Jaden was born in New West Minster BC in
1972 and moved to Kamloops BC just shortly after. Through his early years,
music, film and acting were his passions but story telling was always there
lurking in the form of poetry and song writing. This led to bouncing between
the decisions to become a rock star or actor and he tried his hand at both. It
wasn’t until he finished high school that he realized one needed a job to pay
bills.
Moving around the West Coast of Canada
for the last twenty years, Jaden always had a journal with him. There were many
stage plays and stories that made it to paper but few were selected to hit an
independent theatrical stage. It wasn’t until Jaden was approached with a
concept for a stage play from an independent recording artist that he started
to take his writing seriously. He jumped at the chance to pen his
interpretation of the artist’s lyrics and within no time realized that it was
what he was meant to do.
Upon the completion of “The Ballad of
Elvis Christ,” a depiction of the pressures of the rise and fall of a musical
icon, a story that burned in the back of Jaden’s mind for 20 years, begged to
be shared with the world. Through Jaden’s words, the world of “The Producer”
came to life.
Jaden has found that his passion for
writing has hit a new level as the barrier that once held him from stepping
into the world of “Author” no longer exists. A husband and father of two, he
still lives in Canada and has great expectations of a bright future.
About his works
The Producer
In the not so
distant future the Government is Business.
The populace is lulled into complacency by the use of subliminal videos.
There is order and peace; drugs and disease are things only seen in History
class. But in keeping with human nature, there are those who seek to abuse the
system. Vid addicts rot their minds with
hacked files and censors subdue those that seek to speak freely. Somewhere
between these two worlds hovers The Producer.
Officers
Jonathon Cook and Samantha Prescott of the Victoria Police Department find
themselves caught in the midst of The Producer’s violent and dramatic game of
cat and mouse. While they are forced to face ghosts of their past and their
simmering attraction for each other, they must fight to save those they love from
the Producer’s dangerous game.
Who is The
Producer? What does he want? And can Jonathon and Samantha stop him before
their world comes crashing down?
Interview with Jaden
Braniff
Can you tell us what
prompted you to first start writing? What was the first thing you wrote?
I
had written many lyrics while I was playing with a band in Edmonton but it was
after I brainstormed with a friend of mine the idea for a film. Unfortunately
the film never happened but the desire to continue to write grew stronger. I
suppose “The Producer” is my first actually published work but the story
“Fayte” was the first piece and burns in my mind to this day. Once I’ve completed
“The Rebellion Writings”, “Fayte” will come back to life.
Can you summarize your latest
work in just a few words?
“The Producer” questions the idea of control
and whether or not one person’s ideals of freedom are truly a benefit to all.
What was the inspiration
for this book?
Simply
put…the world around me. As a society we are inundated with expectations of how
we should live our lives by people who are slaves to media. Where does social
standing and self-esteem collide? I believe that it lies where Google tells us
it should be.
Did you do any research
for the book?
I
have a technical background but since “The Producer” takes place in the very
near future, I had to use my imagination. It’s set in Victoria BC, a place very
close to my heart and was born as I was walking down the street late one night.
The main research that I needed was location and timing. For example, how long
would it take to get from point A to B and then smack the characters in the
face with C.
What does a typical
writing day involve for you?
Once
the children are off to bed or otherwise involved, I sit and begin to type. I
have a very supportive wife that allows me whatever time that I need. If I’m on
a roll, she is always kind enough to bring me a cup of tea and then leave me to
it.
How do you decide on the
names for your characters?
It’s
not easy and the one thing that I hate the most. I try to stay away from
flowery name and keep them as real as I can but that’s hard to do these days. I
have to laugh sometimes when I look at my own name on paper. I was once in an
interview in my home town and was told on air that it sounded made up.
Do you have a favourite
book by another writer?
It
depends on the genre. Comedy would be Rob Grant and Doug Naylor – Red Dwarf
series and Scifi would be Guy Gavriel-Kay, author of The Fionivar Tapestries.
Which writers have
influenced your own writing?
The
previously mentioned as well as Anthony Burgess – A Clockwork Orange.
What are you working on
next? Do you have a WIP?
The
second installment of “The Rebellion Writing” called “The Stage” is in edits
and I’m working on the last book, “Requiem”.
What has been the best
part of the writing process…and the worst?
The
best part is completing a story and feeling all the pieces fit. The worst part
is having to wait to start the next book and hoping that it turns out better
that the previous one.
Tell us about your
travels.
I
haven’t travelled much other than across Canada for work other than getting to
go see the UK for a few weeks. Fell in love with Ireland and nearly didn’t come
home.
Tell us about your
childhood.
That
would take a very long time and could be a novel unto itself. Like most, it was
good and bad. I was a quiet kid until I found my voice and then I couldn’t seem
to shut up. I moved from introvert to extrovert almost overnight when I left my
home town and found out that I could sing. Re-invented myself, joined a band
and the next thing I knew, the quiet kid from Kamloops didn’t exist anymore.
Most writers have some
quirks – what are yours?
I
talk to myself a lot. I play out scenarios in my head. It drives my wife nuts.
I have been asked many times who I was talking to just but the way my hands and
eyes move around the room.
Do you plot your novels
or allow them to develop as you write?
As
I write. The first few chapters and a basic outline are in my head but once the
characters start talking and making decisions, they take control. I’m just
there to make sure I fill any plot holes that might creep up. Then I have to
tell them to back up or find another way around.
Have you
taken any creative writing courses and would you recommend them?
I have and I do, if nothing more than to help
you realize what works for you. For example, the first day of class we were
asked to write a character sketch of our best friend. I misunderstood the
assignment and wrote a short story that outlines that person’s personality
perfectly. Although I was embarrassed that I had made my mistake, the professor
was impressed with what I had done. To this day, all of my character sketches
are in the form of a back story regardless of whether or not it’s put in the
book.
What book(s) are you
reading at the moment?
At
the moment I am working on a voice over for Bryan Dulls “Solstice”. I’m very
impressed with it and often find I have to back track in my recording because
I’m laughing too hard or I’m so into the book that I’m not giving it the voice
over that it deserves.
Do you have any advice
for new writers?
Don’t
be scared. Finish your story and don’t stop for fear that you’re not good
enough. If necessary, find someone to kick your ass until it’s complete. I had
a good friend that nearly ripped my ears off when I suggested that I was just
going to put it away for a while and I’m glad that she convinced me otherwise.
Thank
you Jaden for a fascinating interview.
Contact details
Amazon sales page http://www.amazon.com/Producer-Rebellion-Writings-1/dp/1490364854/ref=la_B00A8UTYRC_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383601587&sr=1-1
Amazon Author
Central - http://www.amazon.com/Jaden-Braniff/e/B00A8UTYRC
Pinterest - https://pinterest.com/jadenbraniff/
Aurora Article - http://www.auroranewspaper.com/pdf/2013/3404news.pdf
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