Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve always loved writing and perhaps that comes from having an over active imagination. My first attempt at fiction was introducing a trilogy entitled, A Life Awakening. The first book under that title was Whispers From Within, which came out in August of 2014. The second book in the Ethan Elliot series, was entitled Moving On From Memories Past. I just released the last book in the series which is entitled, Living My Life On My Terms.
I’m currently completing a psychological thriller that takes place during the Great Depression and is brought into our current time period though a series of events that the reader will never see coming.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Living My Life On My Terms was inspired by a close friend’s struggle in recognizing and then accepting the fact that he is bisexual. I developed the character of Ethan Elliot to portray the obstacles one meets in learning to deal with such life situations, and having to make difficult decisions that will affect the rest of his life.
In the first book, Whispers From Within (12,380 words), Ethan is devastated over the breakup with a girl friend, Jennifer. Ethan’s spirit guide, William, tells the story in the fist book. William coaxes Ethan to change the scenery and leave his home in New York to take a job as a waiter in San Antonio, where Ethan meets new friends, and gains new insights. In the second book, Moving On from Memories Past (38,376 words), Ethan begins telling his own story in first person, and goes into his entire two-year relationship with Jennifer, trying to understand what went wrong. The third book, Living My Life on My Terms (136,736 words), begins at a turning point in Ethan’s life, when he is offered a job as a photographer for a new travel magazine being launched by his best friend, Mark, back in New York. Of course he takes the job, and the two friends set off on journeys to distant parts of the world, gathering stories and photos for the new magazine. Meanwhile, Ethan begins investigating the possibility that souls choose the lives they want to live before entering this world, and learns that one can find true happiness only when he follows the path his own soul has chosen. Ethan’s ego often has led him down a wrong path, but William is always present, speaking to him in quiet times and in dreams, nudging him back onto the path of true happiness. In the end, both Ethan and Mark begin to understand that their lives were meant to be lived together.
This trilogy, my first attempt at fiction, was written to offer a new perspective to people who are confused and striving to find happiness rather than molding themselves to the whims of society. I hope they will be inspired to ignore the opinions of others, and to listen to that still small voice inside us all, that knows the correct path our souls have chosen that will bring each of us true happiness.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The only one that comes to mind is writing a maximum of 5,000 words per day and I usually do my best thinking at night. I then spend the following day going over what was written the day before and make any changes that I feel will enhance the story line.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Far too many to name, but have always enjoyed reading John Grisham, Steven King as well as many authors of poetry.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently completing a psychological thriller that takes place during the Great Depression in the deep south during 1933. After a series of murders a young girl and her mother are thrown into a whirlwind after a local man they know is murdered. The story then advances to the current year 2015 where a psychiatrist tries aiding a patient who has developed a fear of singing and after a series of past life regressions, comes to understand just how interconnected our lives really are.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
sites like Awesomegang are excellent outlets, but there are also other options to explore. One such option is finding an agent and the second is working with a great P.R. firm that will create a killer press release for you. You can have the best product in the world, but if they don’t know about it, it simply doesn’t sell.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep at it. If you are as passionate about writing, be prepared for failure even though you believe your story is great. Never take no for an answer and keep writing until you find the right combination of promotional tools that work best for you. Above all, you’ll need a good professional editor working with you.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up.
What are you reading now?
The only thing I’m concentrating on at the moment is completing the psychological thriller I’m currently working on.
What’s next for you as a writer?
After completing a current story I have half finished, I will be working on a book of poetry.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I guess if I were stranded on a desert island, I might want to have a copy of How To Survive In The Wild by John Weisman.
Author Websites and Profiles
Ryan Stevenson Website
Ryan Stevenson Author Profile on Smashwords