Welcome to this stop in the
Falling Angels Saga Tour,
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E. Van Lowe
Author Interview
Maria: Have you always wanted to be a novelist, or did you decide to become one after doing other kinds of writing, such as your work for famous TV shows?
E.: I've wanted to write books since I was ten years old. Throughout my career in TV and film I always knew I was going to return to my great love one day. Now I'm back to writing books, and it feels great. Home at last!
Maria: Do you feel that your TV, play, and screenwriting experience has influenced your novels, and/or vice versa? If so, how?
E.: Working in TV definitely influenced my ability to write the way I do today. Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to write for Bill Cosby and "The Cosby Show". It was there I learned how to interject humor into story-telling. I knew how to tell a good joke before then, but writing humor was new to me. If you've read any of my novels, you know how humorous they are. I learned that very important skill writing for "The Cosby Show".
Maria: How do your characters present themselves to you? Do they suddenly appear, full-blown, in your mind's eye, or do they whisper in your ear, letting you know that you have to follow them down the yellow brick road if you want to get to know them better?
E.: My characters appear as strangers at first. It's as if I get a glimpse of them across the room and our eyes meet, and we both know we have to get to know one another. I always think I know them much better than I do when we first meet. Even as the creator of these characters, I'm often surprised by the differences in them as I get to know them. Part of the fun for me is getting to know them just as you (the reader) are getting to know them.
Maria: What prompted you to choose the young adult genre?
E.: I wasn't planning on writing YA. The genre kind of chose me. In 2001 I developed a show for the Disney Channel -- "Even Stevens". I discovered during the process that I remembered my teen and pre-teen years as if it was yesterday. Not so much the actions of those years, but the intense emotions. After "Even Stevens", I came up with an idea for another TV show that Disney didn't buy. I tried to sell it to Nick At Night, but there was no interest there, either. So I decided to write it as a novel. A third of the way in, I abandoned the idea, and wrote Never Slow Dance With A Zombie (an idea that came to me out of the blue). I've been writing paranormal YA with humor ever since. By the way, I never went back to the original idea.
Maria: What wild and zany adventures would you enjoy having, if you could?
E.: While wild and zany things may happen to my characters, I, on the other hand, like to keep things pretty calm. Lying on a beach with a tropical drink in my hand is my idea of adventure. I'll restrict the zany adventures to my characters for others to enjoy.
Maria: Do you think it's important to balance drama with some humor, in novels with a predominantly dramatic plot?
E.: I believe every good story needs what I call a dramatic underpinning. This underpinning has more to do with a character's emotions and emotional needs than a plot line. Plot and humor must come after this. If you don't make an emotional connection with readers, humor won't matter.
Maria: While writing these novels, did you at any point find yourself asking a character, "Now WHY did you that?" If so, did the character give you a good reason for their behavior?
E.: I've never asked that question. I'm kind of an observer. However, I can't tell you how many times I've stopped and said, "I wish you hadn't said or done that." Because sometimes my characters do or say things and I have no idea what comes next. This can be frustrating, but it's also what keeps the journey interesting for me.
Maria: Besides a great imagination (which you obviously have), what other skills do you think an author should possess, in order to write successful YA paranormal novels?
E.: Thank you for the compliment. I think all authors need to be great observers of the human condition. Our characters cannot be automatons created just to move our plots along. They must act and react as we might act, out of our own fears, desires, and needs. Characters, must be relatable, and that comes from observing others and ourselves. This, I believe, is the greatest skill an author can have.
Maria: Is there any chance that the Falling Angels Saga will someday be turned into movies, with you writing the screenplays, perhaps?
E.: This is a wonderful time for that question because I recently completed the Boyfriend from Hell screenplay. There is a producer out here in Hollywood whom I know very well, who plans to turn the Falling Angels Saga into a film franchise. A few days ago, I found out he liked the screenplay a lot, and I'm awaiting notes (changes). After I do the changes, it will get shopped to studios and financiers. My fingers and toes are crossed. Seeing these works on the screen would be so very gratifying.
Maria: Where do you find yourself getting more inspired -- sitting quietly in your writing den at home, out in nature, or in a crowded place, full of bustle and noise?
E.: I am constantly bombarded with ideas, notions, inspiration. This can come sitting alone, watching a movie, in the middle of a conversation -- anywhere. Recently, I was in a movie theater with my wife when one of the scenes triggered an idea. I had to get up, go out into the lobby, and write it down. So I guess, inspiration is all around me no matter where I am. It's my blessing and my curse.
Maria: Would you say that free-wheeling thinking needs to be balanced with linear thinking, in the writing of a novel? If so, when would it be best, in your opinion, for a writer to depend on each?
E.: This is a difficult question. As I've discovered, everyone's process is very different. I like free-wheeling, but believe if you do not have an outline, you're going to write yourself into tons of trouble, and perhaps never finish. As my story develops, and new things occur, I am constantly revising my outline. This harkens back to the earlier question: "Now WHY did you do that?" There are days I am so lost, trying to figure out what's going on. Without a linear outline, I'd probably be too lost to continue. There has to be a happy medium between free-wheeling and balanced and linear thinking. I've been writing for a long time. I always have a sense of story structure. It's part of me. My advice for anyone who is fairly new to story-telling would be to free-wheel as little as possible.
Maria: What project(s) are you currently working on?
E.: Usually I have several projects in the works, but sadly, that's not the case right now. I got side-tracked last year with a TV pilot, and all I could concentrate on at the time was completing Falling. I've started writing a horror novel, but it's in the very early stages, too early to talk about because I'm still not sure where I'm going. I've had a novella featuring Harrison and some of the characters from the Falling Angels Saga in my head for some time. I plan on writing that as I work through the details of my novel. Thanks for asking.
Interviewer's Note
I'd like to thank E. Van Lowe
for a very informative
and fascinating interview,
as well as a very enjoyable one!!
About the Author
E. Van Lowe is an author, television writer, screenwriter, playwright, and producer, who has worked on such TV shows as "The Cosby Show", "Even Stevens", and "Homeboys In Outer Space". He has been nominated for both an Emmy and an Academy Award. His first YA paranormal novel, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie, was a selection of the Scholastic Book Club, and a nominee for an American Library Association Award. The first two books in the Falling Angels Saga, Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel, are bestsellers. The Zombie Always Knocks Twice is the first book in the Hollyweird series. In December, 2013, he received a letter and certificate from The Writer's Guild of America for his work on "The Cosby Show", which has been selected as one of the 101 best television shows in history. E. lives in Beverly Hills, California, with his spouse, a werewolf, several zombies, and a fairy godmother who grants him wishes from time to time.
Online Links
About the Books
(Falling Angels Saga, #4)
E. Van Lowe
Trade Paperback, 333 pages
White Whisker Books
March 13, 2014
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,
YA
Book Synopsis: Will Megan Barnett go falling back into the arms of dreamy earth angel, Guy Matson? Or, is she in fact, falling in love with the demon, Orthon? Or, will her out-of-control abilities send her falling into Satan’s open arms?
In the final, heart-stopping chapter of the Falling Angels Saga, Megan Barnett is on a quest to rid her life of Satan forever, but Satan has other plans, including a lavish wedding, and he’s willing to destroy her family and everyone she loves to have his way. To add to the drama, rogue demons have risen from hell with plans of their own.
Will Megan finally have her happily-ever-after, or is she doomed to an eternity in HELL?
This novel has not yet been released, and is unavailable for purchase at this time.
Heaven Sent
(Falling Angels Saga, #3)
E. Van Lowe
Trade Paperback 212 pages
White Whisker Books
Feb. 20, 2013
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, YA
Book Synopsis: As summer break for
Glendale Union high begins, heartsick Megan awaits Guy's return while
struggling to control her emerging abilities. Love is in the air, but
can the new loves in Megan, Maudrina, Suze and Aunt' Jaz's life be
trusted? Nothing is what it seems. Meanwhile, the Satanists are set to
hatch their most diabolical scheme ever, and if it comes to pass, Satan
may finally win out.
Megan has precious little time to unravel the cryptic message hidden in the riddle she received at the end of Earth Angel. If she doesn’t, the life of someone most dear to her will be lost forever, and Megan may yet find herself living in HELL.
Megan has precious little time to unravel the cryptic message hidden in the riddle she received at the end of Earth Angel. If she doesn’t, the life of someone most dear to her will be lost forever, and Megan may yet find herself living in HELL.
Earth Angel
(Falling Angels, #2)
E. Van Lowe
Trade Paperback, 190 pages
White Whisker Books
December 8, 2011
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,
YA
Book Synopsis: Just because Megan Barnett recently defeated Satan, has a fantastic new best friend, and has won the love of deliciously handsome,
Guy Matson, doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize it, but in her possession is a powerful weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels and demons and everything in between. They will do ANYTHING to get it.
In E. Van Lowe’s humorous, romantic and thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan winds up in a gripping life or death battle to save herself, the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.
Guy Matson, doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize it, but in her possession is a powerful weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels and demons and everything in between. They will do ANYTHING to get it.
In E. Van Lowe’s humorous, romantic and thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan winds up in a gripping life or death battle to save herself, the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.
Boyfriend from Hell
(Falling Angels Saga, #1)
E. Van Lowe
Trade Paperback, 260 pages
White Whisker Books
August 30, 2011
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,
YA
Book Synopsis: Fifteen year-old Megan
Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship-they are
friends, close friends, who do almost everything together. "But come on,
guys, she's my mother... Can I really tell her that while we're
snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I'm secretly
undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not..." The special bond
takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She
hasn't had a man in her life since Megan's father left ten years ago.
Enter two mysterious young men, Megan's new classmate, sinfully
attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer,
Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy
relationships. But neither of the handsome pair is quite what he seems.
In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan
has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn't,
either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.
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