Christian Spotlight - The Protectorate Wars: Born Hero
With all the new changes the Lord has inspired me to make to the website, I decided to go ahead and feature TRC’s first spotlight with a book I reviewed this month. If you’ve been following the website long enough then you know I’m always searching for great Christian fiction—I’m proud to say I certainly found that here. To make things even better, author SA Shaffer was kind enough to answer a few questions about himself and his writing. Enjoy this sit-down with a talented Christian author and follow-up with my review of his book, The Protectorate Wars: Born Hero. This Christian steampunk is a #1 Bestseller in religious fiction and can be purchased on Amazon Kindle for less than 5 dollars! Click here to get your copy now.
1. What is it like being a lawyer and an author? Do you ever plan on writing full-time and giving up law?
The best legal advice I can give about writing can be summed up in four words: Never become an author! (That will be $500). Writing fiction is addicting, and it sucks you. It’s a wild ride, exciting journey, dangerous adventure, and romantic quest all wrapped into one. It’s impossible to start without seeing it to the end, and all other careers, including law, feel dull in comparison. (Another $300) At the moment, giving up law and taking up the pen full time is not financially tenable. (Your legal Bill is $17,491.65 due at the first of the month.)
2. Everyone says a good writer is a good reader, how do you manage to produce such great writing without enjoying reading?
(Laughing) It’s true. I don’t enjoy reading very much, but I think a large part of that is because it was such a struggle when I was younger. I didn’t learn to read till about 12-years-old. Since then, I’ll read a story, get a few chapters in, and get distracted by my own imagination. I start thinking about the things I want the character to do, and I’m disappointed when the story doesn’t include them. However, there are a few books that have sucked me in from beginning to end: Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw, The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and H. Paul Honsinger’s Man of War series. I must confess, though, these days I reach for an audiobook a lot quicker than a paperback.
3. So, why steampunk? This is such a unique genre on its own, but to add it to Christian fiction is truly original.
I am very particular about writing a story never before written. If I’m going to take readers on a journey, I’m going to take them somewhere they’ve never been before. That is increasingly difficult in this day and age due to the number of books published every year. Steampunk was actually an easy choice. The genre started and ended with Jules Verne and his stories (Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, etc.). I say ended because, in my opinion, there have been very few quality steampunk works since Verne. It’s sort of the amazon category authors use when they want to snag a #1 bestseller badge. Steampunk seemed the perfect choice for me to forge a new path in uncharted territory.
4. I have heard the saying, there are Christian authors, then there are authors who are Christian. What are your thoughts on this concept and which do you consider yourself to be?
I think it is impossible to write a story as a Christian and not have your faith bleed into the pages. Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” This doesn’t mean that every story has a start to finish Christian message; it means that every story is edifying. “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good; if there is any virtue in it, and if there is anything praiseworthy about it, think on these things.” I think scripture itself is the best example of literature that includes a wide verity of genres, and not all of them have a conversion aspect. There are tragedies like Job and the story of Joseph. There are extraordinary romance stories like Ruth. There are action and adventure stories in Joshua, Judges and Samuel. There is an example of sacrifice in Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are deep, theological discussion in the New Testament books like Romans and Corinthians. Finally, there is a story of triumph Revelations. Every story is different, but every single one points to Jesus, one way or another.
5. On your website you mentioned Born Hero began as a character; was it more difficult to develop the story that way? What was the first thing you wrote down about David?
I thought it was easier. My first book, The Giants of Old, was not a character driven story, and while it was easier to start writing in that manner, it was much harder to finish (The reason it’s still unpublished). I took a lot longer developing my characters for The Protectorate Wars before I wrote the first chapter. The result was a complete book in six weeks. Because I knew my character so well, the words seemed to flow onto the page. I still have the original character chart for David, and the first think I wrote was: Handicaps (physical, mental, emotional): Steam-ship wreck, told he would never walk again.
6. One of the things I liked best about David was his bionic arm; would you consider this a hindrance or an enhancement to his character? Was the loss of his natural arm something you decided would happen when you first began the story, or was it something you added later on?
The mechanical arm was actually in my character chart from the very beginning. I wanted to give David a handicap, and have him slowly overcome it. By the end of the story, you hardly notice it for the hindrance it is; instead, it becomes an intricate part of his character.
7. David starts out as a young character who strives for a better future, despite the challenges he faces, he eventually goes on to become a hero—would you say this book is somewhat reminiscent of the story of King David from the Holy Bible?—or is that my Christian nerdiness jumping to conclusions?
I honestly never made that connection, but I can see the similarities. The biblical character I had in mind was Joseph. Things get really bad for Joseph, but he just keeps striving his hardest to do what’s right. Insider tip: most of my characters are modeled after historical figures. Some of them even share the same name.
8. As an African American woman, racial diversity and female protagonists are things I actively search for in Christian fiction. What are some things you think are missing from Christian writing? And, do you plan to incorporate any of these ideas in your future works?
In the past few decades, we have seen a decrease in fathers and an increase in single mothers, both in Christian and non-Christian homes. What is worse is that good father figures seem to be absent in all forms of fiction, Christian or not. I look at society, and I wonder who will teach our sons of honor, courage, integrity, valor, gentleness, and chivalry? Who will teach our daughters what a good man is and protect them from what a bad man does? I have been blessed with a tremendous father, and it is my life’s goal to create a father figure in my stories for every little boy and girl who never had one.
9. Earlier, I mentioned what I search for in Christian fiction; do you think authors should develop their writing around these details or develop their story first and then add details like diversity, inclusion of minority groups, etc.?
This goes back to the importance of Character Driven Stories. First thing’s first: Develop your characters… I mean really develop them until they feel like a best friend. (I use a character chart with 35 different characteristics for every character.) If that means the character is diverse in some way, develop that trait so that you will know how he/she will interact with your world. As a rule: writers should always follow their character, not lead them. This makes them feel more 3d. If you try and go back to add minorities or other social aspects, you will end up with a flat, choppy story. It needs to be done at the beginning.
10. On your website you mention being single, describe the ideal girlfriend for a single Christian author/lawyer.
I’ll let you know as soon as I find her.
This is a book I opened with little faith that I would enjoy it. I’m unsure how I feel about steampunk, but Christian steampunk sounded too intriguing to turn away and I’m glad I didn’t turn this away. The Rebel Christian is always on the hunt for quality Christian entertainment but sometimes uniqueness is just as satisfying.
Don’t get me wrong, Born Hero was just as good in quality as it was in originality. It fully embodied the word steampunk in a way I haven’t seen so far in my meager experience with the genre. I once reviewed a steampunk fantasy which featured whacky characters traveling the world in a hot air balloon, Born Hero certainly has the equipment, but it does not have the odd whacky feel that has managed to push more closer to disliking this unique genre.
Shaffer totally rebuilds the world as we know it with technology, intelligence, and even time measured differently. Our story centers around the young hero named David who quite an interesting character. David—who is somewhat reminiscent of King David from the Holy Bible (that’s a compliment, by the way)—faces many trials throughout his life; from losing loved ones, to limbs, and then facing a rather stagnant future, he finds himself somehow entangled in the corrupt politics of his world. Readers get to take flight on giant vessels, traverse lands unseen, and survive in a world where it seems everyone may turn against you. Born Hero is truly that—the birth of a young man who must save the world.
While the airships and adventure were certainly breathtaking in this book, it was one small detail about David that pulled me in. Our protagonist is (technically) physically impaired. David loses his arm, and has it replaced by a bionic appendage that sometimes is more of a hindrance than a help. Now, bionic limbs are not uncommon in the world Shaffer presents, but in our perfectionist society of 2019 America, I found his “handicap” almost inspiring. In most fantasy/science-fiction novels, a character who loses a limb usually has it replaced by some overpowered fake limb that gives them superpowers and enhances their life for the better. But there are times where we see David’s bionic limb hold him back; there is leakage, hissing sounds from the cogs and mechanics, and even times where David had to stop and change something called a lubricant cartridge. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I appreciated the realism in his new arm despite it being a steampunk fantasy novel.
Now, I loved David’s bionic arm, but there is something I didn’t like about him. David was very perfect; he was incredibly talented, incredibly gifted, and incredibly well-prepared for almost everything thrown his way. You could say his bionic arm and his youth were his fatal flaws—but compared to super intelligence and natural talent, were they really flaws at all? I would have liked to see a little more realism in his growth, mentally and emotionally, but I’m satisfied with what was given.
In the end, Born Hero is an excellent novel I most certainly recommend to readers of all ages. This is a great read for any steampunk fans though it can be enjoyed by fantasy and science-fiction readers too. I think this will be most appreciated by Christian audiences with an interest in action, fantasy, and corrupt government.
*The Rebel Christian received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*