My neediness is not a hole to be filled but something beneath the skin scratching to get out. Jonathan Evison More Quotes by Jonathan Evison More Quotes From Jonathan Evison We are born haunted, he said, his voice weak, but still clear. Haunted by our fathers and mothers and daughters, and by people we don't remember. We are haunted by otherness, by the path not taken, by the life unlived. We are haunted by the changing winds and the ebbing tides of history. And even as our own flame burns brightest, we are haunted by the embers of the first dying fire. But mostly, said Lord Jim, we are haunted by ourselves. Jonathan Evison daughter mother father So often when we historicize material, we use this big wide-angle lens. Jonathan Evison lens often big use Homesteading is gone. Jonathan Evison gone My parents divorced after 25 years of marriage. Jonathan Evison after parents marriage years There are holes in our lives that can never be filled - not really, not ever. Jonathan Evison ever really our never I write as a matter of need - seven books and God knows how many short stories before anyone published me. Jonathan Evison short me god matter I've been blessed with an optimistic disposition, I think. Jonathan Evison i-think been think blessed After 20 years of writing in basically a vacuum, I love being part of a community. I've vetted other writers' contracts for them and do publicity for free just because I like a book. Some people think of it as hubris or careerism, but I love to champion books. You can't use your whole sphere of influence just to help yourself. Jonathan Evison yourself you love people I just need to believe that we're not in some form of stasis, that we can try to be whoever we want to be. We probably won't get there, but we might get a little bit closer, you know? Jonathan Evison try know you believe I never wanted to be anything but a writer, and I never let go of it. Jonathan Evison let-go anything never go Maybe a theme that touches all of my work is people reinventing themselves. Jonathan Evison maybe theme work people For me, an ideal novel is a dialogue between writer and reader, both a collaborative experience and an intimate exchange of emotions and ideas. The reader just might be the most powerful tool in a writer's arsenal. Jonathan Evison emotions me experience ideas In writing, I've found, playing it safe and familiar is no way to energize anybody. Jonathan Evison playing safe writing way Too many writers of fiction don't give the reader enough credit. Jonathan Evison give credit enough fiction When I started caregiving, I was not on very firm ground. My first marriage had dissolved. I was working at an ice-cream stand in my thirties. I learned that when you don't have anything to give, that's when you really give, and then you get back so much more. Jonathan Evison stand back you marriage I grew up in the Bay Area until 1976, then I pretty much went all the way through primary and high school on Bainbridge, though like anybody who grows up on an island, I ran the first chance I got. Jonathan Evison high-school chance way school Most everything that happens to me in any significant sense finds its way into my fiction. Jonathan Evison everything me happens way I'm not in the business of meddling with people's destinies - and yes, my characters are real people to me. They have histories and thoughts and yearnings and hurts and misgivings and pleasures that don't belong to me. Jonathan Evison thoughts me business people There're so many great writers out there who aren't getting the exposure they deserve. Jonathan Evison out who great deserve I'm a DIY kinda guy. Jonathan Evison kinda guy
