The What of Jamie Poole
So long, and thanks for all the fish! Tristan’s goodbye echoed in the room to the left.
“God, you sound just like him.” I clutched my stomach.
Before Lenore could ask who I meant, Nick repeated with emphasis, “Bruce…How?”
“What, when, and where are the only ones you haven’t asked,” I blurted and succumbed to coughing. Nick handed me a handkerchief. I nodded in gratitude and covered my mouth. “I met the worst fashionista in 1942. He’s been messing with Walter’s attic. Stealing clothes…”
“Walter? What?” Lenore’s eyes grew wide in concern she couldn’t disguise.
“Ah, what. Now we’re getting somewhere.”
(From Sisterhood of the Sword, coming 2019)
Recently I visited a relative who asked innocently, “What are you writing about?”
I proceeded to explain the genre. It’s not as easy as giving a one word answer, and yet it shouldn’t be difficult either. Really.
What is Jamie Poole? Not who is Jamie Poole. We’re past that part.
Jamie Poole is one part history.
The series is very much tied to actual historical events. Historical figures pop in and out as Jamie rubs elbows. Someone once asked me if I published a bibliography with each book. The answer is no. At the same time, Diana Gabaldon has published a bibliography of her library. I might do the same thing. In reading her bibliography I was secretly satisfied to see titles I owned too.
Jamie Poole is also one part Science Fiction.
I mean, we are talking about time travel.
I label Jamie Poole’s books as Historical Fiction. It’s a nice, safe titling. Thanks to Diana Gabaldon and the wild success of Outlander, it’s a little easier to categorize this genre.
And while Jamie Poole is its own thing, I would say it’s most certainly similar. The only difference is Gabaldon keeps to one time period: The Jacobite Rebellion, the American Revolution and that time frame.
Meanwhile, hey, I have time travel, so I include Egyptians, Vikings, Celts, Nazis, Karelian Shamans, Nubian Wisemen, and an English soldier of fortune, and then just for fun I included aliens. (Why not?!) OK, the aliens haven’t appeared yet. (Or have they?)
My relative (his head spinning a bit) said, “So you’re writing about all of time and space?”
Well, yes, I suppose I am.
And while that list of suspects appears unwieldy, really there’s a tight order to the events in Jamie Poole with an arc that is carefully written from beginning to end. Everyone has their place, even the Nephilim. (Did I leave them out?)
If I were writing about all of time and space, I’d be writing about Doctor Who. Oh, just a minute, I think he fits in there somewhere too. From The Isle of Osiris, Julia, Jamie’s mom admits:
“Not even my parents encouraged me like your dad.” Her grin grew lopsided in a childish way. “He’s the one who got me addicted to Doctor Who.”
When I thought about it though I realized that it didn’t seem like the kind of show Mom would pick for herself. I’d never questioned it before. I felt strange now that I knew. A piece of Dad had hovered in the background each time Mom and I watched that show and I’d been unaware.
--
Recently I read an article that said the term “Science Fiction” can be frowned upon. You see, all those young people who grew up consuming Science Fiction seem to want to admit they’re grownups now. “Science Fiction” seems a bit childish. As a consequence, they have added new terms. Still, things that portray alternate universes, alternate worlds, objects and ideas that are futuristic or were never invented: that’s Science Fiction.
Game of Thrones: a perfect example of Science Fiction that goes under other guises. So are The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, The Bird Box, Russian Doll, and a whole host of very popular television shows. Don’t get me started on books. I already mentioned Outlander. That’s enough. It is safe to say the genre Science Fiction is alive and well and hiding under other names.
So what is Jamie Poole again?
It is a confession. It is also the journey of a young woman written in her own words. Growing up, she didn’t know her dad. When she finds him, she uncovers so much more. She finds herself and her destiny, but it is tied to something dark and sinister. To understand her mysterious dad, she must unveil her adversary. Has she what it takes to match him? He always seems so many steps ahead.
It is Science and History and Science Fiction. It includes time travel. As a consequence, it includes figures from every time period Jamie finds herself in. Sometimes she is not in this world, so there are otherworldly figures too. Did I leave out Fae Cats? Sorry.
At the end, it’s a good romp on Science Fiction designed for an audience from eight to eighty-eight.
Check out the list of books at www.jamiepoolebooks.com
New books come out every year.
#outlander #timetravel #DianaGabaldon #DoctorWho #sciencefiction #history #vikings #nazis
