Ask the Author: Evan Yarema
Answered Questions (9)
Evan Yarema
I'm sorry. I can't do that in two sentences. I wish I could but I can't. It's not within my abilities, even though I really want to. The truth is that I'm not a 'horror writer', I'm a *character writer*. I can make you fall in love with a character through their humor, their quirks, their struggles, their backgrounds, and their dialogue. I can put a name on a page and make them a real person. I strive to do that for my readers, because I simply can't write a book about a character that I don't care about. It's hard to fall in love with an imaginary person, but I work hard to do it with each book. Every author has one thing that they're especially good at, and I like to think that's what I do well.
What makes my stories scary is that I'll take these characters that you start to bond with, and I'll put them in a situation that they may or may not survive. Because the fear for a life (to me) IS horror. To me, seeing Freddy Krueger slash up a nameless goofball wasn't scary. Seeing him slash up someone that I felt a connection to, a personal bond with, or a larger-than-life opinion of scared the hell out of me.
So whether I do it through a serial killer, or a ghost, a lunatic, or a situation that just kind of sucks... my stories are about a character and a situation spiraling beyond their control. And we've all been there. We've all had a moment where we look at our world crumbling around us and whisper with despair "I don't know what to do."
That's what I try to convey in my stories: A person who is a hero, flawed, real, damaged, cool and crazy assessing a situation. And their only thought is "I don't know what to do."
What makes my stories scary is that I'll take these characters that you start to bond with, and I'll put them in a situation that they may or may not survive. Because the fear for a life (to me) IS horror. To me, seeing Freddy Krueger slash up a nameless goofball wasn't scary. Seeing him slash up someone that I felt a connection to, a personal bond with, or a larger-than-life opinion of scared the hell out of me.
So whether I do it through a serial killer, or a ghost, a lunatic, or a situation that just kind of sucks... my stories are about a character and a situation spiraling beyond their control. And we've all been there. We've all had a moment where we look at our world crumbling around us and whisper with despair "I don't know what to do."
That's what I try to convey in my stories: A person who is a hero, flawed, real, damaged, cool and crazy assessing a situation. And their only thought is "I don't know what to do."
Evan Yarema
Oh gosh. My books? Or ones by other authors?
If it's other authors, I 100% would want to be in Michael Crichton's "The Lost World". To me, that book is the epitome of every adventure I've ever had a craving for when spring turns to summer. That novel is like a camping trip, only way more dangerous! The first chapters alone fill me with a sense of excitement (no matter how many times I reread it). I relate to the characters so well that by the end of the book, they feel like my friends. When I was a kid, I identified with the characters Arby and Kelly, and wanted to stow away with them to the island. Now as an adult, I like to think I'd make a pretty good weapons expert on the team. Plus, it's an expedition to a dinosaur island! Who WOULDN'T want to be a part of that? What would I do there? Hopefully survive!
As my own novels are concerned...
Well I've already lived and experienced The Eyes and The Knaves (more than the average reader would guess... although for liability reasons: The events featured within said novels are fictitious, blah blah blah...) and I wouldn't recommend living many of the experiences that I have. But, I would totally be cool with living in The Loners. In fact, much of the theme of that novel is about wanderers who find a comfort zone. The town, and the apartment that they make their "headquarters" is pretty much my dream comfort zone. Likewise, the case and the killer aren't beyond my realm of knowledge, so spending nights hunkering down with that group would be fine with me.
What would I do in that novel? Probably just hang out with the four loners and function as the fifth wheel that orders pizza and adds comic relief.
If it's other authors, I 100% would want to be in Michael Crichton's "The Lost World". To me, that book is the epitome of every adventure I've ever had a craving for when spring turns to summer. That novel is like a camping trip, only way more dangerous! The first chapters alone fill me with a sense of excitement (no matter how many times I reread it). I relate to the characters so well that by the end of the book, they feel like my friends. When I was a kid, I identified with the characters Arby and Kelly, and wanted to stow away with them to the island. Now as an adult, I like to think I'd make a pretty good weapons expert on the team. Plus, it's an expedition to a dinosaur island! Who WOULDN'T want to be a part of that? What would I do there? Hopefully survive!
As my own novels are concerned...
Well I've already lived and experienced The Eyes and The Knaves (more than the average reader would guess... although for liability reasons: The events featured within said novels are fictitious, blah blah blah...) and I wouldn't recommend living many of the experiences that I have. But, I would totally be cool with living in The Loners. In fact, much of the theme of that novel is about wanderers who find a comfort zone. The town, and the apartment that they make their "headquarters" is pretty much my dream comfort zone. Likewise, the case and the killer aren't beyond my realm of knowledge, so spending nights hunkering down with that group would be fine with me.
What would I do in that novel? Probably just hang out with the four loners and function as the fifth wheel that orders pizza and adds comic relief.
Evan Yarema
Currently "Aliens Bug Hunt" by Jonathan Maberry. It's an anthology of short stories by dozens of very talented authors, who have each contributed their own 20 (or so) page story to the "Alien" franchise.
I was always a huge fan of the Alien movies-- especially the 2nd-- and learned about it through an interview with Cynthia Scott (who played one of the more short-lived Marines in the film). The stories expand on the Alien lore, as well as the back story of a lot of the more "red shirt" Marines who died early in the movie. Some of the stories are cheesier than others, but it's overall enjoyable in a light-hearted sci-fi buff kind of way.
Typically for summer reads, I prefer James Rollins, Matt Reilly, or Michael Crichton (I could reread Jurassic Park, Lost World, or Micro on an endless loop and be happy as a clam). Unfortunately I haven't had much time for reading this summer.
I was always a huge fan of the Alien movies-- especially the 2nd-- and learned about it through an interview with Cynthia Scott (who played one of the more short-lived Marines in the film). The stories expand on the Alien lore, as well as the back story of a lot of the more "red shirt" Marines who died early in the movie. Some of the stories are cheesier than others, but it's overall enjoyable in a light-hearted sci-fi buff kind of way.
Typically for summer reads, I prefer James Rollins, Matt Reilly, or Michael Crichton (I could reread Jurassic Park, Lost World, or Micro on an endless loop and be happy as a clam). Unfortunately I haven't had much time for reading this summer.
Evan Yarema
There's a lot of things that inspire me.
On a day to day basis, I'm in it for the characters. I live a pretty solitary life. As sad as it sounds, creating characters who I would want to be friends with is my way of filling that need for social interactions. We've all read a book, or book series, where we grew so attached to the characters that we didn't want the book to end. They really become like friends. When you're the author, it's that same feeling ten-fold. When it's your story, not only do you create the adventure with your characters, but you think about them so often that they take on a presence in your life that is stronger than any book written by someone else. I maintain my daily interest in writing through my desire to spend time with friends (as fictional as they may be).
In the long term, what inspires me to be a writer is fear. Since I was a kid, I've always wanted to be a big name writer. Some day I'll be on my death bed, and the one thing that scares me the most when that day comes is the fear of regret. In my last minutes, I do NOT want to look back on my life and think "I REALLY wanted to do this with my life. WHY didn't I try harder to make that happen?" If I fail, it won't be because I didn't try.
On a day to day basis, I'm in it for the characters. I live a pretty solitary life. As sad as it sounds, creating characters who I would want to be friends with is my way of filling that need for social interactions. We've all read a book, or book series, where we grew so attached to the characters that we didn't want the book to end. They really become like friends. When you're the author, it's that same feeling ten-fold. When it's your story, not only do you create the adventure with your characters, but you think about them so often that they take on a presence in your life that is stronger than any book written by someone else. I maintain my daily interest in writing through my desire to spend time with friends (as fictional as they may be).
In the long term, what inspires me to be a writer is fear. Since I was a kid, I've always wanted to be a big name writer. Some day I'll be on my death bed, and the one thing that scares me the most when that day comes is the fear of regret. In my last minutes, I do NOT want to look back on my life and think "I REALLY wanted to do this with my life. WHY didn't I try harder to make that happen?" If I fail, it won't be because I didn't try.
Evan Yarema
Like many of my story ideas, it starts with a character. One or two characters will pop into my head, who they are, how they interact with others, what unique qualities they have, etc.
In the case of my most recent (The Broken), I invented Blaire during a boring drive to the song "Heaven Knows" by the Pretty Reckless. For some reason, I envisioned this fearless (but very scary) military chick unhappy with her life for unfortunate reasons. I figured she was an ex-Army pilot with a touch of shame in her past and PTSD.
The pieces fell into place from there-- her dilemma would be not only having to once again fly a chopper, but to have to relive the horror of messing up and crashing it. And I wanted her in a position where she had to be the nurturer-- instead of being the lone cynic, the result of her crash would render much of the crew injured and force her to care for some of the less able-bodied teammates. This included a few guys that she didn't especially like.
The rest of the story was just a matter of filling in the gaps.
In the case of my most recent (The Broken), I invented Blaire during a boring drive to the song "Heaven Knows" by the Pretty Reckless. For some reason, I envisioned this fearless (but very scary) military chick unhappy with her life for unfortunate reasons. I figured she was an ex-Army pilot with a touch of shame in her past and PTSD.
The pieces fell into place from there-- her dilemma would be not only having to once again fly a chopper, but to have to relive the horror of messing up and crashing it. And I wanted her in a position where she had to be the nurturer-- instead of being the lone cynic, the result of her crash would render much of the crew injured and force her to care for some of the less able-bodied teammates. This included a few guys that she didn't especially like.
The rest of the story was just a matter of filling in the gaps.
Evan Yarema
In a lot of ways, I feel like I never outgrew the imagination that I had as a kid. When I was young, I had a "squad" of GI Joes. I used to log hours with my toys, imagining cool adventures and story-lines for them, then having them play out those scenarios and gunfights.
When I started to notice girls and began to phase out of toys (age 20? lol, jk), I always felt like something was missing. The desire to play with toys was gone, but the imagination still lingered-- like an itch that I couldn't scratch.
Writing allowed me a way to scratch that itch. I could immerse myself in a fantasy world that I completely created, with people that I made up. But I could do it in a way that explored my psychology, and also wasn't a creepy 'Normal Bates' sort of past time.
In short, writing allows me to be a kid who never grew up.
When I started to notice girls and began to phase out of toys (age 20? lol, jk), I always felt like something was missing. The desire to play with toys was gone, but the imagination still lingered-- like an itch that I couldn't scratch.
Writing allowed me a way to scratch that itch. I could immerse myself in a fantasy world that I completely created, with people that I made up. But I could do it in a way that explored my psychology, and also wasn't a creepy 'Normal Bates' sort of past time.
In short, writing allows me to be a kid who never grew up.
Evan Yarema
You have to love it. The job itself has to be its own reward to you, because there's a very low chance of success, and an even lower chance to make much (if any) money.
Writing has to be your hobby. Above anything else, you do it because you want to immerse yourself in a story in a way that simply reading it can't do. If nobody ever reads anything that I've written, it wasn't time wasted, because I loved stepping into a world and creating it, and creating people and spending time with them. To me that was fulfilling. Any publicity or notoriety that follows is just a little perk.
Once you're at that point and have decided to enter the world of publishing, I strongly advise you to have thick skin, brace for soul-crushing rejection, and don't quit your day job! It's very fickle, it's very selective, and it's very mean, so dig your heels in and hang in there.
Writing has to be your hobby. Above anything else, you do it because you want to immerse yourself in a story in a way that simply reading it can't do. If nobody ever reads anything that I've written, it wasn't time wasted, because I loved stepping into a world and creating it, and creating people and spending time with them. To me that was fulfilling. Any publicity or notoriety that follows is just a little perk.
Once you're at that point and have decided to enter the world of publishing, I strongly advise you to have thick skin, brace for soul-crushing rejection, and don't quit your day job! It's very fickle, it's very selective, and it's very mean, so dig your heels in and hang in there.
Evan Yarema
I'm in the process of editing the third book in my "Loners series." With spring finally here, I get wicked cravings for summer time outdoor adventures; that's just what this new one is.
Editing for me is a bit of a laborious crawl that involves reading, rereading, and having others read the manuscript. I once heard a quote on one of those HGTV house listing shows: "People are blind to their own dirt." For me, editing is rough because I'm blind to my own errors (typing too fast that I omit words, use the wrong tense, etc).
I'm hoping I can get it done by May in time for a book signing reveal. Wish me luck!
Editing for me is a bit of a laborious crawl that involves reading, rereading, and having others read the manuscript. I once heard a quote on one of those HGTV house listing shows: "People are blind to their own dirt." For me, editing is rough because I'm blind to my own errors (typing too fast that I omit words, use the wrong tense, etc).
I'm hoping I can get it done by May in time for a book signing reveal. Wish me luck!
Evan Yarema
I spent much of my childhood riding in cars while my parents took us on road trips. While driving, they usually blasted 90's Dance Mix songs: Real McCoy or Ace of Base, those Dance Mix USA CDs that were big back then. And at that age, there was nothing for me to do but stare out the window and day dream.
It's carried over into my adult life. If I'm low on ideas or motivations, a drive in the car to some up-tempo nostalgia dance music causes the ideas to just flood right in.
I suppose everyone has their trigger, and for some weird reason that one is mine.
It's carried over into my adult life. If I'm low on ideas or motivations, a drive in the car to some up-tempo nostalgia dance music causes the ideas to just flood right in.
I suppose everyone has their trigger, and for some weird reason that one is mine.
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