Ask the Author: Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Answered Questions (23)
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Wow. I have no idea how I missed this question until now. I am so sorry.
For certain, you can find my paperbacks on Amazon in any country. Other than that, Waterstones is the best bet for the UK, but I don't know for the rest of Europe.
For certain, you can find my paperbacks on Amazon in any country. Other than that, Waterstones is the best bet for the UK, but I don't know for the rest of Europe.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
My Wizardoms books are all connected, and while you CAN start with either series, the events in Fall of Wizardoms follow those in Fate of Wizardoms, so I suggest starting at Eye of Obscurance. Don't forget that I offer FREE novellas related to the series that add character depth and reveal the origins of magical objects involved in the main story.
For my Issalia books, Runes of Issalia comes first, followed by Wardens of Issalia. Rogue Legacy, an Issalia prequel novel, can be read at any time. ICON, my only Issalia novella takes place in between the two series.
For my Issalia books, Runes of Issalia comes first, followed by Wardens of Issalia. Rogue Legacy, an Issalia prequel novel, can be read at any time. ICON, my only Issalia novella takes place in between the two series.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Depends on your preference. If you enjoy coming of age fantasy like The Belgariad or Riftwar, check out The Buried Symbol, book one in Runes of Issalia. If you prefer adult fantasy with a larger cast and a bit of humor mixed in, check out Eye of Obscurance, book one in Fate of Wizardoms. It's sort of a mix between Wheel of Time and Lies of Locke Lamora.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Both of my Issalia series are clean and great for anyone who can read at a Harry Potter level. The Wizardoms books are more adult in nature with nudity and innuendo, but no on-page sex.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
I am thrilled to have readers like yourself who are willing to join me and my characters on these crazy adventures. Sorry for the late reply. GR needs to notify us authors a bit better so we don't miss this stuff.
Best wishes,
Jeff
Best wishes,
Jeff
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
You wake and discover you are in a wooden box, the space too tight to even roll over. It's dark, and nobody can hear your screams.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
I am enamored with the world Robert Jordan created in his Wheel of Time series. I would love to go there and spend an evening in a tavern with Mat Cauthon. You never know what will happen with him around.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
With the revisions and edits I go through, I couldn't imagine writing my hand. I write on a laptop, pretty much anywhere and everywhere. I travel a lot and have written many pages on planes, in airports and hotels, and in over a dozen countries.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Unsouled by Will Wight, Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw, Sufficient Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe, Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan, and more...
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
It's a mystery how it too me four decades to realize that writing fantasy fiction is my true calling.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
I enjoy reading about couples who have a spirited relationship that includes banter and a sense of comedy. A prime example would be Mat and Tuon from Jordan's Wheel of Time series.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
I know Hoyt Lakes well. My Aunt& Uncle lived there in the 70s/80s.
We go back to MN about once a year. That's enough for me. I love SoCal despite the traffic.
We go back to MN about once a year. That's enough for me. I love SoCal despite the traffic.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
The audiobook version of The Emblem Throne is in the works and is due to release sometime in March. Stay tuned!
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Thanks for the review! I'm glad that you enjoyed The Buried Symbol.
I grew up just 30 miles from you, in Babbitt, MN. I too moved away from the cold about 12 years ago and now live in sunny southern California.
Regarding your last question, I don't write under any other pen names. The Runes of Issalia series is my first published work and the third book of the trilogy is set to release in April 2017 (I just finished writing it last week). Beyond that, I've got more stories to tell.
I grew up just 30 miles from you, in Babbitt, MN. I too moved away from the cold about 12 years ago and now live in sunny southern California.
Regarding your last question, I don't write under any other pen names. The Runes of Issalia series is my first published work and the third book of the trilogy is set to release in April 2017 (I just finished writing it last week). Beyond that, I've got more stories to tell.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Learning how to deal with the opposite sex is an issue that most teens go through. For Brock, it all comes at once after he receives a rune. Due to societal prejudice, girls with runes never paid attention to him when they saw him as Unchosen. In fact, the only women in his life since his mother's death had been Ellie and Sally. Accordingly, he was unfamiliar in dealing with girls and I wanted the reader to understand how he felt during his first encounter with a female. Though he was attracted to Meg, he felt flustered by her aggressive behavior and didn't understand how his body was reacting. Before he had a rune, Meg wouldn't have given him a second glance. It isn't because she is snobby, she is simply conditioned to see Unchosen differently than someone with a rune, particularly someone with the rune that Brock selected.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
No ordinary member of society understands why some children remain Unchosen. In fact, very few members of the Ministry understand why, they simply see it as God's will and don't give it much thought. Unless alerted to citizens receiving fake runes through body art (tattoos), they have no reason to actively police the issue. They preach body art as evil in Issal's eyes and expect the people to believe it and follow their teachings.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
The very thought of getting ANY form of tattoo in Issalian society is taught to be profane and against God's will in addition to being a crime punishable by death. This is similar to the act of murder in our society. You can't just go murder somebody because you don't like him or her. If caught, you will go to prison or be executed. Even if you aren't caught, you will go to hell for your sin. Accordingly, most Unchosen the never consider anything else.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
The Ministry is a theocracy, guiding all religious beliefs in addition to the governmental laws that rule Empire society. They tell the people how to live in this life if they want to make God (Issal) happy and receive a better lot in the next life. Shortly after birth, the children of Issalia undergo a Choosing ceremony, where they are gifted a rune through MAGIC means, marking them for their path in life. A very small number (1%) of these children go Unchosen, left to live a life below the lowest rung of society. The Ministry dictates that Unchosen have no rights to property or to due process, treating them as something less than human.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Words and symbols have great meaning in our world, directing our actions every day. My idea was to create a world where symbols have inherent meaning not just to people, but to how the world itself functions. Combine that with a controlling theocratic government that brands newborns with runes at birth, designating their path in life, and you have the basis for my story.
Being one of the rare individuals who has no rune, my main character is doomed to a meaningless existence. He is the consummate underdog (I love underdogs), and opts to commit the capital offense obtaining a fake ruin in hopes for a better future for himself. When he finds a symbol that has been erased from everyone's knowledge, it exposes a powerful magic that will surely change the world.
Being one of the rare individuals who has no rune, my main character is doomed to a meaningless existence. He is the consummate underdog (I love underdogs), and opts to commit the capital offense obtaining a fake ruin in hopes for a better future for himself. When he finds a symbol that has been erased from everyone's knowledge, it exposes a powerful magic that will surely change the world.
Jeffrey L. Kohanek
I take a break from it, opting to tackle something else for a while as the problem bounces around in the back of my thoughts until I have a breakthrough. When it comes, I get super energized and have to get the words on paper. More than once, I have woken up at 4am and just began to type because I HAD to get the words on paper.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more