So, please help me welcome Evan Bollinger promoting his book The Followers to my blog.
He's a very interesting author and person and very kind. He's been great so please check out his interview:
Tell me a bit about yourself:
I’m easy going but hard to get to know.
When not writing, I enjoy running, reading, and making up words. I’m a huge fan
of dry comedy/satire, and I love a good Lager. I prefer dogs over cats, tea
over coffee, and have been known to wear pajama pants in most public places.
Oh, and I like the smell of gasoline…
What type of genre do you write?
I try to dabble, but I think my strength
might be horror and suspense. I like to immerse myself in the senses of a world
before moving along with the plot.
What genre to you personally read?
Personally, I’ve read everything from
metaphysics to erotica. I want to experience all the genres, but I typically
gravitate toward fantasy, horror and suspense. I read what I read, write what I
read. Usually some kind of fiction (with shock value) is my go-to.
Tell me about your latest?
The Followers is a horror/mystery/suspense
hybrid. It’s a novella that traces the psychological boundaries of everyday
life, and introduces some especially eerie beings…
Where is your book available?
My book is available on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007OYPOL0/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1YVWJGDAF71N5VXSJ7RW&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846
Where you live and one thing you love about
it
I live in Maryland. Firstly, I love the
crabs and Old Bay seasoning—nothing like it! I also love the rural nature of my
home. There are plenty of rolling hills and trees and quiet streams—it’s a
great place to go running, playing, or simply to clear your mind.
Website:
What sparked your passion for books and the
art of a good story?
Books are about turning a blind eye to your
issues and letting your mind’s eye roam free. They’re about escape, and
alteration—books bring us into our own minds and sometimes into those of
others. I think that a good story is like looking through a window into another
realm. Because I’ve always been a space cadet, reading and writing books seemed
like a natural progression. A good story is hard to touch—and even harder to
define. But somehow, somewhere, you know what it is.
Is there a particular book that changed or
affected your life in a big way?
50 Shades of Grey. Just kidding… I would
have to say the Hobbit. I read it when I was young, and the vastness and
complexity of Tolkien’s world just blew my mind. Honestly, I can remember
looking at farmland around me and thinking I was in The Shire, and wishing that
little people with hairy feet would just pop up out of the ground. Tolkien was
genius.
What was the seed of inspiration for your
latest book?
The Followers is the nexus of many ideas.
There's nostalgia for the freedom of youth, anguish, fantasy, and the dark
underbelly of even life's smallest moments. I wanted to incorporate thoughts of
life's meaning and structure--of the Multiverse. I wanted elements of horror,
and the intrigue of beings that we have never seen, that we may not comprehend when
we do.
Is there a message in your book that you
want readers to grasp?
The Followers is a lot of different things for
a lot of different reasons. I don't think it has the same meaning for any one
person. And it shouldn't. If anything, I guess people should just realize that
everything goes so much deeper than we think. That our world, our reality,
could instantly change.
What challenges have you faced in your
writing career?
The challenge of self-promotion and
marketing is a big one. Finding your audience, having the confidence to really
sell yourself and beef yourself up and act like you’ve got the big bad books
that everybody wants. Alright, alright... that’s a slight exaggeration—but you
get the idea.
What has been your best moment as a writer?
My stories are always seen first in a
snapshot. I typically have a dream, and then that dream becomes the first scene
of the book. It’s awesome. That moment is that dream. I used to do nothing with
my dreams. Now I try to channel them.
Who is your author idol?
I honestly can’t pick one. I idolize
authors like Camus and Salinger. I like existentialism and I also love Stephen
King and Bradbury and Puzo. I idolize big-time authors who can sell out their
eyeballs. But then again, I like the smaller guys who have ‘niche’ markets. So
not really sure if I answered the question…
Do you see yourself in any of your
characters?
There’s a little bit of me in all my
characters. There’s also a little bit of everybody I’ve ever met and
remembered. Whether consciously or unconsciously.
Do you feel like your dream has come true
or is there much more to do?
Oh no, I’m still chasing the dream. Maybe
one day I’ll catch it.
What is your personal cure for
procrastination?
Running. I go out, I sweat, I get tired, I
come back, and I try to get done what I have to get done. Sometimes, a nice
long shower can help. Or a bowl of ice cream.
What does your workspace look like?
Extremely disorganized. I was actually
recognized as having the messiest binder in high school. For some reason I’m
proud of this.
Have you ever had a day when you just
wanted to quit?
Sure… and these days can lead to a pattern
of negative thoughts. You just gotta break the pattern before it becomes
engrained. We’re all human so why shouldn’t we feel like poop every now and
again? The thing is giving yourself a break, giving yourself that time, and
coming back recharged. Sometimes, you just need a cold beer.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I watch people from afar and judge them.
Well not really, but I do like to people-watch. I like to watch Family Guy,
South Park, shows about nothing, and I also enjoy a quality banana split
sundae. I occasionally do odd jobs when not working in the school system.
What are the most important attributes to remaining
sane as a writer?
I guess a lot of writers are a little
insane, but to keep themselves productive, it’s good for them to have short
term goals. I think it helps to expect something reasonable, then work from
there. We all want to be best-selling, but it’s one thing to sit around
dreaming about it and it’s another thing to take the million small steady steps
to maybe one day get there.
What was the greatest thing you learned at
school?
I went to Middle School in a very rural
area—big on agriculture. In order to pass the required Agriscience class, we
had to take a tractor-driving test. The day I was scheduled to weave in and out
of these three little cones, it snowed. It snowed hard.
My run was cancelled and I never got
rescheduled. It was then that I learned, without a doubt, that snow and I would
have a long lasting relationship.
Did you have a moment when you realised you
were meant to be a writer
There was never a single moment. I was
always pretty good at writing papers in school—and was a huge procrastinator
about it. My family and friends and teachers have always told me I have talent.
I’ve done my best to take that to heart, while staying grounded. I believe I
still have a lot of work to go. Which is exciting.
What advice would you give to aspiring
authors?
Stay the grind. Expose yourself on all the
blogs, networks, websites—just keep putting your name out there. It’s important
to view everything as part of a process. Never isolate any one success or
failure—allow everything to inform your creative process.
After this book, what is next?
I’m currently seeking a publisher for my
first full-length scifi/horror novel. It’s a pretty cool story called Marin’s
Dale, and part of it can be found at Wattpad.com.
You can find Evan at the following locations:
http://meandermin.blogspot.com/
Your blog?
http://meandermin.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EBallzz
Please thank Evan for joining us today and check out his new book The Followers!
Keep Reading!
Jodie Pierce
Good interview Jodie and Evan. Best wishes!
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