Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Jonathan Nevair
Book Title: Goodbye to the Sun
Released: 03/11/21
Genre: Space Opera/SciFi
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Goodbye to the Sun”?
Nevair: Goodbye to the Sun was inspired by the Greek tragedy, Antigone. My route to that Sophoclean play was filled with writing false starts and a desire to infuse more emotion into the characters I write. My previous manuscript (unpublished) was well received by an agent, who complimented my world building and prose, but said they weren’t emotionally invested in my characters. I took some time to research character-building in writing and sought out literary models with a character-heavy focus. That led me to the Greek tragedy model. Antigone stood out for its gender-specific characters and also the theme of family vs. state. Two books had a significant influence on Goodbye to the Sun. The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin opened an unknown literary door in my mind. The voice and eulogistic writing of Jemisin’s character, Essun, inspired the first-person Razor chapters in Goodbye to the Sun (I also modeled those chapters off the traditional chorus in Greek tragedy). Gareth L. Powell’s Embers of War was important for post-war space opera characters coming to terms with their tragic pasts, etc.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Nevair: I generate most names by matching phonetics and connotations with personalities and moral philosophies. You might be asking, how is that evident in a name like Jati or Razor? I can’t answer it with anything specific. It is more my subjective connections, but certainly a name like Pox has obvious negative associations. Oftentimes, I spend hours scrolling baby name pages on the Internet until something pops out at me (no joke).
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Nevair: I had to muster up a lot of courage to write this book. It meant opening up emotionally in a way I wasn’t used to. That meant allowing myself to be vulnerable. I write all the time as an art historian but that is in an academic style. My emotions and moral struggles and personal associations with my characters do not come into play in art history. For Goodbye to the Sun, I had to put my heart on my sleeve. That was difficult for me. The reward was that it opened a cathartic floodgate and helped set me up to write the next two books. The character of Jati comes to life in a way that would not have been possible had I not taken that literary leap.
If "Goodbye to the Sun" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Nevair: Can I not answer this one? People ask me this a lot! I have actors in mind, but I don’t like to share them. I don’t want to impose anything on readers that might change, alter, or limit their imaginations.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Nevair: This is such a funny question because I know the solution when I have writer’s block but I don’t do it, at least not right away. Why? I have no idea. Maybe I’m stubborn? Maybe it is the writing Gods punishing me, but the solution is to sit my ass down and write. Even if I have no idea what to write. The act of writing gets me out of writer’s block. My problem is convincing myself to sit down and write.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Nevair: Oh gosh, I don’t feel veteran enough to offer much. I will say that when people try and tell you how you should write, how you should plan – outline or not, how often you should write, etc. please take it with a grain of salt. Find writing methods that work for you. I am not a daily writer. I am a sprinter and then I reflect for days… even weeks. I take long walks in the woods and talk to myself, then I write again, etc. As Yoda would say, “Know not, those who speak for others. Your own way, you must find.”
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Nevair: I’m all over the place on this one. I lean into science fiction and fantasy more than anything else. I enjoy literary prose and beautiful cadence and rhythm in writing, as well as evocative world building. Here are some authors off the top of my head (and you will probably notice some write very lean and others with more florid prose – I like both depending on my mood): Arkady Martine, Marian L. Thorpe, Martha Wells, C.J. Cherryh, David Gemmell, N.K. Jemisin, Michael Mammay, Becky Chambers, Umberto Eco. Right now, I am reading Fortune’s Fool by Angela Boord and the writing is spectacular.
What are you working on next?
Nevair: I have a standalone novel releasing in November 2022 entitled, Stellar Instinct. It’s a spy-fi space adventure featuring a secret agent named Lilline Renault who faces down a gaming mastermind. Think mash-up of classic Cold-War espionage and space opera. To add a fun twist to the story, Lilline is an amateur poet (not very good), and that subplot factors into the plot in creative ways. She writes poetry while she is on the job saving the galaxy and it’s given me license to include her rather trite poetry in the book. I’m getting to explore various poetic styles and meter, feet, etc. which is loads of fun. After that, I am looking into beginning a new series that will be science fantasy, which has always interested me.
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