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Today, I am chatting with Jan Mau Hill about Rock, the first novel in her Rock, Paper, Scissors series.
Set in an alternate version of the USA where magic is very real, Rock introduces seventeen-year-old Samara Yancy, a young woman whose carefully planned future comes crashing down after one bad decision. What follows is a fast-paced fantasy adventure filled with secrets, betrayal, danger and more than a few questionable decisions on Sam’s part!
Jan joins me today to talk about creating Sam and her magical world, the importance of allowing young characters to make mistakes, and the ideas behind the Rock, Paper, Scissors series.
But first, let's check out Rock
Publisher: Independently Published
Print Length: 308 Pages
Genre: Teen & Young Adult Fantasy Adventure
Rock introduces readers to Samara Yancy at a particularly bad moment in her life: expelled from the Guardian Academy, her reputation in tatters and her carefully planned future gone. What first sparked the idea for Sam and her story?
Sam is a person who had her whole life planned out - including job and number of kids by 30. She does one impetuous thing and it throws her world into chaos. Though she regrets the choice it catapults her onto a path which lay hidden and is far more interesting and complex. I wanted to show one misstep, can lead to something better.
Sam’s problems begin because she takes a shortcut, and she has to live with the consequences of that decision. What interested you about beginning her journey with a mistake of her own making rather than something that simply happens to her?
Young adult stories are about the journey and I like to start with action and give my protagonist agency. She doesn’t get to shy away from the mistake, she must own it, which is all part of her journey to adulthood. Readers see her grow, one painful mistake at a time.
Rock offers protection in a world where magic exists, while outside its boundaries magic flows unchecked. Can you tell us a little about the concept behind The Rock and how you developed the magical world surrounding it?
I’m a gamer at heart, so I love world building. I came up with the idea of mages and nulls then asked what would happen when the minority had an uprising - what would peace look like and I thought of areas that could be isolated and would still have access to power and the ability to grow their own food. I came up with parts of the US that had natural barriers that could be enhanced and water power. I wanted to limit the kinds of magic and power Mages had, so I created that and how the mechanics around it had to work. And my other big thing was no guns.
Sam goes from trying to rebuild her life to becoming the prime suspect in a terror attack. How did you approach balancing the mystery of what really happened with the faster-paced fantasy and action elements of the novel?
As Sam goes in search of the truth things happen to her and she has to make decisions- most of them rash - often not the best - but completely logical choices for a 17 year old to make. It lands her in trouble but she doesn’t give up - she’s always got a plan - but they don’t always work out as hoped - mainly because folks keep betraying her.
Trust appears to be a major issue for Sam as she tries to prove her innocence while surrounded by lies and manipulation. How does her uncertainty about whom she can rely upon shape her development throughout the story?
The only folks she can consistently rely on is her family - especially her sister. But that’s part of growing up - trusting the wrong people and dealing with the consequences of those choices. I wanted her story to be believable so every betrayal - and there were quite a few felt organic.
Sam’s search for the truth uncovers a family secret she would rather never have discovered. Without giving anything away, what drew you to the idea of making the mystery surrounding her own family part of the larger danger she faces?
Sam has been living a lie her whole life - it’s when she begins to unravel the truth piece by piece that she’s able to come to terms with who and what she is. I liked the idea of crushing, rebuilding, and then crushing her life again so that the reader can learn along with Sam, how truly resilient she is when she finally realizes the whole truth.
You describe your books as featuring clever and bold heroines, and Sam certainly seems to fit that description. What qualities did you most want her to possess, and was it equally important that she have flaws and make mistakes?
Characters are only fun to read because they overcome something. Perfect MCs are boring. Sam has a strong sense of self and family from the start - by the end of book one it’s all come tumbling down. She’s a morally good person and in the end her cleverness and inability to be corrupted is what shines through. She makes plenty of mistakes, but all for good reason, in her mind.
Rock takes place in an alternate version of the USA. How did you decide which elements of the familiar world to retain and where you wanted your fantasy world to depart from reality?
I kept all the geography and topography of the US- including city and state names. I had to add certain aspects of fantasy when it came to species and magic, but the foundation of the world we know stayed the same.
The title works on several levels, from The Rock itself to Sam being quite literally caught between a rock and a hard place. Did the title come early in the writing process, and how did the wider Rock, Paper, Scissors concept develop into a series?
So I wanted there to be an overarching idea that Sam was part of someone’s game and she was being played. It takes her a few books before she learns the “rules” then when she does it’s so nice to see her twist them.
Rock is the opening novel in the Rock, Paper, Scissors series. What do you hope readers will come to love about Sam and the world you have created, and what can they look forward to as the series continues?
Well the good news is the series is complete. Which for young adult audiences is a great thing. Sam is genuinely someone you like because though she makes mistakes she keeps moving forward. Seeking the truth, trying to ensure the people in her world have a better life, and doing it all with sense of humour.
A huge thank you to Jan Mau Hill for joining me today and telling us more about Rock.
Sam certainly sounds like the kind of heroine who is going to keep readers on their toes. She may make mistakes — quite a few of them, by the sound of things — but her determination to keep going, uncover the truth and do what she believes is right makes her an easy character to root for.
And, with the Rock, Paper, Scissors series already complete, readers who become caught up in Sam’s story won't have to wait to discover where her increasingly complicated journey takes her next.
If you enjoy young adult fantasy filled with magic, mystery, family secrets, betrayal and a heroine who refuses to give up when everything goes wrong, then Rock is certainly one to check out.
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In her mind, Jan is a modern-day Austen protagonist.
As a child, she created elaborate stories involving a pretend cattle ranch guarded by vegetarian dinosaurs and went on adventures with her stuffed teddy bear, creatively named Ted.
After getting out of college in four years (an astounding feat) she began a career in advertising and marketing. Extensive reading during work travel rekindled her imagination and her Rock, Paper, Scissors series was born. These YA Urban Fantasy books are full of action, snark and a hint of romance.
Now she writes full-time in her hometown of New Orleans. The city is its own character in her 22 book paranormal romance series. Those feature a variety of Supernatural Main Characters in search of love. An enchanted deck of tarot cards adds a unique twist to the interwoven storylines of her G.R.I.T.S. books.
Jan Mau Hill writes fast-paced books featuring clever and bold heroines. If that sounds interesting, she’s the author for you.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx