Gregory Erich Phillips A Diversified Life From a Literary Family my dad has given me invaluable lessons on writing craft through the years.
From a prolific literary family, Gregory Erich Phillips tells aspirational stories through strong, relatable characters that transcend time and place. He lives in Seattle, Washington. Q: You started writing at age 14. ‘Love of Finished Years,’ your grand prize-winning novel, came out in 2017. What happened in the intervening years, and how did you hone your skill to a point where you could write complete novels? The first novel I wrote, at 14, was pretty terrible, but by doing it, and finishing it, I created an early habit and belief in my ability to write complete novels. In the years that followed, I think each book I wrote got better, but they still weren’t good enough. When ‘Love of Finished Years’ won the Chanticleer grand prize, it validated all those years of work and told me that I had gotten my craft to the point where it was ready to go out into the world. 24
Q: It is often quoted that you came from “a prolific literary family.” Could you elaborate on that for our readers and how that impacted you both personally and professionally? My dad had a very successful career as a novelist. My brother is also a published author. Through my dad I got a great understanding of the business and the writing process from an early age. That is why I started so young. And
Q: You have been quoted as saying that writing allows you to ‘explore the world in ways you might not otherwise be able to have the courage to.’ Could you elaborate how writing offers you these avenues or is it just a better way to better understand yourself, your emotions, and how you related to people (you mentioned in an interview that you relate better to women, and all three of your protagonists are female). This question dives into what I like most about the novel as an art form. As a writer, it allows me to explore perspectives and experiences beyond my scope of actual lived reality. I try to pull readers into characters that do the same for them, and thus, the novel can broaden understanding in both readers and writers. Writing has made me a more
Books ‘N Pieces Magazine — JUNE 2022 — www.BooksNPieces.com
