Tell
our readers a little bit about the beginning years for Evie
Rhodes. When did you realize you enjoyed
books?
For as long as I can remember I've loved books and reading. In
the beginning years I read and wrote poetry.
Did the writing come easily for you, or was it something
you found that had to be worked on?
Actually the art of writing came easily almost as though it just
bubbled up from inside me. But I most certainly did have to work
and study the craft of writing. I think anyone who loves writing
naturally would gravitate towards the study of literature because
its almost an automatic extension of the writing process.
You were quoted as saying the following: “If you
can begin to get people to question things and to question them
in a different light then you are in essence handing them the
power and the ability to change their lives.”
Is this why you write and what do hope your readers will get
from your words?
Cyrus that is precisely why I do write. I write for change. I
write for empowerment. I write to shed light in areas we may
not be aware of and to bring the seed of question to a person's
mind. It is my sincerest hope that my readers will connect to
that desire and hope in my works.
Your career has spanned several years and has been
heavily involved in religion. What has been your most surprising
experience
thus far as a writer/composer.
Yes you're right my career and my religion have almost become
one surprisingly enough. In terms of the religious aspects of
my writing I consider The Gospel my life. I didn't choose The
Gospel The Gospel chose me. I suddenly found myself deeply involved
in the study of religion and my writing refllected those types
of principles and encompassed the world of the supernatural,
naturally if that makes any sense.
My discovery of the gospels and religion was a very indepth journey.
My most surprising experience was in discovering that my writing
could almost write itself and that in that discovery, I could
journey to new places and learn lessons myself, as though the
very writing itself were teaching me. It is my belief that before
one can teach, one has to be taught.
The genre you write in is one that is not tackled
by many female authors. Do you feel as though you are a trendsetter
in it, not only for women but for other minorities?
I don't know that I would consider myself a trendsetter. I am
a writer at heart and a person who likes to travel what I would
call "dimly" lit roads. However I certainly hope that
I can inspire others to reach out for their dreams and to be
encouraged to help expand literature and African-American literature
with a bold stroke of the brush so to speak.
How would you describe the genre in which you write?
Horror? Suspense? Tell us.
I consider my works Religious Thrillers in their basic form.
But sometimes it can be difficult to set a label because the
works I create can transcend many genres. My current novel Criss
Cross is considered a Supernatural Suspense Thriller but yet
it is housed in Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Police
Procedurals, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Contemporary Romantic
Suspense. So primarily I guess it is difficult to attach a particular
label to but I believe in the rawest form as I've stated they
are basically Religious Thrillers.
I haven't read your first novel, Expired. Can you
tell us about it and what prompted you to write it?
Expired was a journey in spirit, self-awareness and empowerment
as well as an author's tightrope as far as thrillers are concerned.
Tracie Burlingame who is the lead character and the mother of
four teenage sons finds herself and her sons trapped between
the worlds of good and evil and discovers that every weapon that
has ever been known to her will not help her in the battle to
save the lives of her remaining sons or herself, or those who
are counting on her that she is not even initially aware of.
She has to dig deep or lose. Losing is not an option because
she discovers there are some fates that are worse than death
in the process.
The author Robert Fleming credited me with creating a haunting
hybrid of Bram Stoker's mythical monster, Dracula. His words
not mine when he read Expired. Many feel that not many characters
of Dracula's elk have been created since Dracula. Robert thought
I had created and accomplished this creation in the character
of Me in Expired. In order to create a character of Me's depth
and to create him as a new kind of monster I had to travel some
very dark and winding roads, and more than that I had to search
for the redemption buried in our humanity. I had to discover
that good was more powerful than evil.
I was prompted to write Expired because I wanted to test the
limits of human endurance. I wanted to know just how we could
perform and what we were made of if suddenly everything you believed
in, worked for and strived for was in jeopardy. I found my answers
in Expired just as many of the readers who wrote to me did as
well.
In your latest thriller, Criss Cross, your characters
seem very down-to-earth, realistic. How difficult is it to develop
people that your readers can find interesting?
The development of characters has been a blessing for me. It
really comes quite easily I create a profile a birth so to speak
of who that person is and I can feel each emotion and each person's
pain, struggles and triumphs. Almost like being an actor or actress
but instead of one role you live the many roles of different
characters as they take wings through the literary journey of
the world that has been created.
In fact I did a Character Workshop in Cincinatti last year and
I hope to have more opportunities to do Workshops and share this
particular craft with other aspring writers.
For some the pressure of a sophomore project is a
dreaded one. How was it for you?
Truly a blessing. I'm thankful to The Lord Jesus Christ for this.
I was totally prepared for my sophomore project of Criss Cross
and after having researched the book of Revelations in The King
James Version of The Bible I felt totally prepared in having
the tools I needed with which to deliver Criss Cross. It is my
belief that Criss Cross will be a work that becomes my hallmark
signature for Religious Thrillers.
Today there are so many authors that are breaking
into the market. There are also many who are deciding to self-publish.
Now with two books under your belt, is there any relief with
the writing process?
Yes there is a sense of relief in that my confidence is growing
with each novel and I feel like I'm on top of what I want to
deliver in the worlds I create. I know without a doubt that I
can make the worlds complete. That a reader can come to visit
the world I've created and when the reading experience is over
they will know or feel in some shape, form or fashion that they
have been to a different place for that space of time.
It comes down to giving "the grain of a mustard seed" for
new thoughts and awareness.
What advice do you have for those who may want to
break into the craft?
Believe in yourself, study the craft, research and I know I'm
repeating myself but above all, "You've got to believe!"
There have been so many successes in your life. What
regrets do you have professionally?
At the very moment that I sat down to do this interview To The
Lord be the Glory I realized that I don't have a regret in the
world. If I had it to do all over again I would. Thank you for
helping me to come into that realization with your interview.
What would make Evie Rhodes feel like a failure professionally?
If I could not deliver an ultimate message of hope and triumph
even after the struggle. The day that I can't do that I will
retire my own pen without a doubt.
Is there a tour in the works for you in the new future?
When can we expect a new Evie Rhodes project?
To my knowledge there is no tour in the works right now but one
never knows what the future holds. However we plan to produce
a commercial for Criss Cross which will visually come across
as a movie-trailer of the book. The plan on the table right now
is for that commercial to be aired nationwide this summer. I'm
very excited about the script and the visual aspects of this
commercial. I'm hoping for a literary visual masterpiece in raw
power in that 30 seconds on the screen.
And I believe I have the tools I need to accomplish this in terms
of the Executive Producer for the commercial, James Rhodes and
the Director and Music Producer that James will bring to the
project. James was the Executive Producer for my "Standing
In Da Spirit" album and my music videos "Changed" & "Stand" He
is a true visionary and he will only bring the highest level
of talents to this project.
We will be cutting a TV Edit for the commercial definitely and
a Radio Edit which could be aired on radio. The commercial will
have wonderful soundtrack and will be directed so as to capture
the very essence of the world of Criss Cross. Stay tuned!
In terms of a new project. My next novel is entitled, Out "A" Order
it is in its rawest form urban supernatural street fiction. There
we go with the labels again. (Smile) In any case it will be released
next year 2007. For me it will represent a cornerstone for my
journey in street fiction.
Thank you so much for your time with CONVERSATIONS. If
our readers want to know more about you where can they go?
Cyrus it is I who should thank you for an in-depth heart seaching
interview. Truly the pleasure was all mine. Readers can visit
my web site at www.evierhodes.com and they can email me at evierhodes@evierhodes.com
There's a sign-in Guest Book on the site under the Contact Label
for those who'd like to sign the book.
I'm already looking foward to your readers visits and emails.
May you all be blessed.
Cyrus
A. Webb is the host of the radio and television show “Conversations
with C. A. Webb” The
show focuses on the arts and education as well as the tie to
the community. Web site: http://www.cawebbconversations.com and
http://www.cawebb.com
