Jonathan Freisen’s latest book
Aquifer (Blink) tells the story of a
futuristic world where two societies co-exist: one above ground and the other below. Both civilizations have essential
needs in order to thrive, thus creating a power struggle for survival.
YOUR RECENT BOOK IS ABOUT A FUTURISTIC WORLD WHERE WATER EQUALS
POWER DUE
TO ITS RARITY. WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THIS NOVEL?
I was thinking about those things most precious to me: family,
friends,
and faith, and in the physical world, water and light. How long
could I
survive without those needs? Not long. I imagined a world absent of
the
things I hold most dear. What kind of world would that be? How could
those
needs be restored to society? I created a thirsty future in which
two
civilizations developed independent of each other, yet dependent on
each
other; one on the surface, one deep below the surface. Those below
would
need light. Parched surface dwellers would need water. There would
need to
be an exchange. And what if that life-giving exchange fell on the
shoulders of a sixteen year old boy? What a terrible weight for one
young
man to bear. That idea was the genesis of the story.
DID YOU FIND YOURSELF LOOKING TO PLACES ON THE PLANET WHERE WATER
TRULY IS
AS VALUABLE AS GOLD IN ORDER TO WRITE THIS BOOK?
As I thought about the setting, I wanted to find regions where giant
underground aquifers truly do exist. One tremendous aquifer, which
some
scientists believe contains the majority of fresh water on our
planet,
stretches beneath Asia and Australia. Australia then became a
natural
choice given the language issue. Ironically, Australia is also the
home to
many gold mines. This made for an interesting paradox: in the
present, we
dig and scratch for shiny rocks, which end up in the hands of a few.
It is
not a stretch to imagine a future in which we dig and scratch for
enough
water to sustain us all. Would it also end up controlled by a few?
It's a
fascinating premise.
WATER CHARITIES ARE VERY POPULAR RIGHT NOW. DO YOU SUPPORT ONE
PERSONALLY?
Our family loves the gift magazine put out by Samaritan's Purse,
Franklin
Graham's organization. My kids always gravitate toward the giving of
animals which in turn sustain poor families. My wife and I tend to
get
excited about well projects. While on a mission trip to Mali,
Africa, we
saw how a new well became the lifeblood of a village. Those images
of what
clean water means to people who do not have it have stayed with me,
and
truly animated this book!
YOUR MAIN CHARACTER, LUCA, IS THE HERO FIGURE IN THE BOOK. WHAT IS
IT
ABOUT LUCA THAT WILL CONNECT WITH READERS?
His sense of being Other. In this future world, yes, water is power,
but
the council which controls the Topper civilization realizes that
though
water is the currency of the day, passion is the real threat to
their
control. People who are passionate are difficult to manipulate, and
so
strong emotion has been bred out of the citizenry. Except for Luca!
Being
the one who must make this terrible exchange is isolating enough.
Being
the only one who feels, who appears to love, to feel rage; this
makes him
feel alone in this world. That feeling of loneliness is one of our
universal emotions. We all want to know that people see us, and like
what
they see! Readers will connect with this ache strongly.
HOW DID WRITING THIS BOOK CHANGE YOU?
It made me realize how deeply I need real relationship. Luca's
struggle to
find this is, and has been, my own life's struggle. Those precious
ones in
my life are now impossible to take for granted!
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE?
Two exciting new young adult books! Next April, look for Mayday to
release
with Penguin, and later in the year, keep your eyes peeled for
Cracks,
another Blink title. I'm returning to smaller stories. Sometimes the
most
profound truths can be found in the simple things, and I'm thrilled
with
how these two stories about returning home turned out!