Author Richard Paul Evans offers thoughts on economy, books

Best-selling author Richard Paul Evans recently spoke with the Deseret News about the economy, his latest books and other efforts.

Deseret News: In this current economy, many people don't have a lot of money, many don't have jobs. Are there any solutions or hope to offer?

Richard Paul Evans: Well, the first thing I would tell them is to find joy where they're at. Some of the things that are being shaken by the economy are things that really weren't that important on one level. We create false securities; we create false gods, so to speak. When, you know, the reality is that my dad used to always say to me this country could use a good depression because during the Depression we'd sit around and talk to each other and feel like we have each other; we had time for each other. So, that's the first thing, but that doesn't seem very comforting when you're losing your home, but all things in the past I've lost homes in my life, growing up we lost three homes … you know, I understand.

DN: This is a time, especially with people out of work, when many are working to become authors. What advice would you give them?

EVANS: You know, it's a soulful time to write. It's probably a good time to write, but a bad time to be an author. It's really tough in the book industry, just like other industries. Mainly the major publishers are not taking new authors or they claim not to be. They're very selective about who they'll publish right now. It's a matter of money so the average book is selling fewer copies. They're doing smaller runs so it's kind of a tough time to break into it especially if your idea is to make money at it. It's almost a better time to self-publish; that's if you want to make money to self–publish. If you have the kind of book that you can speak about it. If it's a topic that people can come and listen to you can probably make more money.

DN: Do you think anyone can become an author?

EVANS: Can anyone become an author? No, no. That's so broad. No, I think a lot of people have stories to tell. I think everyone should, as a matter of action in their life, they should write their story. They should bear witness of their life and I think there's something very beautiful about capturing that; what happens to us when we write our own story.

DN: So it could even be like someone writing a journal, not necessarily publishing a story, something like that?

EVANS: Yeah, certainly not everyone should be published anymore than everyone should be a singer. Believe me, you don't want me on "American Idol."