 Welcome Jayel Gibson, girl video gamer, animal lover, art enthusiast, teacher, and author of the Ancient Mirrors fantasy series (Synergy Books). Jayel talks with the PBD about BookExpo, fantasy costumes, and her real-life magical critters.
Please welcome to the PDB, Jayel Gibson, author of the Ancient Mirrors fantasy series. Jayel's profile was the most visited in the month of September.
PDB: Jayel, you're the author of the Ancient Mirrors series. Can you offer our readers a brief overview of the series?
JG: The Ancient Mirrors Tales bring readers legends of magick, adventure, and courage in an award winning four book fantasy series that explores the spectrum of human emotions, and what
it means to exist in a land that is transformed with each passage through the ancient mirrors.
It is a multi-generational series, and from Yávië's summoning as a guardian in Dragon Queen, to Cwen's involvement with the dragonspawn in Quondam, readers come full circle in an epic tale.
PDB: In your books, you've turned the tables on the guys and given the ladies power and intelligence. Have your male readers given you any flack about that?
JG: *laughing* I thought as I was writing that it might be an issue, however it hasn't been a problem at all. It seems the guys like strong, intelligent women too. Plus there are plenty of strong, intelligent men in my books as well.
PDB: Are there more books to come in the Ancient Mirrors Tales series, or other series or books?
JG: Quondam is the final book in the Ancient Mirrors series. At least for now. My editor is a firm believer in what she calls the ‘lost chapters' of the Ancient Mirrors series, but for now I am concentrating on a new six book series called Ever'neath. The first volume is scheduled for release in Fall 2009. The initial book signing will be at BookExpo in New York City.
PDB: You've attended quite a few of the book conferences including BookExpo America, Wordstock, Faerieworlds, and more. Please share a little about your experiences there and the benefits you've found from attending.
JG: BookExpo America is the largest book event in the U.S. It draws agents, publishers, foreign rights acquisitionists, authors, booksellers, teachers, and librarians. A book displayed at BookExpo America by a publisher, distributor, or independent orgaization like IBPA will be seen by tens of thousands of potential book buyers. It is an event where book buyers gather information on the new and upcoming releases.
 The benefit of BEA is book sales to book stores and libraries. If I could only attend one book signing event a year, it would be BEA. There are hundreds of thousands of books on display at the big trade fairs. When authors are in attendance, they are included in all the program materials and catalogues and have their names and signing times posted on promotional banners/posters at the end of the publisher's or distributor's isle. So, being there does get a lot of extra exposure.
I wouldn't recommend an author attend BEA without representation. I think that a big part of the success is the effort the publishers and distributors put into promotion of the authors who are signing at BEA.
I also attend several scifi/fantasy related conventions a year, usually by invitation. I participate as a panelist, do readings and book signings. I enjoy the interaction with other fans of the genre. Plus it gives me an excuse to don a medieval garb and flounce around. And, with a little advance notice, book stores sell more books when authors are appearing in the area.
Wordstock is a very special book festival. All proceeds go to ‘Community of Writers.' A group that provides support to writing programs in Oregon schools.
PDB: From the pictures on your website (www.AncientMirrors.com), you often go in costume. Do you make them? Does that help you attract attention to your table and books?
JG: All of my medieval clothing is provided by The Tudor Shoppe. They design authentic replicas - no zippers or Velcro. Last year at BookExpo one of my distributor's representatives told me that he believed the long lines at my book signings were directly related to my ‘peacock' cloak. I tend
to agree. People are curious about a grown woman wearing moth wings or carrying a dragon hilt sword. The initial interest is a great conversation starter, and often translates into book sales at book signings.
PDB: I hear you are a gamer. In fact, you're a two-time Teacher of the Year award recipient for your innovative use of technology and video gaming in the classroom. What are some ways you use gaming as a teaching tool?
JG: Video games are often overlooked by adults who have never played them, or examined their complexity. One of the ways that we learn is through play. As we grow up our play becomes more complicated and we learn to think and work in new ways. When we add rules and goals, our play becomes a game.
Video games can be good for the brain. They can teach us everything from math and English to art and geography. Some games are specifically developed to teach; others teach through their requirements for solving puzzles and using math or the need to read and navigate new environments.
 For those interested in details, a Google search for ‘Video Games: Friend or Foe' will provide a list of my recent articles, interviews and press releases.
PDB: What games do you play the most and why do you like them?
JG: I play across the genres because I beta test -- play the games to get the bugs out before they go to retailers. My preference is role play games. I enjoy the open-ended questing and interaction with other players that role play games offer. I am currently playing the enhanced version of ‘The Witcher,' ‘S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-Clear Skies,' and ‘Spore.'
PDB: I'm told that guys are usually associated with the gamer stereotype, how are girl gamers different from guy gamers?
JG: In general, girls who play mainstream entertainment video games aren't any different from the guys. We play video games for the same reasons that we read fiction, watch television or movies. It's fun and allows a few hours of play outside of the routine of daily life.
A new study from the Consumer Electronics Association indicates that there are many more women gamers in the 25-34 demographic than males. Scary, but true. WoW now reports that over 35% of its online players are female.
PDB: Do you find gaming helps you get in the right mindset for writing fantasy fiction?
JG: Video gaming serves as a brain break for me. I write 6 to 8 hours a day, so when I need a short break, I can simply flip a switch and I'm on the gaming computer. I can play for thirty minutes or an hour and be ready to get back to work.
PDB: You have a great affinity for animals and care for an unusual set of critters. Tell us a little about your unusual menagerie.
JG: I've always been a critter woman. Currently I share my home with a Molluccan cockatoo, five sugar gliders and a Scottie. My neighbor is rehabilitating a skunk, ferret, cougar and tiger, so I hang out with them a lot too. If it's furred, feathered, scaled or finned, I love it.
PDB: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
JG: I'd like to invite PDB visitors to drop by the Tales Touched by Magick website at www.ancientmirrors.com and enter our current 'Free Books' drawing. Contests run bimonthly and include drawings for books, character art prints and bookseller gift certificates. There's always a contest on my websites.
To learn more about Jayel, click here
to visit her profile.
To purchase Jayel's books from Amazon.com,
click here.
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My book club just finished reading Quondam. I downloaded your recommended book club discussion questions from your website and found that they helped generate additional discussion. Thank you for taking the time to create and post them on your site.
Carolyn