You guys, I am a super big nerd about books and fantasy YA books especially.  I don't admit this to a lot of people because I am a 40 year old woman who likes to read about Dystopian, Magical, Young Adult Fiction, and that probably isn't very cool.  In my defense, I like a lot of other more age appropriate genres as well.  I like to think of myself as open minded and inclusive and easily entertained.  Let's go with it, okay? 

I am SOOO stoked to introduce you to a brand new author of one of my favorite books in 2018.  My whole family enjoyed this book and we are all anxiously anticipating the release of the second book in the series.

If you missed my current top 10 reads for boys (or any reluctant reader in your family), please go check it out here: 10 Ten Reluctant Reader Suggestions.

Without further ado, let's meet Jeremy!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I can make a small commission if you click on certain links and make a purchase.

Chelsea:  Jeremy, thank you so much for doing this interview.  I have four kids and am always looking for new books to engage the whole family.  Path to Paz fit the bill perfectly!  We are all really excited for book 2!  

Jeremy: Thanks Chelsea, so happy to be here.  Ask me anything!

Chelsea: First of all, I follow you on Instagram and Facebook. (Click Links to Follow Jeremy). You have lots of amazing pictures from so many really cool places.  You must do a lot of traveling.  Where are you now?

Jeremy: We have spent the last two years in Costa Rica.  We love it here and have had many opportunities to travel to countries nearby over the years.  We have been to Belize, Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Canada, Mexico and we are headed to Colombia next month; all just in the last two years!  It has been pretty incredible and we feel very blessed to be able to experience so much of the world with our family. 

Chelsea: Wow, that sounds really amazing!  As a photographer, I am always looking at the pictures you post and you guys have some amazing photos and super adorable kids.  Let's start talking about your book and your writing.  What are you currently working on?

Jeremy: I'm currently working on the second book in The Path to Paz series. I've completed an initial first draft, but the book needed some fine tuning as they always do. I have to admit, I am  VERY excited about book two. I think people will love it as much, if not more, than book one.

Chelsea: That is good news.  I hate waiting too long for the next book in a series!  What do you love most about being an author?

Jeremy: Did you love LEGOs as a kid? Or perhaps you still do as an adult? I still find myself building boats, jails, cars, and gas stations for our towns and all kinds of stuff with my four children. It's fun to create. And borderline addicting. That's what I love about writing. I love to create. When I successfully bring all the pieces of my imagination together and they fit just right, that’s when creation happens. I love to see something come to life.

Chelsea: Legos weren't so much my thing, but I do absolutely love creating and bringing things to life.  I absolutely get what you are saying.  What is your favorite under-appreciated novel?

Jeremy: As far as I know, Shemer Kuznits’ LitRPG novel, Life Rest (New Era Online #1), was his first novel. He’s currently working on book two. But the book totally captured me. From a young age I have always had a love for video games. I mean, what teenage boy doesn’t love Halo? In recent years, however, I’ve set my gaming aside (much to my wife’s delight). I think the LitRPG genre is still new to many people. It certainly was to me when I picked up this book. But it was like getting a piece of my gaming days back in the form of literature. And I found the book just as addicting as some of the best video games I ever played.

Chelsea: I definitely need to check this book out!  My boys are obsessed with Halo, though right now Fortnight has consumed all of their free video gaming time.  Sounds like a book to add to our list though for sure.  With four kids, a wife, a full-time career and travel abroad, how many hours a day do you write?

Jeremy: I’m a business owner, father to four, and husband to one. Between it all, I don’t write nearly as much as I’d like to. But if I had to put a number on it, I’d say probably two to four hours a day on average. Some days more, some days less.

Chelsea: I totally get it.  I never have as much time (or energy) to do all of the things I HAVE to do, let alone all of the things I WANT to do!  Where did you get the idea for Path to Paz?

Jeremy: For many years now, I've always kept an ongoing and evolving word document on my computer. I would write down any random business ideas I had, a funny act that came to mind for a stand-up comedian, gift ideas for my wife's birthday or our anniversary and a bunch of other random stuff that pops into my head from time to time. One day I had an idea of a scene that I thought would be really cool, like out of a movie. So, I wrote it down. And then I wrote some more. It quickly became impossible to stop. The ideas just kept coming and coming. Soon I had to cut everything I’d written out of my word document and start a new one. The ideas continued to flow and before I knew it I had written what eventually become the second to last chapter in my first book.

Chelsea: That is a great idea to just let it evolve over time.  Since you are relatively new to this published author scene, what advice would you give to other aspiring authors?

Jeremy: My advice would be to just start writing. That's what I did—well before I had any idea of what I was doing (the later is still debatable). One of my favorite quotes is, "There is no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting." By Robert Graves. My first drafts are embarrassing to put it lightly. But then you improve it and make it better. Eventually, I believe, it becomes easier from the start. So, what's my advice for aspiring writers? Just start writing. It's in the rewriting that you'll start to shine.

Chelsea: Two more questions and then I will let you get on with your obviously busy life (and hopefully polishing off the much anticipated sequel to Path to Paz of course!)  First of all, what other authors do you admire?  And final question...if you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Jeremy: Brandon Sanderson is at the top of my list. Life had gotten in the way of reading, as I think it does for many. Sanderson’s writing changed that for me. He was the first author, as an adult, that sucked me back into the reading world. Since then, I’ve read just about everything he’s written.  And if I could tell my younger self anything....I would say: Start writing earlier in life. Like, WAY earlier, because it’s going to become one of your favorite pastimes. Also, you may want to major in English and take a few writing classes while you’re at it because you’re learning curve later in life was steep!

Chelsea: I love it.  Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions and best of luck to you in Costa Rica and beyond.  My family will be following your book writing adventures in the future.  We are big fans!

If you want to download Path to Paz on your Kindle, or buy the paperback version.  Click here to purchase: Path to Paz by Jeremy Thelin