Jonathan Nevair

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour celebrating the release of No Song, But Silence by Jonathan Nevair. This is the final book in the Wide Tide trilogy and I recently raved about book 1, Goodbye to the Sun! In this post, I am thrilled to be hosting Jonathan and we are going to talk about book 1, the series, writing, a giveaway(!) and so much more! My review of Goodbye to the Sun can be found here (it will open in a new tab so you can come back to it after this post). Many thanks to Storytellers on Tour for organizing this lovely tour and I hope you will visit the other hosts as well. Now, let’s start with some information about No Song, But Silence and then meet Jonathan:

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Hi Jonathan! Welcome to Armed with A Book. It is a pleasure to host you today. Please tell me and my readers a bit about yourself.

I’m a long-time educator and academic who recently started writing science fiction. I’ve been a college professor and art historian for about twenty years now and recently got the urge to write a novel. That led to my debut series, Wind Tide, a space opera trilogy inspired by ancient Greek texts and myths. I live outside of Philadelphia (I teach at Moore College of Art & Design) with my wife and my rambunctious dog, Cricket, and spend most of my non-writing time outside either walking, gardening, etc.

I have a strong interest in ethics and that runs as a theme through my series. I’ve always enjoyed action-adventure stories and I grew up with Star Wars, etc. so I am right at home “thinking” space opera. Philosophy and “big ideas” have always pulled me – I tend to be lost in my mind, staring up at the stars, or contemplating a natural setting, deep in thought, and I try to bring those critical reflections into the lives of the characters in my books. 

I’m passionate about world building. As an art historian, I’ve had a lot of experience talking about images – putting what I see into words and sharing that with others. Using that skill to describe settings, bring out details, and help readers become enchanted with an imaginary world is one of my favorite parts of writing fiction.

No Song, But Silence is the third book in the Wide Tide trilogy. How does it feel to wrap up a series? I learned from your website that this is an anthology trilogy. I would love to know more about that! Are there other books you have seen in this format?

Well, I’d say it is both satisfying and a bit sad to finish writing a trilogy. There’s real personal satisfaction in being able to “send” your characters off to continue their lives beyond the story you’ve written but letting that go is difficult. You become so attached to the people and the world you are writing that it’s a bit tough to let it go. That said, the actual accomplishment of working out ALL the open narrative threads, closing them in the last book, making good on all your promises from the series, while also wrapping up an epic storyline is a wild ride. It was tough! 

An anthology series is one where each book relates to the previous one but is not a direct continuation of the narrative. This is the case in the trilogy that makes up the Wind Tide series. Certain characters reappear in the series but the settings shift and time passes between stories and events in each book. If you’ve seen the Star Wars films, think of that scrolling text at the start of each movie that gets you situated before that particular narrative begins. I favor this approach because it creates “self-reliant” stories that together make up three dramatic “acts” in one epic space opera trilogy.

Let’s do a little bit of this or that! Feel free to elaborate on your choice too! When it comes to your writing, do you like

• Character or plot driven stories?

Character-driven! I enjoy living in the minds and experiences of characters as I write. Allowing that to determine the narrative trajectory for the reader is my preferred way of writing. I get excited to balance internal/external experience in characters – I use a good bit of internal monologue when I write. In a way, I think you can create tension between characters interacting (or a character and an environment) but I also think you can create tension between a character’s internal thoughts and desires and what they choose to do and share “externally” in their choices, interactions with others, etc. I’m a big fan of close third-person and first-person voicings. I find these work best for me as a writer when trying to be effective with character-driven stories.

• Vivid, descriptive storytelling or let the reader fill in some details?

Hmmm… this is a difficult one for me. I would say a goldilocks effect where you choose the perfect word(s) to describe something but write with efficient language. That to me is the ideal approach. It keeps the writing moving but provides a specific catalyst for the reader to “fill in” the details on their own. If you forced me to choose, I would take vivid, descriptive storytelling, but many of my favorite authors use lean language to great effect – it’s such a gift. I am in awe of those who do it well. Martha Wells and Marian L. Thorpe are two that come to mind. C.J. Cherryh has an amazing talent for world building that is subtle but powerful – I think she called it “implication” rather than “explication” – I try and emulate that. (Try… lol)

• Serious or sarcastic characters?

Sarcastic all the way! I relish writing snarky dialog, humor, etc. You may notice this in Goodbye to the Sun. Razor and Keen banter and bicker, and Jati is a huge personality and it shines through in their manner of speech and phrases, as well as their physical body language. No Song, But Silence introduces my first earnest main character (Lazro), but you get Nisi and Ferra around him who are “big” personalities with lots of heart and outward performativity.

What was the most challenging and satisfying part of writing Wide Tide?

Well, the most challenging part was the final novel. Many writers talk about the second book being the “burden” and the most difficult one. I didn’t have that problem. I flew through Jati’s Wager. That one came easy (not entirely easy… every book is a torturous struggle at various points, lol). No Song, But Silence was very hard because it had to serve to wrap up an epic world and set of stories, make good on all the promises, and I was under a very short deadline.  

Now, ready for this? The most satisfying part of Wind Tide was the last chapter of the last book – No Song, But Silence. Yep, the same book that was the most difficult became the most satisfying part as well. My eyes water up every time I read the final chapter. It does everything I wanted it to do to “close the book” on the story and the lives of the characters and their world. It brings everything from all three books rushing back to me and then becomes the final stroke of the pen that lets me take a deep breath and know I closed the series in a way that for me (maybe readers too) lets me walk away feeling satisfied.

I can see that actually! The most challenging things often bring the most joy because we we worked very hard on them!

You are an art historian and professor of Art History. How does your academic and professional life feed into your life as a writer?

It’s so interesting because I get asked this a lot and I’ve come to realize how strong the influence is for me. I’ve spent my career (to this point) having to convey the artistry, beauty, and meaning of works of art through words – this is in the classroom, giving public lectures, and in academic writing. I think it has helped me with world building, especially. I’ve gained an understanding of how to relay both the macro and the microcosmic aspects of settings and cultures through words and this is a great resource for writing secondary worlds. I’d also say that there is a way of “unfolding” the appreciation for an idea or a work of art in how you prepare a lesson for class or in the way you give a lecture (with a limited time frame) that relates to how you approach writing a chapter or a scene. Looking back, I think that I’ve been able to take some of those skills as an educator and convert them to the way I write fiction. An author I greatly admire described my series as “space opera that makes you think,” and I guess considering my “other” profession that makes sense!

Do you have a favorite quote you would like to share from each of the books? You convey complicated emotions beautifully. This one is one of my favorites from Goodbye to the Sun:

“Those of us who survived convince ourselves that justice is the expected consequence of sacrifice. That loss is what it takes to receive something worth the suffering and grief.”

Goodbye to the Sun

That’s such a good quote! Gosh – I have a lot but sure I can try. I would say that no matter what I pick from Goodbye to the Sun, it will be Razor speaking. She holds a special place in my heart because her character allowed me to mine deep into my own emotions. She gave me the courage to write vulnerably and wear my literary heart on my sleeve. I like this one from the opening chapter:

“I was born from the struggle of hard rock, dry sand, and grit. The desert wind blew through my blood. From an expanse of dunes, I learned to speak arid words.”

Goodbye to the Sun

Honestly, there are so many from Razor… I could go on and on, lol.

I felt that way too about Razor! I love her!

Jati is just such an amazing character for me, and I do like their didactic way of speaking, especially to Ailo. I feel like I am doing them a dishonor by not quoting them, but I have had a few people tell me they like this line from Tera in Jati’s Wager, who is speaking to Ailo:

“You’ve got a whole life in front of you. Just don’t box yourself in. If you feel secure now, that’s what matters. But be open to change. It doesn’t change you to change.”

Jati’s Wager

In the final book, No Song, But Silence this statement is a favorite:

“Monuments appear heroic on the exterior but bear tragedy inside their lifeless hearts.”

No Song, But Silence by Jonathan Nevair

That is haunting! I look forward to getting to that quote and remembering this interview! 😀

Now some questions about Goodbye to the Sun which I just read!

The way Goodbye to the Sun begins is very well done! We get a glimpse into Razor’s and then we meet Keen in subsequent chapters. Both their motivations and histories are slowly revealed, but the first chapter (because I have gone back to it a few times now), is very reflective on Razor’s part on what transpires, while also being succinct and alluring. Rather than writing it as a prologue, why did you set it up as chapter 1?

I did that because it continues to be the format/structure throughout the rest of the novel. And since the entire book is largely a “re-enactment” of Razor’s account/reflection it seemed best to make it a chapter. I got the idea from the way the chorus continuously enters in Greek tragedies like Antigone (sometimes the chorus has a single, lead voice too) – and this became a model for me. I also absolutely LOVE the way the chorus speaks in Antigone and I wanted to try and capture the literary beauty and elegance of that speech in Razor’s voice.

This is where the first and third-person POVs toggle back and forth, and I liked that too because it tells the same story but from two different characters to ramp up the subjectivity of lived experience and demonstrate how different the same events can be to people with different backgrounds, experiences, and moral philosophies. It also gets more interesting because Razor is speaking from decades after the events while we as readers experience the story through Keen in “live-time” as it unfolds. I liked this and continued it in Jati’s Wager but using a different model based on a psychological theory/method called Internal Family Systems and using only one character with a sub-personality – that was Ailo and Gerib.

As I read Goodbye to the Sun, I was fascinated by the world that you created. I recently watched the movie Dune and I had some visual help thanks to that. You have mentioned Star Wars and Greek mythology as inspirations for the book. Have you watched or read Dune at all? I am just curious! 🙂

Oh yes, and you got me. Dune (the book) was a big inspiration. (Obviously, Goodbye to the Sun was written before the recent movie that just dropped). Most people think Dune inspired me through references to the Fremen and the dune-like arid world of Kol-2. That’s true to an extent, but it was more the ecological themes and the use of mental will and fortitude (and internal monologues!). But yes, absolutely, Dune (the book) is a big inspiration. 

How hard was it to imagine a society where gender and identity roles are well thought out and fluid, at times? You did a fantastic job providing details at the right time through characters rather than explaining all the history in one spot.

I’d say it wasn’t hard to imagine it at all! That is part of why I am drawn to speculative fiction and writing secondary worlds. They give you the freedom and liberty to envision different (and better) societies and alternative ways of being. The difficult part was figuring out how to have it work “on the ground” in the world building. After conceiving of linguistic and cultural languages regarding gender and identity I worked with an amazing sensitivity reader, Catarina Nabais (“Arina”). Arina helped me to refine and revise my writing so that it was more effective while also ensuring appropriate and respectful language, terminology, etc. The Wind Tide universe came to life the way I envisioned it through Arina’s careful edits and suggestions. I’ve worked with Arina on all three books in the series and it has helped shape the Wind Tide universe in a very satisfying way regarding gender, identity, and larger cultural and political issues.

What’s next for you in your author journey?

I have a short story coming out in mid-December, entitled “Cortellian Rain” in the publication, Simultaneous Times (Space Cowboy Books, ed. Jean-Paul Garnier). The production on the audiobook versions of the Wind Tide series should be starting in early next year, to be released during early and mid-2022.

On the novel front, I will be releasing a standalone space opera next year through Shadow Spark Publishing (title TBD). It’s a space opera thriller, combining the action-adventure of a secret agent with some interesting cryptoxenology. Character-driven, of course, and full of wonderful planetary settings and fascinating/fun characters as well as a strange mystery that needs to be solved – if they can do it! The release date for the book is November 18, 2022.

Very exciting! I will keep an eye out for it!

I have one last question: I would love to know about the significance of the title Goodbye to the Sun. 🙂

The title of Book #1 – it has two origins! The first is general to Greek tragedies. Many of the greek tragic plays have a moment where a main character “addresses the sun” before impending doom/death when they kind of know they will never look at the sun again because of what they have wrought while trying to do the right thing but making bad decisions on their road. And, the phrase itself “Goodbye to the Sun” is literally taken from a line in Antigone! (“Look upon me, friends, and pity me. Turning back at the night’s edge to say. Good-by to the sun that shines for me no longer,”).

BTW – “No song, but silence” (Book 3’s title) is also a line that Antigone says in the play as well. 🙂

Love those connections! Thanks for sharing, Jonathan! It has been wonderful chatting with you and I look forward to hosting you again!

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My readers, thank you for hanging out with me and Jonathan today! We really appreciate you taking the time to read about Wind Tide and hope that if you pick it up, you will let us know! You can enter to win your copy of the series by joining the giveaway below. Also, stay connected with Jonathan at www.jonathannevair.com and on Twitter at @JNevair.

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Below are the links for all books in the series by Jonathan Nevair:

• Book 1: Goodbye to the Sun – Amazon, Goodreads, IndieStoryGeek
• Book 2: Jati’s Wager – Amazon, Goodreads, IndieStoryGeek
• Book 3: No song, but Silence – Amazon, Goodreads, IndieStoryGeek

Happy Reading! See you tomorrow for the next Indie Recommends Indie post! 🙂

Cover Photo photo provided by Storytellers on Tour and the author.