Please welcome J.D. Gordon author of Field of Screams.
J.D. will be sending to one randomly drawn commenter an autographed copy of each book in his backlist, an autographed copy of a book his daughter wrote, a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card, and his/her name used for a character in the next book in the series.
Please leave a comment.
FIELD OF SCREAMS
By
J.D. Gordon
BLURB:
While baseball is the game of the day for Andy Biggs, an
evil force lurks beneath the old Maryknoll Stadium. A ghostly witch doctor is
turning teens into zombies to help summon the demon Jumlin into humanity. It’s
up to Andy and his band of paranormal sidekicks to save the world and thwart
the witch doctor and even Jumlin himself!
REVIEW SOUND BYTES
"The perfect follow-up to Kritterkreep, Field of
Screams is the book you'll find your child reading under the bedcovers with a
flashlight. And if truth be known, you'll be reading it when they're
done."
— Kerry Frey, author of Buried Lie: A Young Ace Roberts Adventure
"Jimmy has taken every boy's baseball fantasy of being in the big game and
taken it to an entirely different world!"
— Dan Griffin, president, Glen Ellyn Little League
"Andy Biggs and his best friend, Juan, are at it again, fighting off a
triple play of zombies, ghosts and evil spirits. But will they be able to save
the girl, save the day and still save the game?"
— Lisa Motola Hudon, author of Watch Your Step At The Wishing Well and Just
Another Day In Paradise
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Firefighter and
paramedic-turned-author Jimmy (J.D.) Gordon was born and raised in Chicago
where he developed a taste for the finer things that the Windy City has to
offer - pan pizza, live blues and the Cubs.
Jimmy dropped into the
world of literature, literally. After falling off a train and breaking his knee
Jimmy had to spend quite a bit of time recuperating. While visiting the
firehouse his peers asked what he planned to with all that time away. This when
Jimmy said the words that he now claims to have changed his life. "I
should write a book."
Despite some skepticism from
his peers ("You don't even use punctuation on your run reports!"), he
completed a novel, Island Bound, and made it a point to use punctuation throughout.
Another injury, sustained
on the job, ended his career in the fire service. Aside from writing Gordon
spends his Spring and Summer as an umpire for high school and youth baseball.
He now lives with his wife and children in Glen Ellyn IL, a suburb of Chicago.
LINKS:
www.jimmygwrites.com
http://www.facebook.com/jimmy.radzinskijdgordon?ref=tn_tnmn
http://www.newleafbooks.net/
http://www.amazon.com/Field-Screams-J-D-Gordon/dp/1930076142/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341550396&sr=1-4&keywords=field+of+screams
INTERVIEW:
What or who
inspired you to start writing?
Actually, never in a million years did I ever think I would be a writer. I
started out my adult life in the fire service. The most complicated writing
there was run reports for the calls I went on. In high school I was the kid in
the back room. I did all of my homework in study hall or on the bus to and from
school. It took me ten years to finish up two years of college. But no
inspiration really, more of a challenge, I like to say I fell into writing,
literally. I fell off of a train and broke my knee. I needed surgery. I was to
be away from the fire department for several months. My peers at the station
asked what I was going to do with all of my time away, as if healing wasn’t
enough. I had always been an avid reader so my answer, for some reason was I
might write a book. They laughed their asses off and for good reason. At the
time I wrote my run reports in all capital letters and almost never used
punctuation, maybe a period here and there for good measure. I felt challenged
by them. So, I went home, fired up the computer and wrote my first book. I made
a point to stay away from those capital letters and even used proper
punctuation as needed.
How did you come
up with your idea for your novel?
The title is Field of Screams. I work with a local press and the one
requirement they have is that I keep all of my stories in my hometown.
Fortunately I live in an older town rich in history. There used to be an old
monastery out on the edge of the village. There are now little league baseball
fields there. Well, my son plays in little league and I umpire for high school
baseball. I went with a baseball theme this time around. However, instead of
little league fields I have built up a classic stadium once used by a minor
league ball club which went out of play when WWII started. I built the ballpark
on top of the monastery which was built to imprison an evil Native American demon.
The story takes place during a baseball summer camp for youths. During the
rehab of the stadium something shifted releasing this evil spirit. The tale
tells the story of how Andy Biggs and his little band of paranormal junkies
send this ancient evil and its zombie minions packing.
What expertise did
you bring to your writing?
I definitely brought my knowledge and interest in baseball into this
story. As for the paranormal aspect, I had to do some research there as far as
some of those investigative materials and procedures are concerned. I suppose
research can be called an expertise, although with the internet these days I
guess it’s not that tough anymore.
As far as your writing goes, what are your
future plans?
Well now,
that’s a pretty big question. I’d like to say I want to be a bestselling writer
in many genres but this business is pretty tough. I used to write action
adventure for adults. I started writing paranormal stories for kids on a fluke.
I basically wanted to see if I could write something different. I’ll eventually
go back to writing the adventure stuff but for now I’m really enjoying writing
for kids. I know I’ll do at least one more after Field of Screams. I’ve already
started that one. I’m going with scouting theme this time around. The title of
the next book is The Pumpkin Jamboree and the Legend of Stumpy Scout. I
mentioned earlier I used to work in the fire service as a professional
firefighter/paramedic. I’ve started writing a book about my experiences in that
line of work. I tinker with it between my main projects like the kid’s books. I’m
keen on writing a cookbook as well. I have something going there but nothing
solid to speak of. So, we’ll see what comes.
Can you give us a sneak peak into this book?
Sure, I hope this isn’t too long…… “Where’d he go?” Juan asked. His breathing slowed,
returning to normal.
“I don’t know; I don’t see him.”
“This sucks!” Juan said. “We shouldn’t have
run up
the stairs. I don’t understand why folks
always run
upstairs. We’re stuck.”
Andy figured they weren’t entirely stuck. They
had
the option of two stairways. Andy felt pretty
comfortable assuming Brandon was alone. He
couldn’t
cover both sets of stairs. If he and Juan ran
there was a
fifty-fifty chance they would make their way
unmolested by Brandon the Zombie.
“You know,” Juan said, “it’s really not so bad.
We
hold the high ground and there’re two of us.
We can
probably take this guy down.”
“Take him down and do what with him though?”
Andy thought his friend made a good point, but
what
would they do with the kid? Juan had slung his
duffle
off of his shoulder. He dropped it onto the
floor and
started to rummage through it. After a moment
he
stood up with pair of objects in his hands.
“Are those handcuffs?”
“Yeah,” Juan responded innocently enough.
“Why in the world do you have handcuffs?”
Andy figured Juan had no real good answer. The
kid
just shrugged, but then added, “Well, you
never know
when you might need them. Might come in handy
tonight.”
Good point.
“And what about the tape?” Juan held a thick
roll of
tape in one of his hands.
“Duct tape, strong stuff.”
“Don’t you mean duck tape?”
“No, duct! Not duck.”
“Oh, I always thought it was duck tape. Always
wondered why they’d call it that,” Andy
responded.
“Well I think there is a brand of duct tape
called
duck tape.”
Andy shook his head and offered a chuckle
“Doesn’t matter; so what’s the plan?” Andy had
asked Juan the question, but there was no time
to
answer. Andy was facing the far end of the
hallway
where the servant stairs come up from the
kitchen.
Brandon the Zombie stepped out onto the
landing.
Andy shrieked again.
Brandon the Zombie started off in a slow
advance.
Juan turned around and as he did so, he pulled
the
pistol from the holster hanging at his side.
He raised
the weapon and pointed it directly at Brandon
the
Zombie. Juan stood there holding the black
pistol with
both hands. His feet spread far apart like the
actors on
the cop shows stand when they are just about
to blow
someone away.
Brandon the Zombie stopped. Andy figured their
opponent didn’t know how to handle this
situation.
Andy and Juan were not running, but standing
their
ground, at least Juan was anyway. Andy was
ready to
sprint again if the need should arise. Brandon
the
Zombie just stood there looking at the gun in
Juan’s
hand. An eerie silence settled in the hallway.
A metallic ‘boink’ ended the standoff. Juan
had
pulled the trigger.
Andy could easily follow the trajectory of a
tiny
little piece of brass as it drifted from the
barrel of Juan’s
gun. The BB hit Brandon the Zombie square in
the
chest. A shallow thud reached across the space,
followed by a tack, tack, tack sound as the BB
bounced
up and down on the wood floor until it
eventually
rolled to a stop in a corner of the hallway.
Andy couldn’t help it. A hearty laughed rolled
out
of his belly. Juan looked at the pistol
dumbstruck, even
Brandon the Zombie seemed to have a smirk on
his
mug.
“What a piece of junk,” Juan said as he
inspected the
toy gun.
Andy recalled Juan’s statement from earlier.
It was
two on one. They had the numbers, the
handcuffs and
the tape. It was high time to take this kid
down.
“Jump him!” Andy screamed. Juan dropped the
gun.
Andy charged forward with Juan hot on his
tail.
Brandon the Zombie took a step back, trying to
evade
the assault. Andy slammed into the guy first.
Spevik’s
skin felt cold and clammy. He fell over with
Andy on
top of him. Juan pounced and all three ended
up in a
pile on the floor, a squirming mass of legs
and arms.
The kid was strong. One moment Andy thought
they had him, but then Brandon the Zombie
easily
tossed the pair aside. The pale-faced ball
player
attempted to stand.
“Don’t let him get up!” Juan screamed. Andy
knew
if Spevik recovered his legs, all deals were
off. Andy
jumped again. He put all of his weight on top
of the
kid. Juan added his weight too.
The trio struggled. Juan applied a leg scissor
type of
move to Brandon the Zombie’s lower limbs. Andy
could hear the duct tape ripping away as Juan
wrapped
the silver roll around and around. Once
Brandon the
Zombie’s legs were secure the arms came along
too.
They used the handcuffs on the upper limbs.
Sweating, disheveled, and Juan with a bloody
nose,
the two boys stood back and watched Brandon
the
Zombie roll around on the floor struggling
against his
bonds.
“So what do we do with him now?” Andy thought
aloud.
“I’m not sure, but looks like we’ll be able to
get that
blood sample Melvin was talking about.”
Do you belong to a
critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?
Well I sit on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Writers
Association. That’s about as close as I get to any sort of organized writer’s
group. As for critiques, I generally share my work with others I respect,
writers or not. For example, my kids stuff, not only have I shared the stories
with other writers in genre I seek out someone age appropriate and offer them a
spot on the cover in the form of a blurb, if they like the story of course. I
also look for their advice on the story since they represent those who will be
reading the stuff.
When did you first
decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take
this big step?
In reference to kid’s books, I started writing this material as a
fluke. I think I mentioned I used to write adventure books for adults and just
decided to write something different just to see if I could. I shelved that and
never really thought of doing much with it until I met and befriended a gal who
writes spooky stories for youths. She read the book, offered a little advice. I
made some changes. She said her publisher might be interested. She gave me a reference
and a few weeks later I was in business. As for submitting in general, well, it
just seemed to be the next step if I were to try and take this writing stuff
serious. I self published my first book. I wasn’t crazy about the experience
but I learned quite a bit about the business. Once I finished my second book,
again, just seemed to be the next obvious step. If you don’t try you can’t
succeed.
What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding
writing or publishing)
I don’t believe there is any bad
advice, merely what one can take from whatever they have been told, consider
the source and such. I think the best advice came from a fellow named JA
Konrath. His line….What's the one word to best describe the writer who never
gives up? Published!
Do you outline
your books or just start writing?
Much to the dismay of my editors, I just sit and type. I guess being
the kind of writer who just fell into this I’m not really one for formalities
of how things should be done. I sit and type. I’ll leave notes as I go, if
something I wrote doesn’t jive with something I typed out earlier, that way
I’ll know where I need to make changes once I’ve reached the end. It’s the best
I can do.
How do you
maintain your creativity?
Good question and I wish I had a good answer. I just think a lot.
I’ll reach points in the story where I am just totally lost. I’ll stop, set it
aside and start working on something else but the main project will be in the
back of my mind. My computer is always nearby. If I have a thought or a break
through, if I can’t get to the story to work on it, I’ll send myself an email
with the idea, even if it’s two in the morning. I’ll get out of bed and make
sure I jot it down somewhere.
Who is your
favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?
I like the main character, Andy Biggs. He’s just good kid. He has a
lot tough stuff going on in his life even beyond the whole paranormal issues.
His parents are divorced. He was ripped away from his real home in the city and
whisked out to the suburbs. A new step father has come along and a baby sister
as well. He takes things in strides, rolls with the punches so to speak. He’s
just a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. He’s a great ballplayer to
boot. A pitcher with a great hitting average, best of both worlds.
Are your plotting
bunnies angels or demons?
A little of both I suppose!
Anything else you
might want to add?
Actually, yes. These stories might sound like ‘boys’ types of books,
with the main character being a fella and baseball being a strong force in the
background but its really not and that goes for both of my kids' books so far.
I always make sure to have a very strong female character. In fact, in the
first book, Kritterkreep, a gal is the one who ultimately saves the day. There’s
always a little puppy romance so to speak too.
