Author interview with Jeff Norton
Last year I saw the first book in the series, Fight for the Future, contacted Jeff, and since than contact has been quite often. The first book blew me away, quite literally and have been urging to read the next books ever since. The MetaWars series tackles heavy subjects like escapsim, several MetaTrends, growing up and fighting for you believes. Jeff breaks it down to let the younger audience understand it as well And to celebrate this one year release which is today August 2nd, I had a chat with Jeff about the past, present and future.
Last year I saw the first book in the series, Fight for the Future, contacted Jeff, and since than contact has been quite often. The first book blew me away, quite literally and have been urging to read the next books ever since. The MetaWars series tackles heavy subjects like escapsim, several MetaTrends, growing up and fighting for you believes. Jeff breaks it down to let the younger audience understand it as well And to celebrate this one year release which is today August 2nd, I had a chat with Jeff about the past, present and future. Author bio:
Jeff Norton is a writer, filmmaker, and founder of Awesome, a creative incubator. Jeff is the author of the award-winning MetaWars books. Originally from Canada, Jeff lives in London, UK.
Hi Jeff, first of all welcome to The Book Plank and for taking some time out of your schedule to answer these few questions.
JN: It’s a
pleasure to be here, Jasper! Your blog offers such thoughtful analysis and
truly insightful reviews of fiction that it’s an honour!
BP: First
off can you give a short introduction of yourself, what do you like to do in
your spare time etc.?
JN: Ha! I
love that you think I have spare time! I have a young family with two boys
under four, so outside of writing hours (which is one thing I love to do) I
play with my kids. Spare time is
something of a luxury.
As for introduction, I’m originally from Canada and now live in London, UK, where I spend every day writing, producing, and creating what I think are awesome stories…and I hope other people do to!
MetaWars has been out already for 1 year
to date, you have written three books in the series so far with the 4th
out in 2014. Would you ever have guessed to get this far with your idea?
This has been a passion project - an
obsession really – so it’s amazing to see it come to life across four
books. The story world is so epic, that
I didn’t think I could contain it to one book, but to see it be popular enough
to spur four installments is a dream come true!
BP: Last
month you won the Rotherham book award for MetaWars, how did this made you feel?
JN: It was
incredibly validating because the Rotherham Award is voted on by readers (not
literary judges) and it means that the book is connecting with readers. And that’s why I do what I do.
When I craft a story in the solitude of my office (or in a bustling coffee shop), I write stories that I would want to read but I have no idea if it will resonate with a wider readership. This award means that MetaWars is making a true connection.
When I craft a story in the solitude of my office (or in a bustling coffee shop), I write stories that I would want to read but I have no idea if it will resonate with a wider readership. This award means that MetaWars is making a true connection.
BP: When
did you decide that you wanted to write the MetaWars series, and what gave you
the inspiration to write the book?
JN: I’d been
thinking about the intersection of human behaviour and technology for a while -
since the first virtual worlds came onto the scene and Facebook took off - but
the inspiration came during the Icelandic ash cloud when I was stuck, stranded
and unable to travel. I turned to the internet to keep in touch with family and
friends and the concept crystalized that in a future where traditional travel
isn’t possible (or easy), whomever controls the web literally controls the
world.
BP: MetaWars
is a Young-Adult book but there are several heavy themes in there, why did you
decide to write it for a younger audience instead of for a more adult audience?
JN: Rather
than thinking of MetaWars as for young adults, I wanted to tell as story set in
a future that today’s young adults might inherit. I think the themes (and yes,
they are very heavy, and need dealing with) are going to impact today’s young
readers more than someone who’s middle aged today. In some ways, MetaWars isn’t for young
adults, but for young people who will be full adults in a few years.
BP: Lying
heavy on certain themes like the dystopian and escapism, do you think that you
younger audience will understand this undercurrent of themes? And do you try to
put them into thinking of the future?
JN: I think
today’s young readers are much more in tune with challenges facing the world
because they have their whole lives ahead of them. I visit a lot of schools and
the students really understand climate change and globalisation. They’re still
in the process of learning and connecting the dots, but they’re incredibly
curious and concerned. That’s a great
start.
I see my job as first and foremost telling
a great story. But I also feel I have a responsibility to say something
meaningful, especially to young readers.
I think the world is facing several fundamental challenges and it’s my
hope that MetaWars readers will begin thinking about them in a meaningful and
structured way. I’m counting on the fact
that today’s young reader of MetaWars may be involved in solving these
challenges in the future.
BP: Did
you face any particular problems while writing the MetaWars series?
JN: The only
problem I faced was that in trying to write about the future (approximately 30
years ahead), I was constantly discovering that things I invented in the books
were becoming reality – from research into brain digitization to Granger’s
cyber-kinetic walking system. I really didn’t want the books to feel old
fashioned before they even came out. But I suppose that’s a occupational hazard
when predicting the future!
BP: What
was the hardest part to write in the series so far?
JN: I think
the hardest part was writing the violence.
A lot of characters in the MetaWars books don’t place a high value on
human life, and that’s an incredibly disturbing thing to internalize as both a
writer and a father.
BP: If you
would be allowed to rewrite any paragraph of any book would you do it and why?
JN: I don’t
think I would. Every author writes the words they think are best suited to tell
the story they want to tell. There are a lot of books where I wish the
characters made different choices, but it’s not anyone’s place to change what
an author chooses to write.
As for my own books, I sometimes do wonder
if in time, I’d ever be tempted to going back and doing a ‘director’s cut’
version. But I think that would be
looking backwards and not forwards.
BP: Was the whole story for MetaWars planned in
advance or did you take any idea’s on the fly as well?
JN: I mapped
out the entire story arc, and knew I wanted to base each book around one of the
four ‘corners’ (the server farms that power the future internet), but as the
characters developed, they ran off in their own directions. The series became
more character led as Jonah and Sam both grew up and made proactive
choices. The plot unfolds from those
character actions instead of some ‘master plan’ I as an author might have had.
The biggest example of this is that I adjusted the overall story arc to allow
for Jonah’s growing feelings for Sam. That relationship becomes a major driver
for his actions in the fourth book.
BP: The
MetaWars series will run as a quartet. Might there be a possibility for
pursuing additional stories in this world?
JN: I’ll
never say “never,” but I think the ending to the fourth book (The Freedom
Frontier) is very satisfying. I don’t want to give anything away; but I think
it’s a very elegant ending to the adventure.
BP: What
is your personal opinion about the advancing MetaTrends will they become a
problem in the near future?
JN: I think
they already are. The MetaTrends of today are tomorrow’s challenges. Unless we address the underlying forces that
are shaping our future (population growth, scarce resources, climate change,
and digital escapism), the dystopian world that I illustrate in MetaWars could
become our inherited reality.
BP: Are
you busy with other book projects besides MetaWars? What can we expect from you
in the future?
JN: I’m
working on something very different now that is very funny and a total
departure from MetaWars. It’s called ‘Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie’ and it’s
about a kid called Adam Meltzer who has OCD and gets stung to death by a
bee. He rises from the grave to solve
his own murder. It’s got a deadpan
(excuse the pun) humour to it and is a blast to write. Watch this space (well, www.jeffnorton.com) for news on Adam Meltzer.
BP: If you
would recommend any books, which would they be?
JN: Too
many! But I’ll share a few of my
favourites. The Great Gatsby is my
favourite novel of all time and I’m a big John Irving fan. In the kids/YA space, I love Patrick Ness’
work, Philip Reeve, and Moira Young. In
non-fiction, I really enjoyed David Brooks’ The Social Animal, a kind of
whimsical survey course in modern neuroscience research and I’m excited to take
the new Jeffrey Sachs book on holiday.
BP: Thank
you for your time Jeff and I would like to wish you the best in pursuing your
future endeavors.
JN: Thanks
Jasper! It’s been a pleasure.
To see what Jeff Norton is doing more besides The MetaWars series,
follow him on his social media account of visit his website!
Read the full reviews of the MetaWars books here:
MetaWars #1: Fight for the Future
MetaWars #2: The Dead are Rising
MetaWars #3: Battle of the Immortal