It’s time for a new interview series… like NOW. No really, actually it’s called NOW (Newly Omniscient Authors). This blog has been publishing since 2011, and some of the earlier posts feel too… dated. To honor the relaunch of the site, I thought I’d invite some of my past guests to read and ruminate on their answers to questions from oh-so-long-ago to see what’s changed between then and now.
Today’s guest for the NOW is Eric Devine, Young Adult fiction author of Look Past, Press Play, Dare Me, Tap Out, and This Side of Normal.
Has how you think (and talk) about writing and publishing changed, further into your career?
Absolutely. Early in my career (Tap Out was published in 2012) everything was new and the opportunities felt limitless. Whenever I talked about writing or publishing—at school visits, conferences, etc.—I harped on the traditional route, putting in the time, and writing your best work, while having faith that such a path would get you into, and keep you in, the industry. I don’t talk like that anymore. The industry has changed, and I fear telling people that the traditional route to publication is the best way to go. It’s why I’m going hybrid and self-publishing a novel in April. Authors have to seize the opportunities that feel right for them, regardless of whether they fit the mold for what we’ve held as truth in publishing.
Let’s about the balance between the creative versus the business side of the industry. Do you think of yourself as an artiste or are you analyzing every aspect of your story for marketability? Has that changed from your early perspective?
I have always had an eye toward the market, and I think every author should. As a former agent of mine said, “Publishing is at the corner of art and commerce.” It’s a fabulous way to frame what we do—create art for consumption. I have never thought of myself as an artiste. My stories do tackle tough issues, but there is always an engaging, and typically fast-paced plot driving those moments. I have been an English teacher for close to 20 years, so I work with teens every day. When I’m writing, I ask of my stories: Is this about their lives? Would they find this worth reading? If the answers are yes, then it’s a go.
The bloom is off the rose… what’s faded for you, this far out from debut?
I think many authors hope for stunning sales and a call from Hollywood or Netflix, which was certainly true for me. But the reality is that for the majority of us, having our book published is the apex. I’ve come to understand that’s quite all right, actually. I realize now that if I’m able to write something that a teen or adult willingly engages with because they find it compelling, that’s awesome. Awesome is an excellent outcome.
Likewise, is there anything you’ve grown to love (or at least accept) that you never thought you would?
The awe everyday people still feel about authors. Growing up I know I felt this way about the authors I enjoyed, but I never met any of them. Then I became an author and was provided a backstage look at the process. As a group, authors are pretty ordinary. Yet, when people learn that I’m an author they are always intrigued. People who have read and enjoyed my work always want to talk about it. Our cultural idea of authors and their stories still has sway, which I find so refreshing and motivating.
And lastly, what did getting published mean for you and how has it changed (or not changed!) your life?
Getting published allowed me to meet some wonderful authors and connect with readers in a way I never imagined possible. I’ve had some fabulous moments that I cherish and often share with colleagues and other people who love books. But there’s an enormous world out there who does not know who I am, nor even care about what I do. I’m still the same husband and father I’ve been, so I can not say my life has been fundamentally changed, but it has been enhanced by what I’ve been allowed to do.