Jon F. Baxley

FanLit.net interviews Jon F. Baxley:

FanLit: To get started, please tell us something about yourself.

Jon: First, I’d like to thank you and Fantasy Literature for this interview and the opportunity to talk about my medieval fantasy epic, The Blackgloom Bounty, from Five Star. I really like your website and the direction you’re going with it.

My name is Jon Baxley. I’m originally from Irving, Texas. I grew up there, graduated from the University of Texas, Arlington, and went straight into the Army during the height of the Vietnam War. After that, I served as a “consultant” (a fancy word for spy) with the USIA in the former Soviet Union and eventually came back to the states to enter the golf profession. I went on to start my own business in the hobby and game industry, where I published one of the very first Apple Computer strategy games. It was at this point in 1985 that I began writing on a daily basis—first for my own business needs, then ultimately with the intent to become published.

FanLit: A lot of aspiring authors struggle to get published. Tell us how it happened for you.

Jon: If I could point to anyone that ‘pushed’ me in the direction of becoming a full time writer, it would be my mother. She was a self taught English scholar, not by need but by desire. She loved words and was a real stickler for how they were cobbled together. Because of her, I still do crossword puzzles today and usually learn at least one new term in the process.

I wrote and submitted my first fiction work in 1986. Several publishers read the story, entitled Through the Tiger’s Eye, which was about the Hmong freedom fighters in Laos during the Vietnam War. Unfortunately that work never got off the ground—there were simply too many war stories at the time. It’s been in a box ever since.

My next effort was a terrific little fantasy story called The Scythian Stone, which was written for a specific publisher in a burgeoning fantasy market. This was pre-Harry Potter, mind you. The publisher loved the book and was within days of offering a contract when they rather unexpectedly closed up shop due to IRS problems. Suffice to say, I was bummed out, but happy the book didn’t get embroiled in some lost cause company fiasco.

I shopped that story around for several years while working on paying gigs as an editor and ghostwriter. During that time, I produced several books for a nationally recognized speaker, one of which hit the NYT bestseller list. Unfortunately, it was a work for hire—ergo—no name recognition. But, that success told me I was on the right track and that my writing was readable.

Fast forward a couple of years and I entered Scythian in a web-wide eBook contest with Preditors & Editors where it won an award for Best Novel on the Web. Again, that success (be it ever so small) provided great reinforcement that my writing actually appealed to people other than close friends. I eventually parlayed Scythian into a contract in Germany with a major print publisher who was just getting into eBooks. They produced a translated eBook version which promptly won more recognition with a nomination to the Frankfurt Book Fair.

That, in turn, gave me the exposure to pursue bigger fish here in the US, which ultimately led to a series of ‘no thanks’ rejection letters because Scythian was simply too short for print publishers. I had already written most of The Blackgloom Bounty, intended to be the second episode in a series of five books, and when I submitted both to Five Star, they suggested that I combine the two into one epic tome. That’s when all the lights went on.

FanLit: Now that you're a published author, how has your life changed?

Jon: Thus far, nothing has changed as a result of having a print contract. I’ve been writing for almost twenty years, so things are pretty much status quo except for the added excitement of my first hardcover release in April 2006. A book tour is on the table, as well as a book-to-movie package that is being considered by several major Hollywood players. That part excites me more than anything. I would love to see this story play out on the big screen and that will likely happen, given the buzz Blackgloom is generating both in the national media and on websites like yours.

FanLit: What is your writing process like?

Jon: I own a small ranch way out in the boonies of the Texas Hill Country. There is no traffic or jet noise and no distraction from any source other than the occasional ‘critter’ that wanders through the place looking for water or a lost tourist on the wrong gravel road. I can work undisturbed whenever I want and for as long/short as I want. Typically that means afternoons in front of the computer because I spend my mornings working out on the property while it’s cool.

A lot of writers have procedures for their work. I do not. When I sit down to create a new chapter, I have only a limited idea where the story is going. My writing is 80% character driven. In other words, I don’t plot, plan or diagram. I allow the people/beings in the book to do all the work. They act, then react and then create reaction from other characters as the story unfolds. Sometimes an entire section of the book, including new faces I had never thought of, simply jumps off the keyboard and onto the computer screen. That’s the part of the process that I cannot control, nor do I want to. In fact, I love it when that happens. It’s like reading someone else’s book for the first time.

I also use a catalyst in the form of music while I write. I have hundreds of movie soundtracks and if I know the scene I’m creating next will have lots of blood and guts, I put on a heavy soundtrack like Gladiator or Troy. If it’s a romantic scene, I choose something more in that vein. It really helps me ‘see’ the scenes in my head while I blaze over the keyboard creating them. For those unfamiliar with this process, you should try it—the right background music can help you break out of that dreaded writer’s block.

FanLit: I like the music idea! Do you have any other advice to offer writers who are trying to get published?

Jon: My old classmate, General Tommy Franks, told his troops in Iraq, “Hope is NOT a method.” That’s the best advice I can offer writers. Don’t write something hoping you can get it published. Write something good, edit it until your fingers bleed, let others read and critique it and THEN look for someone to submit it to. Your odds of success go way up when you stop hoping and start working to be a writer. That also means spending a few bucks on a professional editor to polish your manuscript, both for content and presentation. A retired school teacher down the block may be fine as a sounding board or first editor, but when you’re submitting to the big houses, you better have your ducks in a row.

FanLit: What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about being a writer? And what do you struggle with the most?

Jon: Struggle? I guess that would be making my characters do what I want them to do instead of them surprising me with new situations I then have to write them out of. That’s also the most rewarding part of the process. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to stop writing and go research something that just ‘came up’ in the story to make sure it’s both credible and historical to the period. And that applies even though I’m writing fantasy. I want kids to learn something while they are being entertained.

FanLit: Please tell us about your current project.

Jon: The Blackgloom Bounty is fantasy reading for all ages. Harry Potter is okay for younger kids, but when they grow out of it, I want my books to be where they gravitate. I want them to be able to read a chapter, then get online and Google a term or a phrase to learn more about the time period. Yes, Blackgloom is fantasy. However, it’s also a medieval epic with lots of historical imagery, phrases and geographic locations to make the storyline credible. I was told you could not mix history and fantasy and expect to sell such a book. So much for the experts. Every reviewer thus far has lauded the book for the fast, unrelenting action, interesting characters and multiple plot lines that all lead to a dramatic (and apparently very satisfying) ending. That’s important to me—to know that people ‘get’ the book—that they understand what motivates the characters. Those two things mean I’ve succeeded with Blackgloom, regardless of how many books I sell. And I plan to continue on that track with The Regents of Rhum, book two in the series, due out in early 2008, assuming the movie business doesn’t sidetrack me.

FanLit: How can your fans get in touch with you?

Jon: I have a website under construction. Until it’s finished, readers are encouraged to email me at FiveStarAuthor@aol.com with questions and comments. I’ll do my best to respond in a timely fashion. Thank you again for your interest in my work. I look forward to your website users’ comments. I wish you great success with Fantasy Literature.