Interview with literary fiction author Seth Mullins

Today’s guest is literary fiction author Seth Mullins. He’s talking about his new novel, What Casts the Shadow and other writing and non-writing-related things.

During his virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions, Seth will be awarding one lucky winner with a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner’s choice). To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Seth Mullins draws upon the great sweep of human soul-journeying to weave his tales. He's inspired by music, shamanism, dreams and the mysteries and miracles of our inner life. His greatest love as a writer is for fiction that depicts a journey towards self-awareness in the deepest sense.

"Probably the most valuable thing that I learned throughout my spiritual journey in this life is the importance of trusting in one's self. Many of our cultural lessons encourage us to ignore or even fear our inner reality. And yet it is this realm that really does hold the answers to all of our questions, and can point the way towards the most fulfilling life experiences possible for us."

Mr. Mullins has lived in Maine, Connecticut, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont.

Welcome, Seth. Please tell us a little bit about What Casts the Shadow.

A troubled young rock musician, a mystic mentor, and a generation of lost souls longing for a new voice to emerge from the wilderness...

When an altercation outside of a performance venue nearly proves fatal, Brandon Chane begins to realize how far his life is spinning out of control. His efforts to channel his pain, frustration and thwarted loves into his music may not suffice to save him. Then he meets Saul, a crisis counselor with the soul of an ancient medicine man, and a far-reaching journey of healing - one that may teach him how to steer away from the very edge of the abyss - begins.

Excerpt:

First Session with Saul

Saul’s office was arranged much like others I’d seen: A dark cherry desk, glossy clean; plaques, proclaiming his education and other achievements, hanging on the wall behind. All the prominent names in the field of psychology cluttered his bookcase. Most of the titles that Tommy had found for me at the library made an appearance there. Saul invited me to sit in a brown leather recliner. I didn’t want to tilt it back; but I kept feeling like I was about to fall out of that chair when it was in the upright position.

Saul leaned forward and smiled like he harbored a secret. “I’d like to start, Brandon, by assuring you that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you. You have no ‘problems’ per se. You aren’t evil, because there is no such thing. And if you’re ignorant, then you are no more so than every other human to ever walk the Earth. Now, is any of that reassuring?”

It almost sounded like he was trying to provoke an argument. Yet his manner and tone implied that he meant every word he said in the most literal sense.

“Of course,” he went on, “that’s all true only from a perspective that you may have to work hard to arrive at. When you’re suffering, it definitely feels like something is wrong with you; and the seeming causes of that suffering are problems. They are the embodiment of evil. And every smiling person you see must be privy to answers that have totally eluded you.”

What do you think you’re really good at?

Crafting stories that go beyond escapism and really say something about the human condition; writing with an ear for musicality in my prose and breathing life into characters who have depth, who feel real.

What do you think you’re really bad at?

Keeping the details straight. My tendency to, say, lose track of new people’s names at a party plays out in my writing too. Editing can be a headache.

Have you ever had an imaginary friend?

When I was maybe four years old I was walking through the woods one day with my parents and I had the sense that a bear spirit was following, watching over me. I stayed connected with him for a while after that. Sometimes I was “with” Bear and sometimes I “became” him in my play-acting.

Do you have any phobias?

I sometimes experience anxiety around technology, particular the speed at which it develops. It moves so fast; and nobody seems quite able to gauge the ways in which that frenzied rate of change could be affecting us all. So, I can get sucked in to sci-fi ‘technology gone awry’ scenarios because they feel real to me.

Ever broken any bones?

Never. (So much for cultivating an ‘artist living on the edge’ persona…)

Links:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Facebook (book page) | Amazon author page

"What Casts the Shadow?"  (The Edge of the Known) on Amazon    

Thanks, Seth!

a Rafflecopter giveaway