Jill Williamson's "To Darkness Fled"
We're happy to have Jill Williamson with us today talking about her new book, To Darkness Fled. To learn more about Jill and To Darkness Fled read on!
Your title: By Darkness Hid and To Darkness Fled (Blood of Kings books 1 and 2)
1) How did this story come to you?
Two things happened close together that inspired this story. First, I was walking with my son one day in Burbank , California , and we came upon a burned-down house. I stopped to look at it and noticed a tree in the front yard. The part of the tree that hung over the fence and above the street was leafy green, rocking and rustling in the wind. But the branches of the tree near the house were charred and stiff.
I stared at that tree for a long time, then took off for home, pushing that stroller at top speed. I went straight to the computer, opened Adobe Photoshop, and made the image of the tree that is the header on my author website. I couldn’t wait to write a story about this tree!
Around that same time, I had a weird dream where a guy had amnesia. Little did everyone know that he was someone very important. When I woke up, I liked the idea of this lost character, so I put him together with my ideas for the half-living, half-dead tree and I was off and running.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I didn’t intend to pitch this story to Jeff Gerke and Marcher Lord Press. I was attending the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Coaching Conference and there was only one editor interested in looking at young adult novels that year. I had met Jeff at a previous conference, so I put the first chapter of my fantasy story in to him to see what he thought. I was surprised when he wanted to talk. “Why does it have to be YA?” he said.
I was even more surprised when he wanted to publish it.
3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I’m from Alaska . I grew up in a home with no electricity and an outhouse.
2. I once started my own wedding gown business called Lugano. My first dream in life was to be a fashion designer. Once I became fed up working in the industry, and before I started writing, I designed a line of nine better wedding gowns and went to the Chicago Bridal Market as a vendor. It was a tremendous amount of work, especially considering I hate to sew.
3. I speak a little Japanese. I went to Okinawa on an exchange program back in high school. Konnichiwa! Genki desu ka? (Hello! How are you?)
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on From Darkness Won (Blood of Kings, book 3). I’m hoping to sell one of my other young adult novels. I plan to visit more middle and high schools as an author and encourage teens who love to read and write.
5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me here! I appreciate getting to know you all. If you’re not sure if my books are for you, visit my website and read the first chapters. That’s a good way to find out if you like the story.
6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I’m everywhere! My website is www.jillwilliamson.com. I’m also on Facebook, MySpace, Shoutlife, Shelfari, GoodReads, Twitter, Amazon…
On top of that, I run two blogs. The first is Novel Teen Book Reviews at http://www.novelteen.com/. It’s a website that reviews clean teen fiction. This is a great resource to see what books are available in the Christian market for teens. The other blog is for teen authors, though adult authors may find some useful tips too. http://www.teenageauthor.com/.
I have two teenagers. Thanks.
ReplyDeletegahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com
Please enter me, thanks! sooze1008@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletePlease enter me for a chance to win Jill's intriguing book. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to enter for this book! Count me in!
ReplyDeleteServantoftheone (at) gmail (dot) com
I would like to be in the drawing for the book(s). Sounds like a good book that makes you feel like you are right there , also. Thank you, im2blond59@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI have written a childrens book and now looking for an agent and/or publisher.
I would love to have seen the idea come to you as you gazed at the half-dead tree! Please enter me in your drawing.
ReplyDeleteKaye
kayewhitney@bellsouth.net
Would love to read the book!
ReplyDeleteGail
johngailm at bellsouth dot net
Would love a chance to win this book! The first one was very good. Congrats, Jill on another release!
ReplyDeleteEmail is in my profile. Thanks,
Oh, I'd love to win this book thanks
ReplyDeleteABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I would love to read Jill's book! Sign me up.
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel :)
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
What an interesting lady! I am glad she decided to become an author.....
ReplyDeletePlease count me in your delightful drawing!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Please enter me!
ReplyDeletetiffanyniekro at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the interview, K. Dawn! And thanks for all the kind words, everyone! :-)
ReplyDeleteJill
This definitely sounds like my kind of book. Please enter me. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteIt nice to know other people have stories come to them in dreams too.
ReplyDeleteShawna,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I remember feeling relieved when I met some writers for the first time and found out that they talked to their characters in their heads too. Whew! Not only was I not crazy, I was a writer! I finally found my people. :-)
Jill
I am looking forward to reading all of Jill's work. I have her books in my Goodreads to-read shelf at the top of the list. It would be wonderful if I could win one of her books.
ReplyDeleteYeah, always nice to know we're not alone in our 'schizophrenia.' lol
ReplyDeleteLoved By Darkness Hid, can't wait to get a hold of a copy of To Darkness Fled!
author selina @ yahoo . com
(remove spaces)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU FOR BEING A AUTHER JILL! im a big reader and love your books! I furst found by darkness hid in the libary, and took it home with me to read, i was don with it by 12pm that night. Then drove down to Barns&noble the next day to get buy a copy. Not only did i find that there was not a copy in the store but that the next book To darkenss hid was to be out in 2 days. So i orderd it on the spot. Once i got both book i could not put them down, realy i meen it......i think i whent to the bather room and that was it. I finished both books in 2 and a half days. I cant wate for From darkness won!
ReplyDeletePlease hurry! i cant wate! im alrady re-reading the furst 2!
I found out about your book By Darkness Hid when you came to my Middle school in Alaska and told us all about how your book. So I ordered a copy of By Darkness Hid and it is such a good book. I just finished the first book and I m going to ask for the second. i really liked By Darkness Hid. I can't wait to read By Darkness Fled. These books sound really interesting and I wanted to be an author too, someday I suppose. I don't know though, I don't know IF I can be one. Maybe, it I have a good idea. i want to be one, it also sounds really hard to do. I think anyone can be an author though, if you really try! :-) it sounds like fun, I think I will try give it a try! I think that this series is off to a great start. I am also waiting in anticipation for the third book, From Darkness Won and I hope that it is just as good as the first ( it is pretty great). I love that you dedicated your book to your family, I thought that that was really nice.
ReplyDelete