Jonathan Cortez is a graduate of Penn State Behren, with an Associate of Arts degree.
He was an avid reader and writer from a young age, but even before that his story-telling and world-building skills blossomed while playing with Lego. He largely developed his writing craft on his own.
Jonathan is a big fan of science-fiction and fantasy, although he only started reading the genres during high school. When not reading or writing, he enjoys watching TV and listening to heavy metal.
He is currently still studying at Penn State. He is also working on the sequel to Converging Fates.
https://www.facebook.com/jonathancortezru
Deep in the remote Undervalley, a scientist is creating a portal that will link two universes. Never mind the damage his research does. A taskforce of elves and humans must hunt him down before he destroys their universe. The elves hold the key, Mahavir, a human abducted from the other universe. He is the link between universes, and his death may prevent a disaster. But Mahavir has no intention sacrificing himself for others.
Q) What inspired you
to write this story?
The prologue to Lord of the Rings. What is that? 2000 years
before the main story or something like that, but technologically, everything’s
the same. Metal-working, weaponry, clothing. It made me wonder why epic fantasy
seems to always be in a quasi-medieval period. Also, I had a really boring job
the summer I graduated high school, and to pass the time, I created most of the
story in my head.
Q) How long did it
take you to write?
Depends on what I use as a starting point. Technically,
2000. I started working on a Jurassic Park themed story that would become the
template for the plot. I started writing the actual story in August 2009,
finished and was sending queries to agents 9 month later. But I kept coming
back for rewrites, and the biggest rewrite was right before I signed the
contract, last summer.
Q) What is your
favorite thing about writing?
Giving people enjoyment.
Q) What is your least
favorite thing about writing?
I’ve seen other people say the commercial aspects. I
actually like that. Writing is my business as well as my art. So the hardest
part for me is sitting down and motivating myself to write. Once I start, I’m
good. I want to have enough discipline to write every day.
Q) If you could be
any famous person for one day, who would you be and why?
Wow. Never really thought about that. Alive or dead? Will I
have the capabilities of the person so I don’t really frak up their job? Maybe
Joan of Arc. I’d get the experience of living in a medieval setting, being a
woman, and if it’s the appropriate day, burning alive without having to worry
about dying for good.
Q) What is the oldest
thing in your fridge and how old is it?
That’s a tough question that I can’t accurately answer,
because I commandeered a bunch of stuff from a friend’s apartment when she
moved out. I found out a good amount of it had gone moldy after I moved it. The
oldest thing I bought though is Soracha chili sauce, which I bought in January.
That stuff went from nobody hearing about it to being a kitchen essential in a
few years. It’s one of my favorite things that comes in a cylinder.
Q) What can readers
expect from you in the future?
Right now, I’m working on a sequel. I think it’s important to
get a second book out within a few years. I have other novel outlines that may
or may not end up being part of the Reagent Universe. I have at least one
shorter work that’s part of the series that I’m going to put on Kindle. Most
importantly, I want my next book to be better. Considering I was a teenager
when I wrote CF, I’m pleased, but I’ve learned a lot since then, and I think I
can give readers an even better story.
