INTERVIEW WITH RYAN GEBHART:

 

How did you get started writing?

My fifth grade teacher Mrs. Virost introduced our class to creative writing. Even though my stories were pretty awful, it still made me realize that our random and strange ideas do matter. It's important not just to learn the rules of grammar, but also to simply have fun with writing.

 

Who influenced you?

I don't write horror stories, but Stephen King's novels really taught me the importance of tension and suspense in any genre. He recently tweeted: “Horror is when you know and love the characters, but you also know something very bad is going to happen to them. It's not the monsters!” and I applied that concept to my rather simple story about a boy going hunting with his grandfather.

 

Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting?

Although my debut doesn't reflect this, I love studying nature and outer space. Our concept of the universe has changed so much in the past two hundred years, and it's fun to theorize what our understanding of it will be in another two hundred years.

 

What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author?

Find other writers you trust to peer-review your work (and unless they're fellow writers, don't pick friends or family members! They're not going to know what to look for in an unfinished story). Listen to their suggestions, and take what you feel works for your vision, and at least consider the suggestions that challenge it. Also, there is no greater way to learn how to edit than by offering to edit and critique someone else's work.

 

Where is your favorite place to write?

On my couch, with a cup of green tea, with my dog snuggled between my feet.

 

What else would you like to tell us?

Go on real life adventures. I never would have come up with the idea for THERE WILL BE BEARS had I turned down the random offer to work a season at an elk hunting ranch.