Jason V. Fox - A Riveting Tale of Loss, Destiny, and the Price of Power

Jason V. Fox, a practicing attorney, lives in the suburbs of Massachusetts with his wife and two children, and their family dog that knows a lot of tricks but still finds a way not to come when called. When the pandemic hit, Jason found the time to express his creative side by giving homage to all of the novels, comics and movies he enjoyed as a kid. And with that, his first book was born. As our Author of the Day, he tells us all about his book, Siphon.

Please give us a short introduction to what Siphon is about.

Born and imprisoned in the secretive confines of Area 51, Apollo is far from ordinary. As a human-alien hybrid with the terrifying ability to turn anyone to ash with a single touch, his very existence is a closely guarded secret. But Apollo's lethal touch is just the beginning—every time he destroys, he absorbs a surge of energy that temporarily unlocks extraordinary superhuman powers within him.

Trapped and studied by the government, Apollo yearns for freedom. After a daring escape as a teenager, he briefly experiences the joys of living among humans—until he’s recaptured. Now, with dark forces threatening the future of humanity, Apollo must confront his greatest challenge: will he rise as the hero the world desperately needs, or will the monstrous abilities he was born with turn him into the very thing humanity fears?

Siphon explores themes of power, morality, and identity through the unique abilities and challenges Apollo faces. What was the initial inspiration behind Apollo’s character and his ability to kill with a touch?

As a kid I used to read my father’s and brother’s comics books. I enjoyed them but I always believed the hero’s powers were too perfect to be beneficial. Superman is near-perfect being, and I believe that even the writers realized this problem, so they introduced Kryptonite. I wanted to write a character whose use of his extraordinary abilities came at a substantial price. There are other significant repercussions for Apollo to use his ability that are described in the book, but this interview will have no spoilers. I also wanted to explore the concept - would you kill a few to save many? Or, in other words, is it acceptable to do a little evil for a greater good? This was the impetus for Apollo’s power. There were a few scenes that were stuck in my head, and I wrote the novel around them.

Apollo’s powers bring both extraordinary potential and a deep sense of isolation. How did you approach balancing these intense abilities with the human side of his character?

Apollo is half human, and he has the same desires and impulses of a young man. He wants human interaction but there is a wariness because he constantly has to be on guard. But what if he lets his guard down even for an instant? Could or would he kill someone he cares about by accident? What if the power is intoxicating and he wants more regardless of the repercussions? These concepts provide a few scenes of good tension.

Area 51 is a well-known symbol of mystery and secrecy. How did this setting help shape the tone of the novel, and why did you choose it as the backdrop for your story?

The entire story doesn’t take place at Area 51, but in a way Area 51 is another character in the book. The way I introduce area 51 seemed like the natural solution for a half alien-human being that is inherently dangerous. I wondered what Area 51 would be like security wise. Could you escape from area 51 and how would that be done? These questions provide some action in the book.

You mention that Siphon pays homage to novels, comics, and movies you enjoyed as a kid. Were there any specific stories or characters that influenced your writing style or Apollo’s journey?

The book is a bit of a throwback to the golden age of science fiction. There are shadows of influence from War of the Worlds, Star Trek, Superman, Independence Day. There is not a specific story but more the feel. The bigger challenge is to blend these influences into one coherent story.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I have the ability to teleport but only as far as I can jump. All kidding aside, I don’t have any secret abilities. (Sigh) I do enjoy a game of chess and grilling for my friends and family, and I suppose I’m above-average in these activities.

Apollo’s relationship with government authorities involves elements of betrayal and exploitation. How do these themes play into the larger narrative about power and responsibility?

The relationship between Apollo is relatively straightforward in the first two parts of the book, but in part three it becomes much more complicated. Apollo is prisoner and studied but there are people and things he cares about associated with Area 51. Are these things he cares about enough of a hook to control Apollo is one of the inner turmoil questions I tried to flesh out in the writing.

The novel combines fast-paced action with deeply emotional moments. How did you balance these two aspects to keep the story both thrilling and impactful?

I believe the action should complement the emotional moments. The action should also have a purpose for character development. Pacing for novels is no simple task as readers can lose interest pretty quickly. I believe it is less about action or emotional moments and more about does the reader want to see what happens next. Pacing requires a lot of editing and beta readers that you trust. The question is the story slowing down, or worse, becoming boring. The structure of my book is a bit unique as there are chapters where things are happening around the main character. Some of the professionals I ran the book by told me you can’t do that, so I was extra nervous when I had some sales on how the reader would respond.

Siphon mixes elements of science fiction, superhero fiction, and suspense. Did you find challenges in combining these genres, or did they come together naturally in Apollo’s story?

The book actually is doing well with people that normally don’t enjoy science fiction. The themes and characters I wanted to explore could have been done with another backdrop other than science fiction. I’ve written screenplays and short stories that are in different areas than science fiction, but I wanted to do science fiction as a tribute to my father. We spent a lot of time sharing this common interest. Not to get overly emotional but I wish I wrote the book before my father passed to get his input.

One reviewer compared Siphon to a “1980s Stephen Spielberg blockbuster.” What are your thoughts on this comparison, and do you see any cinematic influences in your work?

This was not a reviewer but my line editor. This was a big moment in my writing because he doesn’t do this for every book he reviews. The finished book took the scenic road to get there with tons of editing. The framework for the story was solid but it needed significant fine tuning. I often was too close to the novel to see many of the problems. I had many professionals tell me the book was not ready. Finally, after months of editing and rewriting I had someone that edits for a living say this is pretty good. There is a feeling of insecurity of emotional nakedness when strangers read what you have written. There is a duality a writer has to juggle to make a book better. You have to accept criticism but on occasion stand firm to your belief that your story doesn’t get converted to someone else's vision.

This book was born during the pandemic. How did that time period shape your writing process and your decision to finally write Siphon?

I had dipped my toe in writing with screenplays and short stories. My horror screenplay placed in Screamfest. I was going to write Siphon as another screenplay. But what I found out is that industry has many gatekeepers, and I was told that no one would give an unknown an option on a big budget movie. There really is very little way to get a script into a decisionmakers' hands. So somewhat naively I thought I would write a novel and go directly to the public. A novel takes time and perseverance and Covid allowed me more time to write. I didn’t start writing right away. I made funny movies with the kids, bought a ton of street hockey stuff and played street hockey for the first time in years. We also got a puppy, and I think he wanted me to write because he was up all night.

Given the enthusiastic response to Siphon and reader requests for a sequel, do you have any plans for continuing Apollo’s story? What might a sequel explore?

The way I write is I have to see the story in my head like I’m watching a movie, and I just need to write down what they’re saying. I usually think of the concept and the story forms around that concept. I am writing another book that is a modern retelling of an obscure Grimm's fairytale that I enjoyed. I suppose the tag line could be Power has Rules. But to answer your question of a sequel I need to see a certain number of sales to justify it. I do have a basic framework in my head, but it needs to marinate a bit before I put words to paper.

As a practicing attorney who transitioned to writing, do you have advice for other professionals interested in pursuing their creative passions?

I haven’t transitioned completely as I still have full time employment as an attorney. I’m doing both professions. Writing is a hobby that has kind of taken on its own life. I may sound like a Nike advertisement but you sometimes just have to “do it.” I know lots of people that say they want to write a book. I always encourage them to start. It is a large undertaking but you have to break it down into small manageable tasks. Most people think they will scratch their creative itch when they retire or when the kids are grown. I lost two siblings to cancer at an early age. Sometimes there isn’t more time and I wanted to create something tangible. As I get older I try to live a life without regret and I would have regretted not doing this book.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

I’m a terrible marketer. It is not in my skill set. The marketing is time consuming, confusing and expensive. I’m slightly introverted and marketing requires you to talk about yourself. I’m surprised how many readers want to know about the author. This interview is my attempt to get out of my comfort zone.

My email is [email protected] (I know a yahoo address is dating me.)

My book is on amazon you can also friend me on goodreads. Unfortunately, there is another author named Jason Fox, so make sure you're befriending the correct (best) one.