IndieView with Scott Talbot Evans, author of Foxavier Loves Plinka

Do it for love, even if it means never earning a penny, because you won’t.

Scott Talbot Evans – 19 February 2018

The Back Flap

Foxavier Loves Plinka is the quirky story of a man battling OCD, going through a series of counseling programs, encountering zany characters, and eventually meeting the love of his life.

His diet is sabotaged by junk food commercials starring The Pretty Pie Girl, corporate mascot of globe-dominating corporation, Food United Chemical Technologies. In one of their production facilities, a mouse runs across a control panel, changing the setting on a machine to produce a batch of Ga-Ga-Roos containing too much tri-benzene-deliciouside, which are released onto store shelves all over the world.

Who will end up unknowingly eating one of these psychosis causing cookies?

About the Book

What is the book about?

This book is a dark comedy about coping with OCD, depression, and eating disorders. It is also about the mental health system as we follow Foxavier’s progress through a series of rehabilitation programs. It is also about the food industry, and how gigantic corporations use advertising and chemistry to sell their products.

When did you start writing the book?

2008 in a fiction class at Writers & Books.

How long did it take you to write it?

9 years if you count breaks. 5 1/2 years of work.

Where did you get the idea from?

This story is a fictionalized account of my own experiences.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

One challenge was editing out all the negativity which came from the depression and anxiety disorders.

What came easily?

All the lovable and quirky characters.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

All fictionalized versions of real people.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

George Orwell

Ray Bradbury

Joseph Heller

Rod Serling

Do you have a target reader?

NO! I hate categorizing.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Step 1) Free associate.

Step 2) Edit.

Step 3) Repeat step 2.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I plan too much, which can be bad or good.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

As I go.

Did you hire a professional editor? (May skip if being published by a small press rather than self-publishing)

Liesl Gaesser was the editor.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I alternate sitting and standing at the coffee shop, and like anything you can dance to.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yup.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

See previous question.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I did it professionally myself.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Yes. To sell a million copies.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Do it for love, even if it means never earning a penny, because you won’t.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Huntington Station, New York

Where do you live now?

Rochester, New York

What would you like readers to know about you?

My PIN number is 3417.

What are you working on now?

A sci-fi comedy about the future– The Day The Sun Changed Colors.

The year is 4377. LITTERBOT is a super capable robot who cleans up after a family who gives him no respect.  Earth society is so advanced there are no more wars, crime, or disease. Technology takes care of all problems, and everyone is pretty bored, until one day the Sun mysteriously starts glowing red.

TROLL is one of 2 mothers. A famous water scientist. Her plans for retirement quickly change when it is discovered that the world is losing water and going to be completely dry in 103 days.

BULB is one of 3 fathers. He is grumpy, and has utter faith in science.

The family of scientists, (In this world everyone is a scientist,) including a young boy and girl, must work together to build a spaceship, and move to another solar system. But the bombardment of ever-changing colors keeps growing stronger, with the side effect of mental aberrations. Red skies cause excitement. Green skies cause sedation. Blue causes violence.

When the world computer crashes, they must rely more on Litterbot, read primitive paper books, and face their savage natures.

Will they escape before the colors drive them insane? Will Litterbot sacrifice himself to save the family?

End of Interview.

For more from Scott, like his Facebook page for Foxavier Loves Plinka and his other Facebook page for The Day The Sun Changed Colors.

Get your copy of Foxavier Loves Plinka from Amazon US or Amazon UK.