From notebook pages to night writing, Texas-based author Jack Borden has created a sweeping, mythology-rich series that bridges Middle Grade and YA. The Tixie Chronicles consists of adventures shaped by Irish and Welsh myth, strong family bonds, and an underlying sense of Providence. With the release of book five, The Plant of Death, Borden talks candidly about routine, editing, faith, and the characters inspired by his own children. In this interview, he also reflects on the authors who shaped him, the discipline behind finishing his books, and his best advice for aspiring writers: write.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I’ve always enjoyed reading, and I guess I tried my hand at a novel when I was about 16 years old. I wrote it by hand on notebook paper, and it was, predictably, horrible. Thankfully, no version of that first novel exists anywhere. In college and graduate school, I did a lot of writing for classes and my thesis. This was obviously non-fiction writing and boring beyond description. I kept up reading fiction, but in terms of fiction writing, I didn’t start back until around 2020.
Do you consider writing as a career?
I would love it to be a full-time career! I do write non-fiction books under another name. Those books have done well, as they are sold to customers who have an interest in my other business. For my fiction, including this series The Tixie Chronicles, I am working toward that. I love writing and I hope to write things that people enjoy reading.
Was there a specific event or person who influenced you to become an author?
I think I’ve been influenced by a lot of authors – Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, John R. Erikson, Wendell Berry, Dallas Willard (from a theological perspective), George Macdonald, and the poetry of Robert Frost, to name a few. I had a chance to visit with John R. Erikson several years ago – he’s the author of the Hank the Cow Dog series – and he really inspirited me to see what one could do as an author. He is independently published and he did that back when very few were – and he’s sold millions of copies of books about a dog on a ranch with a bad attitude. I’m in awe of that.
What is your writing routine?
I honestly wish I had more of a routine. I write when I can – between family responsibilities, work, and my business, it’s sometimes hit and miss. But I try! I typically write at night, when my house is quiet and I can focus.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I spend a fair amount of time enjoying the property where we are blessed to live. There’s a creek surrounded by big, old trees that shade the forest floor. That landscape, along with my interest in Celtic languages and mythology, inspired a story merging those old stories with our woods here.
What genre are your books?
This book series kind of starts as Middle Grade fantasy and kind of merges into Young Adult fantasy in the later books. I did this thanks to the ages of my kids, who I wrote these books for to begin with. As they’ve grown, so have the stories.
Is there a message in your new book that you want readers to grasp?
My primary purpose is to tell an interesting and engaging story. That said, there’s an underlying idea of Providence and how God moves and engages with our world as events unfold.
What was the hardest part of writing your latest book?
My least favorite part of writing any book is the editing. My editor is great, and I am often embarrassed by what I leave in the manuscript I send her. The book flowed out of my fingertips, but with plenty of errors before editing!
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I would not. I’m happy with it.
How much of the book is realistic?
It is based on Irish and Welsh mythology, but I try to make it feel real. In fact, I’ve had readers tell me that, after reading the first four books, that they feel like it’s real and that tixies are living out in the woods. 😊
How many books do you have out, and do you have a favorite?
This will be the fifth book in the series. I really like this one, and the fourth book.
How do you come up with character names?
My first character names, Avelyn and Killian, were from a list of old Irish names. Branwen and the city of Anwin, both of which feature prominently in The Plant of Death, are stolen from Welsh mythology. Most of the other names are created by putting parts of the language of Old Tixie together to get a name. Old Tixie is the language spoken by the creatures in these books. These books are a translation, or at least that’s what I’m going to keep saying.
Do you draw inspiration on someone you know, or events in your own life?
The main characters of the first few books are almost entirely drawn from my oldest two children: the more serious first born and the impulsive middle child. My wife and a good friend of mine also heavily influence Avelyn’s personality. Other characters, such as Branwen, are more of a mix of people, though she does look physically like a good friend of mine.
What are your current projects?
I plan to complete this series in the next few years, so I will be working on The Tixie Chronicles. Book 6, in fact, has already been started!
What do you think makes a good story?
I think that characters that you care about are a vital part of a good story. Attention spans have shrunk over the years, so bringing these characters action and adventure in a story keeps me and other readers interested.
Who do you feel has supported you outside of your family members?
My family is blessed with a core group of close friends, and the children in these families have read The Tixie Chronicles and encouraged me with great feedback. They keep asking me when The Plant of Death will be published!
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I just really appreciate the readers who have enjoyed The Tixie Chronicles. I really appreciate their reviews too! The readers are awesome!
What was the first book you’ve ever read?
Probably Green Eggs and Ham!
What books have most influenced your life most?
I would say that the Bible is my primary influence, but also The Divine Conspiracy by the late Dallas Willard.
What is one valuable lesson about writing that you’ve learned along your writing journey?
I would say that you can always find time to write. Even late at night, after the family is all asleep, you can find time. Lack of time isn’t an excuse.
If you could give aspiring writers one piece of advice what would it be?
I would share this: real writers write. They don’t just think about writing or talk about it. They do it!
What do you do in your spare time besides writing?
I enjoy hanging out with my family, friends, traveling (we love far West Texas and the Pacific Northwest), and spending time alone in the woods.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I typically have a story more or less outlined before I really start writing. But for the 5th book in the Tixie Chronicles, The Plant of Death, I had a few general ideas and then the story took on a life of its own. So letting the characters and the stories come to life on their own – that was a writing quirk, at least for this book!
ABOUT JACK BORDEN
Jack Borden is an author, farmer, father, and husband who lives with his family in the forests of eastern Texas. His debut fantasy novel series, The Tixie Chronicles, spans the gap from Middle Grade literature to Young Adult, sweeping readers into an immersive world of mythology, fantasy, a family that loves one another, and adventures with stakes for the entire world. Borden’s 5th novel, The Plant of Death, just released on November 1. In his spare time, Jack enjoys roaming the woods, building fires by the creek, and playing with made up languages. He also enjoys reading. His favorite authors include Wendell Berry, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald. He also reads books by Cormac McCarthy for their beautiful prose. He is also fond of poetry by Robert Frost.
BUY HIS BOOKS
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH JACK BORDEN
A book and a cup of coffee 