Interview with Travis Thrasher

A few years ago I first saw the cover for Solitary by Travis Thrasher (click the title to see my review). It was simple and intrigued me. And when I read the book, it totally sucked me in! I kept thinking, “Christian teen horror? Who knew?”

But then the book made me mad. (I may have thrown it once.) And in the end, it left me so puzzled that I needed to read book two, which left me dying to read book three to the point that I actually pre-ordered the thing. And now I’m a Thrasher Head, counting the days until January.

“Hey, Travis… I don’t suppose you need any endorsements for Hurt?”

Yeah… I figured as much.

At least I got to talk with Travis a little in the meantime.

I’d like to say that this isn’t a series you want to start in the middle. If you haven’t read Solitary, go buy it right now. Or enter to win below. Travis has graciously offered to give all three books to one of my blog readers.

Sweet!

So enjoy the interview, enter to win, and if you don’t win, go buy Solitary! You will be entertained. 

In regards to the picture above, look how fabulous Hurt looks there on the end with the creepy ol’ church on the cover. Oh, Hurt! How I long to pluck you off the shelf and read all of your pages.

Okay… Jill’s losing focus here. 

An interview! Yes. That was the plan. (Why do I feel like Doctor Who today?)

Without further randomness, I give you Mr. Thrasher. *applause*

Travis, when you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I’ve wanted to be a writer since third grade, and that has been the one constant in my life.

When did you decide to try writing books?

I’ve always been reading and writing but I wrote my first novel in ninth grade. I still have it. It was written in pencil on notebook paper and it was called The Adventurer. It was pretty bad.  

Was it hard work?

Writing is the easiest thing in the world to do. The hard part is writing something that is well written! 

What was your biggest obstacle as you learned to become a writer?

Self doubt. I think that’s one of the biggest obstacles for any writer. Writing is such a personal and solitary craft. You’re left alone to your own habits and hangups. It’s easy to have insecurity about every part of the writing process. The key is plowing ahead even if or when you know the writing is awful or simply mediocre. I think I’m the most persistent writer out there. Not the most talented, but the most persistent. 

What do you consider one of your biggest life adventures?

I live on a bloody battlefield. Except the blood is colored pink, and there’s lots of toys littering the field. As the father of three girls (a five year old and two 17-month-old twins), my wife and I are currently on an amazing adventure. Trying to do this while supporting all of us by “living the dream” (see question #1) can be tough. But doors continue to open to writing projects. I never know what adventure will be coming next!  

Temptation is book three in the Solitary Tales. Here is the storyline:

It’s a fabulous book. But, again, if you haven’t read Solitary and Gravestone, read the series in order! Travis, in your Solitary books, Chris has to move to a strange town that’s far away from anything. What advice would you give teens that are forced to live in places they don’t want to live? How can they make the best of things?

Keeping a positive attitude is the best thing you can do. I know that sounds trite–I find it hard at times to keep positive myself. Life doesn’t always go the way we hope or expect. Moving around was hard for me–I went to four different high schools. At the same time, I wouldn’t change anything because it made me who I am now.

The older I get, the more I realize that every single day we have is a gift. When you’re a teenager, you think you’re going to live forever. You think that forty-years-old is over the hill. You sometimes can’t wait to be a grownup. Relish those times of being a teenager regardless of the circumstances. 

Any real-life adventures planned for the near future? If not, what is one dream that you’ve yet to live? 

I’m starting to look ahead to the future in terms of family plans. I’ve always looked ahead when it came to my writing, and I still do that. But now, with these three little ladies in our house, I’m looking through a different set of lenses.

What new fictional adventure are you working on now?

My next book is an eBook only release of a story called Teardrop that is part of seven other stories in the 7 Hours project released by Tyndale House Publishers. It comes out in May. Then in September, a novelization I worked on for the movie Home Run will be released. The movie is a tremendous story about a professional baseball player who is forced to go to rehab and ends up finding hope and redemption. 

Thanks so much for the interview, Travis! I look forward to your new writing projects, and obviously, to Hurt. Here are some places to find Travis online:

Travis’ website: http://www.travisthrasher.com/

Travis’ blog: http://thejourneyiseverything.blogspot.com/

Travis’ Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Travis-Thrasher/13427461109?ref=ts 

And to enter to win Solitary, Gravestone, and Temptation, leave a comment and/or “like” Travis’ Facebook Page. May the randomest entry win.

 

 

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20 Responses to “Interview with Travis Thrasher”

1. Rachel K. says:

   May 8, 2012 at 8:11 am

   I am so excited…these books look amazing!

   Reply
2. Joshua Rollins says:

   May 8, 2012 at 9:01 am

   Fantastic blog! I am glad I found it! Great interviews and reviews!
   I am a Thrasherhead as well

   Reply
   • Jill Williamson says:

     May 8, 2012 at 10:32 am

     Thrasherheads unite!

     Reply
3. John U. says:

   May 8, 2012 at 10:10 am

   Solitary Tales series is amazing. Can’t wait for Hurt.

   Reply
   • Jill Williamson says:

     May 8, 2012 at 10:33 am

     Sigh. Me too, John.

     Reply
4. Rachel says:

   May 8, 2012 at 11:23 am

   I remember seeing Solitary a while ago and never got around to buying it. But, I still want to read it.

   I acctually have a Travis Thrasher book on my shelf right now that I got for Christmas. I haven’t been able to read it yet because I had other books that needed reading. It was co-authored with Jimmy Wayne the singer and is called Paper Angels. I love the song by the same name and artist and, if the book is as good as the song, I will have a new favorite on the shelf soon.

   Thanks for the interview. I have personally suffered doubts when writing so hearing when other authors have been through the same thing but have gone on and been published and well received is encurageing. Thanks again.

   Reply
5. Ladette says:

   May 8, 2012 at 11:33 am

   Would LOVE to win this set!! Great interview. Thanks!

   Reply
6. Jenn M says:

   May 8, 2012 at 12:11 pm

   I’ve read the first one and can’t wait to read the rest. He is such a talented writer.

   Reply
   • Jill Williamson says:

     May 8, 2012 at 12:28 pm

     Agreed, Jenn!

     Reply
7. Gillian Adams says:

   May 8, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   Ooh! Wow. Those books look quite intriguing. I like the simplistic cover art.

   Reply
   • Rachel says:

     May 8, 2012 at 8:12 pm

     I know. The covers really are what caught me attention.

     Reply
8. Nettie says:

   May 8, 2012 at 6:44 pm

   I haven’t read any of these but I’m always open to more good books.

   Reply
9. Mary Ann Woods says:

   May 9, 2012 at 4:42 am

   Sounds like you were truly surprised by how much you enjoyed Solitary! That intriques me and makes me want to check them out, too. Thanks for bringing the series to my attention!

   Reply
10. Carol G says:

    May 9, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    Would love to win this set — have never read it and would like to expand my YA collection . . .

    Reply
11. Anonymous says:

    May 9, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    Looking forward to reading the Solitary set of books.

    Reply
12. Barbara Hartzler says:

    May 10, 2012 at 2:51 pm

    Finally, a teen book for guys! This series does sound interesting, but I’m hesitant. Would a girly girl like it? Someone who likes chick lit but can’t finish Hunger Games b/c it’s too scary? If so, enter me in the contest. If not, well . . .

    Reply
    • Jill Williamson says:

      May 11, 2012 at 11:44 am

      Well… if Hunger Games is too scary, you might not like these. The scariness is similar to Frank Peretti’s Visitation or This Present Darkness, though a bit more fast-paced. There’s a spiritual battle going on in the town of Solitary and Chris Buckley is smack in the middle of it, like it or not. So… I hope that helps you decide if they’re for you or not.

      Jill

      Reply
      • Barbara Hartzler says:

        May 14, 2012 at 2:45 pm

        Thanks! That does help. Maybe once I work up the courage to finish Hunger Games I’ll be able to tackle these, too.

        Reply
13. Becki Badger says:

    May 16, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    I actually live in a small town that I don’t really like. It’s pretty and all, but my family is kinda isolated, and I really need to be around a lot of people. I will have to check out your books if I don’t win. I love Frank Peretti, and This Present Darkness is one of my favorite books, as well as his Veritas books.

    Reply
14. Maddy says:

    May 21, 2012 at 11:45 am

    I would absolutely LOVE to win these books. I have heard so much about them.

    Reply