Q&A With Richard Paul Evans 

I have the pleasure of doing this Q&A with New York Times & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Richard Paul Evans. Richard has written many fiction and nonfiction novels. Some of his many novels are The Christmas Box, The Michael Vey series, The Walk series, The Noel Diary & coming out on February 27th, 2024, Sharing Too Much: Musings from an Unlikely Life. 

Q: Richard, would you please tell the readers of the blog and I about your upcoming release Sharing Too Much: Musings from an Unlikely Life, and what made you choose to write & release this now?

A: This is my first work of essays in my 30-year career. A couple years back I was talking to the global president of Simon & Schuster, my publisher, and I told him that I’d just written an essay that had more readers than all my novels combined, more than 125 million. He asked why I wasn’t writing a book of essays, so that’s how it started.

Q: Did you always know that you wanted to be an author when you were a kid, or did this realization come later in life as an adult?

A: It might be hard to believe, but I was a very poor reader in the lowest reading groups. Part of my problem was my Tourette’s syndrome and ADHD. I didn’t read my first chapter book until I was in 9th grade. I picked up a book I’d heard people talk about called The Hobbit. I was hooked. I realized my biggest problem wasn’t that I didn’t like to read, I was just really picky and hadn’t found anything I liked. After reading the entire Lord of the Rings series I began writing what we’d call today “fan fiction” my own fantasy work. This was long before that was really a thing. I never thought anything would come from it, but it was a great escape for me. After college I became a copywriter at a local advertising agency. I started winning awards. That’s how it started.

Q: It is mentioned in your bio on your website that you are one of the few authors in history where both your fiction & nonfiction books have hit the bestsellers lists. You’ve written 41 consecutive New York Times Bestsellers! That sounds so impressive! How does it feel knowing that all your books are bestsellers and that you were one of the few authors to accomplish this?

A: Just as the children’s book says, “…Just because I got skills doesn’t mean I don’t have luck”. I recognize that some wonderful things have happened to me (after a lot of very hard work) so how do I feel? Grateful. Very grateful. I try to show that in everything I write.

Q: If you have more releases coming in 2025 is it fiction or nonfiction, or is it too early to ask yet?

A: I have three books coming out this year (2024): Sharing too Much, a book of my essays, Michael Vey 10: The Forgotten and a still untitled Christmas novel. This is the last Michael Vey book so, as of right now, the only book scheduled for 2025 will be my Christmas Book.

Q: Does Hollywood have the rights to any of your work, especially your fiction books? The entertainment industry desperately needs new & original content again instead of remakes, reboots, sequels, prequels, & spinoffs. 

A: I’ve had eight of my books adapted into movies. In 2022 Netflix produced my first feature film, THE NOEL DIARY starring Justin Hartley and directed by famed director Charles Shyer. It was the #1 Netflix movie in the world the week after Thanksgiving, which was an extremely exciting thing. I currently have several other of my books being worked on for a possible TV series.

Q: Do you prefer writing fiction or nonfiction more, & why?

A: Non-fiction is much easier but fiction is a more beautiful form of art.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to write fiction & nonfiction?

A: Write a lot. Read a lot. Develop your own voice. 

Q: How long does it take for you to write a book?

A:  About four months.