An Interview with Eve

A middle-aged mom who dreamed of writing poetry, left her corporate career to do just that. Found. is the result of a spiritual awakening that changed Eve’s life forever. May all who read it feel Found. too!

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Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

Writing as a form of expression came naturally to me from an early age. I’ve always been a sensitive soul with a deeply empathetic nature about me. Poetry became a safe haven and also a dreamland. It became a different dimension in which my heart and soul and mind could travel together while deciphering ups and downs, and all the associated feelings come with that in life. As far as the influence of other writers is concerned, yes, I’ve had many influences. Almost anything I’ve ever read influenced me in some way, although I’m unable to get proper credit of the authors that influenced my writing in my writing style – I have to give credit to the industry of authorship to begin with. There is one poet in particular who I’ve always admired and enjoyed: Charles Bukowski. For obvious reason I can relate and also not relate at all to this author, and I think that’s why I love him so much. He takes the reader on an adventure through his nitty-gritty and sometimes outrageous life in a way that is so authentic that you almost feel like you experience his poetry with him as he writes it. I love anything honest, and I feel readers see that reflected in my own poetry, which is something I’m very proud of.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I was inspired to write this book after having a spiritual awakening and having a very deep reflection on my own spirituality, my beliefs in God, in the afterlife, and what a soul is put on this earth for. After nearly eighteen years, I quit my corporate job and cash in my 401(k) to go about completing my dream of being a published author. I promised my maker and my spiritual experience that I would write about what ‘found’ feels like. I hope that those who have not read my poetry and decide to read this novel feel the title of the book upon completion. And if that can’t be achieved, perhaps maybe there’ll be a curiosity created in the reader or inspiration driven by some aspect of this book that improves your life.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

My book title was figured out about halfway through writing a book. I was entering a poetry contest in New York City, the Changes poetry contest, and I had to figure out a title for my manuscript before I could enter it. And I consulted with my inner self and my maker about what the title should be, and I remember very clearly hearing ‘write about found, and how it feels to be found.’

So it’s pretty easy after having that intimate moment with God to know what the title should be.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Dreams by The Cranberries. That song would play on repeat.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I worked in healthcare for nearly eighteen years. I had various jobs within the field. I was a therapeutic recreation director I was an administrative assistant, and I was also director of human resources and recruitment and retention. I had a six-figure job that I left when I worked for a corporation in the end, valued money over people and so I quit.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I read The Divine Vision and other Poems by A.E. – amazing! I read The Big Book of AA (surprise!) and The Bible. I have so many books that I read and reread on a regular basis, too many to mention, but those three were pretty important during the writing process for Found.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

Take it sooner. The chance, the time, the resources, the opportunity, the moment. Take it sooner. Start sooner. Don’t wait on your dreams. And dammit, set aside time to write every day. Don’t be lazy about that!

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope that after the readers read my book, I hope that they want to read more!! because boy do I have a lot more to share with the world. In fact, I have a second manuscript complete and ready for publication. It’s an epic poem about what I imagine occurred if God and Satan were playing a chess game regarding the Earth and the universe. So yeah, after they read my book, I hope whatever emotion they feel hit home long enough to wanna read more and take it inside my crazy mind as I live out this next chapter of my life as an author!

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Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.