An Interview with Phill Webster

Phill Webster is a writer, actor, and spiritual teacher. He has appeared in movies alongside Sylvester Stallone, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Elle Fanning to name a few. Letting Glow and Glowing Deeper are the first two instalments of the Letting Glow Trilogy. He lives in Richmond, UK.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

A profound and unexplained event took place around my mother’s passing. I couldn’t rationally explain it, and Letting Glow opens with that story. That event, along with my mom’s passing, reshaped my entire life. My life has gone a completely different route because of the event in question, and subsequently writing two books about it.

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

I picked the title up from one of the meditations included in the book. It’s also a play on grief and moving forward. Many wonderful things were unfolding for me as I dove headlong into spiritual practices, and while the grief of losing my mom was still very much there, there was the beginnings of a light at the end of the tunnel.

Describe your dream book cover.

I would love something along the lines of a sunset or horizon. Perhaps something wistfully painted depicting pink skies and pastel blues.

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

There’s definitely some Lenny Kravitz in there; I mention him in the book. The start of the book is less of a spiritual story and involves lots of partying. A lot of rock music. But there are plenty of guided meditations so something perhaps more spiritual would be fitting as it progresses.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

I learn all I can about the latest spiritual trends. Although I often feel that the New Age market doesn’t really have much more to add, it’s variations of the same subjects. I do go back to traditional text, ancient practices, Shamanism. I also attempt to keep up with developments in scientific research regarding time, our perceptions of reality and consciousness.

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

I also work as an actor. I recently played the lead in a WW2 drama that we filmed in Iraq. I’ve worked on some bigger movies such as Marvel’s Dr Strange 2, The Expendables 4, and I played a pirate in Netflix’s Lost Pirate Kingdom, which seems to have a bit of a cult following. I’ll soon be working on the new He-Man movie. I work on the BBC show Eastenders fairly regularly.

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

The writing came from a need to express my grief, and also to document the spiritual journey I was on. In terms of inspiration, I’ll come back to Anne Rice all day. She was really the first writer to hugely influence me and change my perceptions of the English language. I was lucky enough to correspond with her also, which I’ll always treasure.

Where is your favorite place to write?

At home in London, although I do write when I travel. I’m in Portugal as I write this, actually, and I’ve been writing my third book here. Morning walks to the beach are a great way to clear the mind for the day ahead. I wrote while I was in Iraq, and this summer I’ll be visiting Mexico and no doubt I will write there also.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really. When it comes it comes. Sometimes I’ll start and it just isn’t working so I’ll stop and come back to it a day or two or even weeks later.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I would hope that it perhaps brings some solace to someone who might be experiencing a profound loss, such as a parent or a partner. I also look at book one as a “soft” introduction to spiritual matters. Book two, Glowing Deeper, which is also available from bookstores worldwide, goes way more in-depth, as the title suggests.

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