A Conversation with Richard Paul Evans, Author of The Walk

1. What message are you trying to share with this novel?

I believe that we were meant to live as social creatures, to reach out and bless each other’s lives. To paraphrase what Dickens wrote, “…it’s required of all men to walk abroad among humanity.”

2. Why did you decide to write in diary form, rather than another styles?

I began writing in diary form nearly 15 years ago with my second novel Timepiece. I enjoy doing it and it makes for a very readable, interesting book.

3. There is a spiritual side to the novel as Alan wrestles with his feelings toward God. Why did you choose to add this aspect to the story?

It is my experience that almost everyone who suffers a major loss, whether a professed believer in God or not, wonders about God and struggles with either blame or confusion. It was an issue I wanted to address head-on, especially with Ally, the waitress, who asks: why do we blame God for the bad things but not the good?

4. Are you like Alan, who said that everyone has a deep desire to leave everything behind and just keep moving? Or do you prefer to stay close to home?

Seeing I’ve been in 13 cities in the last three weeks I suppose I’m more like Alan than I want to believe. But as I get older I long to just be home.

5. Why did you choose to call out certain parts of Alan’s diary to start each chapter?

It’s a style I’ve used before in my writing and one that is very popular with my readers. As I write the focus is on creating a story that flows quickly, so the reader becomes lost in the experience. More prosaic passages can stop that flow. I discovered by pulling them out and putting them at the beginning of a chapter heading, where the reader is already transitioning, makes for a more enjoyable read.

6. You write a very descriptive narrative about Washington State where Alan travels, and seem to have a lot of knowledge of the area. Have you traveled there before?

My daughter, Jenna, and I rented a car and drove the route, carefully observing what he would see, where he would stop and what he would eat. I initially tried to write this story in my den and realized it was impossible to do without being there. This means that over the next four years my daughter Jenna and I will travel across America together, something I’m very excited about.

7. Alan contemplates an important question on his walk that is good for you as well: Who really does have the greatest milkshakes?

I honestly don’t know. I’m diabetic so I didn’t try any. My daughter liked Zeke’s.

8. The Walk is the first book in your planned series. What other adventures are in store for Alan on his trip?

You’ll have to wait and see.

9. You’ve written a number of best sellers. What is it about writing that you enjoy? What is your process in creating stories that people enjoy so much?

I suppose I have an active imagination and writing allows me to live it out. I truly feel as if I’m a conduit for these stories and there are times that I don’t even know what I’m writing until it’s poured through me and I can confront it on the page. People are looking for inspiration and my books are sometimes the vehicles of what people are looking for. It’s my job, however, to make it entertaining.

10. What are you working on now?

A love story called Promise Me, due out Fall 2010.