https://www.amazon.com/dp/195562254X
Azazel looks like an exciting thriller/mystery book. Can you tell us a little about it?
To describe this book, I would say it is like the movie “300” meets the movie “Troy” and “Alexander.” If you had to combine these movies together, their child would be “Azazel.”
A child prophesied to rule the “Dimension” is born and adopted by a family within Heaven. Being raised in Heaven, he feels uncomfortable, knowing that there is more to him than this environment. He is right, because his father is Lucifer, the chief Sovereign of the Underuniverse. Knowing this, Azazel travels back and forth between Heaven and the Underuniverse, until realizing, due to the words of his then girlfriend, Jahzara, that he is destined to rule both Heaven and the Underuniverse. It is her inspiration, despite his reckless yet necessary adventures, that compels him to claim his legacy, and to do more than simply exist as the ruler of both Heaven and the Underuniverse.
“Azazel” is a fun and action packed novel, but while possessing its own innovative realm, although forwarding its own narrative about the gods of ancient civilizations, it is also reflective, in that it leaves the reader ready to take action for their own “journey” into self. With how the book’s narrative is, and with how its context is styled, you would never known that you’re reading an epic inspiring you to understand what “philosophy” guides your outlook on life.
Any plans to turn it into a series?
This book is actually a three part series. The reactions I’m getting from this first book are that readers are left in tremendous suspense about what next happens in the series, and this is what I wanted. I could have fit every part of the book together, creating a complete book, but each part is complete in and of itself, giving the reader something new to reflect on while continuing to journey with Azazel.
How long did it take you to write Azazel?
I began writing this book back in 2010. I finished writing it in 2011. It then sat for some years until a best friend of mine called me one day, in 2020, to say that he found the copy of “Azazel” that he first printed out and put into a binder. He is the first fan of “Azazel,” reading all of its parts before anyone ever laid eyes and mind on them. It is actually because of him that I took a greater look at this book to have it published.
I had put this book away because my life had taken a turn to where I needed to understand my inward person. My books then became works of philosophy, and of devotional counsel. Either 2020 or 2021 is when I again began to look at this book. Adding in greater detail, and then after tightening up the narrative, the book was ready for publishing in Match of 2022.
What inspired you when writing Azazel?
The “journey” I was on for self-discovery is what really guided me when writing this book. At that time in my life, I needed someone and something to relate to. I selected a character from Jewish religious mythology and created a narrative around him that I could resonate with. The more I wrote, the more I began to make sense of my own life, which helped me to better understand my usefulness as a young man and as a human being.
What will readers get out of your book?
I’m hoping readers are filled with a sense of art, with creativity, with adventure, with philosophy, and with love. It is not difficult to fall in love with the characters within this book, and with them being so easily relatable, I’m hoping readers get a sense of their own self through them. Readers will be entertained, and readers will want to keep on reading until they finish the book, but at the same time, the book is written to leave readers reflecting on whatever they have just read.
How did you come up with the story in Azazel?
To be honest, I don’t even know. As I decided on the nature of Azazel’s character, different scenes emphasizing that character occurred, creating a well flowing tale. The more I wrote, the more this fantastic tale took shape, and along the way, I added in certain scenes and characters from my life. I guess that is the brilliance behind “flow,” where, when mentally engaged, we can travel into depths within ourselves to discover “worlds” we have yet to engage with.
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when writing Azazel?
In 2011 I had finished the book, and with the way it was written it seemed, to me, to be fine. But reviewing it ten years later, there were so many issued that needed fixing. There was no genuine introduction or ending to the book. The core chapters needed introductory and concluding chapters to help them make sense. I found it to be challenging to develop a culture within the story that didn’t interfere with the culture established ten years prior. I would say that this is the only thing, because it gave me the opportunity to make greater sense of the narrative.
What do you like to do when not writing?
When I’m not writing, if I’m not thinking about what to next write about, I’m exercising. I like to exercise because I have found it to increase mental capacity, and to regulate a special kind of contentment for high mental activity.
Where can readers find out more about your work?
Readers can visit my website, linwoodjacksonjr.com.