relzreviewz.com Bookchat with Travis Thrasher (with giveaway)

Bookchat with Travis Thrasher (with giveaway)

Travis Thrasher is one of the most diverse writers you’ll meet, penning romance novels, high energy thrillers, YA novels, non-fiction, and children’s stories, spanning multiple genres. It’s always fun trying to determine what kind of story will be next from this talented writer! His latest novel is a futuristic thriller that may become more truth than fiction and has New York Times best-selling author of the Left Behind novels, Jerry Jenkins, saying, “In American Omens, Travis Thrasher is at the top of his game, imagining the future with the eyes of a seasoned novelist penning the story he was destined to write. As fresh and relevant as Left Behind was more than twenty years ago, American Omens may be the first of many more novels about the persecuted church from this writer. We can only hope so.”

Thanks to the generosity of Waterbrook Multnomah, I’m giving away a copy of American Omens, so be sure to enter the giveaway below!

Over to you, Travis…

Tell us about your new book, American Omens.

American Omens is a thriller set in the future that explores the threat of Christianity in the United States being subverted and Christians being ostracized for their beliefs.

What are some of the threats to authentic faith? How do you depict those in the book?

I believe the number one threat (and I’m looking at myself) is the lack of urgency. The character called “Reckoner” in the book is someone who is absolutely urgent with his faith. Someone who is doing something radical about it. I see the lack of urgency as being detrimental, because we’re not doing what the verse above from 1 Peter tells us to do. We’re not staying alert. We’re complacent. We binge-watch the new series on Netflix and then go to our girls’ soccer game and we see our friends at church and we give to the needy and we’re in our own little bubbles both in our lives and online. We don’t speak out against those with opposite views because we’ll be labeled and criticized. We don’t read the Bible. We’re very lukewarm. I believe that allows Christianity to continue to be watered down.

If this happens, then one day if true authentic Christian faith begins to be outlawed, who will even notice? I don’t see the government saying, “Time to jail all Christians!” Instead, it will be in subtle ways. Or in ways where most of professing Christians will see it as somebody being way over-the-top radical in their beliefs.

What was the working title?

Omens. The publisher was concerned it was too close to the classic horror film, The Omen, and made it sound more like a scary tale. I love the title we have.

Describe your book in 5 adjectives

Futuristic. Realistic. Authentic. Dramatic. Drastic. (How about ones ending in “ic”?)

In this taut thriller that depicts a future where belief is dangerous, faith is deemed hatred, and a group of powerful elite keeps watch, the Reckoner has come to wake up America.

The year is 2038 and Cheyenne Burne is a brilliant young programmer working for Acatour, the world’s top technology firm. Her father converts to Christianity, and he suddenly disappears without a trace. When a stranger hands Cheyenne a coded message that sends her on a collision course with a clandestine group of believers, she must put her life in the hands of those following a man known only as the Reckoner. He claims he wants to bring back true faith in Christ to America and also reveal the forces behind the disappearances of the many renowned people who publicly declared their Christian faith.

Operating in the shadows and living off the grid, this mysterious prophet assembles a ragtag team–including a former bookseller whose store was shut down for selling prohibited books–to help him take the battle for transparency to the top. With a ruthless FBI agent closing in, can Cheyenne and the others expose the truth and lead a return to God in America before it’s too late?

Which character did you enjoy writing most?

I love the character that has the nickname of Reckoner.

Which character gave you the most grief?

The editor suggested I needed to revise Will’s storyline, and I’m glad I did! He’s an important part of the story now.

What emotions do you think your story will generate in readers?

I think it will cause people to stop and think and ask themselves if something like this could actually happen. I can see some fear settling in. But also I feel it can wake some people up, that it will stir some hearts and cause them to be more urgent in their own faith.

What emotions did you experience while writing this story?

Surprise, fear, dread, confusion, excitement, urgency, hope. All the usual emotions when writing a novel.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

That’s always an interesting question. There are reasons for each of them, and some I’ll keep to myself. But here’s the story behind Will Stewart. He’s a character like me—a father with three young daughters. My first name is William, though I’ve always gone by Travis. So Will is obvious. I chose Stewart for several reasons. First, we lived on Stewart Avenue when I first started writing that. I wanted a common name that could stand for anybody, like Joe Smith or something like that. And Jimmy Stewart is one of my all-time favorite actors. So I chose Will Stewart. But . . . well, there’s a little more to Will’s name that readers will find out later in the book!

Thanks Travis!

Bestselling author Travis Thrasher has written over 50 books, spanning genres in fiction, nonfiction and children’s literature. His inspirational stories have included collaborations with filmmakers, musicians, athletes, celebrities and pastors. His novels are as diverse as the people he’s worked with, ranging from love stories to supernatural thrillers. Travis lives with his wife and three young daughters in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.