Could You Tell Us About Yourself?
I’m the author of two top selling books in, Wylde Serenity and my latest book, Love Letters From Barstow. I’d like to say I’m a passionate writer whose work evokes a wide range of emotions. Encompassing despair, angst and even flirts with death while reflecting on the indulgences of love, and the loneliness that accompanies its failures. I was born in Fullerton, California and was lucky enough to land in the hands of the public library, which cultivated my love for books and words. I also pass the time writing freelance articles and performing artist interviews for several online publications. In my free time, my family and I love to walk the aisles of local independent booksellers.
What’s your favourite book?
There are so many books that have shaped me as a writer it’s hard to narrow it down to one. I’d have to narrow it down to two, On The Road, by Jack Kerouac or Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. Both books were so pivotal to me as a young adult trying to determine who I’d be. I recommend them both to any young adult struggling to find their identity. They are both classics and I’d be lost without having been able to experience them both.
Who is your favourite author and why?
I’m heavily influenced by the “Beat” movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s. The writing just speaks to me like no other. So, I would have to say Jack Kerouac would be my favorite author. At 18, On The Road absolutely changed my life. I’d say our work has a commonality of dealing with loss and the search for something meaningful to hold on to. I have a long way to go before I could ever be on the level of a Kerouac though.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
The most difficult part of the artistic process for me are the emotions that my writing evokes in me. I’ve had the great honor that some of my writing has been compared to Charles Bukowski, as it is very honest, stripped down and raw. Delving into that type of emotion on a project can really affect you if you don’t have a way to disconnect. All my words are my truth and that’s not always easy to navigate. Sometimes you must protect yourself from being swallowed by your own ideas.
What’s your favourite writing snack or drink?
My taste in writing snacks has changed from my first book to now. As a younger writer, I wrote a lot at night so I favored beer and wine hoping it would create a more relaxed and natural atmosphere. Now that I’m older, I write in the day a lot of the time and I’ve traded in my old tastes for Pepsi and tea. It’s a lot less exciting and sexy, but it keeps me focused during the day.
Do you listen to music while you wrote your book(s)?
In true “Beat” fashion, music is a big part of my writing. I love to have music playing in the background during my writing sessions. Everything from Jazz, to the Rolling Stones, to Aimee Mann, to modern bands like Big Thief or The Beths.
What is / was your writing process like?
My process is a little strange. When I write, my thoughts are a little manic, so I tend to scribble down ideas on everything from receipts, to napkins, almost any scrap of paper I can get my hands on. This will date me, but a good portion of my first book was written on map pages. Sometimes it’s just a sentence or two, or maybe even a phrase but they can turn into gold. I don’t want to lose anything. Once I’m home I’ll start assembling the pieces and crafting them into ideas and poems. It can be stressful, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The process just feels honest to me and that authenticity is what my readers are used to and appreciate.
Do you try more to be original or rather give readers what they want?
My fan base has been very loyal over the years and they accept me for who I am. I think it’s because they know I’m honest to a fault and there isn’t an emotion I don’t share, good or bad. So, I feel like I give them what they want, but it’s never at the expense of my own emotions and voice. I was once stopped by a reader and they asked me, “how do you know all the emotions I’m afraid to share with anyone?” That interaction alone let me know that my writing connects with others and I don’t need to worry about writing to be liked, instead I write for the connection.
How did you publish your (first) book?
My first book, Wylde Serenity was independently published in 2012. In my early 20’s I began collating what I thought would be my first book, however life took another road. In 2012, I decided it was going to be now or never and I began compiling entries for the book. I shopped it to a few publishers but I was unsuccessful. It was then I thought, why not do this on my own? This way my voice would be heard and I could realize my dream. So that’s what I did, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the results. The book took off and I sold more copies than I could ever have dreamed of. I did everything for that book from the writing, editing, shipping and promoting. I went to every independent bookseller I could find in the Southern California area to promote and get on the shelves. I visited every book festival I could that year, it was great. What really surprised me was the international traction the book had. That book was one of my proudest moments.
How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?
My latest book is titled, Love Letters From Barstow. It figuratively illustrates the long, lonely road from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Love Letters From Barstow shares empowering poems that reflect on love, heartbreak, and one man’s limitations. Anyone traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas knows the excitement that comes over you as you hit the sleepy traveler town of Barstow, California at the half way mark of your journey to Las Vegas. Conversely the trip home tends to have a much more solemn note when you hit Barstow. Whether it’s the dread of falling back into the structure of everyday living or the regret of what you left behind in Las Vegas, the emotions are heavy. The poetry in this book really manifests that.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
I think the ideal reader for, Love Letters From Barstow is someone who identifies as a little bit of an outsider. Maybe someone who needs partner in their own struggles. This book lets people know it’s alright to feel different and that loneliness is not the end.
How long did it take for you to write a book?
The book took the better part of a year from content to editing. Most of that time it was piecing ideas together. I really think it could have been done faster, but I hit a writer’s block at the midway point that really distracted me. It was about that time I reread Kurt Vonnegut’s book, Breakfast Of Champions. That book gave me the courage to be creative again.
What do you hope your readers take away from your book (s)?
I really hope readers take away the idea that they aren’t alone. No matter what they may feel at the time, there is someone out there having the same emotions and thinking the same thoughts. Giving up doesn’t have to be the only option anymore.
What was the hardest part of writing your book (s)?
In all honesty, the writing is the easy part, it’s what comes after that is tough. The editing and the promotion are enough to really drive someone mad. In the editing process a writer agonizes over every word in hopes of making a connection with the reader. I truly feel the promotion is the hardest part of the writing process though. As a writer you want to share your thoughts with everyone and it can be hard to connect with an audience. So many times, you think to yourself if people only knew my work was out there. The competition is real. As a writer you’re fighting for an audience, fighting for shelf space and a place in a reader’s heart. You just hope at the end of the day the work speaks to someone. I read once that only 9% of books sell more than 200 copies. So, just finding a way to let people know your words are out there is pivotal. I’ve been lucky that both my books have been great sellers, but it doesn’t come without a lot of effort on the author’s part.
Where can people who are interested in your book, buy your book?
Love Letters From Barstow is available at almost all online retailers both here in America and abroad. It is available in paperback and in digital formats. Readers can also reach me at my website, there are links there to the major online retailers including Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers?
I’m currently promoting my latest book, Love Letters From Barstow. Making connections with readers means a lot to me. Every opportunity I get to sign a book and listen to a reader tell me how they connected with the book reaffirms that I’m not alone. As much as the book does something for them, their stories do the same for me.
After writing your book (s) what is your advice to people who want to become Writers?
I would tell aspiring writers and any creative person to read as much as you can, experience as much as you can, and follow your heart no matter what doubters may say. Get out of seclusion of your homes and experience your local library. If you give it a chance, you’ll find a safe place that will open up your creativity.
Jonathan Faia Media Links
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