Happy Friday, everyone! I'm so pleased to have Joshua Silverman on my blog today to talk a little bit about his book and himself. I've tried a new interview format, and Joshua has been kind enough to be my first victim...er - guest. I meant guest!
Before we get started, check out his book cover and product description!
Do you wish you could have the power of a god? Would you use it for good…or for evil?
When an archeologist discovers the mythic
Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.
On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together by forces neither understands.
Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.
Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.
Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, loose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made.
When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it?
There is darkness in everyone.
Thanks for being here, Joshua! Let's get right to the interview. Try to describe your book in one sentence, though your blurb already sounds very interesting!
Boy must discover the secrets to the universe to save a planet from the forces of evil.
If you weren't a writer, what you would be?
A lawyer. They write a lot too.
I actually have a friend who is a lawyer and a fiction writer! So I guess they are compatible.
Do you listen to music while writing?
I used to. Now, not so much. I’m actually getting more reclusive in my writing habits. Lock me in a room, close the door, turn off anything electronic but my computer (but turn off the internet) and type until my fingers bleed.
I agree with turning off the internet and music. They are both too distracting for me, too!
Do you have any advice for unpublished authors?
Don’t be so anxious to get yourself out there. The world doesn’t need another bad novel. Everyone’s looking for the next great one. Take your time. Learn your craft. Write, rewrite, and edit a thousand times.
Great advice!
Why did you choose the genre you write in?
Simple. I love science fiction and fantasy. I grew up in it. I used to watch Star Trek: The Next Generation with my parents when I was a kid every week. But I also loved history. MY father had a passion for it and would retell ancient battles in such a way that it wasn’t boring. He was a great story teller. So I wanted to find a way to bring the non-fiction, the historical side of me, into alignment with the sci-fi/fantasy geek. So I decided to write historical and mythological based sci-fi/fantasy.
Did you know the title before you started writing?
Absolutely not! I went through about five different titles before I settled on The Emerald Tablet (Legends of Amun Ra, #1). I think my first title was called “Battle Potara”. But that didn’t keep me interested for very long. Choosing a title was agonizing but I wanted something that represented the central theme yet be different and unique; something readers would remember.
Titles can be tricky, for sure. So, what was your favorite scene?
My favorite scene is any scene where I learn something about my characters that I didn’t already know. I find that is the most exciting thing about writing – the discovery of a new person which you spawned from your mind. However, if I would have to pick a “scene” from book 1, it would have to be the scene where Atlantia, a fourteen year old girl who is a slave, takes Leoros to her room. It was such an act of vulnerability for Atlantia to let him into her private world. Call me crazy but the fights weren’t my favorite of book one, it was how the two young adults relationship grew throughout the book.
I think that really is the most important thing in a book...the human connection. I don't think you're crazy. I totally understand what you mean. Where do you get your inspiration?
I remember very clearly the inspiration for the entire seven book series. I was talking to a friend of mine who was interested in Egyptian mythology and she suggested I check out the mythology of Thoth and alchemy. So I did. I picked up a book on alchemy at the bookstore that very day and went home and started reading it. In that book there were three sections (among others). One was on the mythology of the Emerald Tablet, one on the mythology of the Staff of Hermes, and one on the mythology of the Pillar of Hermes. And I don’t know how else to describe it but something clicked in me after I read those sections. I knew there was a story there that was supposed to be told. Within a month I had the entire plot for book one. Within four months I had the basic structure of all seven books. And it’s all based on the mythology of the Egyptian god of magic and wisdom, Thoth.
That's pretty awesome! It's hard to get even one book written. Neat that you already have your idea for all seven! Which genres do you prefer to read?
Although my favorite genres are sci-fi/fantasy, I try to read from as many different genres as possible. I think that keeps you open and doesn’t pigeon hole me as an author. I also read a lot of non-fiction as well, primarily sticking to historical stuff like Paul Cartledge, Donald Kagen, or David McCullough. You should vary your reading list – it keeps you sharp and open to new ideas.
How important do you find the communication between you and your readers? Do you reply to their messages or read their reviews?
Communication is very important. I love going to the sci-fi/fantasy comic conventions around town and meeting the fans and doing book signings. If they leave me a message on Facebook (my preferred method of communication), I’ll always reply. In fact, I encourage it. One of my readers and I had a lengthy Facebook chat about how we would re-do the movie ‘300’. That was a good one. I also respond to all emails I get. I try not to read too many of the reviews. I could spend my whole life analyzing every single word asking myself ‘Well what do they mean by this?’ If they liked the book, I’m happy. If they loved it, I’m happier. If they didn’t, well, you can’t please everyone. That’s part of being an artist anyway – I don’t love every author I read so it’s unrealistic for me to expect that everyone will be gushing over my work.
Morning person or night owl?
Can I say afternoon? Haha. I hate waking up early and I don’t like staying up too late. I’m an afternoon person.
Fair answer. :-)
What projects are you currently working on right now? Would you mind sharing them with us?
Right now I’m finalizing edits with the publisher on Gardens of Ampheia (Legends of Amun Ra, Expanded Universe) which is a novella outside of the main seven book series. Gardens is due out March, 2013. I’m also about mid-way through my own edits on Soul of the World (Legends of Amun Ra, #2), before I hand that over to the publishers for editing. Soul is due out around November, 2013. At the same time, I am also writing book 3 for the main series and the second novella (yes, I’m writing two books at once).
Wow! You are a busy guy! Thanks so much for being here today. Best of luck to you!
About Joshua
Joshua Silverman was born in Washington DC and currently resides in Orange County, CA. He grew up watching Star Trek, Star Wars, and other science fiction series with his family when he was young. Star Trek: The Next Generation was a ritual show in his house. In his spare time, he collected a respectable collection of comic books and Magic: The Gathering cards.
When he’s not writing (or working in his day
job to be able to write at night), he spends his time thinking about how to avoid traffic, what he’s going to have for dinner, watching cheesy apocalyptic or Kung Fu movies, working out, hiking, or reading.
Website:
www.legendsofamunra.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LegendsofAmunRa;
Twitter:
@JoshuaSilverma2
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479929.Joshua_Silverman
Thanks for joining us and finding out more about Joshua's books. Happy reading, everyone! Have a great weekend!
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