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Book Tour Q&A: The Bindings of Woe by Connor Jackson

  • Writer: Fiction Fans
    Fiction Fans
  • Jul 26, 2023
  • 7 min read

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Today we're taking part in the book tour organized by Escapist Book Company for The Bindings of Woe by Connor Jackson! Continue reading for the book blurb and a Q&A with the author.

About the book

The world of Gaia is in turmoil. Humans, goblins, and dwarves try to live their lives as best they can under the rule of the sovereigns—the strange and powerful race whose empire stretches to all corners of the known world—but order and stability seem to be fading. The quality of life has lessened, the strength and control of the Sovereign Empire has weakened, and a large movement of rebels, though many would call them terrorists, known as the Lost Seekers, are causing waves throughout the lands.


Nowhere are these changes felt more than the Isles, a small human province of islands, where sixteen-year-old Carver lives with his family and best friend, Helena, in the remote village of Verrel. During a routine trip to the provincial capital of Caswen, Carver and Helena suddenly find themselves in the middle of a violent conflict between the powers of the world, and soon after find themselves being hunted for reasons they do not understand.


Now pulled into events they never dreamed of experiencing, Carver and Helena, along with some close companions, are forced to fight for their lives during a journey of hardships. Monstrous beasts, hostile factions, and even nature itself plague their quest to find safety and seek answers, and nothing is gained without a struggle. However, their continued survival may be out of their control as the powers of the world vie for dominance against one another . . . by any means necessary.

On to the interview...!

Thank you so much for joining us for this Q&A! We’ll start off with one of our standard podcast opening questions–tell us something great that’s happened recently.

This June 11th was my 1st anniversary with my beautiful wife. We got married on the day of our dating anniversary too so it was also our 8th anniversary at the same time!


What are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?

I am currently reading two history books: “S.P.Q.R. A History of ancient Rome” by Mary Beard and “History of the Persian Empire” by A. T. Olmstead. History books help me learn about the world and inspire my writing, plus my book’s world is heavily inspired/modeled after the ancient Mediterranean empires. Soon I would like to read “The Last of the Atalanteans” by P. L. Stuart, a fellow author who writes great books.


Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start writing?

I am a young Canadian who fell into writing when I was at a cross in the road in my life. I was in university and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my career, but I had always been a fan of stories whether they were from Movies, Books, or Video games, and I was always the guy who recounted stories the best in high school. Over my young life I had created a world in my head, full of characters and places, and eventually I put these characters into a story using this world and places. Over time I had written a long story in my head but it always stayed there. When I was at the crossroads in university I decided to take a gamble and actually try and write this story into a novel/series. I had always been good at writing in school so I knew I could have a good shot. I crafted what I had into a proper narrative, shifted my degree to Creative Writing and History, and in the end I created a book that I love while finding out I am a writer at heart.


What do you think characterizes your writing style?

My writing style is focused on characters, dialogue, and worldbuilding through the use of characters and dialogue. I try to cut out as much narration (myself as the author explaining things to the reader) by having the characters in the story relay the information through their own conversations and experiences. I also try to make my character relatable and believable, giving them true emotions and weakness so that the story is enhanced with realism while still being fantastical and full of fantasy.


How much of yourself do you write into your stories?

I try to keep myself out of my stories as much as possible. The beauty of fiction and its escapism/entertainment for the reader is too easily poisoned by its author’s opinions, views, or personality. When fiction starts to feel like it’s the author trying to teach something or say something it makes the story itself secondary to the message. I want my story, its world and its characters, to be the primary focus of the book/s. What I believe / think could not be less important when it comes to what my readers should be reading and getting out of my story. If I am to be called the god of my fictitious world than I am one who only watches, never do I try to influence the denizens or events they face.


What comes first to you when you’re writing, the world, the characters, or the storyline?

The world comes first. With the creation of the world I create its history and geography. I create the races and their cultures, religions, and conflicts. Only after that can I fill this living world with characters along the path of a storyline. The storyline and characters come at the same time after the world building. I set out events that take place in the world and decide what kind of characters would be responsible for them and what kind would be affected by them. Soon, by giving these larger plot points characters that are involved with them, I end up with characters, characters who are living parts of the world as a result of simply being the people who are there at the time of the events kicking off the story.


They say to never judge a book by its cover, but a cover is still a marketing tool that helps sell books. Can you tell us about the idea behind the cover of your book?

I wanted my cover to be a glimpse into the world of The Bindings of Woe. No characters on the cover to take away a reader’s imagination, no important item or thing that doesn’t make sense until you read the book, and no over stimulating fantasy art that could mean anything. My cover is a shot of the grand city of Caswen, a location in the story. It paints a picture of what the world within is like, what it looks like for the character within it. The book itself is a device for the reader to see into the world within, being then able to “watch” the people inside go through the story, so it only makes sense for the cover to be of the world itself.


Can you give us an elevator pitch for your book?

The fantasy world of Gaia (influenced by the ancient Roman and Persian Empires with a touch of Renaissance flair), full of humans, goblins, and dwarves is controlled by a world spanning empire ruled by a new race, the sovereigns. The Sovereign Empire enforces strict laws, heavy taxes, and takes any person who develops sorcery as they mature into an adult away, never to be seen again. The empire is now beset with internal conflict as Terrorists and Freedom fighters battle for independence, and amid this harsh political/social climate Carver and Helena, two teenagers from a small village get pulled into the greater conflict.


Can you tell us a little bit about your characters? What are your favorite kinds of characters to write?

My favorite types of characters to write are flawed characters who react like real people. I don’t write invincible heroes and unstoppable villains, rather I write character who are simply the individuals in the roles they fill for the story. My characters succeed and fail, laugh and cry, make smart decisions and decisions that will make the reader scream in frustration. Carver is young and a bit cynical, but still has a good heart and cares for many people. His cynicism comes from a place of frustration at how little he can fix the problems he and his loved ones face. Helena is also young, the same age as Carver, yet instead of cynicism she has youthful wonder. She is filled with a deep curiosity for the world and wishes to learn more of its vast history.


In your opinion, what kind of reader would like this book?

A reader who likes a mixture of YA fantasy and Classic Fantasy. The Bindings of Woe is a gritty, harsh world with a focus on realism to balance out the more fantastical elements, but it is not without fun, laughs, and positivity. Some main characters are teenagers who react as teenagers would to the world, and some main characters are seasoned adults who offer a totally different perspective and react accordingly. The Bindings of Woe draws heavily from history and stays grounded in reality while still having fantastical elements such as sorcery, monsters, and races such as dwarves and goblins. It’s not a novel that falls into any one category or genre like Romance, Thriller, or Dark / High fantasy because I made the world a realistic and grounded one so it has a little of everything, just like our real world.


Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us! Do you have any parting thoughts or comments you’d like to leave for our readers?

Thank you for taking the time to check me, my novel, and this interview out. It means the world to me to have people reading my book and being involved with me over social media. I write so that others can read it and take enjoyment from it, so I hope anyone who reads “The Bindings of Woe” has a great time doing it.


And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?

My website and social medias. I don’t post all the time cause I’m not really a social media guy even though I’m 25, but I try to keep up.

Where to buy the book:
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