When Force Meets Fate was the THIRD PLACE non-fiction winner of the 2021 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Jamison Hill.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
My memoir is When Force Meets Fate, and it was published in January 2021.
What’s the book’s first line?
“I loved my life. It was hectic at times, but I relished in the discipline it took to work two jobs, attend college classes, pose for modeling gigs, and most importantly, work out every day.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
A fitness instructor survives a fatal car crash only to be plagued by a mysterious illness that robs him of the ability to walk, talk, and eat solid food. When Force Meets Fate is a captivating, transcendent survival story—one that forces all of us to reckon with our own mortality and the fragility of life.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
My main motivation to write the book was living with chronic illness and disability, and becoming so sick I couldn’t speak or eat.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The book is a memoir, so I am the main character. The most distinctive thing about me in the book is my vulnerability—my willingness to share the details of my story. At least that’s what I aimed to do in writing it.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Primarily, I would hope people read the book to learn about chronic illnesses and disabilities, and to empathize with those who live with them.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Anyone who can accurately capture my story and the experiences in it.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I enjoyed writing essays in high school. I think I’ve wanted to be an author ever since.
Is this the first you’ve written?
It’s the first memoir I’ve written.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m disabled but do some work as a freelance writer when I’m able.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I write every day, always on my phone. My disability keeps me from writing on a laptop or freehand. So I use an app on my phone. Sometimes I just write or edit a few sentences, other times I write multiple chapters of a book or essays.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I would. It’s something that I’d like to experience, to have one of my books published by a big publisher.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Sharing my experiences with as many people a possible motivates me. Many people have read my story and written to me with their own similar experiences relating to illnesses and disabilities. It makes me feel less alone to know there are others going through something similar.