Q&A with B.W. Jackson

  

 

 

 

B.W. Jackson is the author of the new novel The Brotherhood of Barnabas. It's the second in his Rise of Lazarus series. He lives outside New York City. 

 

Q: This is the second in your Rise of Lazarus series--how did you come up with the plot for The Brotherhood of Barnabas?

 

A: There were definitely questions burning in my head after the first book. That was the natural springboard.

 

I think with any series, you have to try to balance providing satisfying answers with raising intriguing questions. The Brotherhood of Barnabas tries to address some of those questions from the first book. For instance, how does this whole Lazarus society thing work? And, if Aaron and Grandpa Moshe and Miriam are basically the good guys, who are the bad guys?

 

The other important element was Grandpa Moshe. I really wanted to explore his character and story more. He captured my attention, which is why he drives much of the plot in The Brotherhood of Barnabas.

 

The funny thing is that the first book was originally a short story, with only Aaron and Professor Freeman. But I couldn’t find a satisfying ending, and so I kept writing. That’s when I introduced Grandpa Moshe. Or, in a way, he introduced himself to me. That process is mysterious.

 

Q: Do you think your character Aaron has changed from one book to the next?

 

A: I think he has absolutely changed, or I hope he has, because his world gets turned on its head at in the first book. He starts out the series as a lazy and arrogant college kid with loads of potential, but he gets humbled. He’s forced to listen and learn, and he’s rewarded for it. He gains perspective and a sense of purpose.

 

In book two, Aaron begins to play a slightly more active role in the unfolding of the story, even though he takes a back seat to Grandpa Moshe. He doesn’t stop learning, though. That’s the crucial piece.

 

I’d say he is gradually developing into more of a true main character, which I like. In a way, it’s a good counterbalance to the main character syndrome that’s going around. We all have to face it. Maybe you’re not yet a main character in the first book. Maybe you never get to be a main character. Or maybe you have to listen and learn for a while and then you become a main character in book three or four or five. We’ll see.

 

Q: Do you recommend reading The Rise of Lazarus before turning to this novel?

 

A: Thank you for asking that question! Yes, it is crucial to read The Rise of Lazarus before The Brotherhood of Barnabas. The first page of book two comes right after the last page of book one, and it will be the same for book three. That was my vision for the series. Ideally, readers will finish one book and reach for the next. Of course, unfortunately, that’s not exactly how it works in publishing. It takes time to prepare a book for release. 

 

Once book three is out, my dream is that a new reader might go through them all in a few days. The pressure is on me to make them as quick and gripping as possible. 

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: First and foremost, I hope the book provides an escape into another world, a break from the day to day. Beyond that, I hope the book inspires some reflection.

 

Compared to book one, The Brotherhood of Barnabas is more playful in some parts, and more serious in some parts. Ultimately, it is still meant to be a book for any age—a book for the full family book club, from teenage grandchild up to grandparent.

 

I would say, though, that the second book introduces some more adult concepts and sinister elements, and also raises ideas about history and values for possible reflection.

 

Part of finding your voice as an author is coming to understand your capabilities and what aims are realistic. Whether I’m writing thrillers or literary fiction, I aspire to produce clever stories that read quickly, books that are engaging and thought-provoking. That’s the goal with the Lazarus series. I hope readers can’t put it down, and then I hope the ideas stick with them.

 

The challenge is finding the right balance. Ideas should always enhance the story, never distract from the story.

 

Q: What’s next in the series?

 

A: The Cave of Cleopas is the third book in the series. It’s coming along! I don’t want to give anything away about the book two ending, but I can say that the heroes are going to dive right in.

 

The series starts out as a story within a story, and, with twists and turns, the story comes to life in the here-and-now. Book three keeps that trajectory going, even if the series will always be rooted in history and legends and storytelling.

 

In the beginning, the stories come to Aaron, but that starts to change in book two, and it changes even more in book three. Aaron may not be able to stand on the sidelines so much anymore. As I said, he definitely has true main character potential. We’ll see how he develops.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: At the moment, I’m doing a thorough reading and editing of book three, which can be excruciating and invigorating at the same time, sometimes in the same sentence. When you let the manuscript lie fallow long enough, the ground gets nice and soft. It’s easier to dig out those ugly roots that wouldn’t budge before, and plant a few flowering shrubs.

 

Otherwise, I’m always jotting down notes for more books in the Lazarus series—the burning questions that come up as I go along. There is a whole world of Lazarus that has developed in my head, and only a bit at a time can make it into a book. Ideas have to wait their turn. 

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with B.W. Jackson.