Ask the Author: Jonathan Maas
Answered Questions (46)
Jonathan Maas
Sequels are always in the works Becky! In the meantime I'd be more than happy to comp you a few of my others, Kindle and/or signed paperback, no strings attached! Just contact me through Goodreads.
Specifically I'd like to send you the novella Time Capsel, which shows an #EOTWAWKI - or a start of one - from another perspective.
In the meantime thank you for reading! This made my day :)
JMaas
Goodreads.com/JMaas
PS Becky - check out our movie Spanners if you can, which is prequel to Spanners: The Fountain of Youth - it is free on YouTube
https://youtu.be/0dDUlXscdEY?si=8_zlY...
Specifically I'd like to send you the novella Time Capsel, which shows an #EOTWAWKI - or a start of one - from another perspective.
In the meantime thank you for reading! This made my day :)
JMaas
Goodreads.com/JMaas
PS Becky - check out our movie Spanners if you can, which is prequel to Spanners: The Fountain of Youth - it is free on YouTube
https://youtu.be/0dDUlXscdEY?si=8_zlY...
Jonathan Maas
Yes! My penchant is for time travel books that could actually happen. Even if it is not possible (because time travel backwards is not possible) if the author *tries* to explain how going backwards in time is possible, then I like it. So let me give you a few:
1) Split Second by Douglas E. Richards - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... - this is THE book for showing how time travel backwards might be possible, as evidenced by the villain's occasional 5 page explanations. Regardless, it is worth it, and a great tale.
2) Recursion by Blake Crouch - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... - this takes a WAY different approach to time travel but again - it could work, in theory, maybe - you get my point. Crouch tries - and regardless, like Split Second - it is a great tale.
And finally ahem ahem
3) Time Capsel by Jonathan Maas - This read-in-one-sitting tale is about a woman (named Capsel) who travels forward in time via a stasis-inducing Time Capsule. What is her purpose, and what does she find? You will find out both, in a copy that I'd be happy to comp (DM me for a no-strings attached mailing or Kindle comp), if I have not already haha https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Regardless - Richard is the best!
Oh and Ted Chiang (anything) and Hugh Howey's Machine Learning are not about Time Travel directly, but are beyond worth it.
1) Split Second by Douglas E. Richards - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... - this is THE book for showing how time travel backwards might be possible, as evidenced by the villain's occasional 5 page explanations. Regardless, it is worth it, and a great tale.
2) Recursion by Blake Crouch - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... - this takes a WAY different approach to time travel but again - it could work, in theory, maybe - you get my point. Crouch tries - and regardless, like Split Second - it is a great tale.
And finally ahem ahem
3) Time Capsel by Jonathan Maas - This read-in-one-sitting tale is about a woman (named Capsel) who travels forward in time via a stasis-inducing Time Capsule. What is her purpose, and what does she find? You will find out both, in a copy that I'd be happy to comp (DM me for a no-strings attached mailing or Kindle comp), if I have not already haha https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Regardless - Richard is the best!
Oh and Ted Chiang (anything) and Hugh Howey's Machine Learning are not about Time Travel directly, but are beyond worth it.
Jonathan Maas
Great question Judith! I am certainly a reader - as you can see by my Goodreads challenge I set myself a goal of 100 books per year, and tend to surpass that. In fact, I would daresay that I am a reader first, and a writer second.
As far as inspiring the tales, my general rule of thumb is:
Non-fiction inspires the content.
Fiction inspires the style.
For non-fiction, Ed Yong's recent 'An Immense World' certainly inspired my latest - 'Klareana: The Human Child' (which I can comp you a no-strings attached copy of - message me afterwards). Other non-fiction authors that inspired are Yuval Noah Harari, Jennifer Wright, and even some genre-bending ones like Dante (his Inferno is sort of a non-fiction map of our current perception of the afterlife) and Jostein Gaarder's 'Sophie's World.'
Fiction inspires the style - one of my recent favorites is Ken Bruen's 'Once Were Cops' - each paragraph is a sentence, and each sentence pushes the tale forward in some way.
I admit, I've actually been leaning a bit too much towards the spartan prose lately - perhaps I need to read some Proust or even the notoriously long-worded academic Judith Butler.
But long story short - reading is half the game, or perhaps more than half the game.
A side note for those who don't have time to read in this day and age - try audiobooks and podcasts, particularly at times doing other things. I am into podcasts, and I listen to them while doing the dishes. The podcaster Avery Trufelman is one of my favorites, and though she does not necessarily endorse it - she inspired the tale '#EOTW.'
Regardless - I hope I answered the question Judith - and there is an open offer to you for a few comps!
As far as inspiring the tales, my general rule of thumb is:
Non-fiction inspires the content.
Fiction inspires the style.
For non-fiction, Ed Yong's recent 'An Immense World' certainly inspired my latest - 'Klareana: The Human Child' (which I can comp you a no-strings attached copy of - message me afterwards). Other non-fiction authors that inspired are Yuval Noah Harari, Jennifer Wright, and even some genre-bending ones like Dante (his Inferno is sort of a non-fiction map of our current perception of the afterlife) and Jostein Gaarder's 'Sophie's World.'
Fiction inspires the style - one of my recent favorites is Ken Bruen's 'Once Were Cops' - each paragraph is a sentence, and each sentence pushes the tale forward in some way.
I admit, I've actually been leaning a bit too much towards the spartan prose lately - perhaps I need to read some Proust or even the notoriously long-worded academic Judith Butler.
But long story short - reading is half the game, or perhaps more than half the game.
A side note for those who don't have time to read in this day and age - try audiobooks and podcasts, particularly at times doing other things. I am into podcasts, and I listen to them while doing the dishes. The podcaster Avery Trufelman is one of my favorites, and though she does not necessarily endorse it - she inspired the tale '#EOTW.'
Regardless - I hope I answered the question Judith - and there is an open offer to you for a few comps!
Jonathan Maas
Oh just contacted you and yeah just published the glowing and well deserved review. I have been good about reading lately, but not as good about leaving full reviews haha. But yours is there!
Jonathan Maas
Mark:
Hello! Oh yes - it appears that we have been on parallel tracks for a while. I was in Peace Corps Namibia way back in the day - 2000-2002 :)
There have of course been many twists and turns since then, I am sure for both of us.
And if there is an insight to the readers out there, it is this:
Kindred spirits are out there - the key is to know how to find them.
In any case Mark good to know you - I just followed you here, and let us both stay parallel and kindred moving forward :)
Also I am a music fan, so if you have a Texas band, please post links here.
Hello! Oh yes - it appears that we have been on parallel tracks for a while. I was in Peace Corps Namibia way back in the day - 2000-2002 :)
There have of course been many twists and turns since then, I am sure for both of us.
And if there is an insight to the readers out there, it is this:
Kindred spirits are out there - the key is to know how to find them.
In any case Mark good to know you - I just followed you here, and let us both stay parallel and kindred moving forward :)
Also I am a music fan, so if you have a Texas band, please post links here.
Jonathan Maas
I believe this question was inadvertently posted twice haha - see previous answer :)
Jonathan Maas
Hello Edib!
For the Goodreads community - Edib is referring to an article I published in Predict Magazine, in which I attempted to prove the existence of God through a mathematical equation and an analogy. You can see the article here:
https://medium.com/predict/there-is-a...
The article was meant to encourage discussion on such things - with mixed results haha - but that is the Internet, so no harm no foul - so in short -
Yes, I am supremely interested in hearing another proof of God's existence, or even a proof against it - though only if it is a public posting.
IE I am hoping this can be a public, and ideally civil, discussion - so if you have a link to share, please share! If it is your proof, please post publically - and then share!
Thank you Edib!
For the Goodreads community - Edib is referring to an article I published in Predict Magazine, in which I attempted to prove the existence of God through a mathematical equation and an analogy. You can see the article here:
https://medium.com/predict/there-is-a...
The article was meant to encourage discussion on such things - with mixed results haha - but that is the Internet, so no harm no foul - so in short -
Yes, I am supremely interested in hearing another proof of God's existence, or even a proof against it - though only if it is a public posting.
IE I am hoping this can be a public, and ideally civil, discussion - so if you have a link to share, please share! If it is your proof, please post publically - and then share!
Thank you Edib!
Jonathan Maas
Hello Heather!
No newsletter as of now, but thank you for the interest!
The best way to follow is through Goodreads.com/JMaas or Twitter at @jonmaas78 . The latter is where I post all the giveaways and items like that.
Regardless - contact me through Goodreads and or Twitter and I can comp you a few things - signed paperbacks, Kindle, Audible tales - whatever is best - no strings attached !
We also have a movie - a prequel to one of the books - it stars Shawn Christian and Eric Roberts - available for free on YouTube!
Spanners
https://youtu.be/0dDUlXscdEY
Whatever the case - thank you Heather!
No newsletter as of now, but thank you for the interest!
The best way to follow is through Goodreads.com/JMaas or Twitter at @jonmaas78 . The latter is where I post all the giveaways and items like that.
Regardless - contact me through Goodreads and or Twitter and I can comp you a few things - signed paperbacks, Kindle, Audible tales - whatever is best - no strings attached !
We also have a movie - a prequel to one of the books - it stars Shawn Christian and Eric Roberts - available for free on YouTube!
Spanners
https://youtu.be/0dDUlXscdEY
Whatever the case - thank you Heather!
Jonathan Maas
Thank you Bibliotricity! I believe you are referring to the read-in-one-sitting novella Time Capsel? In any case, I have a few - spiritual sequels - that I can comp you, no strings attached. Signed paperback / Kindle comp / both - whatever you wish! Look out for the direct message through Goodreads, and thank you!
Jonathan Maas
Joe - first of all, thank you! I appreciate the kind words, especially from a futurist and writer such as yourself!
To answer your questions, and a bit more -
1) My thoughts on the future of publishing
In my opinion - and I mean this in a positive way, but I think the future of publishing is all independent in one regard or another.
There are exceptions of course - you will hear of the writer of the moment getting the big deal, and some big publisher promoting the heck out of another title.
That is good for those 2% of authors (really, I mean it - I am happy for other authors getting any kind of success) - but for the other 98% of us, publishing is more or less independent. Even if you have a publisher take you on, it is often largely up to the author to promote their own work.
That is the way it is.
And again - I mean this in a positive way, but the future of most all publishing - from music to movies, to books to anything - holds two promises -
1) Every day it gets harder to monetize
2) Every day it gets easier to reach more people
This is a good thing overall. If you want to monetize, go into finance. If you want to reach people, go into the arts.
And every day it becomes easier and easier to reach people through the arts, in my humble opinion.
It's also easier in this day and age to get an experimental, hybrid work like #EOTW out there so -
2) Thoughts on hybrid works like #EOTW
#EOTW is indeed a hybrid work. It was inspired by a podcast episode from Avery Trufelman - 99% Invisible EPS 265 - The Pool and the Stream - available here - https://99percentinvisible.org/episod... , and takes in other thoughts from thinkers such as David Benatar, Daniel Quinn, Max Tegmark and others.
I referenced them all in the bibliography ;)
But my thoughts on experimental, hybrid works like this - even though you are trying something new, be sure to keep the reader's interest, or at least try to, haha.
I kept it short, kept the philosophical treatises plot-related, and tried to have every chapter push the tale forward.
So in short, Joe - be experimental, but at the end of the day it is about the reader, so my advice is to also keep that in mind :)
3) My thoughts on publishing super-hybrid, experimental fiction like this
I was also inspired by two great books - Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber, and The Night Swim by Megan Goldin.
Both are incredible books that refer to podcasts - ie they are Domestic Thriller / Podcast hybrids.
But all in all, they are Domestic Thrillers, and have a built-in Domestic Thriller audience. They reached best-seller status and deserved it, but they were not experimental.
What I am trying to say - if you are doing something with more than one level of hybridness - like in #EOTW there is a sentient talking Octopus from another dimension - don't be disheartened if you can't get attention from an established publisher.
In short, for the super-experimental work of yours, give it your all, make sure it is a page-turner, get a real copy editor and a real cover, but then don't be afraid to self-publish and then start writing query letters for your next one, which might be a straightforward Space Horror, Domestic Thriller or anything else :)
4) To sum up
First of all, these are just my opinions. Writers like Ted Chiang found a way to be experimental and go through traditional publishing routes - and thank fate he did - reading him is an almost religious experience.
But in short - the future of publishing is giving writers - and Joe included - a lot of options, and a lot of yeses.
It's difficult to make money, but beyond that, the answer is a yes.
Can you publish without a major publisher? Yes.
Can you publish your experimental, hybrid fiction? Yes.
Can you reach a niche audience? Yes.
Though it is not guaranteed, is it possible that Joe will publish and then blow up into the next Andy Weir or Douglas E. Richards? Yes - it is possible, and it becomes more and more possible with every bit of work that gets out there :)
You can do it!
Perhaps that is my answer Joe, the future of publishing is - You can do it!
To answer your questions, and a bit more -
1) My thoughts on the future of publishing
In my opinion - and I mean this in a positive way, but I think the future of publishing is all independent in one regard or another.
There are exceptions of course - you will hear of the writer of the moment getting the big deal, and some big publisher promoting the heck out of another title.
That is good for those 2% of authors (really, I mean it - I am happy for other authors getting any kind of success) - but for the other 98% of us, publishing is more or less independent. Even if you have a publisher take you on, it is often largely up to the author to promote their own work.
That is the way it is.
And again - I mean this in a positive way, but the future of most all publishing - from music to movies, to books to anything - holds two promises -
1) Every day it gets harder to monetize
2) Every day it gets easier to reach more people
This is a good thing overall. If you want to monetize, go into finance. If you want to reach people, go into the arts.
And every day it becomes easier and easier to reach people through the arts, in my humble opinion.
It's also easier in this day and age to get an experimental, hybrid work like #EOTW out there so -
2) Thoughts on hybrid works like #EOTW
#EOTW is indeed a hybrid work. It was inspired by a podcast episode from Avery Trufelman - 99% Invisible EPS 265 - The Pool and the Stream - available here - https://99percentinvisible.org/episod... , and takes in other thoughts from thinkers such as David Benatar, Daniel Quinn, Max Tegmark and others.
I referenced them all in the bibliography ;)
But my thoughts on experimental, hybrid works like this - even though you are trying something new, be sure to keep the reader's interest, or at least try to, haha.
I kept it short, kept the philosophical treatises plot-related, and tried to have every chapter push the tale forward.
So in short, Joe - be experimental, but at the end of the day it is about the reader, so my advice is to also keep that in mind :)
3) My thoughts on publishing super-hybrid, experimental fiction like this
I was also inspired by two great books - Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber, and The Night Swim by Megan Goldin.
Both are incredible books that refer to podcasts - ie they are Domestic Thriller / Podcast hybrids.
But all in all, they are Domestic Thrillers, and have a built-in Domestic Thriller audience. They reached best-seller status and deserved it, but they were not experimental.
What I am trying to say - if you are doing something with more than one level of hybridness - like in #EOTW there is a sentient talking Octopus from another dimension - don't be disheartened if you can't get attention from an established publisher.
In short, for the super-experimental work of yours, give it your all, make sure it is a page-turner, get a real copy editor and a real cover, but then don't be afraid to self-publish and then start writing query letters for your next one, which might be a straightforward Space Horror, Domestic Thriller or anything else :)
4) To sum up
First of all, these are just my opinions. Writers like Ted Chiang found a way to be experimental and go through traditional publishing routes - and thank fate he did - reading him is an almost religious experience.
But in short - the future of publishing is giving writers - and Joe included - a lot of options, and a lot of yeses.
It's difficult to make money, but beyond that, the answer is a yes.
Can you publish without a major publisher? Yes.
Can you publish your experimental, hybrid fiction? Yes.
Can you reach a niche audience? Yes.
Though it is not guaranteed, is it possible that Joe will publish and then blow up into the next Andy Weir or Douglas E. Richards? Yes - it is possible, and it becomes more and more possible with every bit of work that gets out there :)
You can do it!
Perhaps that is my answer Joe, the future of publishing is - You can do it!
Jonathan Maas
Beagle Lover -
Sequels are always in the works!
In the meantime, I have just released Thylacine Dreams, and have two other books that are with my Editor!
But still thank you for your interest in the City of Gods series, and I hope to continue it soon!
Sequels are always in the works!
In the meantime, I have just released Thylacine Dreams, and have two other books that are with my Editor!
But still thank you for your interest in the City of Gods series, and I hope to continue it soon!
Jonathan Maas
Yes Richard!
To fill everyone else in -
1) I primarily write on the bus to and from work. I have a 'real job' - and I do most of my writing on the bus or subway to and from that job. Many of my books have a public transportation angle in them somewhere.
2) I fell into a speaking group called BUSted - it's like The Moth Radio Hour, but for real life tales of getting around without a car. I do quite a bit of reading on the bus as well, and normally tell tales about my conclusions from those readings.
3) Richard is the great owner of The Battery Bookstore - Battery Books and Music here - https://thebatterybooksmusic.business... - it hosted BUSted for awhile. I read more than most people, but I think Richard reads more than I do! It is a great bookstore, and if you are looking for a rare book, go to Richard - he has quite a few of them!
*****
But to answer your question Richard - I hope so! I am hoping to continue with BUSted, and hope to visit you soon!
To fill everyone else in -
1) I primarily write on the bus to and from work. I have a 'real job' - and I do most of my writing on the bus or subway to and from that job. Many of my books have a public transportation angle in them somewhere.
2) I fell into a speaking group called BUSted - it's like The Moth Radio Hour, but for real life tales of getting around without a car. I do quite a bit of reading on the bus as well, and normally tell tales about my conclusions from those readings.
3) Richard is the great owner of The Battery Bookstore - Battery Books and Music here - https://thebatterybooksmusic.business... - it hosted BUSted for awhile. I read more than most people, but I think Richard reads more than I do! It is a great bookstore, and if you are looking for a rare book, go to Richard - he has quite a few of them!
*****
But to answer your question Richard - I hope so! I am hoping to continue with BUSted, and hope to visit you soon!
Jonathan Maas
JBW:
Thank you for asking, and thank you for the kind words on the City of Gods series!
Favorite character? Oh that is a tough one. You love them all in different ways.
But I have a special soft spot in my heart for Kayana Marx from the City of Gods series. She was the one who started it all!
Sticking within that series, Tommy Alderon reminds me the most of myself. Gunnar Redstone I love because he is a challenge - he is the opposite of myself. Saoirse Frost I love because she is also a challenge - her powers are enigmatic, and she understands things that most of us don't!
And though Cassander isn't one of the main characters, he acts as their moral guide and makes sure they stay on the correct path.
Beyond City of Gods - here are a few other notables:
* Capsel in Thylacine Dreams is great
* Davlok in Thylacine Dreams is fun
* The main character of Dion is a lot of fun
* Kulkuz, the antagonist of Children of Another Bible (Sequel coming soon) is the bane of my existence, but in a good way
* Zeke from Flare was a fun challenge - he takes up half the book and doesn't speak
* Hitch from The Dog That Laid Eggs is great
* And I am having a lot of fun with this still-being-written one - his name is The Woodcutter
So that's it JBW - you asked for one, you got many. Look out for that Private Message - I hope to comp one your way, no strings attached!
Thank you for asking, and thank you for the kind words on the City of Gods series!
Favorite character? Oh that is a tough one. You love them all in different ways.
But I have a special soft spot in my heart for Kayana Marx from the City of Gods series. She was the one who started it all!
Sticking within that series, Tommy Alderon reminds me the most of myself. Gunnar Redstone I love because he is a challenge - he is the opposite of myself. Saoirse Frost I love because she is also a challenge - her powers are enigmatic, and she understands things that most of us don't!
And though Cassander isn't one of the main characters, he acts as their moral guide and makes sure they stay on the correct path.
Beyond City of Gods - here are a few other notables:
* Capsel in Thylacine Dreams is great
* Davlok in Thylacine Dreams is fun
* The main character of Dion is a lot of fun
* Kulkuz, the antagonist of Children of Another Bible (Sequel coming soon) is the bane of my existence, but in a good way
* Zeke from Flare was a fun challenge - he takes up half the book and doesn't speak
* Hitch from The Dog That Laid Eggs is great
* And I am having a lot of fun with this still-being-written one - his name is The Woodcutter
So that's it JBW - you asked for one, you got many. Look out for that Private Message - I hope to comp one your way, no strings attached!
Jonathan Maas
Connie! I have a copy for you - look out for that message through Goodreads to confirm whether you want it on Kindle or paperback!
Jonathan Maas
Judith - thank you for recognizing! Yes - there is definitely a link.
-100 is Kela, the main character of -100.
Thylacine Dreams is going to be a collection of short tales - and I am also including the novella/short novel -100 in it - so the cover is Kela the Thylacine -
The Thylacine - also known as the Tasmanian Tiger!
I hope to get this out soon Judith - and in the meantime thank you for noticing!
-100 is Kela, the main character of -100.
Thylacine Dreams is going to be a collection of short tales - and I am also including the novella/short novel -100 in it - so the cover is Kela the Thylacine -
The Thylacine - also known as the Tasmanian Tiger!
I hope to get this out soon Judith - and in the meantime thank you for noticing!
Jonathan Maas
First of all, thank you David! In short:
Sequels are always in the works, but next up in the queue is a short story collection called Thylacine Dreams. It is currently being copy edited by my longtime copy editor Patty.
Hope to get it out soon, but in the meantime - here is a sneak peak at the cover!
After this I have another tale in its second draft!
Sequels are always in the works, but next up in the queue is a short story collection called Thylacine Dreams. It is currently being copy edited by my longtime copy editor Patty.
Hope to get it out soon, but in the meantime - here is a sneak peak at the cover!
After this I have another tale in its second draft!
Jonathan Maas
Great question Beagle Lover!
First of all - I place a great deal of importance in character names. You are going to be with these characters for some time, and more importantly - the reader will be with them for some time as well. So they have to sit right with you. If they don't, even just a little bit - you need to rethink the name.
But how do I come up with the names? I just think about them for a long time. Sometimes it involves a meaning, but most of the time - you just think about them until something comes that feels right.
After that, the character becomes a little more real, and begins to take a life of his or her own.
First of all - I place a great deal of importance in character names. You are going to be with these characters for some time, and more importantly - the reader will be with them for some time as well. So they have to sit right with you. If they don't, even just a little bit - you need to rethink the name.
But how do I come up with the names? I just think about them for a long time. Sometimes it involves a meaning, but most of the time - you just think about them until something comes that feels right.
After that, the character becomes a little more real, and begins to take a life of his or her own.
Jonathan Maas
Connie! Great to hear from you! I have a new one out which I'd be happy to comp you - no strings attached!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Look out for that direct message. Also - have you read Dion?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
If not - I may be able to sneak that one into the comp - for fans of Flare. Regardless, look out for the direct message!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Look out for that direct message. Also - have you read Dion?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
If not - I may be able to sneak that one into the comp - for fans of Flare. Regardless, look out for the direct message!
Jonathan Maas
Dawn:
I do not believe I am - perhaps distantly! Regardless - it's an honor to mentioned in the same breath as her!
Look out for a private message - I can send you a complimentary copy of Children of Another Bible - no strings attached!
I do not believe I am - perhaps distantly! Regardless - it's an honor to mentioned in the same breath as her!
Look out for a private message - I can send you a complimentary copy of Children of Another Bible - no strings attached!
Jonathan Maas
Not too late Connie! Look out for that DM!
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