1. What is your name and where do you call home?
My name is
Darren Jacobs. I was born in Yorkshire, England, but I now live in Hollywood,
USA, but I still call Yorkshire home (but it feels more like a holiday when I
visit my family now). Plus I get fed. :)
2. What is the name of your most recent book and if
you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
Anumal
Empire: Lazarball
Thundercats
meets Planet of the Apes, with elements of Tron, but with action packed writing
and a unique plot.
3. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part
of a series?
We are just
about to rewrite book two of the Anumal Empire series (which will be seven
books in total.) We penned the first four books, but we have to do massive
rewrites as a lot of the plot and structure was changed in Lazarball. We also
have a couple more series that have all been developed, but need writing. The
ideas, concept artwork, plots etc have all been finished…we just need to do it
now.
4. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how
long have you been writing?
This is my
first novel that I co-wrote with my best mate from back home, and I trained as
a performer. I studied in London and New York on scholarships, and was lucky
enough to travel the world as an actor working with fantastic directors and
with great companies such as Disney,
the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. I have
always had an expressive streak running through me, and writing was a great way
for me to still be artistic when I was doing long runs of shows. Sometimes I
would be doing the same show eight times a week for a year, so going home after
the show and writing would keep my creative side in check.
5. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?
Yes. Until I have hordes of fans banging on my door to read the next
book, then it only makes sense to gift books to get my novel out there into the
big, wide world.
6. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed
the cover of your book?
This was a
really exciting process for us. David Ayres’s (the co-writer) cousin is a
graphic designer called Ben Wilkinson (info@export2reality.co.uk) who
really wanted to be a part of the project. We told him about the world, what
colours and textures we wanted, and let him come up with different designs for
the logo. Once we finally decided on a logo, he showed us what he thought we
could use as a cover…and we LOVED it immediately. I think he has done a great
job. The rusty metal sheets shows how the world is industrial, but is worn down
and rough, and the blood splatter shows the danger and tension.
7. Would you have different book covers for different
countries?
Yes, because different regions like different things. Of course I would
like there to be a running theme, and something that links them all together,
but I would not against it…unless I HATED the cover. That would be different.
8. How did you come up with the title for your book?
This is a great question as the title caused us a lot of problems. We
wanted something catchy, intrinsically linked to the world, and different. And
we pondered the dilemma for ages. We knew that we wanted book one to be called
Lazarball, but the series name was different matter. For weeks David and I
would fire names at each other over the internet, until we finally came up with
Anumal Empire. But it really was a hard process.
9. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your
thoughts on book trailers?
No, but I would love one. I think that they are a fantastic way to stir
hype and get interest. Unfortunately, if they aren’t done correctly, they look
naff! And unless you have the money to support you, you are going to find it
hard to get enough funding to get the production value right. This could be a
double-edged sword…
10. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or
audiobooks?
I do prefer a hardcover only because I have to shove the book in my
backpack most of the time, and paperbacks get damaged…did I mention my OCD
about books? I can’t bend the spine, and many of my books look unread after
finishing. It’s quite scary. I actually cringe when I see someone bend the
pages around to the back or casually fold the corners.
11. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if
so what was it?
Wuthering Heights - It just struck such a chord with me. The Hobbit and
LOTR – do I need to comment on that? The Harry Potters - I would reread every
book as a new one was released. The Earthsea Quartet – classic.
12. Have you ever bought a specific edition of a book
because of it’s cover? (For example a UK, US or Canadian version)
Yes, David Gemmel’s Drenai
series. I had the option of buying the book with the old cover or the new
cover. I went with the new cover as the other looked so outdated and like a
seventies B-movie.
13. Have you ever read a book just based on it’s
cover?
Yes, I read Sabriel by Garth
Nix because of the cover alone. The cover is such an important element, and
many people never realise this. I often just go to the bookshop to study the
current trends in the covers. It was amazing when I was travelling the world to
see how different regions had different styles.
14. Has the quality of the cover of a book ever put
you off of reading it?
Absolutely! It’s a subconscious turn off, and I unless I get it recommended
to me then I won’t read it if it has a bad cover.
15. What book are you reading at the moment? And in
what format?
Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and I’m really
enjoying it. It is a paperback from the local library. I have been using the
library more in LA as I promised myself I would not buy any books until I am
more stable in the US. I simply cannot cart around suitcases full of
books…which would easily happen if I had my way. My old room in my Mum’s house
in the UK is literally like a library.
16. Do you have any advice for other writers? And
what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Probably what everyone ever says. Rewrite, reread, judge honestly, and
rewrite again. Also, if you are writing for young adults, or children…don’t
patronise. The reader will easily take offence. Then just write something that
would interest you.
When some people have said they would love to write a book, but they are
daunted by it, I ask them whether they think they could write a short story.
Most of the time they say YES!!!!, so I reply with, well a novel is only a
collection of short stories all encapsulated together. Each chapter is a new
short story with a start, middle, and end…that must also have a point.
17. Where can your readers follow you?
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/anumalempire
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5826933.Darren_Jacobs
Twitter: @darrenjcbs
Amazon: USA-
http://tinyurl.com/75dmjkw
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/153404
Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/7rrq5tl
Website: www.anumalempire.com
Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!
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