Interview with Local Author Paul Xavier Jones

Paul Xavier Jones is a Welsh author living in Pontardawe. He has written 6 books, 4 of which are published in the Epic Fantasy and Sci Fi Thriller genres.

In this article Mark Bridgeman talks to him about his books and their original inspiration - Wales and Carmarthen.

Mark: Before we talk about the books, Xavier is an unusual name, I have to ask, where did it come from?

Paul: Well, when I first started work in 1989, it was for a multinational corporation based in South Wales, and there were around 2000 people working there. Having my name "P. Jones" in the factory directory was a bit of a problem, given the popularity of the name "Jones" in Wales. There are quite a few of us. So I put an "X" in the middle for the phone book, and it soon turned into a nickname, "Xavier." When I decided to write books, I thought it would be useful to keep it if people searched for my work on the internet.

Mark: Sounds like a good idea. So what was your first book?

Paul: An Agent For Change was published in 2007. It took me 3 years to write it. It was basically a book about my time as a management consultant, and the problems I came across in different businesses.

Mark: That's not Epic Fantasy or Science Fiction?

Paul: No, it's not. When An Agent For Change was published, my eldest daughter wanted to read it, and there was no way that was going to happen. It was an adult book and featured the colourful language and antics of shop floors in factories, definitely not for kids.

Mark: So is that when you changed to Epic Fantasy?

Paul: It was. That was in 2008, and the inspiration came to me while we were on a truly dreadful holiday in Crete. I was sat in the sun watching my daughters in their endless bickering. And that was where the Ameca J series was born.

Mark: The Ameca J Series. Ameca seems an unusual name as well.

Paul: We seem to specialise in them in my family. Ameca is the name of my oldest daughter, and there were two things shaping my thinking at that time; I wanted to write a book that would be suitable and exciting enough to read for them, and I wanted something to highlight family values, so the girls might actually stop fighting all the time. But there was another reason.

Mark: And what was that?

Paul: Well, I believe there's a gap in the modern fantasy market for strong female heroines. A lot of people know Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. How many people can name a female equivalent?

Mark: Yes, I can't think of many. You mentioned before the interview that Carmarthen and Wales were both inspirational to you?

Paul: Yes, very much so. When I conceived the first Ameca J Book, I had to decide on a setting and theme for the book. I was quite ambitious, I wanted to create a new world, and it had to be a place of magic. Living in Wales, with its lush valleys and green fields, it is pretty easy to be inspired, and the world I created, "Mythrania" is based on Wales.

Mark: And the Carmarthen influence?

Paul: That's easy. Carmarthen's strong association with the legends of Merlin. I wanted an Arthurian feel to the story, and without giving too much away, a link to Merlin himself.

Mark: Interesting... but hasn't the whole Arthur thing been done to death?

Paul: A lot of people say so... but believe me the links in my book have never been thought of and nobody can anticipate them.

Mark: And are there any other Welsh influences?

Paul: Yes there are. In the second book, the Revenge of Rex-Ultar, I've introduced magical commands, similar to the Latin in other magical books. Only these are in Welsh.

Mark: And how did you think an English speaking audience would react to that?

Paul: I felt it depended on the wording used. If I used Welsh words that used "ll" or "ch" then it would be hard on English speaking readers as they wouldn't be able to pronounce the words.

Mark: It all sounds really interesting. How have the books been received?

Paul: (Laughs). Well I'm not a multi-millionaire author yet, but I've had some pretty good reviews, and the first in the series, Ameca J and the Legacy of Menindus has been awarded a "Top Choice" Award from Flamingnet Young Adult book reviews.

Mark: And is that the readership, young adult?

Paul: By no means, no more than Percy Jackson or Harry Potter are. Anyone who enjoys fantasy would like these.

Mark: So where can people buy your books?

Paul: The Ameca J Series are available as eBooks at the moment, but will be available as paperbacks early in 2012. At the moment they can be downloaded from Amazon, along with some of my other books.

Mark: Thank you very much Paul, I'm sure people will enjoy them.

Paul Xavier Jones Books – Where to get them

Amecca J and the Legacy of Menindus Book 1: Ameca J and the Legacy of Menindus