Paul Trittin, author of “Jacobus”, on the inspiration for his book and the challenges he faced along the way

Author Reputation Press recently talked to Paul Trittin, author of Jacobus. Paul recently shared the inspiration behind his book, his creative process, and the challenges that came his way along his literary journey.

ARPress: Can you mention some literary influences that help mold you as a writer?

Paul: Ben Hur by Lew Wallace, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Call Me by Your Name by Andre Aciman.

ARPress: How did you come up with the idea for this book?

Paul: Growing up as a gay Christian, in my youth, I continually tried yo understand the origins and deeper meanings of the “clobber verses” of the Bible and why they were so contrary to the words of Christ as they are recorded in the Gospels. While living for eight years in Europe, many of the locations I included in “Jacobus” were more than just places. The older I became, the more I was filled with stories I could include in many of my chapters and plots.

ARPress: Are you working on a sequel?

Paul: Yes! Book One, “The Apprentice” was released in November. Book Two, “India Connection” was recently released. Book Three, “The Patriarch” should be released this spring.

ARPress: Do you have any other books in progress?

Paul: No. In the past I only wrote and directed stage plays and musicals.

ARPress: What is your favorite line/part from your book?

Paul: The last paragraph of the book. What was God doing by putting us all together at one time with one purpose, to meet the prophet? It was beyond my ability to comprehend. How did we end up in the home of a man who knows Jesus? I was becoming very sure that the next two weeks would be a period in my life I would never regret. Page 289.

ARPress: Which character you like most from your work and why?

Paul: Jacobus BarSirach. He was on a journey of spiritual and romantic discovery, blessed by a personality I always wished I possessed.

ARPress: What is the greatest challenge for writing this book?

Paul: It was written as a personal journal, making it necessary to keep track of scores of people and hundreds of physical settings and destinations within a first century travel log from Spain to India.

ARPress: Please describe your writing process.

Paul: I never use a wrtten outline. Instead, I select a location and a time, then I get comfortable with a few defined characters as I step into their world and begin to write what I hear, see, and feel. An outline tend to diminish the adventure for me as an observer to the action.

ARPress: Advice to young and aspiring authors.

Paul: Always be true to who you are and enjoy the journey.

ARPress: How was your journey with Author Reputation Press?

Paul: Delightful.