Author Interview: Jayne Fordham

I would like to welcome debut Aussie author Jayne Fordham to The Tales Compendium! Jayne has been working her way around the blogosphere lately, taking part in her book blog tour for A Season of Transformations.

I recently reviewed A Season of Transformations here on The Tales Compendium and you can read my review here.

Where did the idea to write A Season of Transformation come from?

I’ve always loved to read and write romance novels but I wanted to write something with a supernatural element to it. I already had in my mind that I wanted a group of teenagers to develop special abilities and I also had an idea about the relationship between Makenna and Lucas. It was a matter of filling in all the gaps. When I came up with the idea of the ancient wooden box that brings the teens together, it all seemed to fall into place from there.

What was the hardest thing about writing it?
I think the hardest part was the redrafting and editing process. The structure of the story, the plot and the characters certainly evolved during this process and there were many times when I questioned whether it was worth continuing. But eventually I got it to a stage where I was happy with the finished product and it was well worth the 2-3 years I spent working on the manuscript to get it where it is today.

What was your road to publication like?
I chose to self-publish. I hunted for an agent and I looked into independent publishers but was rejected by an agent and couldn’t find a publisher which was a good fit so I took the plunge and did it all myself. It was a lot of hard work (and still is!) but I am glad I took the risk because I am learning so much from readers’ feedback that is truly invaluable.

Can you describe A Season of Transformation in three words?
Teens transform together

In highschool, which stereotype do you think you were?
That’s a good question; I haven’t been asked that before! To be honest, I don’t think I fit into any of those stereotypes in high school. Perhaps each of the stereotypes reflect me in some way- I did well academically at school, I was a bit shy but also a bit of a clown sometimes and I was also the ‘good listener’ among my friends. I certainly wasn’t the popular rich kid!

Who are some of your favourite YA authors?
Definitely Aussie authors John Marsden, Melina Marchetta and Maureen McCarthy but also Stephanie Meyer and P.C and Kristen Cast.

What are you reading now?
An Aussie memoir titled ‘Biting the Big Apple’ by Bella Vendramini and Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz.

If you could trade places with any fictional character, who would you choose?
As much as I love the paranormal genre, I also love historical romances and English literatures so I would have to say Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. I am very curious about this era and meeting Mr Darcy would certainly be a bonus!

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Thankyou Jayne for stopping by The Tales Compendium!

Read my review of A Season of Transformations here.

Jayne Fordham's website.
A Season of Transformation on Goodreads.
Purchase ASOT from Amazon or Lulu.

A Season of Transformation by Jayne Fordham

Title: A Season of Transformation
Author: Jayne Fordham

Release Date: 30th March 2011

My Rating: 3/5

Blurb:

A Season of Transformation is a young adult fantasy/ romance novel set in the contemporary world. It is the story of five young people drawn together to complete a Quest, to protect their town from destruction. In order to defeat the story’s villain, Maxvale, the five virtual strangers must come together and not only forge a bond of trust but become proficient with the ‘abilities’ temporarily bestowed upon them.

In the midst of the lead up to the battle each of the young people has their own personal struggles they are trying to deal with. Lucas, an adopted and bitter teenager struggles to become the person he wants to be whilst developing feelings for Makenna, a rich kid who doesn’t like his attitude. Bonnie is a ‘gothic’ that is dealing with an alcoholic father, Ben the school nerd and Adam the class clown are trying to break free from their high school stereotypes. Can these five teens put their differences aside to defeat Maxvale and save their town?

In A Nutshell:
A Season of Transformation is a middle grade/young adult fantasy novel set in a small community outside of Sydney. It's a story about looking beyond stereotypes, having confidence, courage, and somewhere to belong.

My Review:
When five unlikely high school students are mysteriously granted magical abilities so they can save their town, they must work together, despite their differences, to avoid a centuries old act of revenge from ruining their community. From the perspective of Makenna, we see how the characters are challenged to look beyond stereotypes, as they become more efficient with their new abilities, their confidence builds as they face their insecurities, new friendships and feeling emerge and each person individually shines.

As a title, A Season of Transformation refers to all five main characters. Over the course of three months, they not only experience having some pretty cool new abilities but each of their lives transform in their own way. Each of our heroes all fit a particular stereotype - the jerk (Lucas), the nerd (Ben), the class clown (Adam), the goth (Bonnie) and the rich girl (Makenna). It looks at how each of them are treated in a high school, their feelings because if this, and why they have allowed a stereotype to represent them. The story brings these five together, who would normally never be friends, let alone even talk to each other.

To me, the fantasy element only played a small part of the story. Their new found powers (telekineasis, super speed, photographic memory, invisibility and the ability to walk through walls) are what brought them together and what they will ultimately use when the time comes, but it wasn't a main genre of the story. The powers overall aren't too ridiculous and they simmer away to a degree that I forgot it was a fantasy and not a general teen fiction. I really liked this since I have trouble with some fantasy novels. I got very caught up in the lives of each of the characters and really hoped they would find their place in the group. There was also a delicious new romance with all those early feelings of excitement that I got totally caught up in.

My only tiny issue with the story was that I sometimes got the feeling that it was being told to someone who hadn't experienced high school before. There was a lot of detail explaining each stereotype, especially the goths, but also the general school day. I personally don't think some of it was needed.

There are many issues discussed throughout A Season Of Transformation, some in depth, some only lightly touched upon. Bullying and confidence are the main ones but so is adoption, the death of a parent, friendships, relationships, and having an alcoholic parent. I believe it would be a good text for ages 12 to 15 to study, or in the very least, read. While I know the author is a psychologist, I wonder if she has been a school psychologist. The content suggests so.

You can purchase A Season Of Transformation via Amazon (Kindle) or Lulu (Kindle or Paperback).

Jayne Fordham's website.
A Season of Transformation on Goodreads