Ask the Author: Jerry B. Jenkins
Answered Questions (119)
Jerry B. Jenkins
The series continues to sell between ten and fifteen thousand units per month, coming up on 29 years since the first title was released. That tells me it remains relevant to this day. More importantly, I still hear from readers who say they're lives were changed from reading it.
Jerry B. Jenkins
Writing done well is too grueling to love while you're doing it. I love having written, learning as I go, being able to do it, being known for it, its impact on readers, etc., etc. I actually love the revision stage where the magic happens. But the actual writing? Ask a marathon runner at the 20-mile mark if he loves running. :)
Jerry B. Jenkins
Your perspective character is your camera and recorder, so we should see and hear only what he/she does. I would have him wondering what so-and-so is whispering about and then have another character sidle up and say something like, "You won't believe what I just heard..."
Jerry B. Jenkins
Don’t start with a book. A book is not where you start; it’s where you arrive after studying and honing your craft by writing short stuff, trying to sell it, learning the business, learning to work with an editor, etc. www.jerryjenkins.com
Jerry B. Jenkins
I do. I have two coming out this year, two more next year, and three more contracted for down the road. That’ll make a total of more than 210 books. I don’t know how to do anything else. Plus I don’t want to be that teacher who used to write. I’m still in the game.
Jerry B. Jenkins
Mike, what I'm suggesting you avoid is telling: in other words, saying, "He didn't answer." Rather, I want, as a reader, to be shown this so I can deduce it.
A quick example:
"I want to know, Biff," she said. "I deserve an answer."
Biff stared out the window.
"Well?" she said. "Nothing? What are you trying to hide?
A quick example:
"I want to know, Biff," she said. "I deserve an answer."
Biff stared out the window.
"Well?" she said. "Nothing? What are you trying to hide?
Jerry B. Jenkins
Sorry I'm just seeing this, Becca, but I do wish you all the best with your project. Unfortunately, my endorsement policy requires that I read a book in its entirety and, of course, like it, before endorsing. But it also requires that the book is contracted for with a traditional publishing house and not, in essence, self-published. Traditional publishing houses pay you, rather than the other way around, and thus manuscripts go through a vigorous vetting process before they're accepted.
Nonetheless, I applaud your zeal for and work on this and hope it has a wonderful impact.
Nonetheless, I applaud your zeal for and work on this and hope it has a wonderful impact.
Jerry B. Jenkins
Well, naturally I think so, as I wrote it. There are four in that series: Matthew's Story, Mark's Story, Luke's Story, and John's Story.
Jerry B. Jenkins
Thanks for your kind comments, Derek. Be assured I take enough breaks between books to keep my batteries charged. :)
Jerry B. Jenkins
The former is exactly what it is, Tom. And we were careful not to even suggest the timing, because Jesus Himself said that He didn't even know, but only the Father knows. :)
Jerry B. Jenkins
Needless to say, creating an Antichrist character was quite a challenge. He's the ultimate villain and, according to our view of Scripture, will be so attractive and charming that for the first three and half years of his reign, he will not only NOT be recognized as the AC, but will be assumed to be God incarnate. I knew I was on the right track when one of my sons--then a teenager--read the initial draft and said, "I hope this guy's not the antichrist, because I like him." :)
Dr. LaHaye believed the AC would have Roman blood, so to avoid the Italian cliche, I made him Romanian.
His name was easy, as the late evil dictator of Romania was a Nicolae, and I used the Transylvania mountain range as his last name. A critic said that if he was American, I would have called him Joe Rockies. Ha!
Dr. LaHaye believed the AC would have Roman blood, so to avoid the Italian cliche, I made him Romanian.
His name was easy, as the late evil dictator of Romania was a Nicolae, and I used the Transylvania mountain range as his last name. A critic said that if he was American, I would have called him Joe Rockies. Ha!
Jerry B. Jenkins
Actually, no. That character, first and last name, is named after a late friend of mine. He was a solid believer and would not have been left behind, and so he always teased me about being a character who was.
Jerry B. Jenkins
No, as you might imagine, much of the heavy lifting has already been done before I write the novel for each season of The Chosen. I work off the scripts and the show itself, so the characters, the sequences, the backstories, etc., are already in place. My job is to add inner monologue, feelings of the characters, imagine even more backstory, etc. It's a lot of work still, but it's fun, and I don't have to create from scratch.
Jerry B. Jenkins
Yes, it's done. And I Will Give You Rest releases in November this year.
Jerry B. Jenkins
I'm not a moody guy and never had characters haunt me. I dealt more with subtle spiritual attacks, like fatigue and niggling health issues, despite that I was taking care of myself. I was reminded that the enemy attacks when you're battling on the front lines.
Jerry B. Jenkins
Not always part of the plan, but fairly soon after the first book came out. And yes, you can't top the antichrist for the ultimate villain. But I have written an entire blog post on writing good bad guys: https://jerryjenkins.com/what-makes-a.... Of paramount importance, they need real, credible, believable motivations. They can't be bad just because that's their role. They must have reasons that sound right, at least to them.
Jerry B. Jenkins
Johanna, our logic was that if a person is a true believer, redeemed and sealed by Christ, he would be protected from voluntarily taking the mark as a sign of loyalty to the beast. I don't have access to that audio just now and don't recall the wording or the reference to Scripture, but I know Dr. LaHaye affirmed the logic of that.
Jerry B. Jenkins
No, I think 40 is plenty. :)
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