There was this guy in my church during my high school years. He was a nut. Not really, but he seemed to tilt toward crazy. A jittery man with jittery hands. He took a bunch of us teens rock-climbing trip. (Looking back, a huge lapse in parental responsibility.) The cliffs weren’t insane high, maybe one hundred feet, which only meant a shorter fall to our deaths.
Which, of course, was impossible. We had harnesses and straps and ropes and carabineers connecting us to this world—shoot, we couldn’t have fallen if we tried.
After a day of climbing, it was our guide’s turn (pay attention, ‘cause this is where the nut assessment comes into my memory of this man). Jittery walked to the edge of the cliff, the straight-down cliff, the smooth-no-finger-hold cliff, and vanished over the edge.
Spiderman. That’s what he was. He free climbed up and down and across. His fingertips found fissures and rough spots and he stuck like glue, scampered across that rock face.
I could barely force myself to edge. But I had to watch this spectacle. Finally, he crawled back over the lip into the land of the living. He didn’t fall on the ground and kiss it. He smiled and pushed us back from the edge. “You’re all too close.” All he said. His hand jitter was gone. He sounded at peace.
This most terrifying experience changed him, cleared him, and from the looks of things, he felt normal.
So I sit behind a computer dreaming up stories and I remember how death chased the jitters from a crazy man, and the idea for RUSH comes. Maybe he wasn’t so crazy. Maybe it’s me, whose idea of extreme sport is chasing my neighbor’s milk cows. Maybe I’m the nutty one.
Writing RUSH was my own trip into the world of the crazed. Into a place where safe feels like death and death feels like life.
RUSH Cover Copy: Jake King is a full-fledged adrenaline junkie. He'll jump off of a waterfall, ride his bike down the side of a mountain, rock climb without harnesses…anything to feel the rush. Besides his best friend and secret love of his life, the beautiful Salome Lee, getting his adrenaline pumping is the only thing that clears his head. So when he's offered a spot on a hotshot crew of firefighters who rappel into wildfires, it's the perfect opportunity. Never mind that the crew members call themselves the Immortals, and that they have a habit of dying young. Salome knows there's more to the crew's mortality rate than bad luck, and to save Jake, she puts their friendship—and their unspoken romance—on the line. But to Jake, firefighting is like breathing pure adrenaline. And if he doesn't stop soon, they could all get burned. . . .
UPDATE: The winner of RUSH by Jonathan Friesen is Rain Maiden! Congrats! Please email your physical addy to contests(AT)knightagency.net.
Leave a comment to win a copy of RUSH by Jonathan Friesen. The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon.
The 411: Jake King is a full-fledged adrenaline junkie. He'll jump off of a waterfall, ride his bike down the side of a mountain, rock climb without harnesses…anything to feel the rush. Besides his best friend and secret love of his life, the beautiful Salome Lee, getting his adrenaline pumping is the only thing that clears his head. So when he's offered a spot on a hotshot crew of firefighters who rappel into wildfires, it's the perfect opportunity. Never mind that the crew members call themselves the Immortals, and that they have a habit of dying young. Salome knows there's more to the crew's mortality rate than bad luck, and to save Jake, she puts their friendship—and their unspoken romance—on the line. But to Jake, firefighting is like breathing pure adrenaline. And if he doesn't stop soon, they could all get burned. . . .
JERK, CALIFORNIA Wins ALA Schneider Award & TKA Jumps on the Twitter Bandwagon
Today, the American Library Association announced that Jonathan Friesen's debut young adult novel, JERK, CALIFORNIA is the recipient of the illustrious Schneider Book Award! The Schneider Award is specifically for books that embody the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Past honorees include Louis Sachar and Andrew Clements. Way to go Jonathan! For more info on the ALA Award winners, click here.To learn more about Jonathan Friesen, visit www.JonathanFriesen.com.
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Twitter fever has taken cyberspace by storm, and today The Knight Agency finally heeded its call. Our agents will be chiming in with the answer to that eternal question, "What are you doing?" Make sure to check us out at: www.Twitter.com/KnightAgency. Also, you can check out Deidre Knight's personal Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DeidreKnight
Adam Minter, an American journalist based in Shanghai, recently wrote a fantastic article on New York Times bestselling author Marjorie M. Liu at ShanghaiScrap.com. In the interview, Marjorie tackles the American perception of Chinese literature and Asian authors as well as the importance China plays in her writing process. Click here to check it out!
Take a "Road Trip" with Jonathan Friesen & Win a Copy of JERK, CALIFORNIA!
Ready for a road trip? Well...it's more like a "web trip." You don't even have to leave the warm, inviting arms of your comfy Barcalounger. Connect with Minnesota native, Jonathan Friesen, author of JERK, CALIFORNIA, tonight in the TKA CHAT ROOM! Jonathan's debut novel was hailed as "Emotionally rewarding," by VOYA, and Booklist said, "...like any good road story, there are enough corners and bends to keep readers eagerly anticipating what lies ahead at the journey's end."
Besides writing full-time, Jonathan founded a program to mentor gifted teen writers and speaks to people around the globe about Tourette Syndrome - a condition both he and the main character in JERK, CALIFORNIA, share. If you attend the chat tonight, not only will you learn about Jonathan's writing process and upcoming projects -- you'll also have the chance to win an autographed copy of his book! We've also got a special giveaway for you RIGHT NOW! The first person to correctly answer the following question in the comments will win a copy of JERK, CALIFORNIA:
What was Jonathan's job for 14 years before becoming a full-time writer?
WHAT: Chat with Jonathan Friesen!
WHEN: TONIGHT, Thursday November 20th at 9pm ET!
WHERE: TKA Chat Room
HOW TO CHAT: Click here: TKA CHAT ROOM. Enter a username and password. Login.
Jonathan Friesen, Author of JERK, CALIFORNIA, Chatting Live Thursday, Nov. 20th @ 9pm ET!
Jonathan Friesen is making a splash on the YA scene with his debut novel, JERK, CALIFORNIA(Penguin/Speak, September 2008). The Minnesota native will be stopping by TKA's chat room this Thursday, November 20th @ 9pm ET to share his experiences as a first-time writer.
Though the book is fictional, Jonathan shares an important characteristic with his main protagonist, Sam Carrier. They both have Tourette Syndrome. In JERK, CALIFORNIA, Jonathan pulls from his own painful journey to self-acceptance in order to craft a life-altering tale that both motivates and inspires.
Besides being a full-time writer, Jonathan also heads up a writing program targeted specifically at gifted young writers and speaks about Tourette Syndrome to groups around the globe.
"Sam and his story are quixotic in the best possible way: he is a good-hearted dreamer trying to do right by his dulcinea. Debut author Friesen has Tourette syndrome, and he brings complexity and nuance to Sam's struggle for understanding and self-acceptance. The pacing is leisurely, but like any good road story, there are enough corners and bends to keep readers eagerly anticipating what lies ahead at the journey's end."-- Booklist
WHAT: Chat with Jonathan Friesen , Author of JERK, CALIFORNIA WHEN: Thursday, November 20th @ 9pm ET HOW TO CHAT: Click Here: TKA CHAT ROOM. Enter a username and password. Login.
*You must have a Java-enabled browser in order to chat.
TKA client and Minnesota native Jonathan Friesen was recently profiled in St. Paul'sStar Tribune regarding the upcoming September release of his first book, JERK, CALIFORNIA. In the novel, main protagonist, Sam, a 17-year old diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, sets out on an life-changing road trip that leads to self-discovery and helps him solve the mysteries surrounding his deceased father. Though JERK, CALIFORNIA is not autobiographical, Friesen did pull from his own struggles with Tourette syndrome to frame the challenges Sam encounters in his journey for acceptance.
There was this guy in my church during my high school years. He was a nut. Not really, but he seemed to tilt toward crazy. A jittery man with jittery hands. He took a bunch of us teens rock-climbing trip. (Looking back, a huge lapse in parental responsibility.) The cliffs weren’t insane high, maybe one hundred feet, which only meant a shorter fall to our deaths.
Spiderman. That’s what he was. He free climbed up and down and across. His fingertips found fissures and rough spots and he stuck like glue, scampered across that rock face.
Writing RUSH was my own trip into the world of the crazed. Into a place where safe feels like death and death feels like life.
