Monday, August 1st, 2011

Welcome Jeremy Rodden!

Jeremy Rodden is here today to talk about his YA Fantasy novel, Toonopolis: Gemini. Let’s begin! Jeremy, tell us a little about yourself.

I spent the first ten years of my professional life in retail sales, working my way up to store management positions in two different Fortune 500 retailers. Along the way, I managed to earn a BA in Religion and English Writing from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA and an MA in Secondary Education from Holy Family University, also in Philadelphia.

After completing my Masters, I began teaching high school English. When my second son was born in May, 2010, however, my wife and I decided that it would be more prudent for me to be a stay-at-home dad, taking care of the new baby along with my first son, who was born in June, 2005. I have since had the challenge and pleasure of being a homemaker.

It was at this time that I finally grasped the stories that had been in my head since I was a teenager and wrangled them to paper. Toonopolis began as a silly interactive fiction game played with some real life and virtual friends. The game only lasted a few years but the world I had created and my characters never escaped my thoughts.

As a writer, I consider C.S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll to be my strongest influences. They were able to create magical worlds that readers of all ages enjoy, which is exactly what I want to achieve with Toonopolis. It is a lofty goal, indeed, but the only goals that will invariably be unachievable are the ones that are not set.

Welcome to my world. I hope you have as much fun as I do.

That’s wonderful that you stay at home with your sons. I’m very blessed with being able to stay at home with my son too. It’s so rewarding isn’t it? So, what made you decide to become a writer? And why specifically did you choose to write fantasy?

I have wanted to be a writer since grade school. I was very engrossed with Beverly Cleary as a kid and one of my favorite books was Dear Mr. Hensaw. It was an epistolary novel about a kid writing to his favorite author. If I had to pick one book that inspired me to become an author, I’d have to go with that one.

I chose to write fantasy because that’s what I enjoy reading and I have an overactive imagination. I created an entire world in my head and it made sense to put it down on paper so other people can share in my world.

I’m sure for many fantasy authors, it’s the same. We just all have worlds going inside our heads that eventually have to come out. What was the inspiration for your book, Toonopolis?

There are way too many inspirations to name. Considering I use a lot of parody humor, sometimes it is very clear. Some of the largest ones, though, would be Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The NeverEnding Story, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, and some of the cartoons of my youth, such as Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures.

I loved Tiny Toons! One of my favorite shows as a kid. Since you have fun with your two boys all day, how long did it take you to write your book?

The thought process of worldbuilding had been an ongoing process for ten years. From the point of putting pixel to screen to holding the printed book in my hand was a nine month process. The first three months were spent on writing. The next three on editing and polishing. The last three on formatting and publishing.

Wow! I give you credit for formatting and publishing that fast. I’m working on getting my work ready to go and I’m pretty sure it will take longer than three months! Who was your biggest supporter or influence for your book?

My wife was absolutely my biggest supporter. Being a stay-at-home dad was something we decided on after moving to a new state for her work. We have two boys (6 and 1) and my salary as a high school English teacher would barely cover the costs of the added childcare so we opted for me to stay home. I began writing shortly after this new career path opened up and have not stopped since (well, except to clean the house, do laundry, take care of the kids…).

I completely understand the daycare costs. My husband came to the same conclusion when our son was born. And yes, the laundry is very important! I only have one to keep after and I barely keep up with it as it is! With such a busy (but blessed) stay at home Dad schedule, do you have any other projects in the works right now? Or any other published works?

I have two current works in progress. One is the sequel to Toonopolis: Gemini and Book 2 of the Toonopolis Files and is called Toonopolis: Chi Lin. It is about a real world unicorn that transports itself and its maiden to the Tooniverse in order to seek immortality. Along the way, Chi Lin learns a thing or two about humor and humanity and gets tied up in the ongoing battle between Agent Mimic of the Agency and Dr. James Grenk, the scientist who developed the process of sending a human consciousness into the Tooniverse. This book should be out in November.

The second work is a short story/novella entitled Toonopolis Short: Anchihiiroo. Anchihiiroo, aka Han’Eiyuu, is introduced in Toonopolis: Gemini as the Animetown anti-hero who turned rogue and forced his creator to change him into a villain. This story is his origin, encompassing to his tragic childhood, hero training, and ultimate status as the hero of Animetown.

Interesting! I love to read those side stories that come as a companion to novels and series. For all the backstory and other tidbits that just can’t be fit into the novel. I’m sure your fans and readers will enjoy it as well. Well, let’s share an excerpt from Toonopolis: Gemini.

Chapter Three: Adventure Realm

Jimbob the Talking Eggplant led Gemini to a section of Toonopolis that very much resembled a quaint little farm town. There were sounds of a blacksmith hammering in his shop and the bleating of sheep and goats penned nearby.

Gemini looked across the dirt road in front of him and wondered how the city had changed so drastically from Sorting Square. The buildings here were all made of wood, and dust hung in the air all around the town. He saw a sign painted with a baby pig hanging above a building. There was a roasted apple shoved into the pig’s mouth.

“Ah,” said Jimbob, “the Suckling Pig. That’s where we want to go.”

Gemini was hesitant. “I’m just a teenager, Jimbob. Why would I want to go to a bar?”

Jimbob had already begun hopping across the dirt street toward the Suckling Pig. There was music streaming through the tavern’s open door that sounded like it came from crude string and wind instruments. “It’s not a bar. It’s a tavern. And you want to go there because nearly every quest starts at one. Maybe we can find something to help make you complete!”

Grudgingly, Gemini followed his guide across the dusty road and through the Suckling Pig’s swinging front doors. The boy looked around at the nearly empty tavern and spotted a few drunken men at the bar along with some very unenthused looking minstrels playing their medieval instruments by the fire.

A barmaid looked up from the wooden table she was wiping down and her eyes lit up. “Are you the chosen one?” she asked in Gemini’s direction.

“Am I the what?” he responded, baffled.

“The chosen one. Why else would a teenager walk into a tavern unless he were the chosen one?” The barmaid moved closer to Gemini as she spoke.

Gemini glanced over at Jimbob, who appeared to be enjoying the spectacle very much. “I told you I shouldn’t be here, Jimbob.” Gemini turned to leave the Suckling Pig.

Jimbob stopped his retreat and spoke to the barmaid, “No, m’lady, he is not your chosen one. He is a fresh young adventurer looking to make a name for himself by slaying and killing and all of that good stuff.” Jimbob bowed to the barmaid. He glanced up at Gemini with a mischievous look and winked at him.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Gemini threw up his arms as he pushed past Jimbob and walked out of the tavern.

He made it two steps out the door when Jimbob came bouncing up behind him, laughing hysterically. “I’m sorry, kid, but that was just too much fun. Seriously, though, I talked to the barmaid and she showed me a list posted in the tavern for adventurers.”

“I don’t see how that helps me.” Gemini sulked.

“Well, we don’t have any other leads. Maybe if we pick one of these quests, we’ll get lucky.” Jimbob held out a piece of paper. “I like the first one.”

Gemini turned to face Jimbob and snatched the paper out of his hand, saying, “Let me see that sheet.” He read aloud the first quest on the list. “‘Questgiver: Barmaid Hanna. Reward: Ten silver. Quest: Slay five giant rats in the cellar of the Suckling Pig.’”

He put down the paper and looked at Jimbob, who was literally rolling on the ground with laughter. “If an eggplant pees himself, what color is it?” he asked his vegetable guide.

Jimbob immediately stopped laughing and looked hurt. “Okay, so I guess you don’t like that one. What about the next one?”

Gemini returned to reading the second quest on the list. “’Questgiver: Chi Lin. Reward: The undying gratitude of the last real unicorn. Quest: Locate Chi Lin’s maiden, Avantika, who was kidnapped by an unknown assailant.’”

“Oooh,” mocked Jimbob, “‘undying gratitude’, eh? Let’s kill the rats for silver instead!”

Gemini shook his head and read the third and last quest. “‘Questgiver: The people of Adventure Realm. Reward: One hundred gold. Quest: A mysterious shadowy figure has been killing toons all over Toonopolis. He must be stopped.’” He sighed. “How am I supposed to deal with that? Besides, you can’t kill toons, can you?”

Jimbob looked pensive for a moment. “Well, not by traditional means, no. At least, you can’t permanently kill a cartoon.”

“Well, how can you kill a toon then?” Gemini walked over to a bench in front of the tavern and watched a man on a horse walk past. “Maybe this whole quest thing was a bad idea.”

At that moment, another young man, clad in a loose-fitting white tunic and brown linen pants, strode past Gemini and Jimbob as they talked. Gemini watched him walk confidently into the tavern. From inside, he could hear barmaid Hanna’s screech, “Oh, you must be the chosen one!” Gemini rolled his eyes.

Jimbob hopped over to him and looked at the list. “Well, maybe we should see about that unicorn thing. They have magic. Maybe it can help us out.”

Before Gemini could respond, the young man who had just entered the Suckling Pig came back out and stood facing him. “I’d like that quest list, please. Hanna tells me there are rats to be killed.” He pulled out a wooden sword. “And I aim to kill them.”

“You’re going to kill them with that? You plan on smacking them to death?”

Jimbob jumped in to add, “And really, why is there a limit to how many she wants killed? Are there only five down there or is that just a random quota she set up?”

Gemini threw his hands up in the air and said, “This place is ridiculous.”

Gemini crumpled up the quest list and threw it at the other young man’s feet. As he stood, Gemini noticed that they were of equal height, but his counterpart had black hair and no glasses. This observation made Gemini adjust his glasses as he turned his back to the other boy.

“How dare you insult this fine tavern? I challenge you to a duel!” As he spoke, a giant flag fell from the sky and landed between Gemini and the other boy. “I am Leothas, the chosen one, and I will not stand idly by and allow you to belittle the importance of this quest.”

“Okay, where did that flag come from? And what are you talking about? I’m not going to duel with you.” Gemini turned his back on Leothas and started walking up the dirt road. Leothas ran at Gemini and thwacked him in the back of the head with his wooden sword. “Ow!” shouted Gemini. “What was that for?”

“En garde!” Leothas responded. “I have struck first. Now it is your turn.”

Gemini rubbed the back of his head and faced his assailant. “What do you mean ‘it is your turn?’ Why would we take turns?” Before Leothas could answer, Jimbob the Talking Eggplant bounced to Gemini’s side and handed him his own sword made out of wood.

“Why wood? Can’t I just use a metal sword? I heard the blacksmith working over there.” He pointed with his wooden sword at the blacksmith shop, still ringing with the sounds of hammers striking metal.

Jimbob shrugged. “The shopkeep was only selling wooden weapons. I asked her about metal ones, and she said you weren’t high enough level to use metal yet.”

“Enough talking,” cried Leothas. “It is your turn.”

Gemini smiled. “So, what you’re saying is that you can’t attack me again until I attack you? Some magical force is making this fight turn-based? What happens if I just don’t attack you back?”

Leothas looked stunned. He retreated from his attacking stance into a thoughtful one. He had one hand on his hip and rubbed his chin with the other. “I don’t know. I was always taught to take turns attacking. I don’t know any other way to fight.”

“Yeah, good luck with that.” With a smirk, Gemini dropped his wooden sword into the dirt and walked up the road. “Come on, Jimbob, let’s go ask some townfolk if they know anything about this shadowy figure. This place is making me feel dumber for having been here.” Jimbob picked up the sword and bounced along behind Gemini.

“You get back here and take your turn, insolent scum! I am the chosen one and I say we must battle!” Leothas shouted as he receded more and more into the background.

Jimbob and Gemini rounded a corner and approached a new part of the town that seemed to serve as a meeting square. Several villagers were standing at a well, waiting to draw water.

“So what was that whole turn-taking thing about?” asked Gemini.

Jimbob responded, “It was an archaic form of fighting from early adventuring days. No one even uses it anymore unless they are fighting with strange looking creatures that fit inside a little ball in your pocket.”

“What?”

“You know, pocket monsters.”

Pocket monsters!? YES! I love it. I wish you much success with the Toonopolis stories, Jeremy. Come visit Beyond Worlds again with future books. We’d love to have you.

Find Jeremy on the internet at:
His Website & Blog: http://www.toonopolis.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/toonopolisfiles
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/toonopolis

And don’t forget to pick up a copy of Toonopolis: Gemini at:
Amazon: US
Amazon: UK
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords