,” I whispered, still peering down at the stone.
Darby’s bosses had known for some time that someone on their staff was robbing them, but they didn’t know who; only that he or she had been clever enough to avoid detection for the better part of four months.
Until now.
Not that the magical vision I’d summoned to the stone was proof, at least not the kind that I could use in any court of law.
“No, your honor, I don’t have any surveillance tape. But I cast a seeing spell and saw him in this shiny piece of agate . . .”
Right.
But now that I knew for certain who the thief was, I had no intention of letting him get away.
I got out of the Z-ster, my silver 1977 280Z, which was parked along a side street near the store, closed the door with the care of a burglar, and began to limp toward the loading dock.
If someone had told me a year ago that getting shot could be a good thing, I would have said that person was nuts. And I know nuts. I’m a weremyste, which means that for three nights out of every month — the night of the full moon, and the nights immediately before and after — I lose control of my mind and my magic. It also means that eventually, the cumulative wear-and-tear of those monthly phasings will leave me permanently insane. As they have my Dad.
But this is about the risks of my profession, as opposed to the dangers of my runecrafting. I’m a private investigator, owner and president of Justis Fearsson Investigations. And not so long ago I was shot — twice, as it happens — by a powerful sorcerer named Etienne de Cahors, who was known here in Phoenix as the Blind Angel Killer. He didn’t survive our encounter, mostly because I had help from Kona Shaw, my old partner on the Phoenix police force.
Bringing down the bastard responsible for the Blind Angel murders, a killing spree that had terrorized the Phoenix area for the better part of three years, was enough to make me a hero. Ending up with a couple of bullets in me was icing on the cake and it got me in the headlines. Business, which was slow before then, had been booming ever since. Except that for the first several weeks I had one arm in a sling and my leg bandaged from hip to knee, and so I couldn’t do much more than sit on the couch in my home and answer the phone. People were lining up to hire me, and I was every bit as eager to get to work. But for more than a month I had no choice but to decline more jobs than I had worked in the previous year.
I still miss being a cop — losing my badge about killed me — but if I can’t be on the force, working as a PI is the next best thing. Despite the reward money I’d collected for killing Cahors, I didn’t want to sit on my butt catching up on the latest in daytime drama; I wanted to do my job. So about ten days ago, when I was cleared by the doctors and my physical therapist to start working again, I took the first offer that came my way. The doctors and PT told me to take it easy, and I really have tried to be good. But it’s not like there are volume settings for investigative work. You’re on or you’re off. Despite my limp, and the lingering twinge in my arm, I was on again, and I was glad…”
About David B. Coe
Author Bio:
David B. Coe/D.B. Jackson is the award-winning author of eighteen fantasy novels. Under the name D.B. Jackson, he writes the Thieftaker Chronicles, a historical urban fantasy from Tor Books that includes Thieftaker, Thieves’ Quarry, A Plunder of Souls, and, the newest volume, Dead Man’s Reach, which was released on July 21. Under his own name, he writes The Case Files of Justis Fearsson, a contemporary urban fantasy from Baen Books. The first volume, Spell Blind, debuted in January 2015. The newest book in the series, His Father’s Eyes, came out yesterday, August 4. He lives on the Cumberland Plateau with his wife and two daughters. They’re all smarter and prettier than he is, but they keep him around because he makes a mean vegetarian fajita. When he’s not writing he likes to hike, play guitar, and stalk the perfect image with his camera.
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Who are some of your favourite authors?
Hi Minna! Good to see you again! (I was here two weeks ago as D.B. Jackson.) So I guess you could say that I’m two of my favorite authors! Not really. My favorites include Guy Gavriel Kay, Neil Gaiman, C.E. Murphy, Faith Hunter, A.J. Hartley — all of whom are speculative fiction writers. I also love the work of Wallace Stegner, Barbara Kingsolver, Tim Winton, and some of the classics — F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dickens, Hemingway, Faulkner. Thanks for the question!
Hi David!
Thanks for being with us again today. It’s always so nice when you come for a visit.
My question for you is: Do you find it hard to juggle multiple pen names in regards to fans? Do you see yourself merging names into one in the future or maybe adding more pen names?
Sorry, Rachel. Missed this earlier. Thank you so very much for having me back. I love visiting Bitten by Books, and I’m grateful to you for having me back.
I’ve enjoyed having the two writing names. I doubted that I would, but it’s turned out to be fun. I find that when I shift gears from one project to another, from one name to the other, it helps to keep things fresh and exciting. I’m more productive than I’ve ever been, and I think that’s because I feel a sense of renewal jumping between my writing identities.
In regard to fans, I haven’t found it to be a problem at all. There are a lot of people who don’t know that David B. Coe and D.B. Jackson are the same person. In fact, I had a book store manager at a Barnes and Noble totally flummoxed the first time I went in as D.B. Jackson. He and I hadn’t met before, and he was polite and all, but I could tell he thought I was a first time author. Then I told him that I also write as David Coe and he got all excited and fan-boyish because he LOVES my older work. So that was kind of fun. I think that if I was trying to keep the two identities totally separate — if it was a secret that I wrote as both — that would be really difficult. But as it is, I can cross-promote and interest readers in my work. Some folks who love my epic fantasy, might not check out the Thieftaker books because they don’t like historical. But since they know it’s me, they try the books. And it works the other way as well. I’ve gotten readers for the new series because people have been enjoying Thieftaker.
As for what the future holds, I’d be a fool to speculate. This business is so uncertain right now. I hope to write more Thieftaker novels. I have another Fearsson book coming out next spring. And after that, we’ll see what I write and under what name.
To answer your questions on the Giveaway Tools widget:
1. The werecreatures in the Fearsson novels change from human form into their totem animals and take on the natural characteristics of those animals. No superhuman strength, no monsters tainting the innocent with their bites. So, if you were some sort of Were in my world, what animal would you become when you shifted?
I would probably be a big cat OR a were-giraffe or were elephant. lol
What about you David, what would you become?
I LOVE the idea of the were-giraffe! But, boy, you’d better be outside when the phasing starts . . .
I’m a bird watcher, and love birds of prey. So I could see myself being a were-hawk or a were-owl.
Yeah I love Giraffes! you definitely wouldn’t want to blow up the ceiling in your shift though. lOL
Oh a were-owl would be cool. I just saw a book on a were shark. Of course there was the were beaver we did a review on several years ago when we first started the blog. LOL OH the strangest one was the Marmot or maybe it was a prairie dog shifter. There’s a falcon shifter. Of course one type of shifter is going out of control right now. BEARS. I am like really? Bear this bear that. there are some pretty outrageous titles with bears in them. lol
There’s actually a werebear in HIS FATHER’S EYES (and a werecoyote). Were’s are big right now, and I can see where bears would be a natural choice. But I’m sure that the double entendres in some of those titles are pretty outrageous!
If you could only give ONE piece of advice to newbie authors and writers, what advice do you think is the most important one to give? A con of being a writer? A Pro?
Hi, Raonaid. I might haven answered a similar question from you last time I was here, a couple of weeks ago (as D.B. Jackson). I would have said, “Love what you do,” and I know you can go back to the D.B. Jackson event and read that response. So let me give you another piece of advice: Finish what you start. I took a writing class in college that proved all but worthless. The professor didn’t help me at all. But his graduate student assistant gave me some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten. She said, “Don’t retreat into rewrites. Keep moving forward.” So many aspiring writers get feedback on part of a manuscript and immediately jump into reworking those early pages. What they really should do is set those rewrite notes aside for later and continue writing the piece until it’s finished. Finishing a book is SO hard, but it’s also incredibly satisfying, and it will give you plenty of energy to sustain those revisions later on. Finish what you start. THEN revise. And while you’re revising, start looking for places to send your manuscript
The con of being a writer? It’s hard work that doesn’t pay very well except for the most select few. That’s why I tell aspiring writers to love what they do — because that love is the greatest reward. The pro? We get to be creative for a living. We spend our lives making up and telling stories. You can’t beat that.
Thanks for the questions!
I am working on stages of edits on my wip. My beta reader is working with me on showing than telling. That’s what this revision part of editing is about. Slow working but I had already got the hardest part done - the writing.
That’s absolutely right. Good for you for finishing that draft, and best of luck with the rewrites!
Thanks… it’s coming slow but I am in no hurry. As long as I get it polished to the best it can be. That is all I want
2. Private investigators in books and movies seem to always have some sort of fancy car or motorcycle — Jay Fearsson drives a silver 1977 280Z. What would be your PI fantasy vehicle?
Hmmm good question. I would probably lean towards a Lamborghini Countach, but knowing me would end up with a motorcycle with a sidecar full of clowns. LOL
What would you pick David?
Rachel, lol! I’m so boring when it comes to cars. I drive my little Honda sedan around and I’m very happy. But in this second Fearsson book, Jay loses his car for a while. (I won’t tell you why, though I will allow that it has something to do with the dead body in the hatch. Seriously.) He winds up with a loaner — a Lexus — and he falls in love with it. That’s me, acting out a bit of a fantasy. I think I’d go for the Lexus RC 350 coupe. In the Cobalt Blue, thank you very much . . .
Oh man, that would be a hard color to keep clean David. LOL but a nice one. I guess if you could afford to have that one, you could probably afford to have somebody else detail it. LOL
Yeah, I’d have people for that . . .
Hi again David! Another question for you:
Do people around you end up as (part of) a character? Does your family inspire you to write about them?
Hi, Susanne. Good to see you back! I am certain that to some extent the people around me inspire my characters. I know that elements of the romantic relationships I write (Ethan and Kannice, Jay and Billie) grow out of my interactions with my wife. But I try to keep this sort of thing to a minimum. I find that the more I try to model a character or a dynamic between two or more characters on people I know, the LESS realistic those characters and dynamics become. And I think the reason is, consciously or unconsciously I’m trying to make them into something specific, rather than allowing them to develop on their own into something unique. So as much as my family inspires me to write, they don’t inspire me to write ABOUT THEM, if you get what I mean. It’s a subtle distinction, but for me it’s crucial.
I get it. Some situation may give you the inspiration for a story line, but there the similarity between the story and real life ends.
Exactly.
The werecreatures in the Fearsson novels change from human form into their totem animals and take on the natural characteristics of those animals. No superhuman strength, no monsters tainting the innocent with their bites. So, if you were some sort of Were in my world, what animal would you become when you shifted?
—- Do dragons count? I was born beneath the Fire Dragon sign, so they mean something to me. I guess if they do not count, I would be a were-crow or were-raven. They are the only other animal.
Private investigators in books and movies seem to always have some sort of fancy car or motorcycle — Jay Fearsson drives a silver 1977 280Z. What would be your PI fantasy vehicle?
— I am not really knowledgeable of cool cars. To be honest, I don’t really care. I’m not into vehicles like others are. If it gets me to point a to point b, then I’m fine. Brands have no meaning. Now I do like a good Harley ( The others are just blech to me but then I was raised by a biker dad) or Indian.
Who is your favorite private eye in books, movies, or TV (aside from Justis Fearsson, of course g)?
—- Remington Steel from the 80’s sitcom. Pierce Bronsan, that man has aged so well. Yeah, in the tv series he was a conman playing the detective. His partner Laura was the real private eye. I’ve been watching it a lot on Netflex.. and well I do like Detective Dee from the Japanese action movies. He’s like a Sherlock Holmes of that area.
Of course dragons count! I’m a fantasy author! Great answers, Raonaid. Thank you!
3. Who is your favorite private eye in books, movies, or TV (aside from Justis Fearsson, of course g)?
Hmmm well, I do love Harry Dresden. I don’t watch much TV. But I tend to like Criminal Minds and Dr. Reed is my favorite as far as detective skills.
What about you David? Besides Justis of course. lol
Dating myself here: When I was growing up I LOVED the Rockford Files. James Garner. My father and I watched together every Friday night. Great show — always a good mystery. Jim Rockford would get the crap beaten out of him, but he’d still solve the case. And that should sound very familiar to anyone who has read the Thieftaker or Fearsson novels.
LOL David, I think we are probably about the same age. I used to love watching the Rockford Files, Quincy MD, Barney Miller, Old Ironside….. hahaha
LOVED Barney Miller, and Quincy. Also Mannix, and all the Sunday Night Mystery shows — Columbo, McCloud, Banacek, McMillan and Wife (worst title ever), etc. Wow. We’re old . . .
The kind of were animal I would like to become would probably be feline, but I haven’t decided on the small or large kinds yet…
As I said earlier, I’d be a hawk or owl. But if not, I’d be a wolf. Actually, I’d probably be a mutt, friendly, drool-y, dumb as a stick, and pretty much useless . . .
I have several favorite private eyes, ranging from Hercules Poirot (Agatha Christie) and Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Canon Doyle) to my new favorite Harper Blaine (Kat Richardson).
The first two because of their classic, sophisticated ways of solving mysteries, the last because of her special place in the world between worlds.
Great choices. I love David Suchet’s Hercules Poirot, and I REALLY love the BBC Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch. (And yes, I love the books, too.) Have you read any of the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters? Wonderful. And Kat is a dear, dear friend and another writer I respect and admire.
Yes, I know Cadfael as well. You could say I am very much into detectives. Love the puzzles!
Is it difficult to make up the puzzles without giving too much clues too soon?
It is. I’ve had to learn as I go. And sometimes I find I’ll need to go back through a manuscript either to sprinkle in more clues, or pull out some of the ones I’ve put in. Having good Beta Readers is enormously helpful in this regard.
(Me me me!)
My PI fantasy vehicle of choice would be…. Maybe some kind of electric car. Silent, transport of the future, that kind of thing. But perhaps a Dutch bicycle would also make for a original ride.
I love the idea of a Dutch bike-riding detective. Throw in some magic and you’ve got a series! You need to write this.
Too many ideas and too little time to sit down and actualy write them into a story.
Trying to manage a (Dutch) blog about my views on various things in life, but even posting there once in a while can be a struggle…
Yes, I get that. But it really is a cool idea…
You may use it if you like, an aknowledgement is enough for me. I’d be proud, actualy…
Hi David! Congratulations on the publication of His Father’s Eyes. With two new releases it certainly has been a very successful summer for you. Do you celebrate in any special way after the release of a new book? Will you be attending any conferences or signings to promote your books?
Thank you so much for the kind welcome, Bonnie. Yes, this summer has been amazing. Crazy-busy, as you might imagine, but also very exciting. I have already attended a few conventions and conferences this summer. Most recently, I taught for a week at the Antioch Writer’s Workshop in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Next week I will be appearing at When Words Collide in Calgary, Alberta and then teaching at the conventions post-festival writing workshop. At the beginning of September I’ll be a guest at DragonCon in Atlanta, where I’ll be appearing on panels and selling books in the dealer’s room. And later this fall, I hope to do some signings in Virginia and the Carolinas, as well as in Tennessee, where I live.
But as for celebrating releases, not so much. It’s mostly doing online stuff like this and the blog tour I have underway right now. I appear at a bunch of review sites, online magazines, websites of other authors, and talk about writing, publishing, and my novels. It’s a promotional tour, but from my office, and it’s fun, though a great deal of work. The celebrations come when I finish and submit my novels. That’s when I’ll take time to enjoy the accomplishment, take a few days off, etc. Release times are for selling books and getting the word out to new readers.
Thanks again for the kind words and the questions.
What books have influenced your writing the most?
Hi, Lisa! I was heavily influenced by the works of Guy Gavriel Kay, whose wonderful fantasies taught me so much about character development, worldbuilding, and other elements of storytelling in my genre. Of all the writers I read early on in my career, he was the one I most wished to emulate. And I was also influenced by Tolkien, whose work made me want to read as much fantasy as I could get my hands on. And by Stephen Donaldson, whose work made me want to write fantasy in the first place. Thanks for asking!
Would you ever cross to my side of the ocean? We have our fair share of fantasy lovers, festivals, and even a comic con next year!
Susanne, I would love to. My first series was translated into Dutch long, long ago. And my Winds of the Forelands books have developed a nice following in France. So, yes, I would absolutely consider coming to Europe. But the expense is considerable and I would need to find some way to overcome that obstacle. Some day, I hope.
If you visit the Netherlands, I know the places to go
Sounds good. I was there once, but I was 8 at the time.
What animal would I become when I shifted: A raven
My PI fantasy vehicle: An Isuzu Troopet - understated for PI work.
My favorite private eye in books is: Kinsey Millhone in the Sue Grafton novels.
Great answers, Lisa. Thanks. I like the idea of the understated car. Probably makes a good deal of sense.
WOW there have been some great question already answered. So here is an easy one. Do you prefer to read print or e-books? And what are you reading right now?
Hi, Maria! Thanks for stopping by. I prefer print books. I have an e-reader — a little Kobo Glo — and I like it a lot. It’s especially good for reading manuscripts that friends send to me. But when I read a book, I want it to be a paper book. The environmentalist in me HATES this, but it’s the truth. I have just finished reading a novel that will be coming out from Tor next year — I was reading it so that I can give it a cover blurb. And right now, I am working my way through a backlog of New Yorker magazines that have piled up on my office floor. Some great articles in them, including a terrifying piece about the long-overdue BIG earthquake that is forecast for the Pacific Northwest along the Cascadia Fault. Really frightening.
hi David, otherthan having patience, what other important thing have you learned about writing?
Hi, Dina! Well, patience is certainly a good place to start. So is perseverance. This is a tough business, and rejection is common, not only for aspiring writers, but also for established professionals. A case in point is SPELL BLIND, the prequel to HIS FATHER’S EYES. I originally sold that book to a small press. But the press went bankrupt and we were lucky enough to get the rights back. So we (my agent and I) started to shop it to other publishers thinking that since it had sold once, we’d have no trouble selling it again. We were wrong. It was rejected by every editor who read it, and I eventually figured out that the problem was in the manuscript itself. Yes, I’d sold it once, but it was a flawed novel and I needed to fix it. So we pulled it off the market and I rewrote it, and rewrote it again, and then a third time. I tore it down and put it back together, and then I polished and tweaked and polished some more. I spent 6 years doing this (and in the meantime I wrote and published other books) until finally we sold it again to Baen Books, who are now publishing the series.
My point is, though, I could have given up on that book at any point, and no one would have blamed me. But I believed in the basic idea, and I loved — LOVED — the characters. So I stuck with it. Rejection is part of this business. You have to be resilient and you have to persevere. It’s really the only way to enjoy a successful career. Hope that helps.
Hello! What writers have helped influence you?
Hi, Susan. In a sense, every writer I read influences me. I still learn from many of the authors I read. But you probably mean something more specific than that. As I’ve mentioned, I was influenced a good deal by fantasy writer Guy Gavriel Kay, who I first read more than twenty five years ago, before I’d started writing professionally. I loved his stories, but I also was blown away by his craft. I still read his work today. I read a lot of fantasy — and still do — and was inspired by the works of Tolkien and Lewis, Donaldson and Kurtz, Kerr and McCaffrey. More recently, I’ve enjoyed the work of friends and colleagues in urban fantasy and epic fantasy. Thanks for the question.
What are your must haves for writing? Ex coffee, tea, water, music, etc
Hi, Kristy. Great question. I’m not a coffee drinker, and I try not to spend too much writing time in the kitchen preparing snacks or drinks. But there are certain things I definitely need, and certain elements of my routine I can’t give up.
I start every writing day with a workout at the local gym. (I live in a university town, and my wife works for the college, so we can afford a gym membership.) If I’m going to sit at my desk writing for hours every day (5-7 hours is normal writing time for me), I need to be active first. Otherwise by the end of the day I feel terrible.
After my workout, I have a smoothie — fruit, juice, yogurt, ground flax seed.
And then I get to work. I work at a computer, always. I have a very hard time writing ANYTHING by hand anymore. It’s a little pathetic, really.
I often write with music on — sometimes jazz, sometimes bluegrass, sometimes Celtic. But it HAS to be instrumental. Lyrics foul me up.
And on most days, I will work in a short power nap when my energy lags, usually late in the morning, or just after lunch.
Those are my must-haves. Thanks for asking!
Hi again David aka D. B. and Congratulations! Which book, out of all that you have read, do you wish you had written?
1. Jaguar
2. Maybe an Aston Martin like James Bond drives
3. Kinsey Milhone
2.
Hi again, Betty! Thanks for stopping by, and for the kind wishes. And thanks as well for the answers to the questions. At first I thought “Jaguar” was your answer to the car question!!
Of all the books I’ve read, which do I wish I had written? Wow! Great question. I assume you mean from a creative point of view. If we’re talking pure commercial, I REALLY wish I’d written the Harry Potter books . . .
There are two that come to mind: Neil Gaiman’s AMERICAN GODS is, I think, brilliant. I would love to have come up with that idea. And the second is a futuristic scifi novel called THE WINDUP GIRL, by Paolo Bacigalupi. Innovative, imaginative, gripping. Great book. Thanks for asking!
Thank you David and Jaguar would have been a good car answer!!!!
Hi again!
Is the idea of a weremyste something you made up, or already existed out there? It’s the first time I ever heard of the word, so just wondering. 
Lois
and your questions -
- well, boring, but a cat - I need to get 20 hours of sleep a day for a while, so that could work. LOL
- still love the BMW Z3 roadster from Goldeneye…
- well, I really do not hunt for investigators; I’ll read books/watch movies with mysteries and such, but over all, I haven’t read a continuing character like that. But luckily someone did mention Remington Steele, and I would have totally forgotten about that one. So, yeah, there’s one!
Hi, Lois! Thanks for coming to the launch party! The weremyste idea is entirely my own. I like to say that it’s sort of Jekyll and Hyde meets the Wolfman. I had been struggling with the first book in the series for several years, knowing that I needed to do something new with the magic system. When the weremyste idea came to me it was a n epiphany. I was so excited I could barely sit still. It was a great moment. Thanks for asking.
I appreciate your answers to the questions. I hope you’ll check out my investigator books! They’re pretty good.
What book(s) are you reading?
Zonell, I just finished reading a book so that I can give it a cover blurb. Before that, I read Marie Brennan’s A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS, which was wonderful. I’m currently reading through some back issues of The New Yorker, which have piled up in my office. And I have Faith Hunter’s BROKEN SOUL on my shelf, which might be the next one I read. I’m not quite sure what book I’m going to pick up after that. Thanks for asking.
If you could have one magic power, what would you want?
Well, the power to write nothing but bestsellers would be nice . . .
I don’t know, Bethany. I can think of drawbacks to just about every magical power I can think of. Know what people are thinking? I’m not sure I could handle that kind of honesty. Divine the future? Yikes, no thank you. I think the power to heal might be a good one. I suppose I could go with that.
Thanks for asking!
Who is your favorite Muppet and why?
I remember this question from a couple of weeks ago, when I was here as D.B. Jackson promoting DEAD MAN’S REACH. My answer is the same, I love Cookie Monster, because I totally get where he’s coming from. Cookies are awesome.
I’d be a were-hummingbird-they’re just cool, and quick!
I’m not sure-the stylish cars aren’t always great in an emergency situation. Maybe Doc Brown’s DeLorean, if I could disable that time-travel feature when I wanted to.
I still miss David Addison from MOONLIGHTING!
Moonlighting!! Yes, FTW! Loved that show. Great answers, Trix. Thanks!
What is the best thing about finishing a book?
Fun question, Debra. I derive a tremendous sense of satisfaction from finishing a novel and seeing my creative vision realized. Novels take months to complete, and as with any long-term project, the writing of one is a study in highs and lows, fertile times and periods that feel like nothing but a slog through swamp mud. Completing that process, coming out on the other side with something tangible and real and — dare we think it? — good even, is just a tremendous feeling.
The werecreatures in the Fearsson novels change from human form into their totem animals and take on the natural characteristics of those animals. No superhuman strength, no monsters tainting the innocent with their bites. So, if you were some sort of Were in my world, what animal would you become when you shifted?
Dragons or phoenix - sorry about preferring the mythological - but it more fascinating
Private investigators in books and movies seem to always have some sort of fancy car or motorcycle — Jay Fearsson drives a silver 1977 280Z. What would be your PI fantasy vehicle?
Motorcycles are cool
Who is your favorite private eye in books, movies, or TV (aside from Justis Fearsson, of course g)?
Jason Bourne legacy,Nikita the movie and the original tv series , Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Keen from blacklist, but I also to love George Bulman and Sherlock
Sarit, there is nothing wrong with answering with mythical creatures. I love the idea of a weredragon! I’m not a motorcycle guy myself, but I know plenty who are. And Jane Yellowrock, the heroine in a wonderful urban fantasy by my friend Faith Hunter, rides a motorcycle she calls Bitsa, because it’s put back together with bitsa this and bitsa that . . . Nice choices on the private eyes. Thanks for the answers!
Thank you too for the patience…. I didn’t read Faith Hunter’ book but now they are on my endless list.
She’ll be glad to hear that!
Any advice or suggestions on creating a well rounded character, not flat and boring?
Wow, Ann, great question, though one that could literally fill books. I work hard at filling in background information on my characters as I develop them. I want to know everything about them, from what they look like, to where they come from, to what their childhoods were like. Think of the things that have shaped who you are as a person — your family background, your past loves, your past jobs, the friends you’ve known, the experiences that have shaped your outlook on the world — and then build all those sorts of things into a personal history for your character. I’m not saying give them the same experiences as you’ve had. Not at all. But I am saying that you should look for that kind of complexity to their history, so that their lives are as rich as yours. And make sure you give your characters at least one good secret. Sometimes the things that shape us most are things we’re least likely to share with others. I hope that helps a bit.
Is there a genre you’ve thought about writing in, but haven’t for whatever reason?
Thanks for the question, Fox. I have never published anything in plain, straight ahead literary fiction, and I think that might be fun to do at some point. And I’ve also thought it would be lots of fun to write a real-world political thriller — no magic or speculative fiction elements at all. Someday, maybe.
Please share 3 unique things about yourself with us — thanks
Three unique things: Well, I don’t know if these are unique, but they’re certainly not things that most of my fans know.
1. I’m an avid birdwatcher and butterfly watcher, and actually run the annual butterfly census here in my home town in conjunction with the North American Butterfly Association.
2. I’m an avid amateur nature photographer and have shown work in galleries and even had a one man exhibition several years back.
3. I play guitar and sing, and was in a band in college that performed quite a bit. I recently performed with one of my old band mates — my first public gig in about twenty years. And it was really fun. I’m hoping to do more performing in the near future.
You have a background in history. I gather from your answers that you also have some background in natural science/ biology? Please explain! (says the biologist in me…
)
Susanne, I am a lifelong birder and nature enthusiast. I’ve been birdwatching since I was 7 years old. So that lies at the root of my interest in natural science. My Ph.D. was actually in environmental history, and so part of what I studied was the interaction between human activity and natural phenomena — climate, terrain, flora and fauna. And finally, I am married (24 years now) to a biology professor. She is a comparative vertebrate physiologist who specializes in herpetology.
That’s really great! I specialized in functional anatomy of vertebrates and did my thesis on the comparative functional anatomy of newly discovered fish species in Ethiopia.
And now… I give policy advice on urban tree management….
1. wolf
2. mustang or gto
3 Columbo
Great answers, Jo Anne. I was a huge fan of Columbo. Thanks!
Is there a genre you have not written in yet that you would like to?
Political thrillers is one that I mentioned above when asked about this. That’s probably the one I’d be most excited to try. Thanks for asking!
Do you have any writing or reading rituals?
Well, I read every morning while I work out. And that workout if part of my daily routine that I need before I can sit down to write. When I finish a book, I go through the manuscript with a list of my “crutch” words — words I know that I use too often and need to get rid of. I don’t consider a book done until I’ve finished that process.
Are there any other genres you would have an interest in writing ?
Political thrillers.
Who has been the most supportive of your writing?
Definitely my wife. She has been supportive from the very beginning, and in fact, she was the one who first urged me to start writing when I was having doubts about my academic career. I had been talking for years about wanting to write a novel and she basically said, “So do it. You have the time right now, we don’t need the money. Write!” I did, and the rest is history. She makes more than I do still, but she doesn’t care. She knows I’m pursuing my passion, and she likes my work. I am truly, truly blessed, and I’m grateful for her every day.
1. The werecreatures in the Fearsson novels change from human form into their totem animals and take on the natural characteristics of those animals. No superhuman strength, no monsters tainting the innocent with their bites. So, if you were some sort of Were in my world, what animal would you become when you shifted?
I would prolly be some kind of big cat like a lion or tiger
2.Private investigators in books and movies seem to always have some sort of fancy car or motorcycle — Jay Fearsson drives a silver 1977 280Z. What would be your PI fantasy vehicle?
1967 Chevrolet Impala like in Supernatural maybe
3. Who is your favorite private eye in books, movies, or TV (aside from Justis Fearsson, of course g)?
My very first and prolly my favorite would be Nancy Drew, but recently it would be Captain Sharon Raydor from Major Crimes.
Great answers. Thanks, Amy!
Your series sound good. Do you have any fur babies and what are their names?
Thank you, Lisa. I assume “fur babies” means pets. We used to have a dog — a wonderful mutt named Buddy. But he died several years back. And before him, I had a calico cat named Samantha. Now we just have our daughters, Alex who’s 20, and Erin who’s 16.
1. Standard Poodle
2. Mustang Convertible red tan interior
3. Diagnosis Murder the doc
Thanks for the replies!
Howdy Hoe from South Dakota David. There are a lot of Native Americans her & I love to learn about their history, culture, legends & beliefs. My question is why do your shifters have no superpowers? I have always loved BEAR totem with their strength & cuddly cuteness, even thou they could rip a bum a n apart. I am n July t a big car person, but a 70s Volkswagen Thing (with polka dots) would be my pick for its UGLY-UNIQUENESS! Ttyl8r banks for sharing your books with us & the GIVEAWAY rocks, too.
Hi, Patty. Thanks for the comment and question. I chose to give my shifters no power because it struck me as a different approach to magic, one that we don’t often see in fantasy. The weremystes are sorcerers, but the weres can only shift — that’s their power. And as a result, they are exploited and bullied by those who would misuse power. It seemed like an interesting dynamic to create and explore.
Thanks for the answers to the prompt questions!
If you could have three folks living, dead, real, or imaginary who would they and why?
Hi, PamK. Um . . . have them for what?
If I could meet three people? I would probably go with Thomas Jefferson, a historical figure who has always fascinated me. J.R.R. Tolkien would be fun to meet — I’d like to take writing and fantasy with him. And I am a huge James Taylor fan and I would love to meet him and play guitar with him.
oops sorry I meant to say dinner.
1. I thought about a were eagle but I am leery of heights so I’m going with a were dolphin. I love swimming so that would be good.
2. a 1966 mustang convertible candy apple red. or a viper.
3. Magnum PI
Great answers, thanks!
who is your favorite author?
My favorite author is probably Guy Gavriel Kay, a fantasy author whose work I really admire. His novel, TIGANA, may be my favorite fantasy of all time. After Kay, I would have a hard time choosing. There are so many whose work I love, and if I were to try to name them all I would certainly leave someone off. So I’ll just go with Kay. Thanks for the question!
wheres your favorite place to write
Hi, Amanda. I remember you asking me this a couple of weeks ago when I was here as D.B. Jackson promoting Dead Man’s Reach. As I mentioned then, my favorite place to write is kind of boring: It’s my hoe office, where I’m surrounded by my books and trinkets, and have access to my music. I will say, though, that I was forced to work away from home for several days because I had to drive my daughter up to Nashville for a theater class. There I worked in Nashville Public Library, which is an amazing place. Beautiful building, comfortable work spaces, and an outdoor courtyard, complete with gardens and fountain, in the center where I had my lunches each day. That was a great spot. Thanks for asking and for stopping by the book launch!
Do you have a favorite book that you’ve written?
What are you reading right now? and do you read the same type of books you write?
From any of your books, what has been one of your favorite scenes, or types of scenes, to write?
Are there any books that you’ve read that you absolutely hated?
Have your job experiences ever found a way into your books? What was the worst job you ever had?
1) A cat, it’s my totem animal:)
2) some sleek sports car, but it would be too conspicuous for stake-outs
3) Sherlock Holmes (from the books), but I like Benedict Cumberbach’s version too.
What is your favorite movie?
1.I’d probably go with a big cat like a leopard.
2 no clue…not a car poison at all
3. She’s not a PI but a cop. But she still solved crimes…Eve Dallas from JD Robb’s In Death series.
What things inspired to to write books ?
Who would be your dream casting for Jay if your series was made into a movie?
To answer your questions :
1. Probably a big difference between what I’d like to be and what I actually would turn in to. I’d love to turn in to a tiger. They are such beautiful and majestical creatures. But I’d probably be a domestic cat. Not so bad, I do love naps.
2. Funny when I read the question I pictured myself in a mini minor. Not so flash, but less likely to stand out when I’m investigating.
3. I know he’s not technically a private eye (although he does have his PI licence), but Richard Castle from the tv show Castle. Cute, cheeky, funny, loyal and smart!
Tell us 5 things we may not know about your writing life…
Who are some of your favorite fictional characters? Have you used any as inspiration for your own characters?