Book Tour Q&A: The Sparrow and the Oak Tree by Jaimie Jackson
Today we're taking part in the book tour organized by Escapist Book Tours for The Sparrow and the Oak Tree by Jaimie Jackson! Continue reading for the book blurb and a Q&A with the author.
About the book
Unicorns don't exist, and dragons aren't real, but the Fae are. And they are to be feared.
Or so the tales say.
As the sole sorceress within the Lion King's court and kingdom, Isolde is valued for her power, provided she fulfills the king's commands.
Her task? Deal with a child who has emerged from a forest no one has returned from in over one hundred years. As Isolde works to fulfill her order, accompanied by her nameless guardian, she'll encounter a creature she's only heard of through myth and legend...
When he kidnaps her.
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–what are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?
I’m currently reading A TOUCH OF DEATH by Rebecca Crunden. But very slowly because it’s hard for me to focus on reading when I’m working on my own writing. And it just sounded right up my alley, plus it’s the first book in a five book series so I knew there would be more to the story.
How do you spend your free time when you’re not reading or writing? Do you have any hobbies or interests that you can talk to us about?
I spend it watching too many documentaries, movies and TV shows. I also love to bake and occasionally attempt sewing. And now I’ve got a Singer sewing machine from like the 1800s I need to do research into so I can restore it.
What is one book you want to shout about to the world? What about it makes you love it so much?
THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW by Alistair Caradec. It’s just such an incredibly well written dystopia, heartbreaking and yet still manages to be hopeful.
How much do you plan when you write? What’s your writing process like?
I do next to no planning. I just kind of say, I want to write about this, get started and then research as I go if needed.
What do you think characterizes your writing style?
Sarcasm and banter.
How much of yourself do you write into your stories?
More than I mean to, I’m sure. Since I don’t intend to write myself into the stories at all.
What comes first to you when you’re writing, the world, the characters, or the storyline?
I would say generally a character first, and then everything else as the story unfolds.
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 a cover that felt romantic, but still represented the characters without putting people on the cover art, and I think my artist really nailed that.
Can you give us an elevator pitch for your book?
A Sorceress torn between love and duty, a Forest Fae desperate to save himself, a nameless guardian with a troubled past and HORDES OF THE UNDEAD.
This is Tristan and Isolde as you’ve never seen them before.
Describe your book in 3 adjectives.
Spicy. Unputdownable (per my office manager and she has no reason to lie because I make her day harder). Fun.
How different is the final version of this book from the first draft?
They’re almost exactly the same. Some of the point of view changes swapped places, but very little got removed and only about another 4000 words added in overall.
Can you tell us a little bit about your characters? What are your favorite kinds of characters to write?
Isolde I would say, is both a sweet person, tossed into something entirely outside of her depth, but also a very strong character. Tristan is a lonely cinnamon roll. Bear is the pragmatic one of the group, and Horse is the real hero. And Horse very much is a character, despite being a horse.
My favorite kinds of characters to write are morally grey ones who still have a very strong desire to protect their loved ones.
What would you like readers to take away from this book?
I write stories I think of as just fun to read, so as long as they come away from it with some hours of entertainment and enjoyment, I’m happy.
Do you have a favorite quote from your book that you can share with us? What about this quote in particular makes it your favorite?
“He hadn’t ever planned for that item to be a head.”
I think it’s my favorite because this pragmatic, mercenary type character has just encountered a walking dead body, and after he kills he, he just stuffs the head into a saddlebag to take with him so someone with more magical knowledge can try and figure out what’s going on.
Is there anything you can tell us about any current projects you’re working on?
Right now I’m working on a dark romantic fantasy retelling of Macbeth, as well as being in the middle of edits for the sixth book in my urban fantasy superhero series, Adventures of a Villain-Leaning Humanoid.
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?
If you decide to read my book, thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy it!
And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?
I can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok under @VillainLeaning as well as on my Facebook page, Jamie Jackson – Humanoid and Author
Where to buy the book:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sparrow-Oak-Tree-Jamie-Jackson-ebook/dp/B0BM8BR346/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sparrow-and-the-oak-tree-jamie-jackson/1142798365