The Book Where it all Started
A few years ago John’s long-running love for fantasy books seemed to clash with the wandering attention span of his (then) seven-year-old son.
In order to show his son what was so great about these sorts of stories, he decided to write his own. He had a go at breaking a few fantasy ‘rules’ in the process:
- The parents aren’t killed off in the first chapter
- The ‘secondary’ characters get to take over occasionally
- And (most importantly) a full chapter can be read in the ten/ twenty-minute window of bed-time.
The short chapters also make the series a perfect fit for reluctant readers as it’s a fun read for any age. In fact, John has had more than a few children tell him that ‘Jack Reusen and the Fey Flame’ is the first chapter book they have ever read. It’s this sort of response that keeps John working on more stories.
In this first book in the series, a chance event in a forest near Jack’s home opens his eyes to the world of ‘Fey’: a place filled with magic, enchantments, shape-changing people, and creatures unlike anything Jack has ever seen. Jack unwittingly tears great holes between the two worlds, opening Jack’s normal life up to host of dangers and oddities. Jack feels that it’s his duty to fix it. (NOTE: The sequel is now available too, please pop over to check it out, it has zombies!)
The book is available in print and Kindle editions (find a link to the amazon listing in your country below). Print copies are available from Fun Junction in Perth and Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland. We can also post a copy out to you anywhere in the UK for £6.99 (delivery included), click ‘buy now’ below to pay via PayPal. E-mail us at jackreusenbooks@hotmail.com if you are outside the UK and we’ll see what we can do.
You can get the kindle edition from the following Amazon sites (currently only available in English):
Amazon reviews:
Jack Reusen 
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I am an interested writer myself, at 15 years old. I was just wondering, if you don’t mind me asking, what route you took to becoming an author? Did you study English, in further education? Or is it just a hobby?
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I studied English for a few semesters but as a subject it’s more about critical analysis. I actually got my degree in Philosophy, it makes you think in different ways and introduces you to ideas you might not have considered.
The key thing that helps me write though is reading, when I get the chance I read. It’s the best advice I could give a writer, we need to see what works before we try ourselves. Saves us from making as many mistakes.
In terms of a ‘job’, I know a few professional writers and the way they earn is a lot like self-employment. You’re crafting a product, your wage is directly dependent on people buying that product. It can be tough but it’s also a huge thrill to have someone pay you for your work.
Another source of income for a lot of writers is copy editing or copy writing (writing material for businesses and individuals). You basically use your craft to make pamphlets, catalogues, web sites etc. look more apealing whilst divulging information in a succinct, digestible way. It can pay well and keeps you honing your craft. 🙂
Hope all of that helps 🙂
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