Today I am speaking with David Jebb.

Hi David! And welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! It is great to have you with us today. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to answer questions. The readers would love to hear something about David Jebb.

My pleasure and thank you Linda!

David, I noticed on your website that you are a passionate surfer and a paraglider pilot. That sounds interesting. Is it something that you always wanted to do? You also have led an interesting life being with the police force with some great citations and commendations. Your police work had a great range. Is that where you got the idea for your book, The Thirteenth Time Zone?

Linda, I have always been passionate about life and actively involved in living it to the fullness. My interest in sports has primarily been physical, my interest in law enforcement emotional and my interest in writing – spiritual. The novel, The Thirteenth Time Zone is the first of a trilogy. Most any writing that I will do in the future will be based on life as I had a huge wealth of drama and living to draw upon. As a street cop for almost 20 years I saw the drama of life played daily before my eyes. I left the Department for five years was did a “walk about” in search of some deep questions that at that time in my life needed answering. My stories aren’t just cop and robber shoot them up fiction, but rather stories about life, about drama that bring the reader to the core of essence, understanding and love.

Writing is about story telling. I never figured that I was a writer – I was not particularly good in English classes, not particularly a good speller, or sentence structurer. But as I see it writing is about story telling and as I see it I have an almost infinite supply of stories. What makes my stories unique? I would defer that question to the readers of my books, but realness of my action adventure fiction story will keep the pages turning.

What made you decide to begin writing?

About fifteen years ago I saw my kids growing up and realized that I had never shared with them the story of my life. I knew that one day I would like them to know about a part of my life which I never shared with them. So my starting goal was to write a memoir about a five year portion of my life. I never really spoke to my kids much about this time, because I figured they were too young to understand how and why I turned out the way I did. It took a year for me to write the story, one day off a week from work and about three years to edit the book. By the time it was ready for print the kids were grown and out of the house. The folks doing the editing were impressed enough with the story and they convinced me to turn the story into an action adventure novel.

Do you think it is easier for a woman or man to break into the field of writing with editors/publishers?

I look at editors and publishers as business folks with a desire to make money, so I doubt that it would matter to them if I were a male or female. I understand that in certain genres women and men have dominance. For instance, in romance woman are strong, in westerns men are strong and so on.

Do you have an agent or considered getting one?

At the moment I don’t have an agent – There are many in the business – some good, some not so good. My mind and heart are open and know that the perfect professional will cross my path and a long term relationship will begin.

What do you think about the e-book industry?

What little I know of the e-book industry makes me think of a big locomotive coming down the track… we will either get on board or be left at the train station.

Do you get along with your publisher/editors?

I get along with my publisher well. I just wish they weren’t so busy and could send more quality time with me. Do I sound like a little kid wishing his Dad would come to his ball game –YES. I know the publishing game is a brutal business to be in. Stress levels are high, pressures unending, and results all that matter. A writer’s life is an easier pace, therefore time and relationships for us haven’t the same meaning.

Do you have any upcoming releases planned besides the Blue Warrior Series?

The Thirteenth Time Zone is the first book of a trilogy. I have started the second novel, but honestly, at the moment, all writing has stopped due to the fact that I am spending my time marketing The Thirteenth Time Zone. I think it is important to have the second book out fairly soon, but without laying a good foundation for the first book the other coming novels won’t have a welcome door mat out. I have a good friend who has finished five novels, over the past several years and probably hasn’t sold more than a couple hundred copies. I think good marketing is just as important as good writing. I am sure many can relate to buying a product, only to realize that it wasn’t that terrific – but in the end marketing brings the buyers to the doorstep – once there, good writing will welcome them inside and the clinic/quest will continue coming back. We have all heard the saying “Building clients for life” – that should be the goal of every writer.

Was there any one person or event in your life that finally inspired you to sit down and write your first book?

My biggest inspiration in life is my wife Maya and my son, Gabriel and my daughter Michelle. My son and daughter were named after two archangels – my love of my family has inspired me to great heights.

Where do you come up with the names of your characters or your books?

The main character in The Thirteenth Time Zone is Owen Drew, his nick name is Blue. The nickname is one that cops once called me. The name Owen Drew, came to me in a dream. So I guess you could say the name came from high command, otherwise it has no significance or esoteric meaning. Names through the story are given as the character comes and develops.

What would we find on your bookshelf?

Most of my read has always be non fiction. I currently have several shelves on books on Counter Terrorism, a shelf on aviation, paragliding, and several books on surfing. Most of my life has been reading on topics to improve my game. I never had much time to relax and sit back and read a novel. My wife carries a book everywhere. She can be standing in a grocery line reading, or at a stop light. She never goes on a vacation without books. Me, I go on a vacation and I’m usually moving around, standing outdoors, hiking, swimming, or flying until I drop. I’ve always heard to be a great writer you have to be a prolific reader of fiction. Hemingway and Hesse have impressed me in the story telling departments.

If you had a chance to either go to the past or the future, which would you choose? And is there any particular year you would like to visit?

Interestingly the older I become the more precious the moment, the here and now become. When I was young I was always looking forward, many older people spend days looking back. I feel like I’m in a good place because being satisfied with living in the here and now, keeps my mind from wandering from the moment and reality.

Where do you see the publishing world in the next three years?

With technology growing at hyperspeed, people, business, and publishing/printing are becoming more global, it is difficult to speculate too far out. But I believe ultimately the writers will play an important role in leading the way – we must stay in tune with the consumer. We writers must also stay true to our own path, our own hearts.

Do you have a website other than www.thethirteenthtimezone.com that you would like to share with your readers?

I have the website mentioned above www.thethirteenthtimezone.com as well as two Blogs: My Space.com and Blogspot.com

Let’s have some fun: What is your secret indulgence?

In some respects my life seems rather routine – but notice how relative this statement is… I leap from high mountainous bluffs and cliffs daily and soar high into the heavenly sphere. Ride waves and skin dive when I feel the urge. I am a paraglider instructor, so I make my living having fun and sharing things that I am passionate about with others. I don’t smoke, don’t drink, but swear like a street whore. I guess it is no secret, my main indulgence is seeing people redefine their personal limits.

What movie could you watch repetitively and never grow tired of?

At the moment I can’t think of any movie that I could repetitively watch and not become bored. My world seems to be moving too fast. I will take a movie in once or twice and after that move on.

Where is your favorite recreation place to forget all your troubles?

Some time sitting on a coast ocean bluff overlooking the ocean or in a mountainous forest are the most calming to my inner being. I have always felt most connected to nature and the beauty of God’s creations.

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, David. Anyone interested in reading more about David and his great books, please visit his website to read more about his exciting works. It has been a pleasure David, and I wish you the best in your writing career.

Interviewed by: Linda L