An Interview With Jake Frankel
Don’t be afraid of the ridiculous — What I mean is so many people may feel certain situations or scenes may be ridiculous. In some cases, sure they are. However, there are over 6 billion people in the world, you never know when “the ridiculous” may be exactly what someone needs to see so they know they aren’t alone.
As a part of my series about “How to write a book that sparks a movement” I had the pleasure of interviewing B.J. Cyprian.
B.J. is an award-winning author, dreamer, creator, and a perpetual student of life. Brought up in a small Texas town, she spent her life as an artist in search of the right medium. From drummer to author, singer to narrator, the same underlying message drives her work: love. In her latest book, The Gray Line, B.J. uses the backdrop of an emotionally charged thriller to bring to light important and complex themes including loss and the importance of empathy and interpersonal connection when faced with unimaginable grief and pain. Ultimately, her writing seeks to unify the world with laughter, humanity and empathy.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you share the “backstory” of how you grew up?
I grew up in a very small college town called Keene, Texas. Like much of the south, the area was conservative and very religious. However, Keene was primarily Seventh-Day Adventist, which is what I call: a cross between Jewish and Baptist. Twice the guilt, none of the pork.
Knowing I was gay since I was a small child, growing up was hard; as there were very few outwardly queer people in the area, and those known were often demonized by the town. However, I was lucky that though it was not an easy transition, my family ultimately accepted my innate sexuality.
I truthfully think that’s why I gravitated to writing, especially fiction writing. It gave me an outlet for so much, and definitely contributed to me not being a tragic statistic.
When you were younger, was there a book that you read that inspired you to take action or changed your life? Can you share a story?
Stories for me were always an escape. I think being in such a small constricting environment, with few outlets, stories opened a whole new world of possibilities that may not otherwise be conceived. I cannot say there is one piece of work that transformed me in a specific way. I think each piece of literature that has stuck with me over time has done so for various random reasons. But if I had to name one, (gun to head, cause that’s how this feels right now lol) I would say “From the Corner of His Eye” by Dean Koontz. I think on some level, we see the world similarly, and I had never known an writer who’s work I related to more.
What was the moment or series of events that made you decide to bring your message to the greater world? Can you share a story about that?
Honestly, my wife got the ball rolling. After the 2016 election, and with the consistent divide in this country, I was feeling like I needed to do SOMETHING. I’m a musician, and usually, that’s the realm I gravitate to when working out emotional stuff. But this time, I decided to write something longer. That’s how Shadow Resistance was born. I’ve tried to keep writing momentum going with The Gray Line.
What impact did you hope to make when you wrote this book?
I just wanted to write a story about different kinds of people being brought together for survival. This is kind of my thing, as it also happened in Shadow Resistance, but in this case I wanted to highlight how grief can affect different people in different ways. I wanted to show how empathy can go a long way into helping others heal as well as ourselves.
Did the actual results align with your expectations? Can you explain?
Yes, I would say I got my point across. I tend to be descriptive and my #1 goal is to make the majority of my characters and their circumstances relatable. I believe I achieved that in this novel.
What moment let you know that your book had started a movement? Please share a story.
I never considered “sparking a movement” with this book. If anything, that was my goal with my freshman book. But I think the shortened length, pacing and uniting theme of grief may resonate with people. I think when we take a step back, death doesn’t care how much money you have, or how happy or sad you are… Death visits us all at some point, and we all have to grieve. The only way to do that is through.
What kinds of things did you hear right away from readers? What are the most frequent things you hear from readers about your book now? Are they the same? Different?
Mainly I hear how it has helped others come to terms with some grief they were dealing with. I also hear how much people like a good Anti-Hero.
What is the most moving or fulfilling experience you’ve had as a result of writing this book? Can you share a story?
When I commissioned the audiobook, I initially thought that I would read my Author’s Note myself. But as it surrounds my sister, I didn’t think I could get through it. I think the most moving moment for me was when my narrator reached out with, “Well you made ME cry with it.” I think the combination of the book and how I tied it to my Big Sister, that being noticed, has been the most moving for me.
Have you experienced anything negative? Do you feel there are drawbacks to writing a book that starts such colossal conversation and change?
Not yet. I keep telling my wife “eventually someone won’t like my writing…” But I haven’t heard anyone say negatives yet. I think the topic of grief is so universal, there is no real negative in highlighting it. However, I will say there is also domestic violence present in the novel, and I think some people may have been triggered by the storyline. However, I think that’s the point. DV is so common, and not talked about as much as it should be. I hoped to show that there is life after.
Can you articulate why you think books in particular have the power to create movements, revolutions, and true change?
Art is the beginning and end of all things. I’ve actually written a blog post about that very theory. I say art is the beginning, because every new thing starts with an idea. An idea is just unmade art. Sure, some things may be more technical than others, but in my mind, anything that challenges the normal way of thinking, is art.
Art is also the end of all things because long after I’m gone, my work will live on. To me, that’s such a humbling thought. If you add in the notion that a work may bring others together, start a conversation, maybe even initiate change… There is no greater honor in my eyes.
What is the one habit you believe contributed the most to you becoming a bestselling writer? (i.e. perseverance, discipline, play, craft study) Can you share a story or example?
I wouldn’t call me a “best seller” just yet. But I think it’s a LOT of social media work, as well as review sites. I am from such a small town, it’s hard to find people “in the biz…” So I continue with the hope that my work will speak for itself, and that maybe people will want to hear the things I have to say.
What challenge or failure did you learn the most from in your writing career? Can you share the lesson(s) that you learned?
The biggest challenge is gaining an audience. I’m still new to the game and I’m trying to cross over to the large and small screen. This is difficult when you aren’t in a major hub and can’t just pack up and move. The query game is so exhausting. I just wish my life could play out like a movie, and someone reads this unknown author and decides they MUST work with me. Until then, I’ll be busy querying and pitching.
Many aspiring authors would love to make an impact similar to what you have done. What are the 5 things writers need to know if they want to spark a movement with a book?
I actually touched on this in my first author’s note for Shadow Resistance. There are so many ways to create a story, that I feel ill-equipped to offer advice that would be helpful. However, I can speak on my personal journey.
1. Write what you know — That is said all the time, but I view it with a small caveat. A lot of situational information can be researched. When I write what I know, I am generally talking about the characters. You want the characters to feel real, so write about people you know and even add personal characteristics.
2. Don’t be afraid of the ridiculous — What I mean is so many people may feel certain situations or scenes may be ridiculous. In some cases, sure they are. However, there are over 6 billion people in the world, you never know when “the ridiculous” may be exactly what someone needs to see so they know they aren’t alone.
3. Don’t compare yourself to anyone — once again: there are billions of people in this world, and you are you. The one unique gift we are given is our one life and the ability to choose our path. My path doesn’t look like anyone else’s, and neither will yours. When people ask me who I write like, the only thing I can say is: “I write like I speak. My books are like me telling you a story in my own voice.”
4. Write for you, not for others — As much as I dream to do this full time and be able to make a living, I will admit, I mainly write stories I would like to read. LGBTQIA+, People of Color (usually women), are my heroes because that’s who my heroes were growing up. It’s also who I try to be personally. Even though the story may be for you, you never know how your story can affect others. That’s the nature of art.
5. Don’t give up — To be honest, this is a constant battle for me. I have a full time job, married with a family that depends on me. Sometimes the lack of that “instant gratification” when you are so proud of something you put yourself into can be disheartening. But, at the end of the day, I remind myself of #4. I do this mainly for me, as an outlet, as a way to maybe encourage others.
The world, of course, needs progress in many areas. What movement do you hope someone (or you!) starts next? Can you explain why that is so important?
I tell people I live a life of Love. I think the absence of love in the world is due to a lack of empathy. We have gone from caring about our neighbor to stepping on them if needed to get where one is going. The judgement of others can be hard to withstand. Empathy is the answer to so much, and that is my goal… return the concept of true empathy to the world. That’s the movement I hope comes soon, the age of empathy.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
I’m most active on Threads and Instagram at @thebjcyprian. I also have a Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/bjcyprian
My website also has a blog that (I haven’t been keeping up lately) but many of my thoughts are there. Www.bjcyprian.net
Thank you so much for these insights. It was a true pleasure to do this with you.
B J Cyprian On How To Write A Book That Sparks A Movement was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.