Author Interview with Ethan Alexander

1/10/2020

Who are you?

This question might be one of the most complicated questions known to mankind. You can answer this in relation to the ego or on a more existential level, and in doing so, one can never fully sum up who they truly are, only a version of themselves based on their own perspective.

With that said, my name is Ethan Alexander and I'm a writer. I spend most of my time writing or thinking about writing. It's more than a passion for me; there's something spiritual about storytelling that I'm continuing to understand on a deeper level every day.

Where do you live?

I currently live in Houston, Texas. I was born here, but I was raised on the East coast. It's a sort of "full circle" thing happening right now.

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What’s your home life like?

My home life is filled with stories. I always have some show or movie on, oftentimes it's something that's relevant to my work at the time, like a documentary or a show of a similar genre. My room is my favorite place. I love being surrounded by books, comic books, and video games. All of them transport me somewhere else, so I can return and document my findings.

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What genre(s) do you like to write? To read?

I love to write sci-fi. There's something about depicting our world, slightly askew, that feels authentic. I think that some of the best work has been from authors who foresaw a future based on their present and how that still holds up to this day.

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I like reading many genres: historical, fantasy, thriller, mystery, young adult, sci-fi, and philosophical. Genres tend to bleed into one another, so I don't confine myself to staying in any kind of box.

Why did you start writing?

I always loved reading. I went to a new school when I went to high school and I didn't have any friends for quite a while. This forced me to double down on my artistic interests. Music, drawing, and I read a lot. I started to understand the world better through stories, and I wanted to add my voice to the world.

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What do you do when you’re not writing?

I'm usually reading a book or binge-watching TV. I'm a homebody (surprise) and I much prefer solitude. Nothing excites me more than understanding something new, so I tend to research history and science topics. I play guitar as well and I write songs. I don't do it as much as I'd like, but I'm sure I'll get back to it.

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Where do you like to go when looking for a new book to read?

I have so many books to read in my head that I just go there. There are classics that I've been meaning to return to, and new ones I hear about via social media or word of mouth. I'm never at a loss for new books.

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At what point do you call it quits when reading a new book?

It's usually near the middle of the book. I have a good eye for stories, but there are some that are too tedious to continue, and I don't believe in forcing myself through something that unenlightening and unenjoyable.

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Are you independently or traditionally published?

I'm independently published.

How many books/stories have you published so far?

Currently, there are two. One is a self-published novelette, 'The Heart of Hartford', and the other is a short story, 'Rogue', that's featured in a sci-fi anthology, Just A Minor Malfunction magazine.

What book/story are you currently promoting or working on?

My YA sci-fi The 'New Union' is my main focus.

What’s the elevator pitch?

Vance Battle lives in a domed world that's perfectly safe. That also means that it's limited and he wants something more than virtual reality programs and school. Along the way, he opens himself up to a new way of looking at things and becomes more connected to this world and those around him, but when he has the chance to escape he'll have to decide if it's worth giving up everything he's learned to love.

How long have you been working on it?

About four years.

When will it be available to buy? Where?

Both the novelette and the short story are available on Amazon.

How can readers find you?

What inspires you to keep writing?

"The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before."
-Neil Gaiman

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."
-James Baldwin

Anything you’d like to add?

I see writing as something more than just words on a page. They can truly impact people's lives. As writers, we're meant to be adventurous and to go to places that few dare to tread. To me, this is at the heart of writing.

Thanks for the opportunity.

My thanks to Ethan for participating in My Laughably Inane Blog. I wish him the best in all his endeavors.

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