Ask the Author: Travis Thrasher
Answered Questions (20)
Travis Thrasher
Hi, Faye! So glad you read The Books of Marvella and enjoyed it. Over the years I've been trying to write a story I'm calling Bloodline that deals with Chris in college. At first I envisioned a 4-book series, but in our day of binge-watching several seasons of shows, prolonging a story like I did in Solitary Tales or Marvella doesn't seem like a smart choice. I wrote a chunk of Bloodline this year and would love to finish and publish next year. There are so many things that happen in Books of Marvella that fit with Chris's story. So we'll see. Appreciate your question and encouragement!
Travis Thrasher
If you order Awe I'll include Glory with it! Thanks so much. Stay safe!
Travis Thrasher
Thanks for asking. Unfortunately Awe and Glory aren't available as E-books. I hope to put those into the electronic format one day. I printed softcover editions of both and sell them off my website. The publisher cancelled the final two books in the series, so I had to print the last two. I didn't want to do cheap versions of this but chose to print them using the same printer, editor, designer, etc. So I ended up losing money on the printings. But I wanted the whole set to look like a complete set. To make matters worse the publisher actually shredded the first two books! Really a terrible experience but the series is a good one! Here's a blog I wrote about the shredding! http://www.thejourneyiseverything.com...
Travis Thrasher
Hi, Nathan. Thanks for the question. When the publisher pitched this idea to me, they said they were looking to developing "a series of thrillers that predominantly focus on a near-future America." So that's exactly what I gave them, the story overview for a series. Then after they decided they wanted to go ahead with the project, I discovered they only wanted to do a one-book contract for now. When I asked about the series, the editor said "I'm not sure that'd I would say there is no chance for a series. We are looking to contract this one now with the hope that we'll be able to generate excitement and do more." I made the book both as a stand-alone and as the first in a series. I don't believe any novel or series should answer every question and story line. Obviously with the abundance of characters in this story (another element the publisher wanted), there are many stories that could be told. So I'm hoping and praying that this series can continue! Hope you enjoyed the book.
Travis Thrasher
The newlyweds have been lost in the woods for hours after sunset, arguing and trying to find the river once again. In the silence of the dark forest, they hear the sound of a toddler laughing.
Travis Thrasher
My first thought was to go to Narnia and try to find Aslan. My next thought after thinking for a while was I'd enter the world of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's THE ANGEL'S GAME. Loved the setting and magical world he created there. That's a tough question, because so many novels I've loved are set in terrible worlds. Like Stephen King's THE STAND. Loved the people, but wouldn't want to die from the plague!
Travis Thrasher
ANGELA'S ASHES by Frank McCourt; THE DEATH OF SANTINI by Pat Conroy; THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (once again); KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by David Grann; INTO THE WATER by Paula Hawkins; a dozen books I'm trying to finish . . . Those are some I hope to read!
Travis Thrasher
I would like to know more about my grandfather who was nicknamed Shine. He served in World War 2 in Patton's Army. He drove a Dozer tank. I don't know much about his experience in the war since he passed away when I was in junior high. Since I've been working on a project set before the war and that has to do with Hitler and his rise to power, I've been reading and watching lots of WW2 stories. I'd love to put some real life material into a novel. A big Pat Conroy-esque family drama narrated by a man discovering who his grandfather was.
Travis Thrasher
It's funny you ask because I already have a series outlined for a private detective/investigator. I've actually already introduced him in another series (The Books of Marvella). The idea has been around since about 2010 or so. I compare it to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series--a trilogy. Dark but also set in a very specific location examining a culture (in America). Time permitting I'd love to write this in the next few years. Glad you asked!!
Travis Thrasher
Ooh, this is a tough one. Do they have to be in a book or can they be in film or TV? Good question!
Travis Thrasher
I once thought and believed that seeing my book in print and holding it would be the best thing, but it's definitely NOT the best thing. I love the opportunity to sit down with my computer every day and write. And I love being able to write a variety of things. There are many, many things that aren't particularly great about writing full time, but I still love the writing itself. And those moments when I surprise myself with something that's actually pretty good.
Travis Thrasher
Pick your one favorite story idea. Finish what you start. Believe you can be a writer and that you can improve. Read as much as you can. Be curious. Ask "What if?" about everything in life. Finish. Try to develop good work habits. Set crazy and audacious goals. And finish what you start.
Travis Thrasher
Right now among other projects I'm working on a memoir with a former cast member of Saturday Night Live (Chris Kattan) and also a nonfiction work about the 17 other black athletes that competed with Jesse Owens on the 1936 Olympic team that went to Berlin. I'm also writing in my spare, spare time a novel that's been in the works for over three years called MIDNIGHT.
Travis Thrasher
Everything in my life is used for inspiration. Our daughters. Where I live. The weather. Getting the flu. The Cubs winning the World Series. But the biggest way I can "get inspired" is by music. I always have playlists and a soundtrack for the book I'm working on, whether it's fiction or nonfiction. Sometimes I don't sit down feeling inspired, but that doesn't stop me from writing. There's no such thing as writer's block. You can't call your boss and tell him or her you have worker's block, right? That's how I feel about writing.
Travis Thrasher
Wow--I didn't see this question until now. Apologies! So that's a difficult question to answer because I'm working on so many projects at one time. So I'll share about a work of fiction I did last November. It was for the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I was encouraging a writer online to do it and was going to suggest an idea to him for fun. Before I did, I realized the idea was pretty awesome. So even though I was buried with projects, I did this as an experiment. It's a very meta-sort of work of fiction. I got about 40,000 words completed but far enough to feel great about it. I hope to be able to publish it in some form before November, 2017. To both inspire writers in their journey and also unpack what are in stories and how the writing goes. So sometimes an idea just comes and you think--wow, I HAVE to write that!
Travis Thrasher
Hi, Evan! Thanks for asking. Yes, that is the hope. I'd love to have interest grow in the story throughout the year, then try to see if a publisher is interested or if not maybe do a Kickstarter to try to get the whole series published. It starts slow but will continue to build in intensity. Definitely hope to see all three books in print!
Travis Thrasher
Thanks for asking! Yes, I definitely hope to write more books from Chris Buckley's perspective. My current YA series connects with The Solitary Tales. I hope to launch a series that shows Chris in college. I see it darker than The Solitary Tales with the setting in Chicago. Maybe--hopefully-these could even see the light of day next year perhaps?
Travis Thrasher
That's a difficult question to answer. I hope I keep characters fresh & unique & endearing, but I also never know. I know many are based either on me of course or of people I know. Regardless of who I'm writing about, I strive for authenticity. I feel I do that from an emotional level, the place I write from. I love wondering what makes people tick. I still feel I have a long ways to go to create some truly original and endearing characters, but I'm learning. Thanks for the question!
Travis Thrasher
I don't believe there is such a thing as writer's block. Do people wake up and then call into their office with "worker's block"? That wouldn't quite work. Writing is not mysterious sort of endeavor. It's sitting down and writing.
Travis Thrasher
Thanks for your question, Lou! There are two more books following Marvelous and Wonder. Book #3 is called Awe and book #4 is called Glory. They should be releasing summertime and fall of 2015.
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Dec 07, 2020 08:17AM · flag