A Note to Parents & Readers of All Ages
Dear Parent / Reader / Curious Website Browser:
In some ways, this page is really just more "about the author," but in other ways, it's more about the stories.
I think for any genre it is true, but certainly with fantasy it needs to be said: this is who I am, what I've written, and why. There is nothing more disconcerting than thinking you've purchased an excellent story only to find it's packed full of rubbish. I mean, mental images you could do without, language you didn't need to hear in your imagination, and the kind of moral confusion that unfortunately, we have to sort through every day in real life. Fantasy in particular is a genre filled with stories that take place in dark times, dark places, that dwell on dark things, and leave the reader drinking the dark for the sake of it. And still other fantasy stories quickly morph into unwholesome romances, and another excuse for someone to write out their strange, personal fantasy in what I personally find to be poor taste. You won't experience that with my stories.
The Reaper's Seed sounds like a dark title, right? Well, I'll let you in on some secrets. The title is more about meaning. This series is inspired by the Story of God's promise and plan of salvation for Fallen Man. In other words, the Story of the Bible is a primary influence for my story. Here are two meanings for the title of the series that I hope to be found out. (1) The Seed, or offspring of Satan (Father of Death / Reaper) are those that live in his ways of rebellion against their Creator King: pride, deceit, and hate, just to name three. (2) All of life and history can be broken down in terms of sowing and reaping (agricultural metaphors). In this way, the titles of The Reaper's Seed describes nearly every character in the series.
The Shadow Tribe is a magical adventure. I state almost immediately in my description on the back cover of Book 1 that there is a dark sorcerer involved. There are other magicians too. But as I mention heading into Book 2 of the series, "The Spirit Benders," I use magic like any writer uses a form of power: it can be used for good, or for ill. It is a tool for contrast. It's also a great tool for adventure. To boot, the magic system of this series is proposed in a form of light vs dark and blessings vs curses. It is not frivolous, but neither is it dull. Question: how would you describe the supernatural? How do we describe things that work around and outside of our physical realm, and for which we cannot offer a human explanation? In this sense, God is the author of magic, Satan sought it for his own and twisted it in the effort. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5). What is implied here, but a struggle?
So, I think I wanted to write this additional letter of sorts for those that are interested, to make a few things clear. I am an imaginative creator, having been made in the image of the Creator, to do creative things. I intend to entertain you with my stories. I've already entertained myself in writing them. But I do not simply want to entertain you. It would be a great victory if that's all that happened, but I want something more. I want to edify you with my stories, and perhaps, give you a few things to think more deeply about, or dwell on a bit longer. That's the sort of story that I have always enjoyed most: plot lines that called to mind deeper truths, weightier glories, and grander loves.
Whoever you are, I am honored you are checking out my creative works, and I hope you give them a try. I wrote them for you.
God bless.
Jaffrey
In some ways, this page is really just more "about the author," but in other ways, it's more about the stories.
I think for any genre it is true, but certainly with fantasy it needs to be said: this is who I am, what I've written, and why. There is nothing more disconcerting than thinking you've purchased an excellent story only to find it's packed full of rubbish. I mean, mental images you could do without, language you didn't need to hear in your imagination, and the kind of moral confusion that unfortunately, we have to sort through every day in real life. Fantasy in particular is a genre filled with stories that take place in dark times, dark places, that dwell on dark things, and leave the reader drinking the dark for the sake of it. And still other fantasy stories quickly morph into unwholesome romances, and another excuse for someone to write out their strange, personal fantasy in what I personally find to be poor taste. You won't experience that with my stories.
The Reaper's Seed sounds like a dark title, right? Well, I'll let you in on some secrets. The title is more about meaning. This series is inspired by the Story of God's promise and plan of salvation for Fallen Man. In other words, the Story of the Bible is a primary influence for my story. Here are two meanings for the title of the series that I hope to be found out. (1) The Seed, or offspring of Satan (Father of Death / Reaper) are those that live in his ways of rebellion against their Creator King: pride, deceit, and hate, just to name three. (2) All of life and history can be broken down in terms of sowing and reaping (agricultural metaphors). In this way, the titles of The Reaper's Seed describes nearly every character in the series.
The Shadow Tribe is a magical adventure. I state almost immediately in my description on the back cover of Book 1 that there is a dark sorcerer involved. There are other magicians too. But as I mention heading into Book 2 of the series, "The Spirit Benders," I use magic like any writer uses a form of power: it can be used for good, or for ill. It is a tool for contrast. It's also a great tool for adventure. To boot, the magic system of this series is proposed in a form of light vs dark and blessings vs curses. It is not frivolous, but neither is it dull. Question: how would you describe the supernatural? How do we describe things that work around and outside of our physical realm, and for which we cannot offer a human explanation? In this sense, God is the author of magic, Satan sought it for his own and twisted it in the effort. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5). What is implied here, but a struggle?
So, I think I wanted to write this additional letter of sorts for those that are interested, to make a few things clear. I am an imaginative creator, having been made in the image of the Creator, to do creative things. I intend to entertain you with my stories. I've already entertained myself in writing them. But I do not simply want to entertain you. It would be a great victory if that's all that happened, but I want something more. I want to edify you with my stories, and perhaps, give you a few things to think more deeply about, or dwell on a bit longer. That's the sort of story that I have always enjoyed most: plot lines that called to mind deeper truths, weightier glories, and grander loves.
Whoever you are, I am honored you are checking out my creative works, and I hope you give them a try. I wrote them for you.
God bless.
Jaffrey