EXCLUSIVE: Interview With John Alexander Gouthro About His Book SPARKS IGNITE: PART ONE OF WHITE FIRE
Fellow CBMer, John Gouthro, answers why he chose fiction, whether his character is a superhero, if his book will have sequels, and why CBMers should be interested in his upcoming novel Sparks Ignite: Part One of White Fire.
Premise: Eons ago, elves, a unique species with the ability to summon the Earth’s elements, were created. Eventually, elves began intermingling with humans and the resulting offspring were neither elf nor human, but rather a hybrid of the two. These children became known as Elvens. Elvens looked like humans, but shared the elves’ unique bond with the Earth. However, one limitation had arisen. Elvens were able to summon one element alone per individual. Over time, the Elven Gene was passed on, often without the individual‘s knowledge. To this day, Elvens walk the streets among the common population. Owen has a secret, which dates back to a single day in his early childhood, a day in which he unwittingly created fire at will. Owen has never again been able to recreate the events of that day, but the memories have haunted his dreams since. Follow Owen’s journey as his secret is revealed and he finds his purpose in life.
Gaining confidence in his work though the encouragement of CBM's Fan Fiction section, John Gouthro's (known as CBMers as Xandera) has now published his book, White Fire: Sparks Ignite. He was kind enough to allow me this exclusive interview.
Is this your first book you have published?
I have been writing for a long time, but only recently have I decided to publish my work. Sparks Ignite, Book One of White Fire, is my first published novel.
What made you want to write this type of story?
I have always been interested in fantasy novels, because you can do anything you want with them. With most genres, I think writers can only go certain places with their characters and still have it be believable. With fantasy, nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.
Is your character a superhero?
I think Owen has some aspects of a superhero. He may not wear tights, but he does fight for a good cause and he has special powers. So, yeah, I’d say he’s a superhero.
Why should the CBMers be interested in your book?
I am a user on CBM and I used to post some of my work on the site. I’m a huge fan of CBMs and have been for a long time. I really think that my love of comic books has a lot to do with why I love fantasy.
Comic books tell incredible stories about amazing individuals. I wanted to do much the same thing, only in the form of a novel. There is a main character who deals with trials and tribulations while learning to adapt to his new found abilities. It has a lot of action sequences that are integral to the plot. I think my reading of comic books really influenced my writing style.
The main reason is this:
Comic book fans are looking for a two things, a good story and great characters. That’s what they’ll find when reading my books. I am not claiming to be the best writer there is, but one thing I know I excel at is imagination. Imagination is the birth place of great stories.
Will this series continue beyond a sequel?
Well, I have three books planned for White Fire. Sparks Ignite is the first of those three. However, I have deemed it a series rather than a trilogy, allowing me to keep my options open for future additions to the world of White Fire.
Are you making other characters in the same universe as this one?
This is exactly why I called White Fire a series. The potential for expansion within this universe is virtually limitless. That being said, I do hope to bring more characters into the universe.
What kind of projects will you be working on next?
I haven’t really thought about what the next step is after these three books. I have a few ideas bouncing around inside my head. I may branch out to science fiction in the future. I definitely think there will be more to White Fire than these first three books. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
When can we see a sequel to Sparks Ignite?
I am hopeful that I can finish book two of the series by fall 2013. I haven’t set an official release, but I’ll keep everybody posted.
What kind of audience do you see reading this book? Children, preteen, young adult, mature?
These books are aimed at a young adult audience, but that doesn’t mean others shouldn’t read it. I know people over 50 that enjoy reading young adult novels. I hope people of all ages enjoy it!
What do you want your readers to take from this book?
I am not one of those writers who try to send a message with their books. I set out to write a story that people would enjoy, and hopefully I have done just that. If anything, I just want people to pick up the book, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
RELEASE DATE: September 1, 2012
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