W5 with JP Jackson

For this instalment of W5, I’m delighted to welcome JP Jackson!

Who is the star of your book?

James Martin is the protagonist of Magic or Die. He is more of an Anti-hero. At the beginning of the book, he’s drunk, living in a studio apartment, lost – just a mess of a human being – when he gets a call from the CMRD (Centre for Magical Research and Development).  That call changes everything and drags James back through haunted memories he’d rather not face. The facility that once saved him now threatens to destroy him.

What is your story about? 

Magic or Die is about a few things.  Survival, becoming part of a team, learning to trust others, and finding out how to let go.

When is it set? 

The story takes place in the here and now – but in an alternate reality where a percentage of the population is born with magical/supernatural abilities.

Where is it set?

I’m always careful to ensure that my stories are Canadian based. But I’ve never really said exactly where the story takes place. It could be Edmonton, (where I’m from) or maybe Calgary, or Saskatoon, or…Somewhere on the Canadian Prairies. That much is certain. I toyed with the idea of it taking place in Vancouver – but Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver always get all the action and I wanted to spread the Canadiana love around.

Why this story?  

I have a serious love of all things dark and magical.  If it looks like it might eat you or maybe help you…that’s my jam.  There’s not really enough Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books out there that dance on that fine line – The Sookie Stackhouse series – the books the TV show True Blood were modeled after, are close. Those were written by Charlaine Harris. She has another series called Midnight Texas.  Love both of them…but I wanted something edgier, a little darker, and of course, where the main characters were LGBTQ+. Both of those series have gay and lesbian side characters, but I’m tired of being the side character. I want books where we’re the heroes.

Magic or Die is the first book in a series, and each book will progressively get a little darker. Hopefully, someone will get eaten.  ;o)

Blurb:
James Martin is a teacher, a powerful Psychic, and an alcoholic. He used to work for the Center for Magical Research and Development, a facility that houses people who can’t control their supernatural abilities, but left after one of his students was killed, turning to vodka to soothe his emotional pain. The problem is he still has one year left on his contract.

When James returns to the CMRD to fulfill the rest of his contract, he finds himself confronting the demons of his past and attempting to protect his new class from a possible death sentence, because if they don’t pass their final exams, they’ll be euthanized.

James also discovers that his class isn’t bringing in enough sponsors, the agencies and world governments who supply grants and ultimately purchase graduates of the CMRD, and that means no profit for the facility. James and his students face impossible odds—measure up to the facility’s unreachable standards or escape. 


Goodreads Link:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40361631-magic-or-die 

 Buy Links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1949340023/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magic-or-die-jp-jackson/1128975377?ean=9781949340020

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/magic-or-die

NineStar Press: https://ninestarpress.com/product/magic-or-die/ 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J.P. Jackson works as an IT analyst in health care during the day, where if cornered he’d confess to casting spells to ensure clinicians actually use the electronic medical charting system he configures and implements.

JP Jackson

At night however, the writing happens, where demons, witches and shape shifters congregate around the kitchen table and general chaos ensues. The insurance company refuses to accept any more claims of ‘acts of the un-god’, and his husband of 21 years has very firmly put his foot down on any further wraith summoning’s in the basement. And apparently imps aren’t house-trainable. Occasionally the odd ghost or member of the Fae community stops in for a glass of wine and stories are exchanged. Although the husband doesn’t know it, the two Chihuahuas are in cahoots with the spell casting.

J.P.’s other hobbies include hybridizing African Violets (thanks to grandma), extensive travelling and believe it or not, knitting.

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Thanks for stopping by, Jeff!

-Glenn

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