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Bestselling Author Jerry B. Jenkins ReadersRoom: Jerry B. Jenkins, welcome to ReadersRoom.com. It is a pleasure to speak with you today. Jerry B. Jenkins: Thanks. Good to be here. ReadersRoom: I'd like to start this off with the latest book in the wildly successful Left Behind series -- Glorious Appearing -- which will be released at the end of March. Can you tell our readers a bit about Glorious Appearing? Jerry B. Jenkins: It's the 12th book in the series, and all the previous titles have been pointing to this one. It culminates the seven-year Tribulation period with the appearing on earth of Christ and the beginning of the millennial kingdom. ReadersRoom: The entire Left Behind series -- though 12 separate volumes -- actually reads like one long story. When you and Dr. Tim LaHaye first started the series, was that what you intended, or did it just evolve that way? Jerry B. Jenkins: The idea was that I would cover the rapture and the next seven years in one book. I got halfway through the writing of the first book and realized I had covered only two weeks. Thus, the series.

ReadersRoom: And is this the end of the series, or will there be a thirteenth book?

Jerry B. Jenkins: There will also be a prequel and a final sequel, for a total of 14.

ReadersRoom: Both, I assume, written with Dr. LaHaye?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Yes. I do the writing, but he's the scholar and prophecy expert.

ReadersRoom: Can you give our readers an idea of how the writing process works between you and Dr. LaHaye?

Jerry B. Jenkins: I get from him a fairly ambitious workup of the scripture passages and chronology of events we hope to cover in each volume; then I write a novel, putting characters in the way of those events and seeing what happens. It's great to have him on the other end of the phone or email, and he's also a great cheerleader, always asking for more pages because he wants to find out what happens next too.

ReadersRoom: Jerry, did you originally conceive of this idea, or was it Dr. LaHaye's? And can you tell us a little about its creation?

Jerry B. Jenkins: It was Dr. LaHaye's idea...he got it while on an airplane watching a married pilot flirt with a single flight attendant and wondered what would happen if the rapture occurred right then and the pilot's wife was a believer. Dr. LaHaye looked for a novelist for several years and even had another write a manuscript that didn't work. Then I happened to sign with his agent, we were introduced, and you know the rest.

ReadersRoom: If I could move away from Left Behind for just a moment, I believe Tyndale House recently released Soon -- your latest novel. Could you tell our readers something about that project?

Jerry B. Jenkins: I got the idea for Soon from a couple of letters to the editor of Time magazine in which people suggested that religion was the basis for all wars. They believed that if we banned religion, we would eradicate war. I started the what-if thinking and realized I had visited countries that had tried to do that (Romania and the Soviet Union before the fall of communism). They succeeded only in pushing true believers underground and making them stronger. So I set this 35 years after the end of World War III, and during that whole period, religion had been outlawed.

ReadersRoom: And I believe that Soon is the first book in a trilogy?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Right.

ReadersRoom: When can your readers expect the next installment?

Jerry B. Jenkins: The second book is called Silenced and I just finished it. It releases in July.

ReadersRoom: Excellent. I once heard you refer to yourself as "The best selling writer no one has ever heard of," and while THAT has certainly changed, I was wondering if you could tell us a bit about your pre-Left Behind writing career.

Jerry B. Jenkins: Had Left Behind not come along, I would have been more than satisfied as a writer. I had written more than a hundred books, a few New York Times bestsellers, lots of biographies and fiction for kids and adults. (Some of my subjects included Hank Aaron, Walter Payton, Meadowlark Lemon, Orel Hershiser, Nolan Ryan, Billy Graham, etc.) I always said that about my anonymity because people were more interested in who I wrote about or with.

ReadersRoom: I wanted to touch briefly on the biographies -- and ask what I suppose is a VERY unfair question, but here goes: Of all of the people you have written biographies of, who did you find the most personally fascinating, and why?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Well, of course, working with Dr. Graham was the privilege of a lifetime. And I became friends with Orel Hershiser. I'd have to say the most fascinating, however, was the subject of my very first book, an evangelist named Sammy Tippit. He is thoroughly committed to God and we have kept up over the years. I now serve on his board and he speaks at my writers conferences. In fact, I'll see him this week.

ReadersRoom: Another aspect of your career that I find fascinating - and something that I believe sets you apart from EVERY other New York Times best selling author is the fact that for many years you have written the Gil Thorpecomic strip. Could you tell us how you came about doing that?

Jerry B. Jenkins: The originator of that strip, the late Jack Berrill, liked my baseball novel (Youngest Hero, which was just optioned by Jason Alexander for a movie, by the way), and we developed a relationship by phone. I was shocked when I learned from his widow that he had left word he wanted me to take over the writing of the strip. I had never even met him. I wrote it from 1996 and will pass the torch in a couple of months.

ReadersRoom: Jerry, since we announced this chat we have received a LOT of questions from our readers. Would you answer a few of them for us?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Sure.

ReadersRoom: Edna E. Boone, North Carolina: It is impressive that you assisted Billy Graham with his memoirs. Just as I Am is one of my favorites. What was the most memorable part of working with Dr. Graham?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Finding out he was the same behind closed doors as his public persona. Truly devout, humble, genuine. I saw him again in August and he said the sweetest thing about his wife of 60 years. They are both in failing health, but he said "We've learned at this stage of our lives that we can continue our love affair with our eyes."

ReadersRoom: Frank J., Omaha, NE: You are a gifted businessman as much as you are an acclaimed writer. Have your children inherited this gift? Since you are a grandfather, have you published any books for toddlers or small children?

Jerry B. Jenkins: My eldest son runs our film company (www.jenkins-entertainment.com) in LA. Second son is assistant baseball coach at the Air Force Academy. Third son is a student at Colorado Christian U. No grandparenting books yet, but I've been approached.

ReadersRoom: Paul, Birmingham, England: I am legally blind and have thoroughly enjoyed purchasing and listening to all of the dramatic audio presentations of the Left Behind books as well as some of your other books as E-books. Will there be dramatic audios or E-books available at some point for other titles such as Apocalypse Dawn, End of State and Soon? Thanks again for doing such a great job of bringing the truth of our Lord to so many people around the world.

Jerry B. Jenkins: Thanks. Unfortunately the first reader was almost killed in a motorcycle accident two years ago and will not likely read again. I know nothing about Apocalypse Dawn or End of State, but Soon is on tape. I assume the others are too.

ReadersRoom: That first reader, of course, is Frank Muller -- and updates on his condition, I believe, are available at www.leftbehind.com. All of the Left Behind series are on tape, as are Apocalypse Dawn and End of State.

ReadersRoom: Rachel, Kapolei, HI: Hi Jerry! I have a question that I have been pondering for a while now, and I thought you might have the answer! When referring to the Anti-Christ, could he possibly emerge from the United States, or is it certain that he will emerge from a European or Middle Eastern country? Just keeping an eye out! Thanks for your time!

Jerry B. Jenkins: He will have Roman blood, but could come from anywhere. It's not likely we'll recognize him, however, as he will appear the opposite of his real self. Attractive, smart, engaging, loving. Most people will believe he's God incarnate.

ReadersRoom: Amy B.: I am an animal lover and even though I am gladly waiting my Lord's return, I get very sad to think that wonderful pets will be left behind for people to kill or hurt. In your first book you wrote that the animals suddenly got sick and all died, however, in one of your later books, you have a pig and a dog. I am so concerned about this because I have five cats and the thought of them being left behind makes me cry. I have prayed for my pets and other animals that the Lord have mercy on them that they be lifted out also. What is your input on it? I just can't imagine a true heaven without my pets being there.

Jerry B. Jenkins: I don't recall anything about animals getting sick and dying. We know there will be animals in the afterlife--the lion will lie down with the lamb--and while scripture doesn't speak about pets, neither is there reason to believe they won't be there.

ReadersRoom: And this is the last reader's question. Kip, Lancaster, WI: I have heard that there is a writer's course that Mr. Jenkins or Mr. LaHaye is teaching online. Is this true? If so, how can I get more info about it.

Jerry B. Jenkins: www.ChristianWritersGuild.com

ReadersRoom: Thank you for answering those. Jerry, Left Behind has also branched out into the Left Behind: The Kids series, for young adult readers. Can you tell us a bit about that series -- and are you directly involved in the writing of those novels?

Jerry B. Jenkins: I wrote the first five, then began working with Mr. Chris Fabry, an old friend and children's writer, who has written the rest with my supervision.

ReadersRoom: And there are now, I believe, 33 of them?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Probably more. There will be a total of 40, and we're close to finishing.

ReadersRoom: One of the things I noticed about all the books -- but that I found particularly true of Glorious Appearing-- is that even though you are dealing with dire times and events, as a writer you still manage to interject a good amount of humor into the story. Is this something you need to work at, or does it come naturally?

Jerry B. Jenkins: I love humor, but it is hard to accomplish on paper, especially, as you say, in such a series. I usually use bureaucratic buffoons as foils.

ReadersRoom: Did you find it easier to write the good guys or the bad guys in the Left Behind series?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Never thought about it. Bad guys are more fun though.

ReadersRoom: Speaking of humor, some of the funniest scenes revolve around Leon Fortunato -- and that's why I asked. You seemed to have a good time with him.

Jerry B. Jenkins: Like I say, a bureaucratic buffoon.

ReadersRoom: One thing our readers who are also writers are always interested in is the work habits of our guests. Could you tell us what a "typical" work day is for Jerry B. Jenkins?

Jerry B. Jenkins: I write only on deadline, getting away to a place in the mountains. I call it the cave, though it's very nice, because in my office there I have no phone, TV, internet, radio...just the computer. All I can do is procrastinate or write, and I usually do a good bit of both. When I'm on deadline, I only write. All other times, I'm at The Writing Stable next to my home, trying to keep up with the media, the film company, and the writers guild. We have eight full time staff. I also travel about half the time.

ReadersRoom: So when you write, you WRITE -- and the rest of the time you keep up with the business aspects?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Exactly. Lots of family time too. Anything other than writing I consider down time.

ReadersRoom: There have thus far been two films made of the Left Behind novels. Were you happy with how they came out, and will there be any more made?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Hey, how about those Chicago Cubs?

ReadersRoom: Um, moving right along ....

Jerry B. Jenkins: The rights are in litigation. We'd love to get them back.

ReadersRoom: So, what is next for Jerry B. Jenkins in the coming year?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Christian Writers Guild Writing for the Soul conference here in the Springs Thursday through Sunday (Anne Graham Lotz, Joni Eareckson Tada, Sammy Tippit, etc.), then to Chicago for Moody board meetings, then (whew) to Hawaii for 2 weeks. Then lots of traveling and speaking. Book 13 (in the Left Behind series) due to Tyndale in November, a Christmas novella due to Integrity in January, and then they bury me.

ReadersRoom: Let's hope not -- and WE better let you get back to work!

Jerry B. Jenkins: Oh, yeah, another CWG writers conference at the Billy Graham Cove in August (Philip Yancey and Gloria Gaither).

ReadersRoom: Finally, Jerry, is there anything you would like to say to your millions of fans who might read this interview at ReadersRoom.com?

Jerry B. Jenkins: Great to be with you. Thanks for your support.

ReadersRoom: Jerry B. Jenkins, thank you for joining us here today, and best of luck in all your upcoming endeavors!

Jerry B. Jenkins: Thanks! Bye!




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