Frolic: Where did the idea for this book come from?
J.D. Netto: The idea came to me last year when I was flying back from NYC’s Comic Con. I had just finished touring my last book, The Whispers of the Fallen: Descent and I kept thinking about the stories people had shared with me when talking about books. They’d often tell me of these beautiful moments where they picked up book and their lives were forever changed. I’m talking about stories where people went from being extremely ill to feeling healthy again. It was then I decided to use my platform to give them a voice—a chance to share their stories. So over Christmas break last year, I created the SBTP website and launched the movement. I was humbled by all the support from readers around the world. We received so many stories in such a short amount of time.
What are five books that have been life-savers for you?
Oh, this is a tough one, but let’s give this one a try.
1 – The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
2 – The Shack by William P. Young
3 – The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
4 – Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
5 – The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
What inspired you to make this an anthology versus a personal memoir?
I wanted to give readers a voice. I wanted them to write their personal stories and share them with the world. I’ve heard so many powerful stories in the last five years at events and signings. They needed to be shared with the world in some way.
You refer to “Saved by the Page” as a movement – where do you see this movement going in the future?
I see this movement as a gathering of people who stand for justice, freedom, and for each other; individuals who encourage one another and understand the power of the written word. At the end of the day, we all want to be loved and accepted.
What kind of positive feedback have you gotten on this book?
Many people have praised the anthology for showing the world the power of books. These are real stories lived—and written—by real people.
What do you hope this book will give readers?
Just that—hope. When we feel lost or confused, our vision of the world narrows and we tend to focus in our struggles. I hope this project can help the world see beyond grief and despair.