Joe Evener joins us in the author spotlight. He started writing his book series in 2005 during his first year of college (he was 41 years old at the time), after being inspired by a freshman writing class, which had the first three books of Harry Potter as textbooks, and Classical Mythology 101. The combination of the two classes fueled the flames of a couple of stories locked away in his mind. While Joe always had a vivid imagination, he just had to put the idea on paper.
I am thrilled to have you join me today. Please tell us more about your fantasy novel, The Heart of Seras: Journey to Seras.
Julie Ayers is a normal fifteen-year-old living in the quiet town of Sunset, Ohio. Her world is turned upside down by the arrival of the school’s new teacher, Marcus Campbell.
Marcus Campbell has a secret. He is a warrior from a medieval dimension searching for the mythical "Heart"-a hero given to the people of Seras to rid their world of impending evil. Marcus’s quest is challenged when he realizes that the "Heart" is the vibrant teenage girl. Now, against his better judgment, he must try convincing Julie to go to his world and begin preparation to face whatever evil lies ahead.
Journey to Seras is the first book in the five part The Heart of Seras fantasy series. It begins the adventures of the two unlikely heroes as they battle the dark forces of Seras.
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The book sounds intriguing. How did you come up with the idea for this series?
First, I want to thank you for this opportunity. I really appreciate your time. As I mentioned earlier, the experience of reading Harry Potter, and taking the Mythology class in college, I really got inspired to the point that I could not not write this story. I started to put that together with my love of books, television and movies like Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Highlander, The Hobbit and many others. I came up with an idea in which a normal teenage girl is whisked away into a medieval time by a trusted teacher who has a secret and is really a warrior with an even darker secret. Early on, I joked that if you could picture Buffy the Vampire Slayer being in Tolkien’s Middle Earth, you would get a good idea of what I was putting together. Julie is the combination of Buffy, and the experiences I have had coaching girls over the past twenty years. Marcus Campbell is in many ways, Giles (BtVS) /Duncan MacLeod (Highlander) on Earth, and Maximus Meridius (Gladiator)/Angel/Wolverine in Seras.
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What would you say is the most challenging part of writing a book?
Time, definitely time. Between being a husband, father, grandfather, teacher and coach, I sometimes struggle in balancing everything. Finding time to sit down and write continuously is difficult. As a first year teacher, I spend a lot of my time making lesson plans and grading papers. I try to work in an hour or so of writing every night, even if it’s just a paragraph or two.
I’m sure you agree that marketing also makes it difficult to find time to write. Writers need a few extra hours added into the day. Do you need visual media to describe people or places? (Some authors use pics. out of magazines)
I do. I have taken pictures of key areas in my hometown and other nearby places that serve as inspiration to my imaginary Sunset, Ohio, and I have a picture album of people or combinations of people who are “models” of many of my characters. Sometimes when I am stuck, the pictures help guide me along.
This is fantastic information and I am excited to read your book. I would like to take a few minutes to introduce readers to the man behind the book. I hope you don’t mind answering a few silly personal questions. I promise not to get too personal. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a World War II fighter pilot. I would devour books about the Flying Tigers and General Claire Chennault. When I finally realized World War II ended nineteen years before I was born and I couldn’t be a Flying Tiger, I switched to wanting to be a superhero or a teacher.
What are your favorite TV shows?
I am a T.V. junkie. My current favorites are Castle, Supernatural, Modern Family, Once Upon a Time, The Crazy Ones, New Girl, S.H.I.E.L.D., Grimm, and Sleepy Hollow. In the past, I have loved Lost, Firefly, Buffy TVS, Angel, Highlander, Magnum P.I., Wild Wild West, and Hogan’s Heroes.
Joe, thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Before we end this portion of the interview, please provide links to your book.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/journey-to-seras-joe-evener/1117448960?ean=2940149013968
http://www.roguephoenixpress.com/
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Readers can join us at www.writergirlkatie.wordpress.com for a continuation of Joe Evener’s interview.
If you would like to step into the author spotlight, contact Katie at www.katie-mcknight-author.com
