So a friend of mine just wrote a book. A book! He has a really funny blog called
Notice your World and its full of fun stories that he claims are true. {Ok I believe him!} He is super talented and VERY creative. I was anxious to help him get the word out so he offered to interview himself {yes, himself} and tell us a little bit about it. Here is his interview...
You chose to have me interview myself. Way to go, dumping all the pressure on me.
Really though, I’m not complaining and I appreciate the exposure.
Writers are slightly crazy to begin with. We have all these characters in our heads, whispering, shouting, giggling nonstop, or whimpering in the corner. We invent them, give them a voice all their own, and come up with their personal way of viewing the world. How crazy is that? To have these complete or semi-complete people floating around in our heads?
My novel has like forty-two point of view characters. That makes me extra crazy. It’s not really that many, closer to ten, but you get the point. Talking to myself isn’t much of a stretch. So, here goes.
Q: What’s the story behind this whole The Crystal Bridge thingy?
A: Thingy? I’m glad I’m the writer out of the two of us.
Q: I know, right? Dodged a bullet there.
A: Okay, the novel originally came into my head as two separate dreams. Dream one was about a boy who could open wormholes to other worlds. Nobody else could see them and he always returned to the same moment he left, unchanged. So, no one believed him. Dream two was about a lab creating holographic simulations that began reaching into alternate worlds with some odd side effects. Several interesting characters emerged the more I thought about these strange dreams.
Q: How did these separate dreams become one?
A: My wife suggested that I should combine them, so I did.
Q: Smart man.
A: This is true.
Q: Tell me about some of these other characters.
A: Well, Kaden is the teen boy with the wormholes. Aren is a teenage girl who can see and experience other people’s memories as though they were her own. James is a geneticist obsessed with dragons, Angie is his boss, running the genetic simulations department for one of the bad guys, Vander. I have more characters who pop up on the other world and a villain creature that lives between universes. I could go on and on. There’s Evandrel, Hasla, Dveldor, Taggert, and—
Q: Let’s stop there. We don’t want to give too much away, do we?
A: Um…I guess not.
Q: You really want to say one more character’s name, don’t you?
A: And Lyle. Lyle’s pretty cool.
Q: Feel better?
A: Much, thank you.
Q: Sounds complex. Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
A: Didn’t I already mention dreams?
Q: Did you?
A: I’m pretty sure forgetting a conversation you had three seconds ago with yourself isn’t a good sign. You may need help.
Q: Probably right. Mostly dream then?
A: Yes. I have six or seven stories floating around my noggin that have all come from dreams. I’m very lucky, I know. While most people dream on scary clowns, losing their teeth, or flying, I end up with nano-genetic mutations, wormholes, soul thieves, and talking magical doorknobs.
Q: Talking what now?
A: Doorknobs, well, just one actually. So…doorknob. That will be in another novel later. The doorknob also walks around in a trench-coat to hide his brassy features. I think I’ll call him DK.
Q: I’m sorry I asked. Weirdo.
A: That’s me. Isn’t it great?
Q: Great…yes. That’s the word I was looking for. So any plans for a sequel with The Crystal Bridge?
A: Originally, no, but ideas crept into the story anyway. Then I had another dream. At least one more novel, possibly two. I’ve got some great twists planned and we’ll see how the wormholes interact with Aren’s gift more and then the quantum—
Q: Wow. Look at the time. This is all very interesting, but it’s all we have time for today.
A: You just looked at your wrist. Are you trying to get rid of me?
Q: What? Me? Never. I’m nothing without you. You complete me.
A: Yep, you’re right. When you start giving yourself false compliments, it’s time to wrap it up.
Q: I couldn’t have said it better.
A: I’m sure you could have. Or, I could have in the first place. I am a writer.
Q: Are you finished?
A: Yes, sorry.
Q: Thank you, Charles, for joining me today.
A: My pleasure, honestly. Thank you, Charles, for having me and for the wonderful questions. It was fun. And thank you, Lauren, for letting us put a little of my crazy on your blog. You most likely won’t regret it.
The Crystal Bridge is available here:
I just bought my copy yesterday and I am excited to read it!
Thanks Charlie for doing this and good luck with your book!
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