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meet Jill WilliamsonJill Williamson lives in the sticks of Eastern Oregon. She maintains a number of popular Web pages, including the Novel Teen Book Reviews site, where she was writing reviews of Marcher Lord Press novels before she ever thought she might be a MLP author herself. I did some editorial work on a YA novel by Jill a while back. I was very impressed by her storytelling and writing ability. It was my pleasure to meet her in person at the Oregon Christian Writer's Conference in 2008. There, I was able to review a few sample pages of this fantasy of hers, then called Bloodvoices. She didn't want to show it to me because it was YA and she knew I didn't publish YA. But when I read it, I knew two things right away: 1) this didn't have to be YA and 2) I wanted to publish it. I'm thrilled to count Jill as a Marcher Lord Press author.
She is the author of By Darkness Hid, releasing in April 2009. Read the
opening chapter here. |
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the interviewMarcher Lord Press: Tell folks a bit about yourself, Jill. Jill Williamson: I grew up in Alaska with no electricity. Thankfully it was the land of the midnight sun. In the summer I could stay up late and read by the daylight that wouldn't go away. But in the winter there was nothing better to do than daydream I was somewhere—or someone—else. I think both these hobbies set me up to be a writer. My biggest dream was to get out of Alaska and experience "real life." Thankfully I found God before I got into too much trouble. But we'll save that story for another time. I was very talented at making my own clothes and my dream was to be a fashion designer. Several years into that career I learned that I did not want to be a fashion designer. At all. Yikes! About five years ago, I stumbled into writing fiction as a result of an argument within my church congregation as to whether or not Harry Potter was evil. I figured why not give these people a story they can't complain about? Ah, naiveté... Regardless, I got hooked on my little young adult novel. So hooked that I had to put the dreaded thing down and write something different. So I did. Then I wrote something else. Then something else. My husband has served as a youth pastor for eleven years, so I help him with that ministry. That's what brought us to Eastern Oregon. Youth ministry, writing, and raising our two kids (Luke, age 7, and Kaitlyn, age 5) keep me very busy. I also play guitar, run a website for teen authors, and one for teen book reviews. I think I'm addicted to busyness. It's a common tale. Marcher Lord Press: What is your novel, in a nutshell? Jill Williamson: It's a medieval fantasy about two people who discover their ability to bloodvoice, which is to communicate from one gifted mind to another. Achan is a slave who gets the opportunity to train to be a Kingsguard Knight. Vrell is a noblewoman who is masquerading as a slave boy to avoid a terrible marriage. The novel alternates between their points of view until their stories collide on the battlefield. Marcher Lord Press: What's cool about your book? Why should I, a potential reader of your book, read it myself or buy a copy for someone I know? Jill Williamson: The bloodvoicing premise is pretty cool. I also love that Vrell is disguised as a boy and Achan thinks she's a pest. I had so much fun researching medieval swordsmanship—even made some wooden swords to play with. By Darkness Hid has mystery, suspense, action, and a hint of romance that appeals to readers of all ages. And if that doesn't convince you, check out the endorsement page on my website to see what people are saying. Marcher Lord Press: Why is Marcher Lord Press the ideal publisher for your novel? Jill Williamson: Because I believe in Jeff Gerke and his vision. I want to be a part of what's going on with this publishing house. And because, well, bloodvoicing is just plain weird. I wrote a book that didn't quite fit into the molds for CBA or ABA. At Marcher Lord Press, it fits just right. Marcher Lord Press: What do you hope to accomplish with this novel? Jill Williamson: I hope people will be entertained by my story and want to read the sequel. Marcher Lord Press: Are there more books in you? If so, what might some of them be? Jill Williamson: Yes. By Darkness Hid is the first in The Blood of Kings series, so there will be more fun with Achan and Vrell. The first series I began is about a Christian spy organization. The first book is called The New Recruit. I still have to finish the other three books in that series. Another series I'm working on is called Test Tube Nation. The first book, Jason Farms, is about a girl who discovers that her dad is working at a cloning lab. The second book, Jason Hunters, is about three guys who have wolf DNA in their blood. They are sent out to look for some lost Jason clones from book one. I have way too many ideas and way too little time to write them all. Sigh. Marcher Lord Press: Where can folks go to read more of your stuff? Jill Williamson: Check out my Web site. I'm hoping to have some free downloads up soon. Plus I have a cool interactive map of the story world from By Darkness Hid. Marcher Lord Press: Finally, and most importantly, if you could travel to any time period or alternate world, what would it be and why? Jill Williamson: I'd go to the beginning of time to see how God created it all. Then I might have to stick around long enough to have a quick chat with Eve about the whole fruit thing. that's all from JillBe sure to see the sample chapter from Jill's novel, By Darkness Hid, and to visit Jill online. And don't miss the profiles of her fellow Marcher Lord Press novelists. |
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