"Writing is about discovery, about answering questions I have"
It was my great pleasure recently, to interview the friendliest author I know, married father of three, Mike Jansen.
Mike has just released his new novel, 'The Failing God' and I wanted to know all about it.
Mike has just released his new novel, 'The Failing God' and I wanted to know all about it.
Based in the realm of Cranborn, 'The Failing God' deals with three main characters. Grim, Gray and Thoreld (three mercenaries) are on the run from an ancient evil and in their wake, prophecies crumble and long dormant conflicts resurface.
The story is told from different points of view allowing the reader a broader perspective on the realm of Cranborn.
"Actually, (Cranborn) it's a name derived from an ancient character in the books, by the names of Craen Bjorn, one of the first kings to unite the realm. The whole set of ideas developed from one original story, called 'The Last Dragon', which was the first story I ever wrote."
The story is told from different points of view allowing the reader a broader perspective on the realm of Cranborn.
"Actually, (Cranborn) it's a name derived from an ancient character in the books, by the names of Craen Bjorn, one of the first kings to unite the realm. The whole set of ideas developed from one original story, called 'The Last Dragon', which was the first story I ever wrote."
'The Failing God' is a translation of the original Dutch novel, 'De Falende God'. Did I forget to mention that Mike is from The Netherlands?
"The ideas for the book have been playing around in my mind for the past twenty years and at the end of 2011, I wrote the first novel in Dutch, in roughly ten weeks."
Mike began writing in the early 90's. He has always been an intensive reader, getting through upwards of a six hundred pages a day, but it was a challenge from a friend that got him writing. His "...good friend and school buddy, Max Hirschfeld suggested we enter a writing contest called the 'King Kong Award'"
This happened in 1991 and was the reason that 'The Last Dragon' first saw the light of day. It was picked up by a magazine and with that success, there was no stopping him. Mike wrote 'Infernal Divinity' and was awarded a top ten position in a competition as well as being selected as the best new author of the year. After his swift rise to stardom, Paul Harland, one of the better known Dutch authors invited him to co-write a story for a contest the following year. They won.
This happened in 1991 and was the reason that 'The Last Dragon' first saw the light of day. It was picked up by a magazine and with that success, there was no stopping him. Mike wrote 'Infernal Divinity' and was awarded a top ten position in a competition as well as being selected as the best new author of the year. After his swift rise to stardom, Paul Harland, one of the better known Dutch authors invited him to co-write a story for a contest the following year. They won.
"I have this 'story telling gene'. I like to tell tales and I hope people will enjoy them"
As the 90s wore on, Mike began to meet many interesting people at SciFi conventions and he eventually teamed up with Roelof Goudriaan and started up a publishing company.
'Babel Publications' produced more than thirty books over the next decade.
While Mike was working on this exciting venture, he also had to hold down a full time job and his studies. He has a seemingly endless supply of energy and makes sure he uses every possible minute of the day. However, it's not all about work, Mike was an avid player of roleplaying games, competing in tournaments with 'Magic' and 'Vampire CCG'.
It wasn't until the early 2000s that things started to change again for Mike. The Dutch market no longer held any challenges for him, so he stopped working on 'Babel Publications' and his writing took a back seat.
'Babel Publications' produced more than thirty books over the next decade.
While Mike was working on this exciting venture, he also had to hold down a full time job and his studies. He has a seemingly endless supply of energy and makes sure he uses every possible minute of the day. However, it's not all about work, Mike was an avid player of roleplaying games, competing in tournaments with 'Magic' and 'Vampire CCG'.
It wasn't until the early 2000s that things started to change again for Mike. The Dutch market no longer held any challenges for him, so he stopped working on 'Babel Publications' and his writing took a back seat.
2009
"My wife got real sick and died in early 2009. It was a very bad time but my wife was as tough as nails. She picked up a laptop and said: 'ok, let's find you a new wife...'"
After the death of Mike's wife, he found himself writing again.
In the time 'De Falende God' was being translated, Mike wrote and published many new stories alongside James Ward Kirk of 'James Ward Kirk Fiction' (http://jwkfiction.com/) and book two of the 'Chronicles of Cranborn' is sure to make an appearance soon.
"There will be five books - a pentalogy - starting with 'The Failing God' and followed by 'In Shadows of Times Past'. I am currently working on part 3, 'The Absent Light'"
In the time 'De Falende God' was being translated, Mike wrote and published many new stories alongside James Ward Kirk of 'James Ward Kirk Fiction' (http://jwkfiction.com/) and book two of the 'Chronicles of Cranborn' is sure to make an appearance soon.
"There will be five books - a pentalogy - starting with 'The Failing God' and followed by 'In Shadows of Times Past'. I am currently working on part 3, 'The Absent Light'"
I'm sure many readers are very much looking forward to following the progress of the 'Chronicles of Cranborn' series. If you haven't yet picked up your copy of 'The Failing God', check it out right here - http://jwkfiction.com/index.php/74-failinggod or on amazon - http://www.amazon.com/The-Failing-God-Chronicle-Chronicles/dp/0615966039/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392551781&sr=8-1&keywords=the+failing+god
Mike, it has been an absolute pleasure finding out about you and your work and I would like to thank you for your openness and this opportunity.