Author Interview
What books have influenced you and why?
Fantasy fiction has always been my favorite genre. Ever since I picked up a copy of “The Hobbit” as a child, I instantly fell in love with the ability of temporarily escaping reality by visiting vivid new worlds and meeting intriguing characters. The “Song of Fire and Ice” series by George R. R. Martin is a more recent particular favorite of mine. The man is a literary genius.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
I constantly take inspiration from the numerous sources I encounter each day. My creativity is augmented by books, tv shows, movies, video games, music and my world travels. Authors are only limited by the shear bounds of their imagination.
What does literary success look like to you?
I’ve always loved to read…that was a given, but actually having my writing published by traditional means has definitely been an item on my bucket list. Besides that, I am excited to see how folks connect with my story. Every writer yearns for validation, and I look forward to hearing from my readers regarding their thoughts on my book. My true hope is that they experience the same thrill of discovery that I experienced as a young reader when immersing myself in a great work of fantasy.
What’s your favorite trait and/or weakness with your protagonist?
Same with your antagonist?Whether we are taking about a hero or a villain, I strive to make my characters relatable and believable. I want readers to see a bit of themselves (the bad and the good) in all of the people I write about. Just like in the real world, no person is wholly good or completely evil. Flawed protagonists are far more interesting than someone who is boringly predictable. Conversely, conflicted antagonists might elicit empathy from a reader. It’s a more emotional investment for any booklover if characters are more complex and multi-faceted.
Do you have a routine you follow when you write?
I don’t force myself to write if I don’t feel like it. If you write from the standpoint of “having to get several pages done today,” then what you create will most likely not be all that good. Write when you’re in the mood, and let your imaginings flow naturally. Writing a book is like polishing a gemstone. You might start with a very rough hunk of diamond, but constant and repeated polishing will eventually form a beautiful jewel. Much like that, I start with a very rough sketch for each chapter to get the basic structure down. Numerous editions later to “fine tune” the words will hopefully produce a good piece of literature. That’s the hope anyway.
What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you?
I welcome feedback from readers. Feel free to hop on my Facebook https://m.facebook.com/paul.mcgowan.5036 or website https://pfmcgowan.wixsite.com/evernight and let me know what you think of the book.
