Tell us about yourself, your childhood, your family. What do you do for a living?
I am a born and raised Canadian from Victoria, British Columbia, but I’ve spent the last few years living abroad. My wife and I spent two years in Melbourne, Australia and currently live in Zürich, Switzerland. The changes in culture, language, and scenery we’ve experienced have definitely made their way into my stories! When I’m not writing I spend most of my time in the theatre, where I act in and direct stage productions from straight plays all the way to musical theatre. I love different methods of storytelling!
Tell us about your Book, characters. What is it about? What’s your inspiration?
The Keeper Chronicles is a youth fantasy trilogy about a few kids who get swept away into another world and are forced to deal with culture shock and personal issues while battling villains and saving the world. This is one of my favourite genres to read even now and I was thrilled to be able to dive in and write my own mythology to add to the fabulous collections by other amazing authors. The main characters of the story vary from book to book (Playing with Fire, Running to Ground, Reaping the Whirlwind), but in each case the protagonists come from our world, though they often come from different countries, cultures, and even time-periods!
Why did you decide to write this book? How can it help others?
I wrote this series for the same reason I write anything: because I love the story. If you don’t like what you’re writing, how can you expect anyone else to? I am excited that this is a time when youth are reading again and I feel that contributing to the genres that they love helps open up worlds of imagination and possibilities for them.
How do you promote your books outside Amazon? Any marketing lessons for our readers?
I have my own website (www.jrvikse.com) on which I occasionally blog and of course word-of-mouth is a big part of marketing, the learning curve of which I am constantly struggling to ascend. I also use Facebook, Twitter, and various author-centric websites to help build an audience for my work. And, of course, Goodreads is an invaluable resource. Still, the most fun thing I’ve done to promote my books is go and speak in schools and hold signings in libraries where I actually get to talk to and hear back from the people reading my books.
Do you have a print version? How do you promote it?
I do. Some of my books are only in print, while others are in print and e-book format. With this trilogy the print version has been successful in my opinion because even in this digital age kids have become used to printed books again thanks to Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, etc.
How do you plan your book launch? Do you have tips for other authors to do a mega book launch?
Thus far my book launches have been small affairs, with announcements on my website and Facebook and a few eager readers champing at the bit to crack the spine on their own copies. I am looking forward to the day when I can do a mega book launch of my own!
Do you use KDP select? How has KDP Select helped you?
Yes. The free give-aways for my e-books have been invaluable in spreading the word on my writing and exposing new readers to my work. Though they aren’t a cash cow, they do take sales from the hundreds to the thousands and upwards. It’s a wonderful form of publicity and can begin a domino effect if each reader tells another… and so on.
How do you handle criticism or negative reviews? Any tips on how to avoid them (if any).
Criticism (if constructive) is not something to be avoided, but embraced. Even the more negative reviews that are not constructive can serve a purpose. Sometimes they can point towards a missing element in your work or a place one can improve. Positive reviews are wonderful but they don’t always help better your work. Besides, not everyone is going to like your writing. It’s no bad thing to ruffle a few feathers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write. Trite as that may sound, there is nothing better for helping your writing than writing. Write a lot, write a little, but write often. Also, make sure you have beta-readers that will give you good, harsh critiques. Focus on building a body of work that you can look back on with pride. It’s easy to think – in the moment – that your book is genius and so are you, but hindsight is 20-20. Take your time and deliver something you’re completely satisfied with. Your readers will thank you.
Name 3 of your all-time favorite books.
That’s a tough one. I’ll name some of my – current – favourite series':
If you were given a chance to motivate someone with your words, you would say...
Sometimes the words and the story come naturally, but sometimes it’s all you can do to overcome “the tyranny of the blank page.” If you lack motivation, here’s my advice: Just start. It may take some time, but like siphoning water, eventually creativity will start to pour out of its own accord.
Contact us page on your website: http://www.jrvikse.com/contact.html
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JRVikse
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvikseauthor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jason-j-r-vikse/43/265/336
I am a born and raised Canadian from Victoria, British Columbia, but I’ve spent the last few years living abroad. My wife and I spent two years in Melbourne, Australia and currently live in Zürich, Switzerland. The changes in culture, language, and scenery we’ve experienced have definitely made their way into my stories! When I’m not writing I spend most of my time in the theatre, where I act in and direct stage productions from straight plays all the way to musical theatre. I love different methods of storytelling!
Tell us about your Book, characters. What is it about? What’s your inspiration?
The Keeper Chronicles is a youth fantasy trilogy about a few kids who get swept away into another world and are forced to deal with culture shock and personal issues while battling villains and saving the world. This is one of my favourite genres to read even now and I was thrilled to be able to dive in and write my own mythology to add to the fabulous collections by other amazing authors. The main characters of the story vary from book to book (Playing with Fire, Running to Ground, Reaping the Whirlwind), but in each case the protagonists come from our world, though they often come from different countries, cultures, and even time-periods!
Why did you decide to write this book? How can it help others?
I wrote this series for the same reason I write anything: because I love the story. If you don’t like what you’re writing, how can you expect anyone else to? I am excited that this is a time when youth are reading again and I feel that contributing to the genres that they love helps open up worlds of imagination and possibilities for them.
How do you promote your books outside Amazon? Any marketing lessons for our readers?
I have my own website (www.jrvikse.com) on which I occasionally blog and of course word-of-mouth is a big part of marketing, the learning curve of which I am constantly struggling to ascend. I also use Facebook, Twitter, and various author-centric websites to help build an audience for my work. And, of course, Goodreads is an invaluable resource. Still, the most fun thing I’ve done to promote my books is go and speak in schools and hold signings in libraries where I actually get to talk to and hear back from the people reading my books.
Do you have a print version? How do you promote it?
I do. Some of my books are only in print, while others are in print and e-book format. With this trilogy the print version has been successful in my opinion because even in this digital age kids have become used to printed books again thanks to Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, etc.
How do you plan your book launch? Do you have tips for other authors to do a mega book launch?
Thus far my book launches have been small affairs, with announcements on my website and Facebook and a few eager readers champing at the bit to crack the spine on their own copies. I am looking forward to the day when I can do a mega book launch of my own!
Do you use KDP select? How has KDP Select helped you?
Yes. The free give-aways for my e-books have been invaluable in spreading the word on my writing and exposing new readers to my work. Though they aren’t a cash cow, they do take sales from the hundreds to the thousands and upwards. It’s a wonderful form of publicity and can begin a domino effect if each reader tells another… and so on.
How do you handle criticism or negative reviews? Any tips on how to avoid them (if any).
Criticism (if constructive) is not something to be avoided, but embraced. Even the more negative reviews that are not constructive can serve a purpose. Sometimes they can point towards a missing element in your work or a place one can improve. Positive reviews are wonderful but they don’t always help better your work. Besides, not everyone is going to like your writing. It’s no bad thing to ruffle a few feathers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write. Trite as that may sound, there is nothing better for helping your writing than writing. Write a lot, write a little, but write often. Also, make sure you have beta-readers that will give you good, harsh critiques. Focus on building a body of work that you can look back on with pride. It’s easy to think – in the moment – that your book is genius and so are you, but hindsight is 20-20. Take your time and deliver something you’re completely satisfied with. Your readers will thank you.
Name 3 of your all-time favorite books.
That’s a tough one. I’ll name some of my – current – favourite series':
- Gentleman Bastards – Scott Lynch
- Kingkiller Chronicles – Patrick Rothfus
- The Vorkosigan Saga – Lois McMaster Bujold
If you were given a chance to motivate someone with your words, you would say...
Sometimes the words and the story come naturally, but sometimes it’s all you can do to overcome “the tyranny of the blank page.” If you lack motivation, here’s my advice: Just start. It may take some time, but like siphoning water, eventually creativity will start to pour out of its own accord.
Contact us page on your website: http://www.jrvikse.com/contact.html
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JRVikse
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jasonvikseauthor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jason-j-r-vikse/43/265/336
