Interview with Christian J. Gilliland, author of Awakening

What can you tell us about your new release, Awakening?

Awakening is a novel I have written over and over for the past 17 years. It is a science fiction fantasy novel set in a world that was torn apart by war and weapons of mass destruction a thousand years prior to the events of the story. The story takes place in three different areas from the point of view of four different characters. We visit the ancient metropolis of Belhaas which a great and dark forest has grown up through, the Canruusi Wastelands: a place that was once green lush plains but was destroyed by WMDs and is now a dry and unforgiving desert, and Canrom City: the capital of Canrom which is under control of the Govian Empite and is situated on the only body of water in the Canruusi Wastes.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Writing and storytelling always came naturally to me, I can’t pinpoint any one thing that pushed me to become an author. I guess I just always was one.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

Strangely enough, and don’t crucify me for this, but I’ve never been much of a reader. I really enjoy the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson, the techno thrillers by Michael Crichton, the Old Mans War novels by Jon Scalzi, and the one shot works of Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

My first guest would probably be Aubrey Plaza. And that’s completely self serving because I’m in love with her, so I’d probably just ask what books she likes and if she’s single.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

My favorite thing about writing isn’t writing itself but the dreaming and revelations I have about my world when not writing. There’s nothing more amazing than discovering a small piece of the puzzle that breathes life into my world, and nothing more heartbreaking than realizing a character’s death. So I’d say the emotional journey that comes with it.

What is a typical day like for you?

No day is typical for me. I’m so scatterbrained, usually I wake up and go to work, go pick up my kids and then go home and chase them around until bedtime. I usually then eat and write and pass out somewhere.

What scene in Awakening was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene in Awakening was after Sage and Crinnan killed the slave traders and are headed to Pado Village in Chapter 11. The dialogue between Sage and Crinnan was really an outpouring of my own ideologies and views on the meaning of life and I think Crinnan experiencing that from someone like Sage was just truly a wonderful interaction for him.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Change your mind, change your life. It’s a paraphrasing from some arbitrary quote by Plato and my friend Michael actually told it to me. It’s so simple yet so profound. Essentially, all you have to do is believe in yourself and whatever you are trying to accomplish and that everything is possible if you set your mind to it, and by truly doing so your life will be better for it.

Christian J. Gilliland is the author of the new book Awakening (The Black Knight Book 1)

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