Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Allan Evans

What inspired you to write “Killer Blonde”?

Evans: Author John Sandford has created a character of such depth and likability in Lucas Davenport that I will never miss one of his Prey series—even after 31 books. It was his writing that inspired me to start writing in the first place. I’ve always been a reader and wanted to write something that I’d like to read. The spark came at a New Year’s Eve party where a state patrol investigator was there sharing some amazing anecdotes. I remember thinking, “I could write a book about this.” So I did. Maybe when you’re named after Edgar Allan Poe, it was always meant to happen.

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

Evans: I try to switch things up. If I’m staring at a screen, I switch to a notebook and pen or vice versa. It seems to help.

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

Evans:  I love reading thrillers. There are several things that make for a great thriller: It’s the counterpoint between unreliable characters and the reliable ones. Also, an epic ending never hurts either. But, for me, it’s the breakneck speed of the twisty plot as protagonist and antagonist race to thwart each other that is so vital. Unlike a mystery, thrillers are not about solving a puzzle, but rather about the pressure of high-stakes scenarios as good and evil battle it out. A thriller like Killer Blonde works because of the sense of dread as the killer searches for his next victim while Cade Dawkins races to stop him. In this case, the serial killer has a thing for knockout blondes. There’s a perverse sense of satisfaction pitting your main character against a killer who’s either unable or unwilling to follow society’s rules—and knowing their struggle pulls the hero uncomfortably close to crossing the line.

A favorite book is John Sandford’s Rules of Prey. First in the series and still one of the best. I also enjoy Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch series) and Stephen King.

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

Keels: The magic happens in the revision. Throughout the revision process of Killer Blonde, I printed out triple spaced copies that allowed plenty of room to make notes and changes. I read the entire thing out loud, first to myself and then to others. The goal was to have the writing and dialogue sound natural. After that, I turned to beta readers to get feedback on pacing, character development, and the overall story. Throughout the polishing of the revision process, the writing got better, and as the writing got better, a more distinctive personality came out in the writing. The magic truly happens in this process.

What are you working on next?

Keels: I’m finishing up a young adult novel called ANOMALY. The teaser: That awkward moment when your DNA test reveals you may not be completely human. 15-year-old Henry Davenport’s life is about to be turned upside down. Besides looking nothing like the rest of his family, Henry feels like an outsider. Convinced he’s adopted, he secretly takes a DNA test. The results are far more surprising than he would’ve guessed. Yeah, he’s adopted, but how can he possibly have unknown DNA? As Henry struggles whether to tell his family about his strange results, life takes an even stranger twist when he realizes someone is stalking him... and then there’s his curious new abilities. 

I also have a sequel to Killer Blonde in the works. Cade is on the trail of a not-so-elite assassin. (They can’t all be elite, can they? What about the ones that are just doing okay at their job? Maybe even worried about their next performance review.)

Learn More About the Author and Killer Blonde Here:

Twitter: EvansWriter

Website is https://www.evanswriter.com

Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.

review