Ask the Author: James R. Hannibal
Answered Questions (19)
James R. Hannibal
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for the question. That was certainly my intent. But the publisher has not signed me on for a continuation. Meanwhile, God has me writing a ton for Enclave and Lightraiders in our Christian fantasy realm.
In short, the only way for there to be another book in what I intended to be the "Maui Mysteries" series is for word of mouth to spread and make the sales figures more attractive to the publisher. Blessings!
Thanks for the question. That was certainly my intent. But the publisher has not signed me on for a continuation. Meanwhile, God has me writing a ton for Enclave and Lightraiders in our Christian fantasy realm.
In short, the only way for there to be another book in what I intended to be the "Maui Mysteries" series is for word of mouth to spread and make the sales figures more attractive to the publisher. Blessings!
James R. Hannibal
Hi Linette,
At this time, there are no more Section 13 books planned. That doesn't mean there won't be any in the future, but at the moment, the Lightraider Academy series is commanding all of my attention. Thanks for asking!
At this time, there are no more Section 13 books planned. That doesn't mean there won't be any in the future, but at the moment, the Lightraider Academy series is commanding all of my attention. Thanks for asking!
James R. Hannibal
Your welcome? (obligatory Goodreads question mark)
James R. Hannibal
Thanks for asking! The Clockwork Dragon, releasing 5 Feb, is the third title and completes the first story cycle. I would like to write at least three more, but the publisher will need to see a demonstrated demand from readers before committing (so spread the word). In the meantime, I have started work on three new series in two different worlds, including an online, reader-directed YA fantasy growing one chapter per month at Pursue Magazine.
James R. Hannibal
The third book comes out in the Spring of 2019. After that, I hope to write books 4-6 as we take a look at other members of the 13th Generation.
James R. Hannibal
Hi Mimi,
Thanks for asking! There will, in fact, be a #3 with the tentative title of The Clockwork Dragon. I turned in the manuscript to Simon & Schuster yesterday, and it is scheduled for release in the spring of 2019.
Thanks for asking! There will, in fact, be a #3 with the tentative title of The Clockwork Dragon. I turned in the manuscript to Simon & Schuster yesterday, and it is scheduled for release in the spring of 2019.
James R. Hannibal
I would travel to Narnia (through the wardrobe, because paintings come with a danger of drowning) and visit so many wonderful places. But first I would go to Cair Paravel in hopes of seeing Aslan.
James R. Hannibal
This answer contains spoilers…
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James R. Hannibal
Mark of the Plague by Kevin Sands
Dark Light: Dawn by Jon Land
Dark Light: Dawn by Jon Land
James R. Hannibal
In 2001 (before 9/11) a terrorist chased my wife and I down a winding road in Germany. He was what they call a lone wolf, bent on killing an American military family. My wife was driving because we were on our way home from the gym at the other base, and my arms were trashed. She had to swerve back and forth at 70-80 mph to avoid getting shot. We drove past the police station in Bitburg, and the guy fled. He was caught the next day, this time on foot, attacking another military family.
James R. Hannibal
Hi Kathleen,
Great questions. The answer to the first is both "yes" and "no."
In one regard, it was easy for me to transition from black ops thrillers to children's literature because I have always written with my sons in mind. My books for adults have no sex or foul language in them, partly because it's not in me to write that way, and partly because I knew my boys would eventually pick them up. So during the transition to an action/adventure/mystery for kids, I didn't have to worry about that part of my voice. I also managed a middle grade boys book club for the last two years, so that really helped.
Of course, there are other considerations. My wife did her undergrad work in early childhood development, so I have a great advisor. Adults have their experience to lean on as well as fully developed abstract thinking. They fill in details automatically that kids won't. In whatever genre I'm writing, I want to make sure my target audience will be able to see the picture I'm painting, without getting bogged down in too many details. It's a fine line, and the line is in a different place for kids vs. adults.
How do I transition myself? I go for VERY long walks. I will walk 6 to 10 miles each day for several days in a row, up to a week, while I reset my brain. I use the same technique from chapter to chapter on a smaller scale.
Thanks again for asking. I really appreciate the interest.
Great questions. The answer to the first is both "yes" and "no."
In one regard, it was easy for me to transition from black ops thrillers to children's literature because I have always written with my sons in mind. My books for adults have no sex or foul language in them, partly because it's not in me to write that way, and partly because I knew my boys would eventually pick them up. So during the transition to an action/adventure/mystery for kids, I didn't have to worry about that part of my voice. I also managed a middle grade boys book club for the last two years, so that really helped.
Of course, there are other considerations. My wife did her undergrad work in early childhood development, so I have a great advisor. Adults have their experience to lean on as well as fully developed abstract thinking. They fill in details automatically that kids won't. In whatever genre I'm writing, I want to make sure my target audience will be able to see the picture I'm painting, without getting bogged down in too many details. It's a fine line, and the line is in a different place for kids vs. adults.
How do I transition myself? I go for VERY long walks. I will walk 6 to 10 miles each day for several days in a row, up to a week, while I reset my brain. I use the same technique from chapter to chapter on a smaller scale.
Thanks again for asking. I really appreciate the interest.
James R. Hannibal
Sam, sadly Stealth Ops went dark 2 years after Shadow Maker was published. However, I am going to load up the extra story content on the Romeo Seven blog later this week. Thank you for the reminder!
James R. Hannibal
Sam, I was thrilled to get this question. I can't wait to bring the Triple Seven back from the deep black mission they have disappeared into. Unfortunately, I only have so much time (and a day job) and the Lost Property Office has taken priority. I will definitely come back to Nick and the gang, but I hope you'll give Jack a try in the meantime. The Lost Property Office crosses the boundary between steampunk and spies, and comes out this fall.
James R. Hannibal
Start by going to conventions like ThrillerFest—particularly CraftFest at the beginning of the week. Learn all you can about the community of your genre and the craft of writing. Then go and find the Elements of Fiction Writing series. Study it. Learn from established masters. Anyone with a little discipline can put enough words on paper to form a book. If you are going to set yourself apart in this saturated market, you need to become an expert. You need to develop your art to the same degree that a master painter or sculptor develops theirs.
James R. Hannibal
I do something else, usually something physical. I escape into heat and sweat. It's like hitting a reset button in my brain. Then I shower down, get something cold and sweet to drink, and start again.
James R. Hannibal
Shadow Maker is the opus of the Nick Baron series. The idea of Shadow Maker pushed the creation of Wraith and Shadow Catcher before it. This combined idea—four escalating attacks in for different classifications of weaponry and an examination of the far reaching consequences of collateral damage, all wrapped up in a literal and figurative chess match between the hero and a mastermind that he knows he can't beat—was so big that I knew I had to write a couple of books before I took it on. I've been building the series to this point. I hope the readers enjoy it.
James R. Hannibal
I find inspiration everywhere—in the Tube in London, in a forest park in Houston, in something odd that my seven-year-old says to me. Once I have that inspiration, I take it for a walk. I prefer quite settings like park trails or long beaches, but mostly I just have to be in motion. Walking brings my creativity to the surface, and while out on my little journeys I record my thoughts into my smartphone. Tolkien said it best, “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
James R. Hannibal
I have more projects than I can keep up with. The two largest are a potential new series in the covert ops realm, and a Christian adventure discipleship program for teens.
James R. Hannibal
I love having a vehicle with which to create a new reality. I work hard to make every word count, and to piece them together into the best literary product possible, but it is the translation of ideas into paper reality—that formation of something imaginary into something solid—that I love most.
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