Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Review - Distant Thunder by Jimmy Root Jr.
Distant Thunder
By: Jimmy Root Jr.Paperback: 328 pages
Publisher: American Book Publishing (August 10, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589825535
ISBN-13: 978-1589825536
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5 x 0.7 inches
Distant Thunder is the first book in The Lightening Chronicles with the promise of more engrossing stories to follow. I, personally, love stories based upon prophetic beliefs and ideas. I find it incredibly interesting to take an idea that has been tossed around for centuries and turn it into an almost true-to-life occurrence, such as Jimmy Root Jr. does here in Distant Thunder.
I found myself quickly and immediately absorbed within the pages and story of Distant Thunder. This is a story that will take the collection of "what-if" questions that flow through people's minds and bring them to life. I greatly enjoyed the author's style of writing and the way he is able to breathe realism into his characters and situations, placing the reader within the pages of the book.With the constant threat of terrorism, mother nature, and so many widespread catastrophes, one is often left to wonder if those long ago prophecies may be heading toward truth.
Distant Thunder takes the biblical prophecies and puts them in a light of current times with a non-stop, heart-pounding thriller that is sure to leave the reader up late into the night, flying through pages. Once the final page is turned, eagerness will consume, knowing that a new installment will be on it's way soon.I highly recommend this excellent book and cannot wait for the next in the Lightening Chronicles!
Showing posts with label Distant Thunder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Distant Thunder. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
New Distant Thunder Book Review Sept. 14, 2009
Reviewed by Chris Phillips for Bestsellerworld.com
This is a work of speculative fiction; the events that occur here have not occurred in our reality, but they could. Root makes a very good case for that possibility and then shows how they could be prophetically fulfilled.
Ty Dempsey, a pastor in Plattsville, KS, is lead by God to begin teaching prophecy from Isaiah and Ezekiel. Moshe Eldan, a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force, begins to see signs of increased terrorist activity and is lead to the same passages in a different way. Both watch as ancient prophecies come to life. These two experience events on different parts of the Earth, but their experiences are strangely parallel and culminate in an explosive climax where the central prophecy is complete.
Throughout the story these two fight battles that, although not in the same war, are the same in tension and dramatic effect. From the handling of a pastor’s issues leading a congregation to a renewed closeness to God; to piloting a fighter over the Golan Heights and fighting intense dogfights there; Root masterfully develops the plot. Then, when least expected, he twists it bringing prophetic and spiritual issues to the front, challenging many believers to see prophecy in a new light.
The action is compelling, even edge-of-the-seat tense. The plot is consistent and well-executed. The two main characters are thoroughly developed even if the others are paper thin in comparison. Throughout the book many of the antagonists seem to be interchangeable and non-descript, names changed but nothing about them distinguishes them from each other.
Read this story and prophecy comes. The only let down to this reader comes at the end, when it becomes clear that this volume is but the first part of a series. Hopefully Ty and Moshe will come back defending right in the next book, and the other characters will get their deserved development, becoming more completely fleshed-out people, believable to every reader.
This is a work of speculative fiction; the events that occur here have not occurred in our reality, but they could. Root makes a very good case for that possibility and then shows how they could be prophetically fulfilled.
Ty Dempsey, a pastor in Plattsville, KS, is lead by God to begin teaching prophecy from Isaiah and Ezekiel. Moshe Eldan, a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force, begins to see signs of increased terrorist activity and is lead to the same passages in a different way. Both watch as ancient prophecies come to life. These two experience events on different parts of the Earth, but their experiences are strangely parallel and culminate in an explosive climax where the central prophecy is complete.
Throughout the story these two fight battles that, although not in the same war, are the same in tension and dramatic effect. From the handling of a pastor’s issues leading a congregation to a renewed closeness to God; to piloting a fighter over the Golan Heights and fighting intense dogfights there; Root masterfully develops the plot. Then, when least expected, he twists it bringing prophetic and spiritual issues to the front, challenging many believers to see prophecy in a new light.
The action is compelling, even edge-of-the-seat tense. The plot is consistent and well-executed. The two main characters are thoroughly developed even if the others are paper thin in comparison. Throughout the book many of the antagonists seem to be interchangeable and non-descript, names changed but nothing about them distinguishes them from each other.
Read this story and prophecy comes. The only let down to this reader comes at the end, when it becomes clear that this volume is but the first part of a series. Hopefully Ty and Moshe will come back defending right in the next book, and the other characters will get their deserved development, becoming more completely fleshed-out people, believable to every reader.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Interview With Reviewer Norm Goldman of Book Pleasures
Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Pastor Jimmy Root Jr. author of Distant Thunder: Book One “The Lightening Chronicles.”
Good day Jimmy and thanks for participating in our interview
Norm:
Could you tell us something about yourself and how you became interested in writing?
Jimmy: My pleasure, Norm. I am about as mid-western as a person can be, born in Kansas and raised in Nebraska, and instilled with the values known to the region. With that upbringing comes an enjoyment of the out of doors, sports, gardening, fishing, and being around lots of friends. My wife and I have been in the ministry for nearly thirty years, including a stint in Colombia, South America that lasted five years. But somewhere along the line I picked up a great love for writing. It has been a part of my life in the ministry for over thirty years, but it was only recently that I decided to scratch an itch that was driving me to write fiction. I am happy I took the plunge.
Norm:
Does your writing career ever conflict with your career as a Pastor?
Jimmy: I believe I have the best of both worlds. I love being a Pastor and just about everything that comes with it. It is my calling and my purpose. But I also have a passion to write. Juggling the two loves has been challenging at times, but the wonderful thing about the people in my congregation is that they are behind me one hundred percent. They come first for me and they know it. I think that frees them to allow me the leeway to write as often as I am able.
Norm:
One of your principal characters in Distant Thunder: Book One “The Lightening Chronicles” is Ty Dempsey who is a pastor like yourself. How much of you is in Ty?
Jimmy: My wife has accused me of having an alter ego. I don’t see Ty Dempsey in that light. If the truth be known, Moshe Eldan fits that side of me. However, much of Ty’s outlook and experience is filtered through my worldview. His roots are different. His style is different. But many of his day-to-day dealings with people were birthed within elements my own history. He is definitely more of a romantic, which also drives my wife crazy.
Norm:
How did you go about creating your other principal character, Captain Moshe Eldan? Is he based on any person you met or know?
Jimmy: I had no particular sketch in mind when I created Moshe, other than what I imagined a fighter pilot’s personality might be. I wanted him to have a semblance of the ordinary, but with a true potential toward the heroic. I believe that nature reflects the majority of those of us who consider ourselves ordinary human beings. So, I folded a true maverick’s nature into him, but I tried to keep it under the surface. More than anything, I wanted to Moshe to represent the nation of Israel as a whole. He is honest. He has an awareness of danger, yet has learned to live on the edge like most Israeli’s. He has reconciled within his mind the fact that Israel is practically alone in the world. I think that gives his personality a certain sadness.
Norm:
What do you want your book to do? Entertain people? Provoke thinking?
Jimmy: I really hadn’t set out to write a message-oriented book when I began Distant Thunder. However, the more I pursued the storylines the more a message began to surface. We obviously live in a world filled with peril, though many in the west seem to have fallen asleep to the danger of our post 9-11 world. I find that especially true among Christianity. The more I wrote, the more I found myself desiring to sound a warning of what is to come. My intent is not to generate fear, but to demonstrate that there is great hope if we will continue to seek the truth. But I believe the book, and series, are very entertaining and thrilling.
Norm:
Where did all the information come from concerning the Israeli Air Force and its air manoeuvres?
Jimmy: I have always held fighter pilots in high esteem. In fact, at the age of sixteen I visited with a US Navy recruiter to ascertain the possibilities of becoming an F-14 Tomcat pilot. That life never panned out, but I kept up with airborne weaponry and assets as best I could. When I began to build Moshe’s character it became a matter of researching the history of the Israeli Air Force, its military assets, and its incredible aerial history. Creating aerial flight and combat sequences happened on a flight simulator right on my computer. That may be why the crash scenes are so true to life. After the book was done I met a 9th Air Force combat instructor and F-15 ace who graciously reviewed the material. He gave it a full thumbs up, which is quite gratifying for someone who has never piloted a plane.
Norm:
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your book?
Jimmy: The most surprising moments came when I allowed the story to form itself. I did very little outlining other than the development of my characters and the ultimate end game. The thrill came in actually allowing the storylines to happen naturally. I found myself laughing at times. I had a tear or two slip from my eyes, and I can hardly describe how my heart was pounding while I wrote the action sequences. It is something I never expected to experience.
Norm:
Do you have a local writing community or fellow writers that you look to for support and advice?
Jimmy: Not when I wrote Distant Thunder. I was blessed to discover a small writers group as I was writing the sequel, and they have been a huge source of support and enjoyment. I’ve heard horror stories about such groups, but my experience has been extremely positive.
Norm:
Can you tell us how you found representation for your book? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?
Jimmy: I admit I was a novice at the whole enterprise of writing and publishing. When my manuscript was complete I began what I thought would be an easy process. I queried agents and publishers alike with over two hundred emails and letters. The few who responded offered little by way of encouragement. Most chose not to respond. Thankfully, I possess a nature that takes rejection and converts it into a challenge. You can imagine what a joyful day it was when three traditional publishers actually offered a contract. I chose the publisher that seemed to fit my needs, American Book Publishers.
Norm:
How do you celebrate a novel's completion?
Jimmy: This may sound crazy, but I celebrated by starting right in on the sequel. Again, I was a novice. The writing of Distant Thunder took exactly 60 days. No one ever told me it was supposed to take months or years. I just kept on writing. It wasn’t until the first copy of the author’s run came that I celebrated by taking my wonderful wife out for dinner. I suppose ignorance can be bliss in some ways.
Norm:
What is next for Pastor Jimmy and how can our readers find out more about you?
Jimmy: I am now in the editing stage of the second book of the series. It is titled A Gathering Storm. I am also about halfway through the finale called, Then Comes Lightning. After the Lightning Chronicles is complete I plan to write an extended historical fiction series based on the life of Old Testament prophet, Daniel. Readers can find out more about myself and what is behind Distant Thunder by visiting my website at www.lightningchronicles.com. I also write a blog on Biblical prophecy at www.prophecyalert.blogspot.com, and a blog to encourage new authors at www.lightningchronicles.blogspot.com. In the meantime, I will continue my day job of serving as a Pastor.
Norm:
Is there anything else you wish to say that we have not covered?
Jimmy: Just a word of encouragement to budding authors. Don’t give up your dream. Persevere, even when the writing is difficult and the rejections are mounting. It is your dream. It is worth pursuing.
Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors
Good day Jimmy and thanks for participating in our interview
Norm:
Could you tell us something about yourself and how you became interested in writing?
Jimmy: My pleasure, Norm. I am about as mid-western as a person can be, born in Kansas and raised in Nebraska, and instilled with the values known to the region. With that upbringing comes an enjoyment of the out of doors, sports, gardening, fishing, and being around lots of friends. My wife and I have been in the ministry for nearly thirty years, including a stint in Colombia, South America that lasted five years. But somewhere along the line I picked up a great love for writing. It has been a part of my life in the ministry for over thirty years, but it was only recently that I decided to scratch an itch that was driving me to write fiction. I am happy I took the plunge.
Norm:
Does your writing career ever conflict with your career as a Pastor?
Jimmy: I believe I have the best of both worlds. I love being a Pastor and just about everything that comes with it. It is my calling and my purpose. But I also have a passion to write. Juggling the two loves has been challenging at times, but the wonderful thing about the people in my congregation is that they are behind me one hundred percent. They come first for me and they know it. I think that frees them to allow me the leeway to write as often as I am able.
Norm:
One of your principal characters in Distant Thunder: Book One “The Lightening Chronicles” is Ty Dempsey who is a pastor like yourself. How much of you is in Ty?
Jimmy: My wife has accused me of having an alter ego. I don’t see Ty Dempsey in that light. If the truth be known, Moshe Eldan fits that side of me. However, much of Ty’s outlook and experience is filtered through my worldview. His roots are different. His style is different. But many of his day-to-day dealings with people were birthed within elements my own history. He is definitely more of a romantic, which also drives my wife crazy.
Norm:
How did you go about creating your other principal character, Captain Moshe Eldan? Is he based on any person you met or know?
Jimmy: I had no particular sketch in mind when I created Moshe, other than what I imagined a fighter pilot’s personality might be. I wanted him to have a semblance of the ordinary, but with a true potential toward the heroic. I believe that nature reflects the majority of those of us who consider ourselves ordinary human beings. So, I folded a true maverick’s nature into him, but I tried to keep it under the surface. More than anything, I wanted to Moshe to represent the nation of Israel as a whole. He is honest. He has an awareness of danger, yet has learned to live on the edge like most Israeli’s. He has reconciled within his mind the fact that Israel is practically alone in the world. I think that gives his personality a certain sadness.
Norm:
What do you want your book to do? Entertain people? Provoke thinking?
Jimmy: I really hadn’t set out to write a message-oriented book when I began Distant Thunder. However, the more I pursued the storylines the more a message began to surface. We obviously live in a world filled with peril, though many in the west seem to have fallen asleep to the danger of our post 9-11 world. I find that especially true among Christianity. The more I wrote, the more I found myself desiring to sound a warning of what is to come. My intent is not to generate fear, but to demonstrate that there is great hope if we will continue to seek the truth. But I believe the book, and series, are very entertaining and thrilling.
Norm:
Where did all the information come from concerning the Israeli Air Force and its air manoeuvres?
Jimmy: I have always held fighter pilots in high esteem. In fact, at the age of sixteen I visited with a US Navy recruiter to ascertain the possibilities of becoming an F-14 Tomcat pilot. That life never panned out, but I kept up with airborne weaponry and assets as best I could. When I began to build Moshe’s character it became a matter of researching the history of the Israeli Air Force, its military assets, and its incredible aerial history. Creating aerial flight and combat sequences happened on a flight simulator right on my computer. That may be why the crash scenes are so true to life. After the book was done I met a 9th Air Force combat instructor and F-15 ace who graciously reviewed the material. He gave it a full thumbs up, which is quite gratifying for someone who has never piloted a plane.
Norm:
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your book?
Jimmy: The most surprising moments came when I allowed the story to form itself. I did very little outlining other than the development of my characters and the ultimate end game. The thrill came in actually allowing the storylines to happen naturally. I found myself laughing at times. I had a tear or two slip from my eyes, and I can hardly describe how my heart was pounding while I wrote the action sequences. It is something I never expected to experience.
Norm:
Do you have a local writing community or fellow writers that you look to for support and advice?
Jimmy: Not when I wrote Distant Thunder. I was blessed to discover a small writers group as I was writing the sequel, and they have been a huge source of support and enjoyment. I’ve heard horror stories about such groups, but my experience has been extremely positive.
Norm:
Can you tell us how you found representation for your book? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?
Jimmy: I admit I was a novice at the whole enterprise of writing and publishing. When my manuscript was complete I began what I thought would be an easy process. I queried agents and publishers alike with over two hundred emails and letters. The few who responded offered little by way of encouragement. Most chose not to respond. Thankfully, I possess a nature that takes rejection and converts it into a challenge. You can imagine what a joyful day it was when three traditional publishers actually offered a contract. I chose the publisher that seemed to fit my needs, American Book Publishers.
Norm:
How do you celebrate a novel's completion?
Jimmy: This may sound crazy, but I celebrated by starting right in on the sequel. Again, I was a novice. The writing of Distant Thunder took exactly 60 days. No one ever told me it was supposed to take months or years. I just kept on writing. It wasn’t until the first copy of the author’s run came that I celebrated by taking my wonderful wife out for dinner. I suppose ignorance can be bliss in some ways.
Norm:
What is next for Pastor Jimmy and how can our readers find out more about you?
Jimmy: I am now in the editing stage of the second book of the series. It is titled A Gathering Storm. I am also about halfway through the finale called, Then Comes Lightning. After the Lightning Chronicles is complete I plan to write an extended historical fiction series based on the life of Old Testament prophet, Daniel. Readers can find out more about myself and what is behind Distant Thunder by visiting my website at www.lightningchronicles.com. I also write a blog on Biblical prophecy at www.prophecyalert.blogspot.com, and a blog to encourage new authors at www.lightningchronicles.blogspot.com. In the meantime, I will continue my day job of serving as a Pastor.
Norm:
Is there anything else you wish to say that we have not covered?
Jimmy: Just a word of encouragement to budding authors. Don’t give up your dream. Persevere, even when the writing is difficult and the rejections are mounting. It is your dream. It is worth pursuing.
Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Writer's In The Sky REVIEW of Distant Thunder
This is the first review of Distant Thunder to come back. Check it out from WRITERS IN THE SKY. A Podcast interview will be up in about a week.
Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Distant Thunder
Author: Jimmy Root, Jr.
ISBN Number: 978-1-58982-553-6
Publisher: American Book Publishing
Genre and Target Market: fiction, thriller, Christian
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 326
As in so many instances, life’s realities make for more interesting storytelling than the most imaginative piece of fiction ever could. I always have enjoyed literature that incorporates actual events into a storyline that shares the moment through the eyes of everyday individuals. Whether I am reading historical pieces about soldiers on the battlefield during the Civil War or the retelling of one family’s struggle on the frontier, I appreciate the research and creativity that goes into such writing. The events that are making headlines today also provide an endless supply of material on which authors can expand. We certainly can admit to a variety of perspectives on the root causes behind the current geopolitical situation in the world. However, regardless of who we choose to blame or victimize, most of us will agree that we are living in fascinating and dangerous times. In his new book Distant Thunder, which is the first release in a trilogy called “The Lightning Chronicles,” author Jimmy Root Jr. shares his perspective on the major events that are unfolding across the globe and how he believes that Biblical prophecy has predicted what we are now seeing on the nightly news.
Root, whose has spent his life in ministry, shares with his readers the lives of Pastor Ty Dempsey, who lives in Missouri, and Moshe Eldan, a pilot with the Israeli military. He skillfully presents these two men as everyday characters whose struggles with love, faith, family, and work can be understood by anyone who decides to sit down and open the book’s pages. By telling his story through the perspective of two such relatable personalities, Root makes the events in Distant Thunder even more startling. Through Root’s expert storytelling, readers are brought to the point at which they can see themselves as participants in the world’s most cataclysmic events.
Distant Thunder opens with an ancient scene in which the prophet Ezekiel foretells of the destruction of Israel’s enemies. The book then brings us to modern times as we see the prophecy of the Old Testament coming to fruition in a terrifying way. Root brings his readers through the plot development in short segments, switching between key locations around the world. Just as a scene reaches the moment of climax and you wonder if destruction is about to occur or one of our protagonists is headed for personal disaster, Root directs your attention elsewhere. These quick scenes give the readers the feel of the 24-hour news channels to which we have become accustomed in our post-9/11 world. Our global society is moving at a pace that is unprecedented, and Root powerfully argues that this progression is bringing us closer to the end times that were foretold in Biblical prophecy many centuries ago.
If you are a Christian who believes in the literal interpretation of the Bible, you will embrace Distant Thunder as an affirmation of your faith and a way to share the coming prophecies with others. Or, perhaps you have heard discussions about how current events are aligning with the messages shared in the Bible, but you have never studied the prophecy of end times or understood how it relates to what we see on the news every evening. In this case, Distant Thunder will serve as a wonderful book through which to experience through the eyes of “ordinary” characters the events which many Christians believe are soon to come. Whatever your motivation, I believe that you will find Distant Thunder to be a book that will make you think and desire to learn more.
Jimmy Root Jr
Distant Thunder A Prophetic Fiction Thriller Based on Bible Prophecy
Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Distant Thunder
Author: Jimmy Root, Jr.
ISBN Number: 978-1-58982-553-6
Publisher: American Book Publishing
Genre and Target Market: fiction, thriller, Christian
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 326
As in so many instances, life’s realities make for more interesting storytelling than the most imaginative piece of fiction ever could. I always have enjoyed literature that incorporates actual events into a storyline that shares the moment through the eyes of everyday individuals. Whether I am reading historical pieces about soldiers on the battlefield during the Civil War or the retelling of one family’s struggle on the frontier, I appreciate the research and creativity that goes into such writing. The events that are making headlines today also provide an endless supply of material on which authors can expand. We certainly can admit to a variety of perspectives on the root causes behind the current geopolitical situation in the world. However, regardless of who we choose to blame or victimize, most of us will agree that we are living in fascinating and dangerous times. In his new book Distant Thunder, which is the first release in a trilogy called “The Lightning Chronicles,” author Jimmy Root Jr. shares his perspective on the major events that are unfolding across the globe and how he believes that Biblical prophecy has predicted what we are now seeing on the nightly news.
Root, whose has spent his life in ministry, shares with his readers the lives of Pastor Ty Dempsey, who lives in Missouri, and Moshe Eldan, a pilot with the Israeli military. He skillfully presents these two men as everyday characters whose struggles with love, faith, family, and work can be understood by anyone who decides to sit down and open the book’s pages. By telling his story through the perspective of two such relatable personalities, Root makes the events in Distant Thunder even more startling. Through Root’s expert storytelling, readers are brought to the point at which they can see themselves as participants in the world’s most cataclysmic events.
Distant Thunder opens with an ancient scene in which the prophet Ezekiel foretells of the destruction of Israel’s enemies. The book then brings us to modern times as we see the prophecy of the Old Testament coming to fruition in a terrifying way. Root brings his readers through the plot development in short segments, switching between key locations around the world. Just as a scene reaches the moment of climax and you wonder if destruction is about to occur or one of our protagonists is headed for personal disaster, Root directs your attention elsewhere. These quick scenes give the readers the feel of the 24-hour news channels to which we have become accustomed in our post-9/11 world. Our global society is moving at a pace that is unprecedented, and Root powerfully argues that this progression is bringing us closer to the end times that were foretold in Biblical prophecy many centuries ago.
If you are a Christian who believes in the literal interpretation of the Bible, you will embrace Distant Thunder as an affirmation of your faith and a way to share the coming prophecies with others. Or, perhaps you have heard discussions about how current events are aligning with the messages shared in the Bible, but you have never studied the prophecy of end times or understood how it relates to what we see on the news every evening. In this case, Distant Thunder will serve as a wonderful book through which to experience through the eyes of “ordinary” characters the events which many Christians believe are soon to come. Whatever your motivation, I believe that you will find Distant Thunder to be a book that will make you think and desire to learn more.
Jimmy Root Jr
Distant Thunder A Prophetic Fiction Thriller Based on Bible Prophecy
Monday, July 27, 2009
Finding Inspiration
Inspiration is an interesting word with Biblical roots. It literally means that something is breathed out by God. I would not put the fictional story of Distant Thunder in that category, but its foundation of Biblical prophecy certainly qualifies. Being a life-long student of Bible Prophecy, I found it a natural transition from teaching those prophecies to creating a story with prophecy as its basis.
One of the stunning aspects of ancient Old Testament scripture is how what was predicted over twenty-five hundred years ago has, and is coming true today. Ezekiel the prophet witnessed a vision that described the re-birth of the nation of Israel. He also related how a coalition of nations, soon after that re-birth, would gather to destroy the Jewish nation. I use the word stunning because Ezekiel listed the exact nations that are headlining today’s news as being mortal enemies of Israel. Is that a coincidence? I think not and therein the idea to write a fictional story based on current events was born.
Now, in the creation of Distant Thunder and The Lightning Chronicles, inspiration comes into play. I took two passions from my personal life, Bible prophecy and the military thriller genre, and blended them into what I am calling a prophetic fiction thriller. Using what is most familiar to my own purpose I began by creating a character based on the life of a Pastor. As with my wife, many have asked if Pastor Ty Dempsey, one of the two main characters in the book, happened to be my alter ego. The answer is a resounding no. Aspects of my daily life show up simply because that is what is familiar to me. But Ty is his own man. He is an ordinary individual that is confronted with an extraordinary and frightening circumstance. He portrays how heroism is alive and well, even though that heroism might go unnoticed.
The real work came with the second main character, something that was totally apart from my personal experience. Moshe Eldan is an Israeli F-16 fighter pilot. Although the thought of flying something so powerful and dangerous as a fighter jet has always been a dream, I have never been within a hundred yards of an F-16. So, I began with a series of questions that led me deep into the research of my character’s surroundings. That included studying the advanced military weaponry and tactics used by the Israelis and other national air forces. It meant buying an F-16 flight simulator and spending hours trying to figure out how the thing worked. I confess I had a blast, plus, the aerial dogfight sequences in which fighter jets are shot from the sky became quite realistic. Thankfully, the military aspects of Distant Thunder passed muster as a 9th Air Force Combat Instructor reviewed the material and called it “spot on.” From that point, the rest of the story was easy and just exciting in the writing as it will be for the reader.
I have read of authors spending weeks outlining a storyline in order to make their book come alive. But for me, the story seemed to flow from the very start. I found myself surprised and perplexed at the actions of my characters, and that is how it should be. They were as unpredictable and conflict-driven as any normal human being. That, to me, is the greatest inspiration of all.
Jimmy Root Jr
Author of Distant Thunder A Prophetic Fiction Thriller based on Bible Prophecy
www.lightningchronicles.com
www.prophecyalert.blogspot.com
Twitter .... http://twitter.com/jimmyrootjr/
Facebook ... http://facebook.com/jimmyrootjr
Distant Thunder, Lightning Chronicles, Writing, Jimmy Root Jr, Virtual Book Tour,
Publishing,
One of the stunning aspects of ancient Old Testament scripture is how what was predicted over twenty-five hundred years ago has, and is coming true today. Ezekiel the prophet witnessed a vision that described the re-birth of the nation of Israel. He also related how a coalition of nations, soon after that re-birth, would gather to destroy the Jewish nation. I use the word stunning because Ezekiel listed the exact nations that are headlining today’s news as being mortal enemies of Israel. Is that a coincidence? I think not and therein the idea to write a fictional story based on current events was born.
Now, in the creation of Distant Thunder and The Lightning Chronicles, inspiration comes into play. I took two passions from my personal life, Bible prophecy and the military thriller genre, and blended them into what I am calling a prophetic fiction thriller. Using what is most familiar to my own purpose I began by creating a character based on the life of a Pastor. As with my wife, many have asked if Pastor Ty Dempsey, one of the two main characters in the book, happened to be my alter ego. The answer is a resounding no. Aspects of my daily life show up simply because that is what is familiar to me. But Ty is his own man. He is an ordinary individual that is confronted with an extraordinary and frightening circumstance. He portrays how heroism is alive and well, even though that heroism might go unnoticed.
The real work came with the second main character, something that was totally apart from my personal experience. Moshe Eldan is an Israeli F-16 fighter pilot. Although the thought of flying something so powerful and dangerous as a fighter jet has always been a dream, I have never been within a hundred yards of an F-16. So, I began with a series of questions that led me deep into the research of my character’s surroundings. That included studying the advanced military weaponry and tactics used by the Israelis and other national air forces. It meant buying an F-16 flight simulator and spending hours trying to figure out how the thing worked. I confess I had a blast, plus, the aerial dogfight sequences in which fighter jets are shot from the sky became quite realistic. Thankfully, the military aspects of Distant Thunder passed muster as a 9th Air Force Combat Instructor reviewed the material and called it “spot on.” From that point, the rest of the story was easy and just exciting in the writing as it will be for the reader.
I have read of authors spending weeks outlining a storyline in order to make their book come alive. But for me, the story seemed to flow from the very start. I found myself surprised and perplexed at the actions of my characters, and that is how it should be. They were as unpredictable and conflict-driven as any normal human being. That, to me, is the greatest inspiration of all.
Jimmy Root Jr
Author of Distant Thunder A Prophetic Fiction Thriller based on Bible Prophecy
www.lightningchronicles.com
www.prophecyalert.blogspot.com
Twitter .... http://twitter.com/jimmyrootjr/
Facebook ... http://facebook.com/jimmyrootjr
Distant Thunder, Lightning Chronicles, Writing, Jimmy Root Jr, Virtual Book Tour,
Publishing,
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Distant Thunder Virtual Book Tour has Begun
For those of you who've been watching my by-lines after each post, you've noticed my announcements about the coming Virtual Book Tour taking place in August and September.
Well, my Tour coordinator has graciously decided to begin a week early.
Here's the idea. For a book to reach anywhere near its potential in today's literary market it has to have an internet buzz. But how in the world does one create a buzz without blowing up a building our having a name like....Clancy?
Well, the Lord works in mysterious ways. Being immersed in cluelessness about such things, I found the best answer was a quick prayer. You know... HELP! Then I ran across a little add publicizing something called a Virtual Book Tour. Still struggling with cluelessness I clicked and inquired, and voila.....Virtual Tour begins.
What is it? Good question. A virtual book tour is a series of interviews and articles, hosted by numerous blog sites that explore and review new books that are hitting the market. Perfect! So, through August and September I will be answering interviews about Distant Thunder, Biblical Prophecy, and what it is like to be a first-time author. Cool, huh?
You can follow along and participate. I will be facebooking and tweeting about each day's Tour site. You can go to the site, read, and comment. If you've read Distant Thunder, your positive comments will send the book into a true "Buzz" mode as it nears and passes its release date. In fact, I would be greatly appreciative our your doing that very thing. You can go straight to my facebook profile page by going to:
http://facebook.com/jimmyrootjr
Or you can receive the tweets at http://twitter.com/jimmyrootjr It is that simple.
Then one more step. Send the tour sites to your friends to check out. Tell them you've come across the latest "world's most exciting book" that they really have to check out. Then give them the tour site. This is how you can help create a buzz that just might bring someone into true spiritual life, and that is what Distant Thunder and its sequels is all about.
Here is the first tour stop. http://tinyurl.com/klgrop
Check it out. Comment. Comment on these blogs too. You can do it!
Jimmy Root Jr
On TOUR now!
PS. For those of you that are headed to the Assemblies of God General Council in Orlando, Distant Thunder will be on sale at the Gospel Publishing House Bookstore. It will be signed and ready to go.
Distant Thunder, Lightning Chronicles, Writing, Jimmy Root Jr, Virtual Book Tour,
Publishing, Prophetic Fiction, Fiction,
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Storyline Part Three: Complex Braiding
NOTE: Be sure and enter the short story contest about half-way down the right hand column. Entry is due by September 1, and the prize is a signed copy of my new book: Distant Thunder.)
How do YOU tell a good story when you're sitting around gabbing with family or friends? Do you weave a graphic tail with multiple characters? Do your characters have a reason for being in the story i.e. part of the conflict or plot? I hope so, or your stories would be awfully boring.
The same holds true for writing a fast-paced, brain popping novel. There really should be several avenues of intrigue or conflict that intertwine themselves into with your main characters. This is something that many budding authors miss.
While I was tickling my keyboard in the writing of Distant Thunder, something happened that was completely natural. I added three different secondary storylines without outlining them to death. I let the story flow. I allowed those secondary characters to surprise and anger me. I ended up snuffing out their lives in the end and enjoyed doing it. But I was grateful to them none-the-less. Why? Because the prevented my main storylines and characters from getting bogged down. Writing became an exercise in intrigue, and that fact literally kept me coming back to the keyboard for more. The process of intertwining secondary plots and characters into your main story is called BRAIDING. (You know, like braiding those long pony tails on your daughter's head...or maybe even your own:)
Heather Sellers wrote, in a recent Writer's Digest article; "One reason so many books-in-progress die on the vine is because there isn't enough spark, enough energy in the original design, to drive the project all the way through the middle and close the deal. The middle of the book is often compared to a lonely and vast desert the writer has to hike across. It's easy to get lost. It's easy to give up.
To get across the middle, your work must involve some element of discovery--something you have to figure out as you write. Otherwise, your writing will feel canned, preplanned, flat. Like stale popcorn."
The idea is to have two or three things going at one time, and then bounce back and forth in short segments as your story progresses. This not only keeps the writing crisp, it keeps the reader seeking more. Multiple storylines are what creates PACE....and you definitely want a fast pace in order to hold the reader's interest.
Again, in writing Distant Thunder, I found that using the secondary characters to set the "hook" for the reader worked wonderfully. It only added to the value and direction the main characters were heading. My readers have commented that they hated those guys. And when the secondary characters ran head on into their demise, a sense of justice had already been birthed in the reader. For me, that was an accident. It was not planned. But good things happen to those who jump in and take risks. Write On oh storyteller!
Jimmy Root Jr
Author: Distant Thunder, Book One of the Lightning Chronicles... A Prophetic Fiction Thriller
Watch for my Virtual Book Tour coming in August and September.
Publishing, Prophetic Fiction, Fiction, Bible Prophecy
Saturday, July 11, 2009
A Good Writer's Group Can Be Valuable
Opinions are varied, but for the writer just getting started, finding a good writer’s group can be of tremendous value. Such has been the case for me, though it was the last thing I was looking for.
A writer’s group, at times called workshop or critique group is a cadre of three to six writers. This group gathers on a regular basis to offer constructive criticism and support for each member’s work. These groups can have a variety of experience levels, ranging from the novice to the polished, published author. The purpose is simple, to improve the skills, motivation, and success of each member.
My experience in a writer’s group has been exhilarating. When I first began to write my series on Biblical Prophecy, I had no knowledge that such groups were available. Therefore, I had no idea as to how to search one out. I came upon my opportunity by pure chance. I was invited. I am a better writer for the experience and Distant Thunder is a better book. In fact, with the support of the group I found the publishing process much more enjoyable than I'd been led to believe.
Horror stories abound. Many published authors openly declare a disdain, even loathing for the writer’s group. The truth is, in many instances, they are right. A poorly designed group can steal the joy from a writer’s soul. Ego can be driven to the lowest depth. Motivation can be exorcised from an author by an overabundance of criticism. However, finding a properly functioning team filled with fellow authors who only want to get better, can make all the difference.
Here are some suggestions when deciding on a writer’s group.
First, the group must have clearly defined goals. This can be as simple as making sure each member has something new to offer at each session, to how and when an author might defend his writing to the critics. A group without purposeful parameters finds itself wasting time and energy, thereby draining the members of creativity.
Second, there must be rules for criticism. Good guidelines will allow the group to function with efficiency. Within the confines of my writer’s group, each of the four members will share the latest segment, chapter, or article. Both the strong and the weak points of the writing will be examined. Praise comes accordingly, as does the criticism. Remembering that quietly listening to a critique can be intimidating, a special rule has been adopted by the group. For each critical comment, there must be at least two, equally authentic praises. We call it “two pats for every slap,” and it works beautifully. A guideline should also be adopted to prevent a monopoly on criticism by any one individual. Criticism must always be constructive and shared.
Third, the group should meet regularly. This can be once a week, or once a month, but it must happen methodically to have value. If one is offering segments of a continuing story, regularity of meetings can keep the other members on track with the context. But motivation is the greatest benefit with a disciplined pattern of meetings. To show up without having put forth an effort to write is taboo. If nothing else, it teaches the individual to stick with the hard work of honing the craft. The idea is for everyone to participate.
Fourth, there should be a mechanism in place to remove unfaithful or unruly members. Occasionally, a person may fall into the category of someone who does not pull his or her weight. Either by consensus or by vote, the person must be politely removed, or the entire group will suffer and eventually fold.
Jimmy Root Jr
Distant Thunder Book One: The Lightning Chronicles
A Prophetic Fiction Thriller
Release Date: August 10, 2009
www.lightningchronicles.com
Watch for my Virtual Book Tour coming in August and September of 2009. Details to come.
Distant Thunder, Lightning Chronicles, Writing, Jimmy Root Jr, Virtual Book Tour,
Publishing, Prophetic Fiction, Fiction, Bible Prophecy
Friday, July 10, 2009
Beware! Writing Is Addictive
If your history was anything like mine, writing was simply one of those unmentionable facts of life. I wrote because it was part of my job. Reading and writing were part of my education, one that I'm thankful for. However, it was only the reading that actually gave me any pleasure.
But then one cloudy December morning, after the thermometer strongly suggested I stay nestled close to my keyboard, I discovered the wonder of telling a story with the ends of my fingertips. Staccato clicks and runs rattled the entire day. For the first time I ignored the 'backspace.' It was just me, my computer, and a massive mug of coffee. By the end of the day I was addicted. That addiction has led me to the doorstep of a Virtual Book Tour.
The writing of Distant Thunder, began that cold, dreary morning of December 2, 2007. Two months later I had a manuscript. Three months after that, Distant Thunder had a publisher. Miraculous? Absolutely! Since that fateful start, my addiction has swelled into three books and a completely separate series proposal. If I weren't so completely enthralled with my life controlling issue (addiction) I would be calling the nearest chapter of AWA....Addicted Writers Anonymous. Thankfully, there are no chapters in the lower forty-eight states. Write ON oh captured one!
Jimmy Root Jr
Distant Thunder, Lightning Chronicles, Writing, Jimmy Root Jr, Virtual Book Tour,
Publishing, Prophetic Fiction, Fiction, Bible Prophecy
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