Ask the Author: Jason Franks
Answered Questions (4)
Jason Franks
This is like that question about using your wish to ask a genie for additional wishes, isn't it?
Presuming that I had the ability to traverse shadows, I'd go to Amber--from where I could travel to any place that I could imagine.
Presuming that I had the ability to traverse shadows, I'd go to Amber--from where I could travel to any place that I could imagine.
Jason Franks
Superstitions, no.
My routines have changed as my life has changed. When I was a student I would write whenever I could. I was always sneaking into a computer lab to try to smack out some paragraphs.
At my first job, if the fever was upon mine I would email paragraphs to myself when my manager wasn't looking. He used to sit about a meter away from me and spent half the day looking over my shoulder so that was tough!
I wrote a big chunk of both Bloody Waters and Faerie Apocalypse while I was staying with my Aunt Celia in Ottawa. I'd do three or four sessions a day, alternating projects, before and after lunch, sitting at her dining table with my laptop open and the radio on. (106.9 FM The Bear!) In between writing sessions I spent time applying for jobs all over North America. I have very fond memories of that time.
When I lived in Florida I would write after work. I had my CD collection again so I would listen to that, and I would usually have the TV on as well.
When I moved back to Australia I had, for the first time, my own home office. No TV in there, so I would listen to whatever I had in itunes or nothing. I worked from home for a company overseas for a long time so I had strange hours, then, and I would write at whatever time of the day I felt like it.
Since I got married I share the office with my wife, so I no longer listen to music while I write. I write mostly at night, now, after our son has gone to sleep.
My routines have changed as my life has changed. When I was a student I would write whenever I could. I was always sneaking into a computer lab to try to smack out some paragraphs.
At my first job, if the fever was upon mine I would email paragraphs to myself when my manager wasn't looking. He used to sit about a meter away from me and spent half the day looking over my shoulder so that was tough!
I wrote a big chunk of both Bloody Waters and Faerie Apocalypse while I was staying with my Aunt Celia in Ottawa. I'd do three or four sessions a day, alternating projects, before and after lunch, sitting at her dining table with my laptop open and the radio on. (106.9 FM The Bear!) In between writing sessions I spent time applying for jobs all over North America. I have very fond memories of that time.
When I lived in Florida I would write after work. I had my CD collection again so I would listen to that, and I would usually have the TV on as well.
When I moved back to Australia I had, for the first time, my own home office. No TV in there, so I would listen to whatever I had in itunes or nothing. I worked from home for a company overseas for a long time so I had strange hours, then, and I would write at whatever time of the day I felt like it.
Since I got married I share the office with my wife, so I no longer listen to music while I write. I write mostly at night, now, after our son has gone to sleep.
Jason Franks
I am currently working on several projects.
The first is a multi-genre novel called XDA Zai Through the Unfolded Earth, which is about an assassin who travels to places that are inaccessible, impossible or sometimes even imaginary in order to ply his trade--and take lots of photographs. This book is almost complete and I hope to have it pitch-ready by early 2016.
Next I am working on an urban fantasy novel called Sorrow, which is a contemporary retelling of the Irish myth about Deirdre of the Sorrows. I am planning this to be the first book in a trilogy, each of which focuses on a different hero of from Ulster cycle. The second novel, Torque, will be a reimagining of Cuchulain, and the final book will probably be about Seancha.
I am also working on the second issue of the second volume of McBlack. This book is very late due to blowouts in the schedule for The Sixsmiths, but Underbelly Comics, who are contracted to publish a collection of both volumes, have been very patient with me and I'm aiming for the first half of next year. With the demise of Black House Comics I will be self-publishing the single issues in the meantime.
The first is a multi-genre novel called XDA Zai Through the Unfolded Earth, which is about an assassin who travels to places that are inaccessible, impossible or sometimes even imaginary in order to ply his trade--and take lots of photographs. This book is almost complete and I hope to have it pitch-ready by early 2016.
Next I am working on an urban fantasy novel called Sorrow, which is a contemporary retelling of the Irish myth about Deirdre of the Sorrows. I am planning this to be the first book in a trilogy, each of which focuses on a different hero of from Ulster cycle. The second novel, Torque, will be a reimagining of Cuchulain, and the final book will probably be about Seancha.
I am also working on the second issue of the second volume of McBlack. This book is very late due to blowouts in the schedule for The Sixsmiths, but Underbelly Comics, who are contracted to publish a collection of both volumes, have been very patient with me and I'm aiming for the first half of next year. With the demise of Black House Comics I will be self-publishing the single issues in the meantime.
Jason Franks
I really don't suffer from writer's block, because I always have multiple projects going.
That's not to say that I don't ever get tired or stuck in the middle of a story, but when that happens I will just switch out what I'm doing so I'm still productive. It's much easier to solve problems when you're fresh, and usually I find that when I come back to it there's an obvious answer. It's rare that I get stuck on some story point for more than one writing session.
That's not to say that I don't ever get tired or stuck in the middle of a story, but when that happens I will just switch out what I'm doing so I'm still productive. It's much easier to solve problems when you're fresh, and usually I find that when I come back to it there's an obvious answer. It's rare that I get stuck on some story point for more than one writing session.
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