Author Interview: Rich Paz

( Rich Paz is the author of  Enoch and the Stars above. Find my review of the book here. )          

What was the inspiration behind “Enoch and the stars above”? 

The inspiration came from my wife, Dafne. She challenged me to write a book, a life-long dream of mine. And also, the book is about human consciousness which has also always been another thing I´ve always been interested in. I´ve always wanted to help humanity in any way I felt possible, and I hope I can make it a reality through my books.  

 What was the hardest part of writing this book?  

The hardest thing about writing this book were the rewrites and the editing part. I also found it a challenge writing in first person because it was as though I was listening to the character in my head. It´s as though he was telling me when I was right or wrong. I know it sounds crazy, but I swear I could hear his every word. Really strange!

 When you develop characters do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as you go? 

I know who the characters are but I try to give them as much life as possible. I try to make them as 3 dimensional as possible. I develop them as the story plays out in my mind. I like to make characters that can associate with as many readers as possible.

Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp?  

My message is a message of hope. It is a message of accomplishment. It a message of making a difference in someone else´s life. Whether it be a thousand people or one life, we can make that difference. 

 Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it? 

I think I learned a lot of things, but mainly, I learned that polishing a book is a very difficult yet rewarding experience. I learned that one can make a book breathe on its own. I learned that listening to the characters one by one can make a story even greater than the first draft.  

 What do your friends and family think of your writing? 

Some of my friends have read my book and have been amazed with my writing. They tell me to continue writing, that they are surprised that I could write so well.  

 What does your writing space look like? 

I don´t really have a writing space. I write on my commutes on the Mexico City subway as well as the Metrobus. I have many hours of commuting between my classes every day.  

What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing? 

I like Chuck Palatniuk as well as Khaled Hosseini, but I have been introduced to many others. And there are a plethora of amazing authors out there and I want to discover as many as possible.

What is your favorite under-appreciated novel? 

I liked the Pure series by Julianna Baggott.

( Find the Pure series here on Goodreads )

Are there any nuggets of wisdom you can impart to aspiring writers? 

Just keep going forward. Keep trying to make your novels a reality. Continue to give your readers something fresh and innovative to read. Don´t give up! And listen to your fans. Listen to the people who like to read. They are your biggest asset.