Debut author Jordan Berk reflects on the true nature of time travel in his new novel, The Timestream Verdict

8/29/2024

IngramElliott’s latest author, Jordan Berk, is more than meets the eye. He's a software engineer by trade, and a self-proclaimed "nerd by nature." He also writes songs for piano, plays basketball, travels, and now . . . writes science fiction!

Tackling the mind-bending complexities, potential world-changing ramifications and confounding ethical quandaries associated with time travel, The Timestream Verdict not only spans several fiction genres, but finds an inventive new way to tell the classic story of an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances that is certain to resonate with readers of all interests and backgrounds.

A Time-Travel Crime Calls For a Time-Travel Jury
When a time-traveling jury is summoned to rule on the first-ever case of time-travel murder, they must reach a verdict on the nature of time itself.

Thought-provoking, tinged with humor, mystery and action, rich in characterization and a genuine page-turner, The Timestream Verdict is certain to delight fans of time travel novels and legal thrillers alike.

Is it in the genes?
Jordan has loved time travel stories for as long as he can remember, which is why it’s no surprise to those who know him that his first-ever novel would be in that genre. He also grew up around the world of writing, film, and television. Jordan is the grandson of noted screenwriter and novelist Howard Berk, whose credits included Columbo, Mission: Impossible and The Rockford Files. Jordan’s father is Peter Berk, co-author (with Howard Berk) of IngramElliott’s award-winning TimeLock series of action/sci-fi novels and the author of a political legal thriller, First Line of Defense, available October 1.

"It’s got a little bit for everyone, but I think anyone who loves technological forecasting and intricate time travel plotting will especially appreciate it."

About the book

Aaron Barnett falls asleep as an ordinary 1980s accountant and wakes up sixty years later as a juror for the trial of the century. As he soon learns, the utopian society of 2042 is grappling with the murder of the legendary scientist deemed the ‘mother of time travel.' And only this jury of inadvertent time travelers is equipped to reach an impartial verdict.

Once the shock of his situation begins to wear off, Aaron finds the world of the mid twenty-first century to be a paradise. Far removed from his monotonous life, he savors the advancements and luxuries that the seemingly idyllic future has to offer.

Unfortunately, Aaron’s initial euphoria is shattered once he uncovers the complicated, hidden truths behind time travel, and realizes that his own past, present, and future are suddenly at risk. Because the harsh reality is that Aaron and his fellow jurors may be ruling on far more than a lone case of temporal homicide. They may be delivering a verdict on the very nature of time itself.

Interview with author Jordan Berk

We caught up with the author recently for an exclusive interview about the launch of the novel, The Timestream Verdict, on September 10, 2024.

What do you most hope will be the reaction of readers to your book?

To every reader, I hope they enjoy it as a worthwhile, well-plotted story, and maybe chuckle a few times along the way. To the time travel aficionado, I hope they are intrigued by the central question that drives the decisions of the characters: what is the true nature of (fictional) time travel?

Who is your first reader – who do you first show your work to?
On Father’s Day, 2022, I handed my dad an unmarked manilla envelope. Inside was the first
copy of the just-completed Timestream Verdict (though not yet with that name): the fully-formed version of a loose idea that he had pitched to me two years prior and had surely
forgotten about since. The idea always resonated with me, and after a few months of noodling on it, I started the long writing process, always with the intention of culminating with the gift. Other than my wife, nobody was even aware of the ongoing work; it was a surprise to everyone and especially my brother, who gave him tennis racket-shaped pasta. (Not that it’s a competition.) My dad and I spent the next couple months refining and expanding the book as collaborators, and also settled on the Timestream Verdict title together.

What genre do you generally write, and have you considered other genres?
Time travel fiction of all kinds has always called to me; I find it to be the most compelling genre given the unprecedented level of storytelling possibility. It’s not a coincidence that my favorite movie (Back to the Future) and favorite novel (Replay) are both in the genre, and yet even these two examples are wildly different in how they use the device. However fictional it may be, it’s the only genre in which I feel qualified to write.

Tell me a little about your book’s title and what it represents?
The title has two meanings. One is literal, as the protagonist is a time-traveling juror who must reach a critical verdict. The other cuts deeper into the core of the story, which ultimately is about how each character’s perspective on the mutability of the timestream dictates their choices and actions.

Writing a novel can be personal. Did you ever question whether to include or exclude
any of your personal experiences or feelings?
While it’s not intensely personal, I pulled in as much as possible from my own history. Aaron, the protagonist, shares many of my more introverted and antisocial tendencies, though he is ultimately braver and more affable than I’ll ever be. And bits of dialogue or humor were pulled from personal experience, to add relatability and realism, and because I’m not nearly imaginative enough to come up with it on my own.

Where do you find joy in life?
Anywhere I can! Beyond the usual and most important source – spending time with friends and family – I love to sit down at a piano and write songs. I can’t sing, and have never played with anyone else, but I find it peaceful and fulfilling. Beyond that, I play basketball as much as I can. I’m gangly, awkward, and can’t jump over a sheet of paper, but I’ve got a mean mid-range jump shot, and it helps a lot that I’m tall. I also love traveling, watching television, and of course: writing sci-fi!

What is your favorite scene in your book? Why?
I’m particularly partial to the jury deliberation scene that comprises the bulk of chapter fourteen. It was inspired by 12 Angry Men, and I tried to follow that beloved, classic film’s blueprint of one (or in this case two) jurors taking on the burden of convincing their peers of the correct verdict using logic, reasoning, and healthy skepticism. And, during the writing process, I intentionally avoided seeding the trial with little clues in anticipation of this chapter. Instead, I was making the same logical extrapolations that I wrote for Aaron as I went along. I also really like the defense attorney’s closing statement that comes shortly before. My mom always said I would make a good lawyer; maybe she was right?

The Timestream Verdict is available September 10, 2024, in print and e-Book. Pre-order today at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Rakuten Kobo or wherever books are sold.

About the author
Jordan Berk is a software engineer by trade and a certified nerd by nature. He has loved time-travel stories for as long as he can remember, and The Timestream Verdict is his first contribution to the genre. In addition to writing, he enjoys basketball, technology, and amateur songwriting (even though he can’t sing to save his life). He lives with his wonderful wife and two kids near Los Angeles, California.

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