Ask the Author: Harry James Fox
Answered Questions (9)
Harry James Fox
Hi Marie,
When I started the first draft of the books, long before the "Left Behind" series, I had intended them to be a novel of the last days as discussed in the book of Revelation. Later, I decided not to go that way, and make them somewhat suggestive of Revelation, but not an explicit fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
Still, much of the language of Revelation sounds like a future conflict fought with ancient weapons. I realize that this could be figurative language, but then I thought, "Why not take it literally?" Taken literally, it sounds like our civilization would collapse and revert to pre-modern technology. So that was the reason that I decided to write a novel of a possible future that looks somewhat like the Medieval past.
I hope that is at least a partial answer to your excellent question.
Best,
Jim (Harry James Fox)
When I started the first draft of the books, long before the "Left Behind" series, I had intended them to be a novel of the last days as discussed in the book of Revelation. Later, I decided not to go that way, and make them somewhat suggestive of Revelation, but not an explicit fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
Still, much of the language of Revelation sounds like a future conflict fought with ancient weapons. I realize that this could be figurative language, but then I thought, "Why not take it literally?" Taken literally, it sounds like our civilization would collapse and revert to pre-modern technology. So that was the reason that I decided to write a novel of a possible future that looks somewhat like the Medieval past.
I hope that is at least a partial answer to your excellent question.
Best,
Jim (Harry James Fox)
Harry James Fox
I think the main thing I would say is the oldest cliche of all, but that does not mean that it is wrong. I would say that the best thing for a writer to do is read and write. Make a point of reading good literature. Make a point of writing, ideally writing something every day. Put your work aside and let it cool down. Then read it with a critical eye and try to improve it.
Make a point of learning the "rules" of good writing. There is plenty of good advice on the internet. That does not mean that you can't break the rules, but a good writer needs to know when he is breaking them and know the reason why.
Make a point of learning the "rules" of good writing. There is plenty of good advice on the internet. That does not mean that you can't break the rules, but a good writer needs to know when he is breaking them and know the reason why.
Harry James Fox
I would like to travel to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, about the time that Bilbo has his birthday party. I would enjoy meeting the hobbits, elves and of course, Gandalf the Gray. I would be very interested in learning exactly what the heck Wizards were. My theory is that they were some kind of angelic beings, incarnated as guides to the righteous and to restrain evil. But they were obviously subject to temptations, such as the lust for power. I am sure that Gandalf could set me straight on this.
Harry James Fox
For one thing, I don't need outside sources to entertain myself. I can create imaginary worlds and immerse myself in them. Another word for daydreaming, I suppose.
Harry James Fox
I am not sure that I have a great problem with writer's block, exactly. I do have a problem with procrastination. But when I get around to writing, the words always seem to come easily enough.
Harry James Fox
One mystery is my grandfather, Samuel Elijah Hale. He died when my mother was young, leaving my mother an orphan. A horse kicked him and he died at age 46. I have never been able to learn much about him, other than that he was born on Christmas day, 1880 in Nashville, TN. It would be interesting to know who his parents were and something about his early life I suppose this mystery could form a plot for a book.
Harry James Fox
What works for me is to visualize a scene. I can do this while I am driving or doing any kind of daily activity. It is very much like daydreaming. Then when I have the scene visualized and can see it in my mind, I sit down at the keyboard and write what I see. In the case of dialogue, i write what I hear being spoken. This gives me the first draft of the scene. I assemble the scenes into chapters and so on.
Sometimes, when I write a scene, the images come to life, and I can get a good run involving several scenes in a series.
Editing is the hard part, because it sometimes involves deleting entire scenes that really do not advance the plot. I have a hard time dropping well-written text. A good editor can help here.
Sometimes, when I write a scene, the images come to life, and I can get a good run involving several scenes in a series.
Editing is the hard part, because it sometimes involves deleting entire scenes that really do not advance the plot. I have a hard time dropping well-written text. A good editor can help here.
Harry James Fox
I wanted to explore the idea of a person with essentially a modern point of view being faced with the challenges, customs and dangers of essentially a medieval society. This led to the idea of a future North America, a century from now and a young man raised as a scholar, with a sheltered existence having to face that world. I set the tale in Colorado, but a Colorado very different from now. The mountains, animals, and vegetation are much the same, but our buildings and roads have pretty much crumbled away. It turned into a love story, but one with action and adventure. It has a Christian world-view.
Harry James Fox
I am working on a sequel to my novel "The Stonegate Sword." It will continue the story of Don and Rachel and the advancing army of the Prophet towards Stonegate.
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