With the release of his new book and companion album, The Fourteenth Colony, Iowa City based writer and singer/songwriter, Jason T. Lewis has begun a new chapter in his unique creative life. I first met Lewis as my TA in a fiction writing class at the University of Iowa in 2006, when he was at the time in the renowned Iowa Writer's Workshop. Yesterday, I was able to discuss with him about his current role as both author and musician.
Lewis' novel, The Fourteenth Colony, explores many themes inspired by many events which he personally experienced. "The book follows John Martin, a singer/songwriter who comes back to his hometown after his career flattens out. He wants to take some time to get himself back together, but the town and family he comes back to are just as bad off as he is and he's the only one left to hold it all together."
Along with the novel, Lewis released a musical album which he intends as either a companion to the book yet also be able to stand on its own. As one reviewer of his book writes, "I can't decide if this is a great CD accompanied by a good book, or a great book accompanied by a good CD."
"The songs are intended to be the songs that the main character would have written," Lewis explained. "I named a couple songs in a chapter and thought it would be cool to try to write those songs, just as an exercise to see if I could get his voice. I kind of liked them and when I knew the book was going to come out, I thought it would be fun to write a few more. I ended up with eight songs."
The combination of a book and album is something that I haven't seen often and rarely as well-orchestrated as The Fourteenth Colony. I asked Lewis to elaborate on his use of audio and visual mediums to convey his story. "I've written about music on and off since I started writing and I think I've explored similar themes in both. I think in some way my prose is more "musical" because of my background with writing music. I think a lot about the flow and sound of the prose in a different way than some writers.
The blending of the music and writing was kind of an accident. I hadn't really thought about doing that until late in the writing of the book. Then once I started writing the songs for the book it was like I was always supposed to do that, but I didn't see it coming before."
Funding the entire project with a successful Kickstarter.com campaign, Lewis recorded the album with his band, Sad Iron Music, and from his many years of experience and connections in print media, he was able to release The Fourteenth Colony independently. "I ended up getting more money from the Kickstarter than I originally asked for so we did basic tracks at Flat Black Studios in Iowa City, did the overdubs [in his home studio], and I hired local engineer Pete Becker to mix. I did all the design for the book myself and had an editor friend edit, as well as my intern and myself."
I then asked Lewis what the future held in store for him and The Fourteenth Colony to which he answered, "I'd like to do a tour, but I'm not sure when. I've done readings and shows in spurts since the book came out, [along with] three book fairs as well now and I'm thinking of doing more. I'm also reading at eh Coral Ridge Mall Barnes & Noble on April 28th.
The great thing about this project is I can do book stores, coffee houses, clubs, book fairs, and conventions... it's pretty cool. I"m hoping to do a series of house concerts as well, maybe in the fall."
You can read reviews and the first chapter of his book and order The Fourteenth Colony on Jason T. Lewis' website, sadironpress.com
Please login to post.