Today I am pleased to offer you an interview with J. Scott Savage, the author of Farworld: Water Keep.

J. Scott Savage has been creating stories for as long as he can remember. He lives at the mouth of a canyon where morning and evening winds keep the air clear and blue—along with blowing over patio tables, trees, basketball stands, and the occasional small child. He has a wonderful wife who has stuck with him for more than twenty years, four great children, a spastic border collie, and possibly three or four fish. (The pond is still frozen, so he isn’t quite sure.)

Scott has held too many jobs to count, including: a mall Santa, French chef, CEO of a dot com, plumber, radio station talk show host, and the guy who sits in the little photo developing booth. He has completed one marathon and hopes to complete another when the memories finally fade away. He loves reading, writing, camping, playing games with his family, and especially hearing from and meeting his readers. E-mail him or schedule a visit at scott@jscottsavage.com, come to his website www.readfarworld.com.

SAA~ First of all, I’d like to thank you for agreeing to meet me here at the Georgia Aquarium. I figured since the first Far World book is called Water Keep, it might be appropriate to hang out here with the beluga whales while we chat. Besides, I’m on a diet and the food here costs a fortune, and that’s great for curbing my appetite.

JSS~ I have been to Georgia a ton of times. I can’t believe I haven’t been to the aquarium. I have sure been to a lot of Waffle Houses. So would it be rude to ask if the whales eat grits?

SAA~ I don’t know if whales eat grits (I don’t think they’d mind if you asked them) but they do use stilts. And speaking of children’s books, what were your three favorite books when you were a kid?

JSS~ Wow, stilts. I had no idea. But now that you mention it I can totally see how they look so much bigger because of the stilts. Without them they’d only be slightly large dolphins. Good to know.

As far as my favorites as a kid, it depends on how old we’re talking about. I mean The Cat in the Hat was pretty big at one time. Actually, I’ll admit, I still like it a lot.

Let’s go with:

• A Wrinkle in Time. Isn’t that on everybody’s list?
• The Outsiders. I still can’t believe that book was written by a teenager.
• And I really liked the Great Brain series, although it may have been to learn how to con other kids.

SAA~ When did you decide you wanted to write children’s novels?

JSS~ It sounds like a made up answer, but I didn’t. The idea just wouldn’t go away, and when I started writing it, it was to prove to myself I couldn’t do it. Guess I lost that bet. It’s been fun to have a book my little guys can enjoy though.

Look at the sharks! They look hungry. I’m sure glad they can’t get out.

SAA~ Whoa. Can anyone say A-D-D?

JSS~ You’re first clue wasn’t when you found out I’ve written five different genres of novels?

SAA~ Ummmm … Scott?

JSS~ Huh? Oh yeah. Right here.

SAA~ Are the sharks sitting with napkins tucked into their collars and banging their forks on the table, or what? How can you tell a hungry shark from a satiated shark?

JSS~ It’s the little bottles of Tabasco sauce they have tucked under their fins. Surprised you didn’t know that after revealing the whole stilts secret.

SAA~
Uh, the Tabasco. Yeah. I can’t see any Tabasco, but if you can. . .

OK, then.
Since we’re talking about being craz–er, I mean hungry…what a great segue into my next question.

Just how hungry were you by the time you submitted to Shadow Mountain? Had you pitched to many houses before you landed, beaten and battered, on their doorstep?

JSS~ No, just them. I loved what they had done with the Leven Thumps and Fablehaven series, and I also liked how they believe in great stories that also have strong messages, without letting the message get in the way of the story.

SAA~ That just stinks. You only submitted to one house? Can you not make up a story or something to give hope to the rest of us who have been writing and submitting and being rejected for years? Can you not even give us the tired old line about how if we persevere we will eventually get published? Have a heart.

JSS~ Oh, wait you meant total publishers? Seventy-two, not including asking my Mom if she’s print out copies long hand. So, see, persistence really does pay off.

(Was that better?)

SAA~ Barely. But I think you might have backpedaled quickly enough.

JSS~
Actually, I’ve plenty of rejections, just not on this book.

By the way, did you happen to notice what happened to the poor woman’s poodle over there? She seems to have lost it. One minute it was staring at the sharks, and the next . . . ohhhh . . . I wondered why that shark was smiling.

Maybe we should move on to something a little more pleasant?

SAA~ Oh, the smiling shark is the satiated shark. Thanks for clearing up that mystery for us. And I’m assuming he’s stowed the bottle of Tabasco sauce back in his fridge, too?

Anyway, speaking of sharks, that reminds me of editors. Can you tell me about the editing process you went through with the book? Your own editing process and then the process it went through once it got to the publisher. I read on Shannon Hale’s site that she goes back and forth with her editor three or four times over a period of six months or more. How does working with Shadow Mountain editors compare to that?

JSS~ Let’s count: 1 first draft. 2. Changes requested by Lisa, pre-acceptance. 3. Changes requested by Chris Schoebinger. 4. Changes based on edits of my writing group. 5. Changes from beta group of kids via publisher. 6. Edits from other authors. 7. Edits from outsourced Shadow Mountain editor. 8. Final clean-up. Okay, eight.

SAA~ You sent the first draft? :eyebrow:

JSS~ Well the first draft before I had anyone outside edit it. I do a lot of self-editing as I go, but once I’m done, I don’t want to see it anymore. That definitely is not the best way for a lot of people, but it has always worked best for me.

Oh yes, these penguins are much more friendly looking than the sharks. And the sea lions are great. How can you not like an animal that rolls around and claps for itself?

SAA~ heh heh sounds like a lot of authors I know. No, not you. Quit being paranoid. I’m thinking about a joke I heard years ago:

Q: How many new novelists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Enough about that. Let’s talk about my book.

My wife thought this joke was pretty funny when I told it to her. In fact, I’d say she laughed a little bit harder than she really needed to.

Now, about my book…

SAA~ (That was TL Hines on his blog just before his first book, Waking Lazarus, came out.)

OK enough of that, let’s talk about your book. Why is Farworld called Farworld? I mean, I can see why Marcus thinks of it as Farworld, but why do the people who live there call it Farworld? And why is it one word in the text and two words on the cover? Just curious.

JSS~ Good question. I’ll bet it will come up sometime before book 5.

Think we should move along? Maybe we otter. Heh, heh.

SAA~ For that lame pun, it’s only fitting that I hit you over the head with the dead fish before I throw it to the otter.

JSS~ (Ouch!!)

SAA~ Quit whining. You deserved it. And go ahead and be mysterious about Farworld. I don’t care. I’m just doing an interview is all. It’s not like I’m being nosy. I’m supposed to ask questions.

So, what made you decide to write a middle grade novel?

JSS~ I really didn’t. I didn’t think I could. But I’m so glad I was wrong.

SAA~ What made you choose a disabled protagonist?

JSS~ I know this is going to sound crazy too. But I didn’t . The story came into my head with Marcus disabled. That being said, it’s funny how people notice Marcus is disabled because it is physical. But in Kyja’s world, she is every bit as disabled. Magic is a huge part of every aspect of Farworld life.

SAA~ Oh no. Nothing you’ve said sounds crazy. (Where’s the finger-crossing smiley when you need him?)

JSS~ Oh look a touch pool. I’ll just roll up my sleeves and— Wait, this pool has stingrays and horse shoe crabs in it. What kind of touch pool is that?

That is just wrong.

What? Are the marine biologists sitting up in there offices waiting to get a good laugh? Next thing you know they’ll invite me to go swim with the great whites. I thought you Georgians were supposed to be friendly.

SAA~ Bless your heart, you’re talking about our southern hospitality. There’s nothing like it in the world.

We not only give y’all stingrays and crabs, we also give y’all sweet little ‘ol sharks in that there pool.

JSS~ Awww.

SAA~ Yep. We do it just for special people like you, who get their first drafts accepted on their first try.

Go ahead. The most you’re going to lose is a finger or two. And what with the speech recognition software they have out now you don’t need your fingers to type anymore.
But back to the interview. Are you writing (typing or using Dragon NaturallySpeaking, it doesn’t matter to me) to entertain or to teach?

JSS~ Definitely to entertain. I firmly believe that if you strive to write a good story it will come up with messages on its own. Whereas if you try to teach a lesson, your story will suffer dramatically.

Holy cow, would you like at the size of that fish? It is huge! Hmm, whale shark, huh? Seems a little confusing. Which is it? Whale or shark? It’s like calling a farm animal a cow-pig.

Wonder how many fish sticks you could get out of that?

SAA~ Or would they be mammal sticks? Is it a whale or shark?

JSS~ I guess we could stick our hands in there and find out, huh? I’ll just let you go first.

SAA~ :eyebrow:

Sorry, I’m not tall enough to reach into the tank.

I guess I could borrow the whale’s stilts. . .nah, I don’t really care if it’s a whale or a shark. Besides, can’t a whale bite off your hand as easily as a shark? So would sticking my hand in the water prove what the creature was one-way or the other? It doesn’t matter. I’m content to leave it undecided and just live with the mystery.

Speaking of mystery, why didn’t you write mysteries, or romances, or some other genre? What made you decide on fantasy?

JSS~ Same answer as middle grade. For years I have been telling my brother that I can’t write fantasy. But this story wouldn’t get out of my head. Having said that, I suspect fantasy will end up being a big, big part of what I write in the future.

SAA~ So do you have little fantasy-lovers at home? How many kids do you have and what are their ages?

JSS~ Four. 20,18, 10, and 8. I hope I got that right. Maybe I better call my wife to check.

Speaking of which, maybe we should drop by the gift shop. When I come home from a trip it’s like, “Dad. You’re home! I love you. What did you bring me?” Well at least they get the “I love you” part in before asking for presents.

SAA~ Or you could take home a couple of those bloody fingers you have on ice and let them make them into necklaces. Those would be neato Georgia Aquarium souvenirs. (Maybe this is too gross. I’m kidding kids. The shark didn’t really bite his fingers off.)

JSS~ Nope, they just nibbled a little. Very polite for sharks.

SAA~ And I’m kidding about JSS being crazy, too. He’s really quite sane and bright.
So, now that we’ve cleared that up…let’s move on to a lighter topic while you browse. Are you happy to have a map in your book ?

JSS~ I squealed like a third-grade girl when I saw it, and danced around the room. So, I guess that would be a yes.

SAA~ For some reason, I just can’t picture you squealing like a third-grade girl.

JSS~ Wow, who knew squeaky Belugas were that expensive? It should be filled with caviar for that price.

SAA~ Or maybe I can picture you squealing, after all.

You’re not going to buy it for your kids? You travel all over the world on this tour and you’re too tight to buy a fifty-three dollar plush toy for your eight year old just because it’s overpriced by forty-eight dollars?

JSS~ Great. Now I have guilt!

SAA~ Let’s get back to your book –the guy on the cover is a water elemental, right? And the green-haired girl and the man in the back are too? So is the other girl Kyja and where is Marcus and what is the pendant around the guy’s neck all about? Were you happy with the cover? I think it looks cool, just kind of missed Marcus. The inside illustrations you’re showing on your blog are all really, really cool.

JSS~ Actually all of the characters on the cover are water elementals. The one that could be Kyja is actually Mist. If this were only one book, I expect Marcus and Kyja would be on the cover. But we decided that for the sake of consistency and for general coolness factor we would put elementals on the first four books covers. I hope Marcus and Kyja will make the cover of book 5. I love the cover! It feels so powerful, and I think it will catch people’s eyes in the bookstores. The pendant was added by the artist to give a sense of movement. Sometimes people think the artwork has to exactly match the story. But I like to let the author interpret the story in his own way.

Ohh, let’s go see the whales one more time.

SAA~ What book (or other writing) are you working on now?

JSS~ Well, I’m finishing the third book in a regional mystery series—Shandra Covington.

I’m also working on book 2, Land Keep. And I’m planning an urban fantasy novel about a guy who gets sent to Hell and has a chance to work his way out. Lots of fun dark fantasy.

Speaking of dark. Where are we when did the lights go out? And why does everything smell like fish. Uh, oh, I’m getting a serious Pinocchio feeling here. Maybe we better head back that way.

SAA~It’s OK we’re just in the underwater tunnel. Look up and you can see the fish swimming above us.

What’s your favorite piece of writing you’ve ever written.

JSS~ Almost always whatever I’m working on is my favorite, because it’s so real while I am working on it.

That was close. I guess it’s time to go.

SAA~ What was close?

JSS~ You know the whole tunnel thing. Haven’t you noticed that hundreds of people are going in but only a dozen or so are coming out? I’ve got the feeling that’s no ordinary tunnel. Especially with the strong anchovy smell.

SAA~ Well, we’d better wrap up, then. Any last words? Anything you want to tell me that I haven’t asked?

JSS~ Keep an eye out for my new website http://www.readfarworld.com/. It looks like it is going to be really cool.

SAA~ It’s already really cool. I love it.

Thanks, Scott, for flying in to give me this interview. Come on, I’ll spring for lunch. Fish sticks and human fingers–er, I mean–chicken fingers. It’s the least I can do.

You Might Also Like

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!