JD Evans
Author, actor, talented, capable, fabulous, handsome, queer, iconic. But enough about Elliot Page.
I am a bearded gremlin of indeterminate nature living in Christchurch, New Zealand. I split my time between environmental science, telling planes where to go, and trying not to fall off rock climbing walls. I also write non-binary queer fiction, in defiance of critics, work-life balance, and a whole pantheon of gods.
What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?
J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Brooks, Brandon Sanderson… high fantasy in general I suppose. At first, I would read a campfire scene (or ~17 in a row in Tolkien’s case) and think “is SOMETHING going to happen, or are we locked in for another six page description of the flight path of a falling leaf?” Now, as life has become faster, more stressful, and generally contains far fewer moments of serenity, I have grown to adore a campfire scene. Jealousy, perhaps.
Do you try more to be original, or to deliver to readers what they want?
Selfish git that I am, I have never really asked anyone what they would like me to write. So, I suppose through sheer ignorance, I have written more original content than not.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I will assign a naming rubric of sorts to characters from different regions in my worlds. These rubrics can be drawn from human, animal, vegetable , or mineral origins, but they must be traceable by the reader. Or, at least, by a reader with a suitable cheat sheet. And possibly a phone-a-friend.
What was the first book that made you cry?
The Soccer Field is Empty by Mark A. Roeder. Reading this as a 16 year old closeted queer growing up in a deeply Christian environment… well, just read it.
Have you Googled yourself? Did you find out anything interesting?
I discovered that there is a delightful, significantly more talented author of fantasy called J.D. Evans living in North Carolina. I also discovered that Googling prospective pen names first is a fabulous idea.
Are there any secrets in your books that only a few people will find? Can you tell us one? Or give us any hints?
Six.
How did publishing your first book change your writing process?
It defined it. I used professional developmental editing as part of the process and my editor, Kay, is the single person most responsible for a) my current process and b) the book reaching the publisher and not the fireplace.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Three.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters of the opposite sex?
Aha! You’ve fallen for my trap card! I play enby literature, face up, in attack mode!
None of the characters in any of my stories are gendered, nor are there any gendered pronouns in any of my books.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I stand up, do a breathing exercise, put the kettle on, and process. It takes time, tears and a lot of self-talk to acknowledge the feedback, accept it, and move on. It’s a serious emotional roller coaster and I am very glad that my loving spouse has been with me throughout to provide a shoulder and a comforting word whenever I have needed.
As for the bad reviews, well, I’ve always got along with people who agree with me.