Author
By Nick Jones
New year, same old me, just a bit better… (hopefully)
Hi All,
A long overdue Happy New Year. I hope 2016 is a good one for you.
I used to set myself new year’s resolutions, but more often than not they were just too big, or too optimistic. Don’t get me wrong, I like a challenge but it needs to be achievable! Right?Continue Reading
By Nick Jones
After all the great feedback on my behind the scenes film, here’s another. I delve into some of the questions I’ve received and also reveal the print edition of Downstream.
Video Transcript
Hi and thanks for all your great feedback on my behind the scenes film and also for all your best wishes for Louis as well. He’s had lots of fuss and attention since I made that film! (Wait till you meet Alfie…)
So, thanks a lot for all your feedback and comments. I wanted to talk a little bit about Downstream today. I’ve had some great questions and I would like to answer a few of those.
Will there be more Downstream?
The answer to that is defininetly yes. The episodic idea was something that Ian and I talked about very early on, something I really wanted to do. But also, something like Downstream – in my mind – is a T.V. show. And T.V. shows like Quantum leap or Daredevil – the sort of netflix formula – really lend themselves to that. So Season 1 of Downstream is exactly that; we’re hoping there will be multiple seasons, which is very exciting. I think I’m excited to see where I can take the character. Obviously I don’t want to say too much – some of you may not have read it yet. There’s definitely a lot more that I want to do with that. I think that’s the beauty really of time-travel stories. You can really explore, not only the characters, but also multiple time zones that I’m keen to challenge myself to write. So, yes, absolutely, there will be more. I’m working in Hibernation Book 3 at the moment but hopefully around about May next year (2016) I will start work on Downstream Season 2. I’m very much looking forward to that.
How did you come up with the idea?
As with most of the books I’ve written, the initial idea landed in one hit. That kind of ‘wake up in the morning’ and think, hmmm that’s interesting… The idea of the main character trying to get back to save his sister was something that I hit on quite early. The original concept (I remember pitching it to Ian and we talked about it a great deal) was quite dark and it was more of a thriller. I think, off the back of writing The Whisper of Stars (Hibernation #1) I wanted to carry on in that vein. But then as we started to progress – maybe it was the beers! – but we started to laugh and think about the interesting opportunites time-travel presents. So, in the end we decided we wanted to try and span between darkness, comedy, relationships, loss and love – and as a number of the amazon reviews have noted (which I’m really pleased to see) – Downstream isn’t just a time-travel story and it’s not just a comedy either. It’s lots and lots of things, which again I think lends itself to that episodic format.
Did you know how it would end?
No actually. I had a concept originally but that changed. In fact, I heard an author on the radio talking about the same thing… the book kind of decides in the end, which all sounds mythical and magical but I think it does. I think the story should take you in interesting directions. Ian and I deliberately didn’t map out all seven episodes. In fact originally it was going to be 6 but we got half way through and said we need a whole other episode here on Alexia Finch dealing with something that had just happened to her. We didn’t want to brush over it and rush. And I know some of the feedback I’ve had is that it’s a little slow in the begining and I think well…
Try time-traveling! See how you cope with it… !
I think it would be incredibly exciting but also pretty scary and I think for a normal person to suddenly figure out they could time-travel. Well, that’s what I wanted to explore. That felt like a unique angle to me. So, yes, we didn’t know how it would end and it was really one of the most exciting times I think I’ve had so far as an author when the ending suddenly unravelled in front of my eyes. Especially because it stuck to the rules that had been such a pain to set up and sometimes made writing it difficult (because you have to stick to them!). When that finale happened in my mind that was pretty cool. One of the best moments for me. When Ian and I thrashed that around and realised it was going to work, then the big challenge for me was to actually make that happen. Overall, the ending came half way though the book, which I was very pleased with.
Finally on DS, people are asking will it be in print. The answer is yes, and I’m pleased to say here it is.
Downstream in print and it does look lovely. Inside each episode there is a picture, so it’s in the original episodic format. This has literally arrived this morning and receiving books in the post always reminds of the scene in Back to the Future when George McFly receives his books. ‘If you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything.’ That always makes me smile. I love my kindle, I love the fact that I can reach readers on the kindle, but I also love print. Rest assured. I’m always going to create my books in print and this one is available now.
In terms of price. It’s pretty much the cost of production. Not something that makes us authors very much money. But, that’s not really the point. I just think it’s lovely to see it print and have it on my shelf. So, go grab it if you’re interested. I think that’s it for today.
Speak soon and happy reading.
Nick
By Nick Jones
Downstream Episode 7 is finished and with my editor. I suspect some tough love will be coming back my way, but with a good headwind I should have it released slightly ahead of schedule. I appreciate all the emails of encouragement by the way, and I really hope you all enjoy the conclusion to Joe’s story. It’s big!
I’m also, just working on the PRINT edition of Downstream too. It’s going to look lovely I hope. It will be available via Amazon; links to follow as soon as 7 is released.
Ian and I have been busy working on two new projects. The first is Hibernation Book 3. Our recent planning session was tough, as we ploughed back though the world, but also exciting as we discovered new layers in which our characters could influence the overall shape of the series. Each character has their own agenda, viewpoint and goals and it’s shaping up to be really good fun. We have another session planned for next weekend.
Can’t wait.
We’re also working on a short film script to be shot – hopefully – in the next 6 months. It’s a chiller (Twilight Zone / Tales of the Unexpected) and is proving to be challenging but very rewarding to write.
By Nick Jones
When I finished the second book in my Human Hibenrnation series ‘The Embers of Hope’ I did so with a very happy heart. I had successfully completed my second novel. I was no longer just a bloke who wrote a book, I was a novelist (albeit a fledging, wet behind the ears one, but you get the idea).
Also, if I’m honest, I felt pretty exhausted. The book is dark in places and had taken a lot out of me creatively and emotionally. I felt I needed to try something different and also challenging (in a different way to a thriller).
So, I floated the idea of writing a more upbeat ‘serial’ with Ian Hughes. For those who don’t know, Ian is not only a good friend but also my collaborator on all things fiction. He works with me tirelessly on the details of plot and the direction of my writing. In short, he gets to do the fun stuff and – in his own words – I do the hard part! I’m being flippant of course. What Ian brings is a sense of logic and storytelling that I would be lost without. (thanks mate).
Episodic content? Time-Travel? Release it every 6 to 8 weeks?
Ian said, “I’m In” and DOWNSTREAM was born.
Well, that was back in October 2014 and here we are; 120,000 words later. DOWNSTREAM is nearly done! Episode 7 is sitting, half-finihsed on my laptop (calling to me at all hours of the day and night) and by Mid-August the tale of Amy Bridgeman’s disappearance and her brother’s time-traveling attempts to save her will be told. Episode 1 is here if you fancy making a start. (Here is you’re in the U.K. like me).
I can’t wait to hear what you think.
All of this to tell you that this weekend Ian and I start work on our next projects. (Yes, there is supposed to be an ’s’ on the end). The focus will be an initial plot outline for Hibernation Book 3 (title TBC) We will be going back through the last two books and reminding ourselves (yep, Downstream has successfully erased large portions of my memory of writing them) and seeing where we might want to go. Also, perhaps more importantly it will be about unpacking the characters again and seeing where THEY want to go!
All very exciting. There will be beers, tears and high fives. Oh, and plenty of vinyl.
It’s always fun hurtling into a new project with no idea where it will take you. And, it’s funny to think that in 12 months time (I hope) that these early thoughts will be buried inside a new novel.
Yep, you read it here first. Hibernation Book 3 will be out next summer. Better get some stronger coffee…
Oh, and we’re also going to be working on a script for a short film! (More on this later) but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for some time and a real challenge to get a story told in a constricted timeframe. I’m hoping that Downstream will have helped hone that particular part of the craft.
Right. Time to wipe the board clean and write NEW BOOK at the top!
Until next time. Happy reading.
Nick
Ps. For those who prefer printed books DOWNSTREAM will be available in printed form in September. I will keep you posted.
