His Way Christian Book Store Blog
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I Know Why The Angels Dance Web Cast with Author Bryan Davis:
Posted 10/29/2009 6:45:00 PMBryan Davis, author of the Raising Dragons series, Echoes from the Edge series, and his new stand-alone book I Know Why the Angels Dance will be at His Way Christian Bookstore in Ellicott City on Saturday October 31st from 12:00pm-3:00pm.
Bryan has agreed to do a web cast from the store for all those who can''t travel to take part in the launch party in person! For those unable to make it, be sure to direct your browsers to:
http://www.livestream.com/clefysmdbooksigning2009
He will begin broadcasting roughly around 12:00pm EST on Saturday October 31st. Check back for more details as we get closer to the event!
I Know Why the Angels Dance Author Interview Part 1:
Posted 10/20/2009 10:43:59 PM His Way Christian Bookstore in Ellicott City is proud to be hosting a launch party for author Bryan Davis and his new book I Know Why the Angels Dance on Saturday October 31st from 12:00-3:00pm.
He has agreed to conduct a mini-event within the larger event and will be speaking on writing, talking about his books, and answering fan''s questions starting at 1:00pm.
Make sure to come early for this dynamic time as seating is available but limited. Fans who arrive after 1:00pm are likely to find standing room only.
Recently Mr. Davis took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions about his newest book, his writing, and his next series. So scroll on down, and enjoy this on-line interview with Mr. Bryan Davis!
1. Your new book I Know Why the Angels Dance is a departure from the fantasy genre for you, and touches on some painful as well as joyful parts of life. What was the motivation you had for sharing this story with your fans?
BD:I Know Why the Angels Dance is a book I wrote while contemplating a number of events, three of which involved death and grief. First, a friend miscarried twins. Later, one of my best friends died, and a little girl in our neighborhood drowned in her pool. I began thinking deeply about how tragedy forces us to deal with faith and hope in an afterlife. Do we really believe in it? If so, how should we grieve if a loved one goes to the most wonderful place imaginable? If we really believe in that place, should our grief find immediate solace? Is it selfish to grieve when a believer goes to that glorious home in heaven? This story explores these and many other questions.Another issue involves a fathers role in teaching his children about faith. This is where the story reflects a personal journey. How does a man who possesses an analytical mind learn to communicate emotional love, especially when tragedy strikes? He is tempted to console with truth and facts, because these are the lights that always guided his own understanding. They should be enough solace for anyone, right?
As you might expect, such a man runs into roadblocks early and often. Its hard for him to rely on anything but the facts that support his faith. How other people operate and how to communicate his passion and compassion to them remain a mystery. Such is the journey of John Hanson, one of the main characters in the story.
Earlier, I mentioned a girl drowning. Her name was Tabitha, providing me with an easy choice for my catalyst characters name. With the faith of a child and a dogged resolve to lead her friends to salvation, twelve-year-old Tabitha is the gentle but determined force who guides people to the light she can see so much more clearly than can others.
I wrote this book about thirteen years ago, and I am thrilled that it is finally being published. I hope that thousands are blessed by the story and its powerful message.
2. When working on a book, do you have the beginning, middle, and end of the story plotted out, or do you find yourself surprised by the things that your characters do and say?
BD: I dont plan my story at all, and I definitely get surprised at the decisions my characters make. Sometimes I feel like a reporter rather than a writer. I just watch and listen to my characters and dutifully type it into the computer. That makes writing an adventure.
I Know Why the Angels Dance Author Interview Part 2:
Posted 10/20/2009 7:55:47 PM What do you believe is the most important thing that a father can teach his daughter?
BD:If a father can show his daughter how much he loves her, that she is a valuable treasure and a blessing, she will be more likely to feel secure and not seek approval from sources who might not have her best interests in mind. A father shows this love through words that uplift no matter what the situation, through compassion when she has had a hard day, and through physical affection that stays in her comfort zone. He also treats her like a lady by opening doors and relieving her of burdens. When he reflects the qualities of a heavenly father, he will allow his daughter to see some of the attributes of God and learn to trust God easily and naturally.What are some of the things a father can learn from his daughter?BD: A father can learn how to reach out and relate to someone who is very different than himself. Perhaps he is logical and she is more emotional. If he stays on his intellectual island, she will drift away. If, however, he learns to dive in and understand her mind, he will gain valuable skills that will be beneficial in other relationships. He will learn compassion and empathy, two traits that many fathers have to gain by listening to their daughters and learning their hearts.
4. When you get stuck in your writing, how do you un-stick yourself and get back to crafting the story?
BD: I never get traditional writers block, that is, I dont stare at the page without a clue. I have lots of ideas that beg to be typed, and sometimes Im not sure which one to choose. So I suppose it could be called writers flood. So my job is to focus and figure out which one to write first. Then, if my characters are pleased with my idea, I let them take it and run with it.In order to focus, sometimes I will go back and edit the previous few pages. That helps me get my mind back into the story. Sometimes I will play music that is in keeping with the mood of the scene. These guide me into the proper frame of mind, which filters out ideas that dont quite fit.
5. Following the release of I Know Why the Angels Dance is your new fantasy series Dragons of Starlight slated to release in the spring of 2010. How is this new fantasy series different than Raising Dragons and Oracles of Fire?
BD: One of the most obvious differences is that it takes place in another world, not on earth. In fact, there are two planets involved, one controlled by humans and the other controlled by dragons. The other obvious difference is that nearly all the dragons in this story are evil. They have captured humans from the human world and enslaved them on the dragon planet. After one hundred years, a pair of teenaged would-be warriors, Jason and Elyssa, find a way to get to the dragon planet so they can rescue the slaves, a group they call the Lost Ones.
Meanwhile, on the dragon planet, the slaves have multiplied, but since all the original slaves have died, no one remembers coming from another world, so most dont believe it exists. One girl, however, has a gift that allows her to tell stories about events she has not seen. Koren is a Starlighter, and when the dragons discover her gift, they want to kill her, because long ago another Starlighter nearly destroyed them all. Can Koren be the catalyst that helps two impossibly outmatched teenagers overcome the dragons? Read the story, and youll find out.
6. The most common complaint that we at His Way receive about your books, is that they release too slowly. What other books/authors would you recommend to your fans so that they have something to read while waiting for I Know Why the Angels Dance and Dragons of Starlight to become available?
BD: I have released twelve novels since June of 2004. Thats pretty fast compared to some popular authors. Many of my readers dont know about my Echoes from the Edge trilogy, so they could read those while theyre waiting. I will write as quickly as I can. :)Most of your customers know about Wayne Batsons and Christopher Hoppers books, but Ill mention them anyway. Readers will enjoy Donita K. Pauls books as well as those of L. B. Graham. Younger readers will like books by Jonathan Rogers and Eric Reinhold, while older teens and moms can pick up books by Sharon Hinck.
Thank you so much Bryan for giving us a peek into your world and into your stories! Mark your calendars, and make certain that you plan to come to His Way in Ellicott City on October 31st from 12:00pm-3:00pm to learn more about Bryan Davis'' books and meet the author himself!
Curse of the Spider King Author Interview Part 1:
Posted 10/3/2009 9:49:50 PM As promised, here is the interview with Wayne Thomas Batson, and his good friend Christopher Hopper. Thanks gentlemen for taking time out of your busy schedules to answer my questions.
WTB: No problem!
CH: Glad to!
There are themes of friendship and sacrifice that run deep through The Door Within and The White Lion Chronicles, and because of that these questions are going to be clustered around your own friendship and the friendships you create in your stories. Ready? Here we go! !
Question 1: C.S. Lewis said that Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another What, you too? I thought I was the only one!
When you first met one another, was this true for you??
WTB: I can''t tell you how correct that is. When I met Christopher on the floor at the CBA convention, there was an unspoken connection, like a combination had clicked into place. It was definitely a God thing. We are kindred spirits and it was no accident that we met.
CH:For sure. I felt a certain synergy right away with Wayne, mostly because we both had a heart for the Lord, for kids, and for writing in a particular genre. But nuances of deeper "What, you too?" friendship really became apparent during our first trip to Scranton together. From quoting movies to wailing on our air-guitars to laughing at the stupidest of jokes, we realized we were cut from the same cloth early on. I''d describe us as "Eighties-rock-metal-nerdy-other-worldly-Jesus-freak-creatives." I really can''t imagine my life without the guy now.
Question 2:
When you start writing, do you know from the beginning which characters are going to be really good friends?
WTB: I don''t. At lease not always. With The Door Within, it was a given that Aidan and Robby were friends, and later Antoinette. However with Curse of the Spider King, three of the main characters were my characters. Four were Christopher''s. It was kind of fun when one of my characters met one of Christopher''s in the story. They did indeed become fast friends. Ahem, notice I''m not mentioning character names here. ;-)
CH: I''d say no. While we try and map out the basic plot from start to finish, the characters themselves seem to take on a life of their own over the course of the story. It''s almost as if they are telling us their story as we go along, which I think tends to make the characters more real. While I''m definitely more on the spontaneous side of writing (never once outlining The White Lion Chronicles), I''ve learned a lot from Wayne in the form of outlining (which has only helped my craft). But Tolkien once described his writing of LOTR as a journalistic discovery, where he simply went to Middle Earth and wrote down what he saw, rather than some elaborate, pre-meditated plan. Likewise, I tend to approach writing that way, so I want the characters to tell me who they are, and who they want to befriend, rather than the other way around.
Question 3:
Proverbs 27:17 reads As Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
In what ways do you sharpen one anothers talents and passions when you are working together?
WTB: CH has definitely sharpened me so that I don''t obsess over little things that SLOW me down. "Just write, you goon!" is a familiar sentiment from CH. Otherwise, I''d end up spending 3 days coming up with a character''s name. I''m also very encouraged by Christopher''s theme-weaving. He just seems to "know" where the Spirit goes.
CH: From a professional standpoint, he''s a master plotter. As I said earlier, he''s greatly sharpened my pre-writing skills. He''s challenged me to develop characters more, and the fine art of layering. And I think his years as a teacher accentuate that, as he''s a natural at sharing skills with you. I can honestly say that I''m a better writer because of Wayne, and I''m honored for the opportunity to have him as a friend, and as a coach in the craft.
Question 4:
Have you ever created a friendship in your books that is like the one you share with each other?
WTB: Well, not yet. Not exactly. But we''re halfway through the sequel to Spider King, so that may happen.
CH: Wow, now that is a good question. I can''t put my finger on one. I do know that we''ve modeled all of our other characters after kids that we know in real life in some way, simply because we wanted kids who read these books to connect with issues that matter. But as for him and I in particular? I don''t think so. Ask Wayne!
Question 5:
Wayne, what strength do you admire most in Christopher?
WTB: There are two really. One is the Christ-like love that CH radiates. He''s just one of those glow-in-the-dark Christians from whom love just gushes. The other is Christopher''s connection with God. I know the Lord interacts with people in different ways. But CH seems to enjoy a real relationship with Jesus--a tangible one
CH:(Despite thoughts to the contrary, he wishes he had a bald head like mine).
Christopher, what strength do you admire most in Wayne?
CH: Great question. While our age difference has never been a negative (which I think is so cool, as I''m a bit younger), I have seen it as a tremendous blessing because he''s simply lived more life than me. I really look up to him and covet his life-stories, wisdom, and tempering. As I was saved at a very young age, and never really lived "in the world," he keeps my perspective fresh, especially with regard to unbelievers in Jesus. He''s been married longer, has had kids longer, and has a very "fatherly" way about him...almost instantly comforting with any situation. The kind of person you want to run to when things go south. He has truly become one of my best friends, and I can''t imagine life without him. He inspires me to be a better husband, father, man of God, and writer.
Curse of the Spider King Author Interview Part 2:
Posted 10/3/2009 9:38:33 PMWhat pair of characters you have created has the most unusual friendship?
WTB: Uhm...well, I can''t give away CotSK stuff. But in The Door Within, the most unusual friendship was that between Antoinette and Kearn (Robby''s Glimpse Twin). Kearn was an enemy, and yet, Ant earned his grudging respect, and even friendship. She had faith big enough for both of them, and Kearn knew it...could not escape it, really.
CH: So, trying not to give anything away about CotSK (nice try, Michelle, I think it would be one particular boy and girl who discover that blood--though powerful--is not the only thing that binds us together. You''ll just have to read the book...
Question 7:
In a one-on-one sword fight between you two, who would win?
WTB: Clearly I would win because I have the proper warrior hairstyle. Long haired warriors win every time.
CH: Well, Wayne has way more strength than me. So in an open contest, I''d say him. But with my bald head, I have WAY less wind resistance, and therefore move more quickly. It''s a totally unfair advantage. But to answer your question candidly: Me.
Question 8:
What is the hardest part of writing a friendship between characters?
WTB: Making it real. It''s so easy to show the writer''s hand when bringing people together. Writers just need to know each character well enough ahead of time that the characters themselves do the forging of the friendship.
CH: In The Berinfell Prophecies, we have a great many friendships happening. So honestly, keeping track of everyone''s personally traits can be a bit trying. You have to put yourself in each person''s head, working hard to learn how they''d react to any given circumstance. When you''re lost in "the zone," it''s easily done. But more often then not you really have to think through what makes these two people gel.
Question 9:
In John 15:12-17 Jesus says something rather amazing; He calls all of us who follow him, His friends. What does it mean to you, to be a friend of Christ?
WTB: Honestly, that just blows me away. It seems hard to believe, but there it is in HIS word. He cannot lie. The trouble is, I don''t experience that friendship like any other earthly friendship. Jesus doesn''t speak to me audibly. Nor have I seen Him in the flesh. I don''t talk to Him as naturally or as often as I do my earthly friends either. Maybe it''s sort of like some friends I have who have been gut-level friends for a long time, but I don''t see them very often, sometimes for years. But the moment we talk to each other, it''s like no time has passed between us.
CH: It''s the most important thing in all the world. My wife once had an encounter with the Lord during a huge Christian conference in Florida. During one of the meetings, filled with all sorts of "important Christians," she felt the Lord prompt her to get up and leave and go outside. She sat all sat all alone beneath the moon and listened. She felt the Spirit of the Lord say to her, "You know, I have a lot of Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Prophets, and Apostles. But I have very few friends." Before I do anything for God, I want to be certain that I am someone for God...a friend
Question 10:
If you could give your fans one piece of advice on being a friend to others, what would it be?
WTB: Give each other grace. A funny thing happens when two humans rub elbows for a while: there can be tension. Someone can become insulted, hardened, worried, or frustrated. Talk through your issues. Get it out there. Forgive. Move on. Don''t let things fester.
CH: If you are being Christ-like, your friendship with others is a covenant, not a contract. We very often confuse "contract" with "covenant." In a contract, both parties agree to a set of rules and procedures; if one party breaks those in anyway, the relationship is liable for termination. That''s how we normally treat friendships, even marriages. But that is not the Kingdom. God didn''t make a contract with us; He made a covenant. And the beautiful thing about covenants is that they have our future failure built into them already. A covenant says, "I already know in advance that you are going to fail me sometime in the future, and I already forgive you for it. No matter what you do, you can not rid me of my love for you."
Autumn Is Here:
Posted 10/2/2009 2:21:34 PM In the category of fun, we have the Launch Party for Wayne Thomas Batson & Christopher Hopper''s new book The Curse of the Spider King on Saturday October 17th from 6-8pm at His Way in Ellicott City.
Wayne and Christopher have incredibly busy schedules but recently they sat down and answered some questions for His Way, their interview will be up here on Saturday, October 3rd so be sure to come back and check that out!
We also have Bryan Davis coming up for a book signing on Saturday October 31st from 12-3pm in Ellicott City. His new book I Know Why the Angels Dance will be available for purchase and signing as well as his books from the Raising Dragons Series.
