Book: Utah! A Novel
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Levi Rogers. I am a writer and former coffee roaster currently based in Portland, Oregon where I live with my wife and two daughters. I have been writing for over ten years, but this is my first novel.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing Utah! A Novel?
This was my debut novel so everything was new to me. Creating a plot and characters to sustain an entire novel was a challenge, as well as putting the final touches on everything and polishing it up so that everything connected and flowed and read perfectly.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Dave Eggers was an early influence on me. I liked his energy and humor. Also the more “classical” works of people like Cormac McCarthy, Vonnegut, DFW, all the Russian writers from Nabokov to Tolstoy. Then I was influenced by a lot of great women writers like Anne Lamott, Lidia Yuknavitch, Maggie Nelson, Karen Russell, Annie Dillard, and Leslie Jamison. Right now I’m loving some George Saunders, Rumaan Alam, Mitchell S. Jackson, and Kiese Laymon.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Two of my favorite spots to visit are Zion National Park and Yellowstone National Park. And they’re both in the book! That’s how much I love them. I enjoy the National Parks of the U.S. and these two feel vast and special to me, otherwordly almost.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
My process is actually to just start writing and let the words and characters take me where they want to go. I lived in Utah for eight years and so I considered this most of my “research.” But I prefer to just write and be surprised at where the novel is going. Although next time I might outline a tiny bit more, ha! I learned a lot about writing through this project and have a much better feel for what works now and what readers in particular are looking for when they sit down to read a book.
Q6. How long did it take you to write Utah! A Novel?
The novel took me five years to write. I started it in 2015 and finished it in 2020.
Q7. On what platforms readers can find Utah! A Novel book to buy?
Utah! A Novel is on Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and my own website! https://levirogersisafraud.com/
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title Utah! A Novel?
I wanted the title to reflect the almost anthropological way in which I approached this novel, which was like an introduction to the state of Utah itself. I thought an exclamation point was kinda funny and would make it seem more exciting than it really was. I also wanted the cover to be like a vintage postcard from the state from fifty years ago. Shout out to Beste M. Dogan from Atmosphere Press for the design!
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
Hmm, that’s a great question. One thing I’ve heard is that if you’re not having fun as the writer, then your reader probably isn’t having fun either. Now, that’s not to say that all of writing is fun. Most of it is tedious and can be a drag or slog to get through certain aspects and set things up and all the blocking, etc. But I also tried to keep it fresh in that I wanted to try to write something that had no pre-ordained outline or formula to it. Which ended up being both good and bad. I found out there’s a reason why people stick to certain formulas and pacing and plots for books, ha!
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
I would say that while the novel is a slow burn there are some very exciting, surprising, and explosive things that happen in the end, and you’ll be glad you finished the novel once you do!
Book Is Available On Amazon
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