June 27, 2012
Enter to Win: Goodreads Giveaway
I've set up a giveaway for my book over on goodreads.com. There are 5 available copies in this particular giveaway, go check it out! All you have to do is click on the button to enter!
June 13, 2012
Why Fantasy?
I have often had people ask me, "Why Fantasy?" when they find out what I write. Why write in the fantasy genre? Well the answer is complex.
1. I love reading fantasy. It is my favorite genre to read. It is the genre I am most familiar with. It began with my dad reading me "The Hobbit" and "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Chronicles of Narnia" and other books like that, and I was hooked on fantasy for life. I would never want to write something I wasn't interested in reading, so fantasy is a safe bet.
2. Write what you know. According to most writers, you're supposed to "write what you know." Well, I know fantasy.
3. Fantasy is a wildly misunderstood genre. Although it is gaining in popularity since the advent of Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings movies by Peter Jackson, fantasy is still a genre that is often given a bad rap. It is often written off as "stories about magic and dragons" but Fantasy is so much more than that.
Fantasy is about adventure. It often contains battles, sword-fights, and a quest of some kind.
Fantasy is about heroes. It contains complex characters, often with a lot of depth and back-story. The fantastical elements of the story are often contained to the setting (the world the story is set in, the physical laws of that world: e.g. the existence of magic, or mythical creatures, or the fact that the world is flat and could not exist in our universe as a habitable place) and circumstances (such as poor Harry being forced to live in a closet by his aunt and uncle, or the Pevensie children finding an alternate world in the back of a wardrobe), while the characters themselves are very realistic. Fantasy is about hope and overcoming seemingly unbeatable odds. It is about persevering in the face of enormous obstacles. It is about loyalty and trust and often depicts strong friendships that survive despite complications and hurdles along the way.
Fantasy often contains some sort of redemption story, and almost always has some sort of happy (or at least satisfying) ending. As Oscar Wilde wrote: "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily, that is what fiction means." However, as more and more fiction these days ends with cliffhangers, and the bad guy winning, or the good guy dying... it would seem more appropriate to insert the word "fantasy" in the place of "fiction" in this quote, in order for it to ring true.
4. There is a sad lack of "clean" fantasy out there. Growing up in a family that read together, it was often difficult to find stories in our favorite genre that was also age-appropriate for four young children. My dad would sometimes have to skim over whole paragraphs when reading out loud to us, continuing the book because the overall story was good, despite there being some not-so-good parts in the story. Trying to come up with fantasy fiction that I can recommend to friends who have young children with high reading-levels is often a frustrating exercise, because the fact of the matter is: there are some really good stories out there... but they contain inappropriate content for younger audiences.
These are just a few of the main reasons behind why I write fantasy. Because I love it. Because it contains themes worth writing about, reading about, and discussing. Because it reflects the ultimate end of time when all that is good ends happily and all that is bad ends unhappily. And because there is a gap in fantasy fiction that needs to be filled: a gap of books that needs to be written so that families can read adventure stories together without fear and recommend books to friends without hesitation.
So, really, why NOT fantasy?
1. I love reading fantasy. It is my favorite genre to read. It is the genre I am most familiar with. It began with my dad reading me "The Hobbit" and "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Chronicles of Narnia" and other books like that, and I was hooked on fantasy for life. I would never want to write something I wasn't interested in reading, so fantasy is a safe bet.
2. Write what you know. According to most writers, you're supposed to "write what you know." Well, I know fantasy.
3. Fantasy is a wildly misunderstood genre. Although it is gaining in popularity since the advent of Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings movies by Peter Jackson, fantasy is still a genre that is often given a bad rap. It is often written off as "stories about magic and dragons" but Fantasy is so much more than that.
Fantasy is about adventure. It often contains battles, sword-fights, and a quest of some kind.
Fantasy is about heroes. It contains complex characters, often with a lot of depth and back-story. The fantastical elements of the story are often contained to the setting (the world the story is set in, the physical laws of that world: e.g. the existence of magic, or mythical creatures, or the fact that the world is flat and could not exist in our universe as a habitable place) and circumstances (such as poor Harry being forced to live in a closet by his aunt and uncle, or the Pevensie children finding an alternate world in the back of a wardrobe), while the characters themselves are very realistic. Fantasy is about hope and overcoming seemingly unbeatable odds. It is about persevering in the face of enormous obstacles. It is about loyalty and trust and often depicts strong friendships that survive despite complications and hurdles along the way.
Fantasy often contains some sort of redemption story, and almost always has some sort of happy (or at least satisfying) ending. As Oscar Wilde wrote: "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily, that is what fiction means." However, as more and more fiction these days ends with cliffhangers, and the bad guy winning, or the good guy dying... it would seem more appropriate to insert the word "fantasy" in the place of "fiction" in this quote, in order for it to ring true.
4. There is a sad lack of "clean" fantasy out there. Growing up in a family that read together, it was often difficult to find stories in our favorite genre that was also age-appropriate for four young children. My dad would sometimes have to skim over whole paragraphs when reading out loud to us, continuing the book because the overall story was good, despite there being some not-so-good parts in the story. Trying to come up with fantasy fiction that I can recommend to friends who have young children with high reading-levels is often a frustrating exercise, because the fact of the matter is: there are some really good stories out there... but they contain inappropriate content for younger audiences.
These are just a few of the main reasons behind why I write fantasy. Because I love it. Because it contains themes worth writing about, reading about, and discussing. Because it reflects the ultimate end of time when all that is good ends happily and all that is bad ends unhappily. And because there is a gap in fantasy fiction that needs to be filled: a gap of books that needs to be written so that families can read adventure stories together without fear and recommend books to friends without hesitation.
So, really, why NOT fantasy?
May 08, 2012
Blogger Review
I have taken part in a couple of various "blogger review" programs, and decided that I should host my own version of it.
A few days ago I posted on my fan-page that I had 10 copies of my book available for free to the first 10 people to email me their address at jenelle.l.schmidt at gmail dot com. These free copies do come with a bit of fine print: you must be willing to read the book and then write a review to post on amazon and goodreads (and/or other sites such as barnesandnoble or on your own blog, if you are not familiar with goodreads).
Well... I still have FOUR (4) free copies to give out for my "blogger review" program, so if you are interested there is still time to send me your mailing address and I will send you a copy of my book!
A few days ago I posted on my fan-page that I had 10 copies of my book available for free to the first 10 people to email me their address at jenelle.l.schmidt at gmail dot com. These free copies do come with a bit of fine print: you must be willing to read the book and then write a review to post on amazon and goodreads (and/or other sites such as barnesandnoble or on your own blog, if you are not familiar with goodreads).
Well... I still have FOUR (4) free copies to give out for my "blogger review" program, so if you are interested there is still time to send me your mailing address and I will send you a copy of my book!
May 02, 2012
Update
Blogger has changed its user interface all around, and I got behind on my blogging, and now I'm getting even more behind because I have to learn how to use blogger all over again, hence the lack of posting in the past week-ish.
I still have posts coming about:
"Why the Fantasy Genre?"
and
"Do you come up with themes first? Or do they just happen naturally as you write the story?" - a question I got from a former student and I thought it was an interesting question, because I really had to think about the answer.
I also have an actual website in the works (and it is going to look awesome!) Hopefully I'll be able to share that with you soon and move this blog over there.
I also have to send a copy of my book to my library (now that I have copies on hand) and hope that they accept it into their circulation. If they do, I am hopeful that I will be able to have a book signing there maybe this summer. I will keep you apprised of those plans and happenings.
Also, if you are in the Raleigh, NC area and would like a signed copy of my book at a discounted price of $12, please let me know and we can arrange a way for you to get your copy.
If you live in the Wheaton, IL area and would like one of these discounted copies, I will be in town May 17-27. Let me know if you want to buy a copy and I'll make sure to bring one for you!
I think that's all I've got for now. Have a great rest of the week!
I still have posts coming about:
"Why the Fantasy Genre?"
and
"Do you come up with themes first? Or do they just happen naturally as you write the story?" - a question I got from a former student and I thought it was an interesting question, because I really had to think about the answer.
I also have an actual website in the works (and it is going to look awesome!) Hopefully I'll be able to share that with you soon and move this blog over there.
I also have to send a copy of my book to my library (now that I have copies on hand) and hope that they accept it into their circulation. If they do, I am hopeful that I will be able to have a book signing there maybe this summer. I will keep you apprised of those plans and happenings.
Also, if you are in the Raleigh, NC area and would like a signed copy of my book at a discounted price of $12, please let me know and we can arrange a way for you to get your copy.
If you live in the Wheaton, IL area and would like one of these discounted copies, I will be in town May 17-27. Let me know if you want to buy a copy and I'll make sure to bring one for you!
I think that's all I've got for now. Have a great rest of the week!
April 23, 2012
"Is your book 'Christian Fiction'"?
No.
And yes.
No, my book is Fantasy Fiction. It is neither an allegory, nor was it written intentionally to be a witnessing or evangelizing tool, nor was it written only for other Christians. The story is first and foremost an adventure tale. It is first and foremost a story, written to entertain.
However, I am first and foremost a Christian; I am an author second. My relationship with Jesus Christ is so much a part of who and what I am that I cannot separate it out from my writing.
The themes and character traits that I value and think about show up in my books. For example: In my books, there is a "creator" that some of the characters acknowledge and follow and serve, he is called Cruithaor Elchiyl (which means "Almighty Creator") and although he takes no visible part in the story, his hand is at work throughout the series and becomes apparent even more so in the fourth and final book (I cannot reveal more without giving away far too much). I tried to follow the example set forth by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien - to acknowledge the need in any world for a Creator, but I also tried to keep "religion" out of the mix of my story except for subtle touches and references here and there that show up because of who I am and what I believe.
And yes.
No, my book is Fantasy Fiction. It is neither an allegory, nor was it written intentionally to be a witnessing or evangelizing tool, nor was it written only for other Christians. The story is first and foremost an adventure tale. It is first and foremost a story, written to entertain.
However, I am first and foremost a Christian; I am an author second. My relationship with Jesus Christ is so much a part of who and what I am that I cannot separate it out from my writing.
The themes and character traits that I value and think about show up in my books. For example: In my books, there is a "creator" that some of the characters acknowledge and follow and serve, he is called Cruithaor Elchiyl (which means "Almighty Creator") and although he takes no visible part in the story, his hand is at work throughout the series and becomes apparent even more so in the fourth and final book (I cannot reveal more without giving away far too much). I tried to follow the example set forth by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien - to acknowledge the need in any world for a Creator, but I also tried to keep "religion" out of the mix of my story except for subtle touches and references here and there that show up because of who I am and what I believe.
April 20, 2012
"What are some of the themes in your book?"
Unlike the previous two, this question is an easy one for me to answer. The themes in my book sort of unfolded naturally. In other words, I didn't think up a bunch of themes and then try to write a story around them, I wrote a story, and the themes slipped their way in.
1. Good versus Evil - this is a theme that can often be found in fantasy fiction (as well as many other genres), the battle between the "good guy" and the "bad guy." "Evil" in this case is a little bit more complex by the end of the book, as the "bad guy" is not just evil for evil's sake: he has been surrounded by corrupt councilors who are only interested in attaining personal power, he has made some bad decisions in the past that have served to drive him to the brink of madness, and he has been consumed by a jealousy that has driven him to seek revenge where none was truly warranted. None of this excuses his decisions and actions, which just makes those actions all the more evil because he and others have attempted to rationalize his choices.
2. Revenge versus Forgiveness - not as big of a theme in the book, but it definitely plays a part. Is revenge ever okay? Is there ever a point where an "eye for an eye" mentality might be acceptable? Is killing in self-defense or in defense of others ever okay? These are questions that one of the characters deals with throughout the book.
3. Courage versus Fear and Timidity - all of the characters wrestle with fear at different points in the book. What is fear? What is courage? What are the traits of a courageous hero? The story seeks to give some answers to these questions.
4. Heroism, Nobility, Honesty, Strength of Character, Selflessness - these themes appear throughout the book in varying degrees.
5. Loyalty versus Betrayal
I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting, but those are the big ones.
1. Good versus Evil - this is a theme that can often be found in fantasy fiction (as well as many other genres), the battle between the "good guy" and the "bad guy." "Evil" in this case is a little bit more complex by the end of the book, as the "bad guy" is not just evil for evil's sake: he has been surrounded by corrupt councilors who are only interested in attaining personal power, he has made some bad decisions in the past that have served to drive him to the brink of madness, and he has been consumed by a jealousy that has driven him to seek revenge where none was truly warranted. None of this excuses his decisions and actions, which just makes those actions all the more evil because he and others have attempted to rationalize his choices.
2. Revenge versus Forgiveness - not as big of a theme in the book, but it definitely plays a part. Is revenge ever okay? Is there ever a point where an "eye for an eye" mentality might be acceptable? Is killing in self-defense or in defense of others ever okay? These are questions that one of the characters deals with throughout the book.
3. Courage versus Fear and Timidity - all of the characters wrestle with fear at different points in the book. What is fear? What is courage? What are the traits of a courageous hero? The story seeks to give some answers to these questions.
4. Heroism, Nobility, Honesty, Strength of Character, Selflessness - these themes appear throughout the book in varying degrees.
5. Loyalty versus Betrayal
I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting, but those are the big ones.
April 18, 2012
"What is your target audience?"
Also known as "would this book be age-appropriate for my (insert age here) year old?" This is another question that ought to have a simple answer, but it doesn't. Or perhaps it does.
The simple answer is: my target audience is families.
But what does that mean? What age-range will most appreciate my story?
It means that when I wrote the book, my target audience was my 11-year old sister, my 15 and 17-year old brothers, and my parents, who were in their 40s. My dad would read the book out loud to the entire family each night. This is the setting I wrote the book for, specifically.
Alright, but what about families that don't read together? Is there an age this story would not be appropriate for?
In the past, the age-range that has responded the best to this book is 14-17 year olds. The group that has responded almost as well is 11-13 year olds. I have a few friends whose younger children (8-10) have read the books recently, I am curious to hear how they did with the book.
Is there anything in the book you would not want your child(ren) to read?
-There is no coarse language or swearing
-There are no sex scenes or even kissing (except one or two kisses between people who are married (e.g. the king kisses his wife, the queen; Brant kisses his wife at the beginning of the story))
-There is no drinking or drugs (although later in the series a few tankards of ale will make an appearance at an inn... as my dad has informed me that no book can truly be fantasy fiction until someone has "downed a tankard of ale or two")
There is a lot of violence, as it is a story about Aom-igh being invaded by an enemy kingdom.
-Brant's family is murdered in the first chapter.
- Brant kills several Dark Warriors in both self-defense and in defense of those with whom he is traveling.
-There is a battle in Pearl Cove in which Wessel (a tertiary character) ends up dying.
-There is a large battle at the end of the book in which a lot of people and dragons end up dead.
-Brant faces, fights, and ends up killing the King of the Dark Country in one-on-one combat
All of this violence is neither graphic nor gory. I have tried to write battle scenes in the style of Tolkien: enough details to help the reader see what is going on, but with much of it left to the imagination.
In conclusion: the decision about whether or not a child is at an appropriate age to read any given book is a decision that should be made by the parents with their child, and not by the publisher or author. As a parent, you know what your child is capable of reading and what themes your child is capable of dealing with. I have tried here to present an overview of things that might be concerns to a parent, but I am not going to tell anyone that my book is or is not age-appropriate for any particular child: that is your decision to make.
The simple answer is: my target audience is families.
But what does that mean? What age-range will most appreciate my story?
It means that when I wrote the book, my target audience was my 11-year old sister, my 15 and 17-year old brothers, and my parents, who were in their 40s. My dad would read the book out loud to the entire family each night. This is the setting I wrote the book for, specifically.
Alright, but what about families that don't read together? Is there an age this story would not be appropriate for?
Warning: PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD
In the past, the age-range that has responded the best to this book is 14-17 year olds. The group that has responded almost as well is 11-13 year olds. I have a few friends whose younger children (8-10) have read the books recently, I am curious to hear how they did with the book.
Is there anything in the book you would not want your child(ren) to read?
-There is no coarse language or swearing
-There are no sex scenes or even kissing (except one or two kisses between people who are married (e.g. the king kisses his wife, the queen; Brant kisses his wife at the beginning of the story))
-There is no drinking or drugs (although later in the series a few tankards of ale will make an appearance at an inn... as my dad has informed me that no book can truly be fantasy fiction until someone has "downed a tankard of ale or two")
There is a lot of violence, as it is a story about Aom-igh being invaded by an enemy kingdom.
-Brant's family is murdered in the first chapter.
- Brant kills several Dark Warriors in both self-defense and in defense of those with whom he is traveling.
-There is a battle in Pearl Cove in which Wessel (a tertiary character) ends up dying.
-There is a large battle at the end of the book in which a lot of people and dragons end up dead.
-Brant faces, fights, and ends up killing the King of the Dark Country in one-on-one combat
All of this violence is neither graphic nor gory. I have tried to write battle scenes in the style of Tolkien: enough details to help the reader see what is going on, but with much of it left to the imagination.
In conclusion: the decision about whether or not a child is at an appropriate age to read any given book is a decision that should be made by the parents with their child, and not by the publisher or author. As a parent, you know what your child is capable of reading and what themes your child is capable of dealing with. I have tried here to present an overview of things that might be concerns to a parent, but I am not going to tell anyone that my book is or is not age-appropriate for any particular child: that is your decision to make.
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