Distant Thunder: A Conversation with Prophetic Thriller Author Jimmy Root, Jr.

Jimmy Root Jr., author of Distant Thunder: Book One of the Lightning Chronicles is a life-long student of Bible prophecy and has connected ancient prophecies with world events in a fast-paced fiction thriller. Jimmy has been an ordained Pastor since 1982 and has served churches in Nebraska and Missouri. He and his family also served for five years in Colombia, South America as a church planter and educator. He is an alumnus of Central Bible College of Springfield, Missouri, and Southeastern University of Lakeland, Florida majoring in Theology and Cultural Studies. Raised in the Mid-West, Jimmy is an outdoorsman and sports enthusiast. He is an aficionado of the military thriller genre and is an avid blogger as well as an author.

Thank you for this interview, Jimmy. Can you tell us briefly what your latest book, Distant Thunder, is all about?

Distant Thunder is the first book of a Prophetic Fiction trilogy called The Lightning Chronicles. The story poses a question: What would happen if radical terrorists somehow got their hands on tactical nuclear weapons, and then used them against both America and Israel? It is a frightening scenario that is becoming more and more plausible in light of current world events. But in the midst of unimaginable terror and tragedy, two unsung heroes rise to extraordinary heights as they begin to understand that everything has been prophesied.

Two main characters form the storylines of Distant Thunder. Moshe Eldan is an Israeli F-16 "Lightning" fighter pilot who is doing his best to defend his country against the latest cycle of attacks. Unbeknownst to him, the greatest horror imaginable is waiting in the form of a nuclear tipped missile. Moshe finds himself in an unlooked for journey toward faith as he attempts to save his people.

The other character is a man named Ty Dempsey. His story is a bit closer to home. He is a suburban Kansas City pastor who, in working through the grief of losing his younger brother to the war in Iraq, has begun to discover the ancient prophecies of Ezekiel. So enthralled is he by the information that he preaches the prophecies to his congregation. Some of his people listen and are interested. Others, however, do not want the status quo of their comfortable lives challenged by something they consider allegorical in nature. A good old fashioned church conflict ensues. Ty decides to stay the course in face of tremendous opposition and is ultimately vindicated when nearby Kansas City is the target of a terrorist attack. Moshe and Ty become connected throughout the story in strange, spiritual ways that will only increase as the series progresses.

Can you tell us who or what was the inspiration behind your book?

The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel is the inspiration behind the book. Twenty-five hundred years ago, immediately after the Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem, Ezekiel received an uncanny prophecy concerning a particular time in the future. That time would be highlighted first by the re-birth of the nation of Israel. He then named a coalition of nations that would rise up in an attempt to destroy the Jews once and for all. If you read the prophecy of chapters thirty-eight and thirty-nine, you will see a Hitler-styled rabidity directed against the nation of Israel. No other nation will come to Israel´s rescue, so God will have to intervene.

The stunning aspect of the prophecy is that Ezekiel named names. Prominent among the people groups mentioned are Iran, Russia, and Turkey. Amazingly, in the last year we have seen the beginning stages of the formation of Ezekiel´s coalition. Not only that, we are witnessing the breakdown of the American-Israeli relationship that has existed since May 14, 1948.

Seeing the words of prophecy come to life gave me all the material I needed to create a fictional scenario that will lead the characters of Distant Thunder to the doorstep of Ezekiel´s prophetic fulfillment.

Is this your first published book and if so, can you tell us your experiences in finding a publisher for it?

Yes, this was my first experience in writing and publishing a book, and what a ride it was. I admit I was absolutely clueless as to what is involved in finding a publisher. The dream of seeing your book in print is blissful. Making it happen is practically a nightmare. Many authors have come up against the odds and found it easier to go the route of self-publishing. I chose to persevere and continue to search until I found a traditional publisher willing to look at the work of a new, unknown author. Thankfully, I found that publisher.

I´ve been asked by other budding authors how many query letters I had to send out before I received a response worth looking into. That number approached two hundred and fifty. Most queries never received a response. The ones that did usually carried a nice note explaining that Distant Thunder did not fit into that particular publisher´s future plans. A few, thoughtful correspondents gave a word or two of encouragement, but most were simply form-letter rejections. However, three publishers finally bit on the book, two of which were traditional. I chose the one that fit my needs, and here we are today.

How has American Book Publishers been to work with?

American Book Publishers is a smaller company, publishing approximately eighty new books per year. But they go out of their way to find new, talented authors that have a literary message to tell. The editing process, once we got rolling, was a thrill. My editor provided encouragement coupled with some needed corrective suggestions in just the right amount to keep my on track and growing as an author. I deeply appreciate that.

Being new to publishing, I found the entire process invigorating. Working on the cover design, building a marketing plan, and initiating the actual publicity, have been extremely educational. The folks at ABP have walked me through with real professionalism.

Do you have an agent?

One of the first things I did was to search for an agent. Again, after dozens of queries, only one responded in the positive. As she did not fit what I was looking for in an agent, I decided to do the work of finding a publisher myself. However, I am not opposed to a future partnership with a good agent should that materialize.

Can you tell us how long it took you to write your book and also how long it took from the time American Book Publishers sent the contract and the time it was released?

I sat down and began writing on December 2nd, 2007. I had a very vague outline and lots of wintery weather to start. The rough draft was finished exactly two months later. I presented the story to my son and some congregants in my church, and they were thrilled with what they were reading. Each made editorial suggestions that proved helpful. By March of 2008, I was seeking a publisher. But it wasn´t until late May that a contract was finally offered. From that point onward the process went relatively quickly even though it was extremely thorough. Just fifteen months separated the signing of the contract to the release of Distant Thunder on August 10th, 2009.

Do you have any words of inspiration from other writers who would like to be wearing your shoes?

First, stay true to your dream. It is easy to give up when things don´t seem to be falling into place. But perseverance will eventually pay off if your story is worth telling. Second, allow rejection to refine, not discourage you. My story really didn´t fit with everyone, but I knew that it was good. That was confirmed by the way people were responding to the rough draft. Be open to criticism and allow it to guide you toward growth as a writer. Then, be prepared for a whirlwind of activity once your story finds publication. Writing is the easy part. Publicity means work, work, and more work.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in August and September via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

Dorothy Thompson, the creator of Pump Up Your Book, is absolutely fantastic. She offered everything that a new, unknown author needed in order to get the word out. Being a blogger, the format that she offers is perfect for me. Dorothy´s program also fit my budget. Most authors cannot afford huge publicity firms, and then the author loses control of the process. Not with Pump Up Your Book. Dorothy has made it educational and exhilarating.

What´s next for you?

My writing continues. The second book of the Lightning Chronicles series, A Gathering Storm, has been contracted and I am in the early stages of the editing process. In the meantime, I am putting the finishing touches to the final volume, Then Comes Lightning. Following the conclusion of the Chronicles, I plan to begin a historical fiction series on the life and times of Old Testament prophet Daniel. I have also stepped up my blogging by adding a site to encourage young writers. The response to both my blogs has been overwhelming, and I expect that to continue.

Thank you for this interview, Jimmy. Can you tell us how we can find out more about you and your new book?

You are quite welcome. I have several avenues to help people. You can learn more about me and the Lightning Chronicle series by visiting my website at: www.lightningchronicles.com. There are several articles discussing prophecy and both audio and written samples from Distant Thunder. A person can order a personally signed copy from that site as well. For those who consider themselves to be Bible prophecy buffs, www.prophecyalert.blogspot.com is the place to go. Finally, for those who are looking for writing tips and encouragement, www.lightningchronicles.blogspot.com is designed just for the writer. The book is offered at all three sites and is being carried by all major bookstores. If they don´t have it, ask them to order it through Baker and Taylor, Inc.