Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Evelyna Starikova

Book Title: The Murder Game

Released:  10/04/22

Genre:  Adult Crime-Thriller

Interview by Heather L. Barksdale

What inspired you to write “The Murder Game”?

Starikova: I enjoy watching the TV show “Criminal Minds” (including reruns), reading James Patterson thriller-novels in my free time and I’m an avid hockey fan, so I wished to combine them together. I also tried something new with a character based on myself (and a teacher that I had in the past who owned a book entitled “How to be Villain” and thought he was a villain, though not to the extreme as the teacher is portrayed in the book).

How did you come up with the names of your main characters?

Starikova: They are loosely based on real people and I just experimented with either changing the first or last name.

Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?

Starikova: My writing process is pretty much random and spur of the moment or when I feel like writing. Sometimes - most times - I just start writing and whatever I write (if it’s a separate story or writing) will end up becoming a part of some larger work. I feel like this question could easily become a full college essay of 40 pages.

If "The Murder Game" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?

Starikova: One of my favorite actresses is Amy Adams, so I’d probably say she would play my character’s role. As for the others, they’d have to skate and look similar to those they’re loosely based on, so I’m not too sure there. To be determined, in other words.

When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?

Starikova: Well…I usually just try to force myself to write whatever comes to my mind at the moment. I also just try to find or think of something that will inspire me - sometimes I just sit and force my mind to spin the wheels and imagine things. Then I go and write. And sometimes, I just set it to the side and then come back later on to see if there’s anything.

Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?

Starikova: Write what inspires you. Just write. You don’t have to launch right into a novel idea, even if it’s writing about yourself or your day or a show or movie you watched - JUST WRITE, YO!

What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?

Starikova: Thrillers! I’m a huge James Patterson fan! I’m also trying to read other authors in the thriller genre. I enjoy fantasy too!

What are you working on next?

Starikova: So I have about five things that I’m straddling. “The Spirit Animal Experiment” is one, which is a fantasy work centering around spirit animals and big cats - it’s a stalled idea that is going to take some time I believe. The second one is called “Peculiar Legends,” which is a random thriller-fantasy that is similar to “Clandestine Singers” and is thus in the process of stall town as I try to figure out a way to further differentiate it from that series. I ALSO have a children’s book idea called “Super Competitive” centering around hockey and dragons (when I say children, I mean 3-5th graders). There’s also another K-pop-based story that is still being figured out called “Imagine.” AND, finally, I have a short-story-spin-off- sequel for “Daisy” entitled “Blossom,” which will be posted on my Wattpad account. Basically, I have a lot of ideas, but nothing too concrete yet - except for my short story “Blossom.”

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