>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO THE BOOKCASE.

I´M YOUR HOST, SHAWNA RICHARDS.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE EXPLORE THE BOOKCASE AND CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLAND´S AUTHORS AND TALENT.

EACH WEEK, WE´LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORY TELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US AND I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE HOME GROWN STORY TELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION IS EDIPO AND I´M SO EXCITED TO WELCOME ITS AUTHOR, HOWARD.

WELCOME TO THE BOOKCASE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I REALLY LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME ON HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT IT.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE´S SO MUCH WE CAN TALK ABOUT, BUT BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THE WONDROUS WORLD YOU´VE CREATED, I WANT YOU TO TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, YEAH, YOU COULD TELL MY NAME IS HOWARD JONES.

CURRENTLY SERVING IN ARMY RESERVES FROM ST. THOMAS.

I STARTED WRITING WHEN I WAS IN HIGH -- WELL, I STARTED WRITING WHEN I WAS IN LIKE KINDERGARTEN BASICALLY, AND I PUBLISHED MY FIRST BOOK WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO IT´S ALWAYS JUST BEEN LIKE A LONG-LIVED HOBBY OF MINE.

YOU KNOW, FROM THAT, OTHER HOBBIES KIND OF STEM FROM IT, TOO.

LIKE READING, WRITING, READING HISTORY.

GAMES, ESPECIALLY HISTORICAL GAMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW.

>> SO, YOU SAID YOU WROTE, THE FIRST THING YOU WROTE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU WROTE?

>> I THINK IT WAS A STORY ABOUT A FISH IN THE DEEP SEA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

VERY MEAN LOOKING FISH, TOO, I DON´T KNOW WHY.

JUST BECAME THE EASIEST THING FOR ME TO DRAW AND WRITE ABOUT.

>> YOUR BOOK IS, WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT AS SCIENCE FICTION?

FANTASY?

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE GENRE THAT YOU ARE COVERING IN THE BOOK?

>> ED FUS IS PRIMARILY AN ACTION, ADVENTURE AND MEDIEVAL FANTASY.

KIND OF THE WHOLE PERIOD OF SWORD AND SHIELD.

RENAISSANCE ERA.

FANTASY, MAGICAL, DIVINES AND ALL KINDS OF MAGICAL BEINGS THAT THE CHARACTERS FIND THEMSELVES IN.

>> IN READING IT, WHILE YOU TALK ABOUT IT BEING FULL OF MYTHICAL BEINGS, I ALSO FOUND THERE WERE SOME ELEMENTS OF POST APOCK LIPTIC TO IT AS WELL.

BECAUSE, AND CORRECT ME IF I´M GOING DOWN THE WRONG PATH, BUT YOU HAVE THIS ENTIRE WORLD THAT IS RECOVERING FROM A WAR.

AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THEY´RE ABOUT TO GO INTO AT WAR.

>> IT´S AN INTERESTING CASE WHERE AS YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF ARGUE THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN ALL THOSE GREEK EMPIRES FROM LONG AGO LIKE EGYPTIANS AND ROMANS FELL, THAT YOU KNOW, THE DARK AGES AFTER FEEL LIKE A KIND OF APOCALYPSE.

I NEVER REALLY CONSIDERED IT TOO MUCH, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO INHABIT THAT WAR AND KIND OF SURVIVING OFF THE CONFLICT, IT VERY MUCH WOULD FEEL LIKE THAT TO THEM.

THE GODS OF THAT WAR.

THEIR POWERS ARE JUST VAST AND DESTRUCTIVE.

FOR BEING A MORTAL, SEEING SOMEONE DESTROY ENTIRE WORLDS AND SUCH, IT COULD FEEL LIKE YOU JUST HAD AN ORDEAL IF YOU SAW THE END OF IT.

>> WHEN YOU WERE WRITING IT, FIRST, LET ME START, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

THERE ARE MANY ELEMENTS OF MYTHOLOGY.

THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF HISTORY.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BRING THIS TALE TO LIFE?

>> WELL, IT´S SPECIFICALLY A FUNNY STORY BECAUSE IT´S NOT MY FIRST, LIKE LARGE SCALE BOOK I WROTE.

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A CREATIVE EXPERIMENT THAT KIND OF GREW INTO SOMETHING BIGGER.

SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO SEE HOW WELL I COULD MAKE A WAR FROM SCRATCH.

I JUST DREW SOME DOTS ON A PAPER.

PIECE BY PIECE, JUST BUILDING THIS FROM THERE.

>> SO IT IS NOT YOUR FIRST BOOK.

BUT IT´S THE FIRST BOOK IN THIS SERIES ABOUT EDIFUS.

>> IT´S THE FIRST BOOK THAT I PUBLISHED, BUT YOU KNOW, HAD A FEW OTHER STORIES PRIOR.

THEY KIND OF TAKE PLACE LOOSELY IN THE SAME UNIVERSE.

LIKE A BIG LITERARY UNIVERSE ON ITS OWN.

>> OKAY.

IN WRITING YOUR BOOK, WHICH IS REALLY ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WHO HAS GONE THROUGH SOME TREMENDOUS TRIALS.

HE´S LOST HIS MOM.

THE PERSON CLOSEST TO HIM.

AND I DON´T WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY.

BUT HE FINDS HIMSELF TAKING TO ARMS.

YOU KNOW, GOING TO FIGHT IN FOR HIS COUNTRY.

FOR PEOPLE HE LOVES, ET CETERA.

DID YOU DRAW ON YOUR OWN MILITARY HISTORY IN CRAFTING THIS CHARACTER?

WHAT MADE YOU CREATE THIS CHARACTER WHO WAS NOW GOING OFF TO FIGHT?

IN A WAR?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY I GUESS I´VE SEEN A LOT OF STORY WHERE IS THE MAIN CHARACTER IS KIND OF LIKE THIS OVERWHELMING UNSTOPPABLE FORCE ON HIS OWN.

AND I, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF CHARACTERS CAN BE COOL, BUT TYPICALLY I LIKE TO LEAN ON CHARACTERS WHO HAVE TO WORK TO GET IT.

WHO HAVE TO BE CHARISMATIC.

THAT GENERAL COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS WORK.

THAT´S THE IDEA I HAD FOR THE MAIN CHARACTER.

HE IS ONE OF THE LEAST POWERFUL CHARACTERS OF THE CAST ON HIS OWN, BUT WHAT MAKES HIM SO STRONG IS HE´S ABLE TO PULL PEOPLE WITH THE TALENT TO REALLY BRING EVERYONE, THE WHOLE GROUP FORWARD IN LIFE.

>> AND DO YOU SEE THOSE TYPE OF TRAITS IN YOURSELF?

IS ANY PART OF THAT CHARACTER DRAWN ON YOU?

>> YEAH, I SUPPOSE THE WHOLE IN GENERAL DEMEANOR LIKE A FRIENDLYNESS.

DON´T KNOW IF I´M AS COURAGEOUS.

BUT THE GENERAL BEING ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND STUFF.

THAT´S A BIG PART OF MY LIFE.

MY FRIENDSHIPS AND FAMILY ARE A REALLY BIG PART OF MY LIFE AND I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW WITHOUT THEM.

>> WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOUR MAIN CHARACTER IS THAT HE SEEMS KIND OF AN UNDERDOG BUT HE´S ALSO PRETTY FEARLESS.

HE JUMPS IN TO DEFEND SOMEONE EVEN THOUGH THAT PERSON, THAT DIVINE COULD KILL HIM, AND HE WHAT ARE OTHER POSITIVE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO BRING OUT IN THIS CHARACTER THAT CAME UP ABOUT THIS CHARACTER AS YOU WERE CREATING HIM?

>> WELL THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE MAIN THING FOR IT.

JUST SOMEONE WHO KIND OF GOES IN YOU KNOW, REAL HISTORY, TOO.

PEOPLE WHO CAN GO OUT AND BECOME THE NAMES WE KNOW THROUGHOUT THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THE PEOPLE WHO GO OUT AND DO.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT DIDN´T GET FAMOUS BECAUSE HE SAT IN THE BACK AND DIDN´T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

HE JUMPED IN AND HE FOUGHT.

>> I THINK IN YOUR, I THINK IN YOUR STORY AND YOU´RE GOING TO HAVE TO REFRESH MY MEMORY ON THE MAIN CHARACTER´S NAME, BUT I THINK THAT HE IS KIND OF UNDERTAKING A JOURNEY TO FIND HIMSELF TOWARDS MANHOOD AND AND ACQUIRING PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY THAT ARE GOING TO BOTH CHALLENGE HIM AND HELP HIM GROW.

WAS THAT THE MORAL OF YOUR STORY?

YOU KNOW, THAT WE´RE HERE ALONG THIS YOUNG MAN´S JOURNEY?

>> WELL, YEAH.

AROUND THAT.

HE´S NOT A PERSON THAT WOULD JUST WANT TO SCRATCH ALONG AND SURVIVE.

EVEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIT, HE STILL WANTS TO REACH.

HE´S SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO TRY.

AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO, ANYONE WHO CAN HELP HIM GET TO THAT POINT AND BRING ALONG TO THAT POINT, HE´S GOING TO TAKE THEM.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN´T REALLY INTO SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WOULD BE THE BEST REASON TO READ THIS BOOK?

>> WELL, I MEAN FOR ME, THAT LIKE YOUR WHOLE GOALS IS KIND OF LIKE A BIG PART.

LIKE I SAID, I´M NOT AGAINST THE WHOLE POWER FANTASY THING YOU SEE IN A LOT OF HOLLYWOOD AND OTHER BOOKS.

BUT I REALLY DO LIKE TO SEE WHEN YOU KNOW, SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING GREAT ISN´T BECAUSE THEY´RE THE STRONGEST AND MOST POWERFUL AND THE GREATEST.

IT´S BECAUSE THEY WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW?

THAT´S SOMETHING I JUST LIKE TO SEE.

>>.

>> SO BASICALLY THAT AVERAGE, ORDINARY PERSON CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS.

>> YEAH.

IT´S A LITTLE GENERIC, BUT YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT.

SAME WAY WITH MY ALEXANDER THE GREAT ANALOGY.

HE WAS A STRONG DUDE, BUT HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NEARLY AS GREAT WITHOUT HIS ARMY BEHIND HIM AND IF HE DIDN´T HAVE A LOYAL ARMY BEHIND HIM.

>> IN YOUR STORY, AND YOU SAID YOU KNOW, YOU PUT SOME DOTS ON A PAPER.

YOU CREATED SOME LINES FOR A RIVER.

IS ANY PART OF THE BOOK CENTERED ON IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OR INSPIRED BY THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

WILL THE READER OF THAT BOOK SEE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD YOU´VE CREATED THAT IS FAMILIAR?

>> WELL, IN THAT REGARD, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOMETHING ON AND OFF FOR IT WHERE CALLED THE SOUTHERN ISLES.

I´VE BEEN WORKING ON IT TO MAKE IT TOTALLY UNIQUE TO THAT WORLD AND THERE´S SOME HINTS TO IT THAT WILL SHOW UP LATER IN THE SERIES.

AND EVENTUALLY, FURTHER ON, THEY´LL HAVE THE CHARACTERS EVEN GO TO IT.

>> IN PUTTING THIS BOOK TOGETHER, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PROCESS.

IT´S THE FIRST BOOK YOU´VE PUBLISHED AND IN WRITING IT, DID YOU DO AN OUTLINE?

DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR MIDPOINT, YOUR CONFLICT, DID YOU HAVE EVERYTHING ALL MAPPED OUT OR DID YOU JUST SIT DOWN AND SAY I´M GOING TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES?

>> IT´S KIND OF LIKE I´LL MAKE IT TO WHERE LIKE FOR ME, WHEN I´M WRITING, I DON´T HAVE LIKE MAJOR EVENTS I FEEL SHOULD HAPPEN, BUT HOW THEY GET TO IT THAT´S LIKE ME GOING FREELY JUST WRITING.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES SPONTANEOUSLY YOU END UP WALKING INTO SOME REALLY GOOD AND INTERESTING WORK, YOU KNOW?

>> WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK IS THAT YOU´VE CREATED A WHOLE NEW LANGUAGE.

AND IN READING IT, TO ME, IT SEEMS KIND OF WRITTEN IN GREEK.

I DON´T KNOW ANY GREEK.

BUT IT SEEMED KIND OF ROOTED IN GREEK.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW LANGUAGE?

WAS THAT A BIG PART OF YOUR WORLD BUILDING?

DID YOU SET OUT TO DO THAT?

>> IT´S INTERESTING IN THAT AND I GUESS IT´S NOT TOO MUCH OF A SPOIL, BUT YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CHARACTERS YOU MAY NOTE MIGHT HAVE THE NAMES OF GODS AND STUFF LIKE THAT FROM OUR OWN CULTURE.

AND THAT´S LIKE A HOMAGE, YOU KNOW?

SO OUR CULTURE EXISTED IN THE UNIVERSE POWER AND THE DIVINES KNOW WHERE THOSE INFLUNS COME FROM.

MANY OF THE COUNTRIES ARE SIMILAR AND IT´S NOT SO SIMPLE AS THAT, YOU KNOW.

>> IN WRITING THIS STORY, WHO ARE YOU INSPIRE BY?

WHAT OTHER AUTHORS?

>> AT THE TIME, A REALLY BIG ONE WAS THE JOHN FLANNIGAN´S APPRENTICE.

SIMILAR IN THAT.

MAIN CHARACTER IN THAT BOOK, WILL, HE WASN´T PARTICULARLY STRONG OR POWERFUL AND HE KIND OF DEVELOPED TO THAT POINT.

SIMILARLY, VERY MORE REALISTIC MEDIEVAL TYPE OF WORLD.

HE HAD A BIG INFLUENCE ON THAT.

THE ADVENTURE, THE SETTING, THE WRITING.

JOHN FLANNIGAN WAS A BIG INSPIRATION FOR ME.

>> WHAT OTHER AUTHORS?

I KNOW YOU´RE INTERESTED IN SCIENCE FICTION.

YOU´RE INTERESTED IN STEAM PUNK.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE THINGS THAT YOU HOPE TO BE DELVING INTO IN THE FUTURE?

ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH STEAM PUNK, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> YES.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, I KNOW THIS STEAM PUNK ONE.

THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING I, FUNNY ENOUGH, A GAME I PLAYED AND I HAD NOT REALLY BE INTRODUCED TO STEAM PUNK, BUT I FOUND IT VERY FASCINATING TO THINK, YOU KNOW, TAKING THAT DETOUR.

VERY MUCH LIKE THE ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES, YOU KNOW, AND THAT´S LIKE A BIG PART OF WHY I KIND OF HOPPED BETWEEN SOME GENRES.

A BIG PART OF MY STORY IS HISTORY.

>> SO YOU ATTENDED OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU SAY YOU´RE VERY INSPIRED BY HISTORY.

WERE THERE ANY PARTICULAR TEACHERS ALONG THE WAY THAT REALLY ENCOURAGED YOU TO EXPLORE WRITING OR TO EXPLORE HISTORY?

JUST LEARNING OVERALL.

>> I GUESS MY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, YOU KNOW, I DON´T KNOW IF SHE STARTED ME ON THE WHOLE PATH, BUT WHEN SHE JUST TAUGHT ME HOW TO FORM LETTERS, I WAS LIKE, THIS IS SO INTERESTING.

I CAN MAKE THIS SIGNALS AND MAKE WORDS THAT DO STUFF.

I DON´T KNOW HOW I DID IT, THINKING BACK ON IT.

I JUST ENDED UP DOING IT.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY.

WE LEARN EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW IN KINDERGARTEN.

SO MAYBE THAT´S THAT.

WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?

>> THE ONE BOOK I´VE BEEN READING A LOT LATELY, BINGEING IT, ACTUALLY.

DUNE.

IT´S A SERIES, ACTUALLY.

BUT IT´S ACTUALLY BEEN A WHOLE EYE OPENER FOR ME BECAUSE I LIKE DO A LOT OF SCIENCE FICTION.

I DON´T WRITE MUCH SCIENCE FICTION, BUT I LIKE TO WATCH IT OR PLAY GAMES OF SCIENCE FICTION.

AND HIS INFLUENCE IS JUST EVERYWHERE IN THOSE KINDS OF STUFF.

SO SEEING, READING A STORY THAT STARTED IT ALL WITH ALL MY INTEREST FROM STAR WARS TO SOLARIS.

VERY COOL SEEING WHERE ALL OF IT CAME FROM.

IT´S A VERY GOOD BOOK.

HAS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT ALL THE TIME.

>> WITH YOUR OWN WRITING WHEN YOU STARTED, DID YOU DELIBERATELY SET OUT TO CREATE A NEW WORLD?

AND IS THAT WORLD SOMETHING THAT YOU PLAN TO INHABIT FOR A LONG TIME?

>> WELL, KIND OF, YES.

LIKE, I DIDN´T REALLY KNOW MUCH, TOO MUCH ABOUT WORLD BUILDING AT THE TIME AND THIS WAS JUST WHERE TO EXERCISE IT, BUT AS I GOT MORE INTO IT, I REALIZED IT IS SOMETHING I LIKE.

I LIKE TO CREATE JUST THESE WALLS FROM SCRATCH AND TO SEE HOW THEY INTERACT.

HOW THEY MESH.

WHAT CULTURES.

WHAT HEROES.

WHAT THINGS HAPPEN.

I JUST LIKE TO SEE THAT NOVELTY OF SOMETHING NEW, YOU KNOW?

THAT EXPANSION TO UNKNOWN TERRITORY.

>> HAS A PIECE OF HISTORY IN IT.

BECAUSE ALL WORLDS HAVE A HISTORY.

>> THAT´S THE KEY PART OF IT.

ONE THING PEOPLE I GUESS DON´T REALIZE AND I GUESS IT´S A BIG PART NOW, IS HOW AFFECTED WE ARE BY HISTORY THAT WE WOULD THINK IS ANCIENT, YOU KNOW?

SOMETIMES THAT´S STUFF THAT´S ANCIENT.

STUFF THAT WE ONLY JUST REMEMBERED.

SOMETHING THAT AFFECTED US ALL THESE YEARS LATER.

>> SO ALL OF YOUR CHARACTERS AND YOU INTRODUCED A LOT OF CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK.

AND ONE THING THAT I REALLY LIKE IS THAT WE´RE SEEING ALLIANCES BUILT EVEN WITH PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE NO REASON TO BE ALLIED UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND SO IN BUILDING YOUR ALLIANCES, IS THAT PART OF CONNECTING THE DOTS?

AND ALL THE RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR CHARACTER?

>> THAT´S A BIG PART OF IT BECAUSE IT´S, I WANTED TO LIKE HAVE, IF THE READER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT A WALL IN THE EYES OF SOMEONE WHO´S FROM THERE.

A BIG PART OF ME STARTING THE BOOK WITH THREE SEPARATE STARTINGS ESSENTIALLY WAS TO GET YOU TO DIFFERENT POINTS IN THE WORLD AND TO HAVE THE READER PICK UP AND UNDERSTAND THE CULTURES, THE PLACES, THE HISTORIES THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGH THEIR EYES, YOU KNOW?

>> RIGHT.

WHAT I´D LOVE FOR YOU TO DO IS TO GIVE OUR AUDIENCE A SMALL TASTE OF THE WORLD.

IF YOU COULD SHARE A PASSAGE WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I CAN DO THAT.

>> ED FUS WAS A LAND DIVIDED INTO MANY CONTINENTS MUCH LIKE OUR OWN, FILLED WITH MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, CULTURES AND RACES, BUT JUST AS OUR WORLD WAS FORMED BY WARS, SO WAS ED FUS.

THE DIVINE, GOD-LIKE BEINGS SHARE DISRUPTIVE POWERS CALL SOUL AND A FEW WHO COULD CREATE LIFE MADE BEINGS THEIR WALLS.

GIVING THEM THE CAPACITY TO HAVE JUST AS MUCH POWER.

IT WAS AFTER THIS WAR HAD ENDED THAT CIVILIZATIONS BEGAN TO RISE.

IT WAS A KINGDOM OF THE DENOMEN.

THEN HOW WAS CREATED BY THE PEOPLE BEASTMAN AND KILLED BY THE ELVES.

>> WHAT I LOVED IN THAT SECTION WAS YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF SOUL.

AND THROUGHOUT THE BOOK, YOU HAVE SUCH INTERESTING WORD PLAY.

THERE WAS A SENTENCE WHERE YOU WROTE THAT EARLY ON, THAT ONE OF YOUR CHARACTERS WAS DEFEATED AT THE HANDS OF ILLITERACY.

DIDN´T JUST CALL THE CHARACTER DUMB.

AND I LITERALLY WROTE THAT DOWN.

I WAS LIKE, WOW.

THAT IS SO POWERFUL THAT YOUR WORLD IS ALSO ROOTED IN EDUCATION AND ROOTED IN WHAT ACCESS TO EDUCATION CAN DO FOR THIS ONE CHARACTER, BUT WHY DID YOU CREATE SOLE AS A DESTRUCTIVE POWER AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING GOOD?

>> BECAUSE SOLE BY ITSELF NOT NECESSARILY A DISRUPTIVE POWER.

IT´S JUST USING YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL ENERGY TO YOU KNOW, AFFECT NATURE AND THE WALL AROUND YOU.

AND THAT BY ITSELF IS NOT DESTRUCTIVE, BUT THE DIVINE GOT CAUGHT UP IN THEIR OWN ABILITY AND THEIR OWN POWER AND JUST WANTED TO SEIZE MORE POWER AND SOLE BECAME KNOWN AS MORE OF AN INSTRUMENT OF COMBAT AND CHAOS OF WAR.

RATHER THAN SOMETHING THAT CAN HEAL AND HELP BUILD LIFE.

AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF ED FUS, YOU KNOW, THAT´S KIND OF SOMETHING THAT THEY´VE KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IT´S JUST THE DISRUPTIVE POWER THAT THEY BRING UPON THEM AND WHAT THEY CAN USE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

>> SO YOUR MAIN CHARACTER´S JOURNEY IS REALLY ABOUT I THINK RESTORING BALANCE TO THIS WORLD THAT HE KNOWS.

>> IT ACTUALLY BECOMES LIKE A BIG POINT LATER ON AND EVEN SO THE DIVINE CAN KNOW, NOT ALL ARE EVIL AND NOT ALL ARE GOOD, BUT THEY CAN´T AID HIM ON THAT PATH BECAUSE THEY REALIZE HE´S SOMEONE WHO CAN BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE, YOU KNOW?

BRING ABOUT THE FIXING OF THINGS.

THAT BECOMES A REALLY BIG DEAL LATER ON WHERE THE DIVINES ARE STARTING TO LIKE, COME BACK AND YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE HEATING UP IN REGARDS TO THAT.

>> YOU´VE WRITTEN SUCH RICH CHARACTERS.

ALL WITH THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, STORY ART.

SOME WORKING TOWARDS REDEMPTION.

SOME JUST WORKING TOWARDS SAVING THEMSELVES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHARACTER TRAITS AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS THAT YOU THINK COULD BE APPLIED TO OUR WORLD TODAY?

>> WELL, I THINK A BIG LESSON THAT IT TEACHES, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF THE DIVINES IS ABOUT HUMBLENESS.

ABOUT TEMPERANCE.

THE DIVINES HAVE EXTREME AMOUNTS OF POWER.

THEY COULD RAISE THEM ONLY THEIR OWN, BUT THEY DON´T ALL HAVE TO.

A BIG PART OF THAT IS THAT SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL DEVINES WE SEE IN THE STORY ARE POWERFUL BECAUSE THEY CAN DESTROY AND DO DESTROY, BUT BECAUSE THEY USE THEIR POWERS TO HELP BUILD CITIES AND PEOPLE LOVE THEM AND DEIFY THEM AND ELEVATE THEM TO HIGH POSITIONS OF CULTURE IN THEIR SOCIETY.

THAT´S A BIG PART OF THE DIVINES.

MANY OF THE DIVINES THAT ARE EVIL ARE DEFEATED BY THEIR OWN PRIDE AND THEIR OWN YOU KNOW, SELF-ABSORBEDNESS.

>> AND WHAT I GOT FROM THAT IS THAT AS HIGH AS SOMEONE CAN REACH, THEY CAN ALSO BE BROUGHT DOWN BY THE SIMPLEST THINGS.

IN SOME REGARDS, I SAW IN YOUR STORY, SOME DAVID AND GOLIATH AS WELL.

BUT I WANT FOR YOU TO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS EPISODE AND THINKING THIS SOUNDS AMAZING AND I THINK I HAVE A STORY TO TELL, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TIP FOR THE ASPIRING WRITERS OUT THERE?

ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG MALE CREATIVES?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I´VE SAID TO A LOT OF THEM BEFORE ALREADY BECAUSE EVEN UP TO NOW, SOME YOUNGER PEOPLE I KNOW WHO HAVE READ MY BOOK KIND OF COME TO ME FOR ADVICE, BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST WRITE.

DON´T CARE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

DON´T CARE ABOUT HOW IN DEPTH OR HOW PUBLIC IT HAS TO BE.

JUST DO IT.

JUST RIGHT.

JUST GET WHAT YOU HAVE OUT AND JUST SEE WHERE YOU COULD TAKE IT FROM THERE.

EVERY STORY, LIKE YOU MIGHT WORRY ABOUT YOUR STORY BEING WRITTEN A MILLION TIMES.

I´VE WORRIED ABOUT THAT MYSELF SINCE I WRITE FANTASY AND THERE´S A MILLION FANTASY BOOKS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO MATTER HOW CLOSE IT IS TO SOMEONE ELSE´S WORK, BECAUSE YOU WROTE IT AND IT HAS YOUR PASSION IN IT, IT´S GOING TO BE YOURS.

>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR WRITING?

YOU HAVE BOOK ONE UNDER YOUR BELT.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH AND WHAT´S NEXT FOR YOU IN YOUR WRITING CAREER?

>> WELL, WHAT´S NEXT IS, I STILL HAVE TO DO, I PUBLISHED THE SECOND BOOK, BUT I PLAN TO REPUBLISH IT TO MAKE IT A BIT BETTER AND I PLAN TO FINISH A THIRD BOOK AS WELL.

AND A BIG PART IS A NEW SERIES CALLED JULIAN WHICH IS A STORY MORE FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON ST. THOMAS AND THE CARIBBEAN.

BUT WITH A TWIST, YOU KNOW.

THAT´S MY NEXT BIG THING.

BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, I SHOULD BE FINISHED WITH IT.

>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE EVERYTHING?

HOW DO YOU BALANCE WORK, YOU KNOW, YOUR LIFE AND WRITING?

HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR BALANCE?

>> IT´S MORE LIKE, WRITING SOMETIMES, ACTUALLY, I´LL GO DAYS AND WEEKS WITHOUT WRITING THEN SOME DAYS I´LL JUST SIT THERE AND WRITE A WHOLE CHAPTER, TWO CHAPTERS, THREE CHAPTERS STRAIGHT.

IT´S WHERE CAN I TRY TO USE AVOID WRITER´S BLOCK AND KEEP MYSELF FRESH.

>> FOR YOURSELF, WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND YOU THINK ABOUT WRITING, WHAT DOES WRITING DO FOR YOU?

WHAT DOORS HAS IT OPENED FOR YOU?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LESSONS YOU´VE LEARNED IN THIS JOURNEY?

>> WELL, WRITING A -- A BIG THING WITH WRITING IS MY FORM OF CONFIDENCE.

LIKE I, I´M NOT THE WORLD´S MOST CONFIDENCE PERSON, BUT NEVER HAVE I SECOND GUESSED MYSELF IN WRITING.

IT KIND OF CENTERS ME IN THAT FENCE.

IT SHOWS ME THERE´S ALWAYS SOMETHING SOMEONE CAN DO, NO MATTER HOW SMALL YOU FEEL.

THERE´S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO.

>> AND THAT´S A POWERFUL WORD RIGHT THERE.

THAT WRITING CENTERS YOU IN THE WORLD.

THAT YOU HAVE CREATED A WHOLE WORLD AND CENTERED SOME AMAZING CHARACTERS IN THERE.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO TELL THESE AMAZING STORIES AND WHAT IS THE FINAL TAKEAWAY?

WHEN SOMEONE PICKS IT UP AND GOES TO READ IT, WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT STORY WITH?

>> WHAT I WANT TO WALK AWAY FROM?

I JUST WANT THEM TO KIND OF JUST GET IMMERSED IN THIS NEW PLACE.

THAT´S REALLY THE GOAL OF ALL MY BOOKS.

I WANT YOU TO STEP INTO THIS WORLD AND LOOK AROUND.

THAT´S REALLY IT.

>> AND THAT´S WHAT WE´RE GOING TO DO.

WE ARE GOING TO STEP INTO THE WORLD AND LOOK AROUND.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT, HOWARD JONES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOOK OR ANY OF THE BOOKS FEATURED ON THIS PROGRAM, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WTJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM THE BOOKCASE.

♫♫ >>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫