Interview with J.L. Norman, author of Third World: Remnants

What can you tell us about your new release, Third World: Remnants?

Third World takes place far in the future, after the human race was nearly destroyed by a race of sentient synthetic parasites known as Revenants. Humans were forced to leave Earth and settle in a system of new worlds light years away from home. Years turn into centuries and human kind has all but forgotten their origins and the Revenants. For millennia, the two races have lived apart, until now. Remnants is the second book in this series, so the characters and the world have been introduced; that gives me a chance to dive a little deeper, both into the characters as well as into the world itself.  I wanted to take a closer look into the history, culture, and motivations of the Revenants. Robots vs humans is a common theme in science fiction, but I wanted to make it more complicated. Revenants aren’t mindless killing robots, but a new species with their own culture, art, and way of life. That said, this is still an adventure story, so there’s plenty of action and witty dialog to keep things moving.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve been a book-aholic since before I can remember, devouring every book I could get my hands on. So I think a part of me always wanted to be an author. But, for a long time, I bought into the idea that being an author was a pipe-dream. Something that was inaccessible for “normal people.” It wasn’t until college that I gave it any serious consideration at all. I actually wasn’t even an English major at the beginning of my college career (because what can you do with an English degree anyway, right?). But I was lucky enough to take a required English class from an incredible professor that changed my mind about the degree and helped me to reawaken my passion for English and writing. I’ve been hooked ever since.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. This was the first novel I remember experiencing, and what started my love affair with the written word.
• The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (any of them really). The main character is witty and relatable, and is always finding himself in over his head. Add to that a cast of awesome characters, an imaginative universe, and plenty of action, and you have a winning combination.
• Sphere by Michael Crichton. Michael Crichton is one of the classic thriller writers. He’s a master at making complex scientific theory interesting and keeping a plot moving forward at breakneck speeds. Sphere is no exception. Not as well known as Jurassic Park, but it has a great premise and a killer twist ending that make it one of my favorites.
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. A fun story that also has a lot to teach about living your dreams. This book had a huge impact on me and the way I look at life. It was one of the things that gave me the courage to move forward with my own goals.
• Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn. I’ve always been a Star Wars nerd, and Timothy Zahn captured that universe and the characters so perfectly for me. And Thrawn is perhaps one of my all-time favorite villains.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I’d invite JK Rowling. And I’d ask her why she killed off Sirius Black, and why she did it the way she did.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I’ve always thought of books as a whole universe you can carry around with you in your pocket. I love the idea of crafting worlds and creating characters that become real for people. In some ways, the characters in my stories have become like friends to me, and they help me to examine and deal with life and what it means to be human.

What is a typical day like for you?

I wake up early (around 5:30 or 6:00) because that’s the best time for me to do my writing. Not only is it one of the few calm moments I have (I have a one-year-old), but it feels good to accomplish something meaningful before breakfast. After that I get myself ready, and help my wife to get our son up and ready for the day. Then off to work I go. I’m a trainer and curriculum developer. I create and train classes for business professionals, from new hire classes to leadership development. It’s a fun job that keeps me working on a lot of different projects. One day I might spend most the day writing, another I may be filming videos, designing graphics, or in front of a class training students.  After work, I spend time running around and playing with the family, which may be one of the most rewarding parts of the day. After the kid’s asleep, I work out, then my wife and I get some quality time alone, which may mean talking together, watching a movie, or when we’re really feeling wild and crazy, going to be early.

What scene in Third World: Remnants was your favorite to write?

I like action as much as the next guy, but my books focus on characters and relationships. As such, dialog is one of my favorite things to write. Without giving too much away, Jim (the main character) receives a life-altering revelation near the end of the first book in the series. He spends much of Remnants trying to figure out how to deal with this new information and what it could mean for his relationship with his friends. Because of his indecision, he doesn’t tell them about it. There comes a point in the story when Nadya, one of his closest friends (and maybe more) finds out what he was hiding before he has the chance to tell her. It’s a powerful scene that propels Jim’s character forward, forcing him to decide who he wants and needs to be. It was a difficult scene to write (I think I re-wrote it at least four times), but I loved what it did for Jim’s character and it made the ending of the book that much more satisfying.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

“I’m an adventurer, looking for treasure.” – Paulo Cohelo, The Alchemist. There’s a part in The Alchemist where the main character, Santiago, sells all he has to chase after his dream, only to lose it all in a instant. After despairing for a moment, Santiago decides that he can either go through life as a victim, jaded and bitter, or he can choose to be an adventurer, looking for treasure. After all, adventurers face more than their share of pitfalls. Life isn’t perfect for anyone, and all of us will have to make that choice at one point, if we haven’t already. I choose to be an adventurer, looking for treasure.

J.L. Norman is the author of the new book Third World: Remnants

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