We are very happy to welcome
J.S. Frankel to the Smoocher’s Voice blog today. Frankel’s latest novel Lindsay, Jo and the Tree of Forever
is available at Amazon. This is the sequel to Lindsay Versus the
Marauders. We interviewed J.S. back
in July when the
first Lindsay and Jo book was released, and we are honored to have him back on
the blog.
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J.S. Frankel was born in Toronto, Canada, many moons ago and
managed to scrape through high school and university, earning a BA in English
Literature and leaving no book unopened during his time at the University of
Toronto. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Japan in order to teach English
to the hapless residents of whichever city he happened to be living at the
time.
In 1997, he married the charming Akiko Koike and their union
produced two rather interesting children. Frankel and his family make their
home in Osaka where he teaches during the day and attempts to write YA fiction
at night.
Jodi: Welcome
back to the Smoocher’s Voice blog, J.S. Thank you, J.S., for taking the time to
answer some questions for our readers. Lindsay,
Jo and the Tree of Forever, is the second book in the Lindsay/Jo trilogy.
In this second book, which picks up where the first one stopped, the main
characters are more developed and new characters are introduced. It seems
Lindsay is having a bit of a challenge accepting the fact that Jo is convinced they
are life mates. I have to ask, has it been a fun experience for you to develop
these two young women?
J.S: First off, thanks for having me back! I
really enjoyed the interview the first time around and am grateful this time as
well.
As for the novels, it has been a great
experience developing the relationship between Lindsay and Jo. We form
relationships in life, and the ones we love, we tend to grow with. Sometimes
not, of course, but in this case, I wanted to explore the nature of that growth
with Lindsay and Jo, and I’m really happy with their development. They’re
really made for each other and it is fun to see how they interact.
Jodi: In
Lindsay, Jo and the Tree of Forever,
the main characters on vacation when we join them and exploring their new-found
romantic relationship. However, relaxing is not in the cards as Jo is called
back to her home to help with an emergency. Why does Jo drop everything to go
back to her universe when the people on her planet have treated her so badly?
J.S.: I think she wants that sense of
identity. And this relates very closely with how the LGBTQ crowd is treated on
Earth. They’re people, they want to be part of the larger community, but the
acceptance in many cases simply isn’t there. And I wanted that to be part of
the second novel. Not to overstate it, but definitely to make people aware of
that lack of acceptance. With all that’s going on in the world right now, we’re
still worrying about orientation and that’s just sad. It shouldn’t have to come
to that…but often, it does.
Jodi: Jo
is asked to come home because a plague on her
universe causing its inhabitants to age rapidly. This plague is not isolated to
Jo’s world though. Tell us about your inspiration for the plague.
J.S.: I looked around
at the various kinds of diseases we have now that are resistant to antibiotics
and conventional treatment and took it to a sci-fi level of what would happen
if… I always think “what if” and see what happens.
Jodi: Jo
and Lindsay are just developing their romantic relationship and friendship. The
concept of trust is brought up in both books. Why did you decide to separate Jo
and Lindsay for much of the action in the book?
J.S.: In the first novel, they were together
much of the time. In the second novel, I wanted to see exactly what a person
would do, what lengths they’d go to, in order to save the one they love. In
Lindsay’s case, she’s on her own, has to develop more as a character, grow in
strength, and we see that she literally goes to the ends of the universe in order
to save the person who means the most to her.
Jodi: There
is a lot of action in this book and some new characters. The addition of Xeefa
provides an interesting twist. Why did you choose to make this character an
ex-girlfriend for Jo?
J.S.: Introducing
Xeefa was just a way of exploring the trust issue between Lindsay and Jo. Of
course they love each other, but in real life, sometimes another person comes
along to interrupt the dynamics and when that happens, well, anything can
happen. Lindsay reacts the way anyone would: with jealousy and mistrust at
first, but the love she feels for Jo is so strong, really, that nothing is able
to keep them apart.
Jodi: There
are some adult themes in this book. Although there is an allusion to sex, those
references in the book are minimal. However there is quite a bit of violence.
Was it a challenge incorporating the romance, violence and action in the novel?
J.S.: I’m always worried about incorporating
sex—even the allusion of it—into a novel. It’s a natural thing, but if overdone
or written badly, it can come off as being pornographic, and I did NOT want
that for this kind of novel. I don’t really care for writing even chaste sex
scenes. This is a YA novel, after all.
However, violence I have no trouble in
depicting. That’s often part of action novels, and I wanted to show it as it
truly is: nasty, brutal, and visceral. People don’t die romantically; they get
shot, bleed, writhe in pain and agony, and suffer. It’s necessary to show some
of that in order to make it more realistic.
Jodi: In
addition to the violence and terror, there is some humor, mainly in the
dialogue. Was it a challenge incorporating the humor into such a serious plot
line? Did you feel the humor was a necessary stress reliever?
J.S.: Humor offsets
the drama, and I like a little snark in my writing. If it’s just a drama, it
can become quite leaden, but if the dialogue crackles then it can help to move
the action along so much better.
Jodi: In our last interview, you mentioned
that there are a lot of gender stereotypes in science fiction. You do a good
job breaking down barriers in this book, especially with strong female
characters and non-human characters. Is it a challenge to create non-human
characters, such as Bool?
J.S.: It
was fun, actually. Bool is a humorous, although serious, counterpoint to the
Lindsay/Jo combo. He’s really their anchor in a way, and provides both comic
relief as well as dramatic intensity. And I enjoy creating new types of
characters. Who says aliens have to be this or that way? I wanted to make him
relatable to readers and I think I did just that.
As for breaking down gender stereotypes,
if I can accomplish that, then that’s a good thing. Who says women have to be
the ‘save-me-strong-hero’ type? I wanted to write about women who are strong,
capable, and intelligent. There’s no shortage of strong and capable and
intelligent women in real life, so why not do that in a novel?
Jodi: Although
there is a lot of action in this book, the plot is definitely character driven.
Are your characters completely fleshed out before you decide on the action or
do you develop plot and characters at the same time?
J.S.: Good question.
When I write the first draft of anything, the characters are somewhat
incomplete. Along the way, I add the elements that make them truly
three-dimensional (or try my best to) and also add in plot points, twists and
what have you. Nothing is ever perfect the first time around, so I do my best
to bring these people to life as well as having a good story.
Jodi: Let’s talk about Rulle, the villain in
this novel. Rulle, a marauder, is Turkel’s brother. He is a powerfully evil
character. Tell us about his motivation and how you developed his character.
J.S.: Vengeance and revenge are very powerful
motivating forces. When Lindsay and Jo first encounter him, he has no idea who
killed his brother. He wants revenge in the worst way, and he’ll do anything to
get it. At the same time, he’s a capitalist although a very perverted one, and
he’s also all about the money. Combine those two, and you have a very complex
although totally rotten character. And make no mistake, Rulle IS rotten to the
core!
Jodi: Are
there more marauder siblings that we will encounter in the next book?
J.S.: I’m not telling. You’ll have to wait!
Jodi: It seems the evil characters in this
book are inherently evil. What drives these characters to commit such heinous
acts?
J.S.: Some people or aliens are just that way.
Hard times, death, economic sanctions, etc. can force a person to do what they
do. Toss in money—that’s a very powerful motivating force. When big bucks are
involved, sometimes peoples’ morals go out the window.
Jodi: This novel does end with some ominous
foreshadowing. Is the final novel in the Lindsay/Jo trilogy, Lindsay, Jo and the Well of Nevermore, completed?
J.S.: Yes, it is, and
it will undergo editing when my editor, Patty Schramm, has time. She’s very
busy with her own work, but I love working with her and she knows what I want
to do and say in my novels. She brings out the best in my writing and I’m
grateful for her help.
Jodi: I
am looking forward to the final chapter in this story. Can you give us a tease
for the next book?
J.S.: Mmm…let’s just say that evil never truly
dies. That’s all I’ll say for now. J
Lindsay,
Jo and the Tree of Forever
In this sequel to Lindsay Versus the Marauders, Lindsay
Fleming returns to her humdrum life on Earth, still reeling from falling in
love with Jo, a young woman who hails from the distant planet of Carinna. Lindsay's life does not stay idle for too long, as Jo returns bearing bad tidings. It seems a madman has loosed a plague on her universe causing its inhabitants to age rapidly. Conventional science has failed, but there are compelling tales of the magical healing properties of the Tree of Ayeni.
Skeptical of this tree's powers, but willing to fight for her love, Lindsay sets off to save Jo's planet. Things are never as they seem, and as time starts to run out, everything becomes a matter of trust. Lindsay has to put her faith in two strangers, one of which is a rival for her girlfriend's affection. Can she save both this planet and her deep affection for Jo?
Buy Links
Lindsay versus the Marauders
Shy Lindsay Fleming has just
summoned up all her courage and come out. All she's ever wanted is to be
accepted for herself, but though her best friend, Myra, is okay with her sexual
orientation, many of her high school friends are not. Her parents don't
understand at all, leaving Lindsay angry and confused. During the Christmas
season, Lindsay attends a meeting for the "newly out," but she leaves
when that turns into a disaster. On her way home, she saves a young woman from
being mugged - by four red-skinned aliens!
The woman, Jonephra
("Call me Jo") is a resident of the planet Carinna, located in
another dimension. The red-skinned men, known as "Marauders," are a
mean, ruthless bunch who stole jewels that power Jo's home world, and she's on
a mission to get them back. Turkel leads the band of heartless pirates, and
they'll kill anyone who gets in the way of their looting and pillaging. Lindsay
is reluctant to get involved, but she agrees to help Jo, who she is attracted
to. Jo is tall and self-confident, and Lindsay thinks Jo might like her, but
she feels so shy and awkward. Will she be able to shed her shyness and gain
enough confidence to win Jo's heart? Even more risky: will Lindsay survive the
dangerous Marauders, find the jewels and return them before Jo's planet runs
out of reserve power?
Buy Links
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