Interview with Richard Holt

Published 2015-04-17.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I'm not sure it was the first story I EVER read, but the first book that sicks in my mind is actually a series by Willard Price. His "Adventure Series" is about 2 young boys who traveled the world starting in the 1940's collecting exotic animals for their father's zoos. The books were so full of incredible adventures and encounters with different cultures and wildlife that I read the entire 14 book series in one summer. It was essentially the main driving force for me to begin writing stories of my own, and eventually, travel the world, visiting the majority of the destinations in the series.
How do you approach cover design?
Originally I wanted the cover to depict a bird's eye image of the barn and its surroundings to give readers an idea of the isolation of the setting. Eventually though, I decided to keep the cover simple, thinking that the exact landscape around the barn would be better left to the imagination.

I went with the image of a weather-worn red barn door. Simple and eye catching, and hopefully intriguing enough for a reader to pick up and look at.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
In no particular order:

'Homeland' by John Jakes: The writing style left me forgetting that I was reading, and the story left me feeling like I was a family member hearing a detailed recount of my genealogy.

'The Pillars of the Earth, and World without End' by Ken Follett: I count both as one because they are in a series. The writing and character descriptions were mesmerizing to me. I could smell, hear, taste and feel every experience as I read, and couldn't put the books down.

'The book of Negroes' by Laurence Hill: An incredible story with an gut wrenching plot and characters that I just wanted to reach out to and save.

'Kane and Abel' by Jeffery Archer: A really well written story that trapped my mind and sucked me in. Even though it is a long book, I read it slowly so that I could enjoy it longer.

'Poisonwood Bible' by Barbara Kingsolver : The story had me hostage the moment I read the first few lines. The writing was incredibly well done and the story was so different from anything else I had read.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I have a Kobo, but I also use my Smartphone. Ultimately though, I still prefer the feel and smell of a good book in my hands.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
This is actually a great question! I never thought about this in relation to my writing style: I grew up outside of a small town where the neighbors were quite far apart. Behind my house there was a huge field, pond and forest. Most of my friends lived too far away to see unless my parents were able to drive me, so I spent a lot of time alone, wandering the field and forest. On weekends I went to my cousins farm where we spent most of our time playing in the old barns, out-buildings and surrounding forests.

I loved the solitude and even as kid, enjoyed just sitting quietly and watching nature just exist around me.

Much of my love for writing descriptions of the little details in life--the smells, the sounds, the textures-- it all comes from this period in my life.
When did you first start writing?
I started as early as I can remember! I learned how to read and write at a young age and loved coming up with my own stories.

I have found a few of my earliest stories tucked away in old boxes and even though they are very juvenile, I was surprised at how creative I was back then.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love the process of writing.

Usually I get a plot in my mind -- a beginning, middle and end-- and once I finish the beginning, my imagination takes over and my mind starts telling me a story as if I am having a dream. I don't consciously plan out the parts in between the beginning, middle and end--it just fills itself in.

I find it as exciting and interesting as any other person reading it for the first time.
What's the story behind your latest book?
At the time that the story idea came to me, there were a lot of stories in the news that were related to what eventually became the plot of The Barn. I also, by chance, read a few novels with a similar theme--people being held against their will or living a life of complete solitude.

One night I had a wildly vivid dream that left me jumping from my bed to grab a pen and paper.

The next day I set to writing, thinking the story would only be a few pages.

I couldn't stop.

The story lingered in my mind at every moment of my day or night. It grew and grew, and the more it did, I just couldn't wait to get it out.

It became an obsession. It wasn't until I was half way done that I noticed how long the story was and realized that I might have something that others might want to read.
What are you working on next?
A sequel!

But I don't have ANY free time in my busy life anymore, so it will be a while!
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Very little! I have incredibly vivid dreams so I HATE when my alarm goes off!
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I'm currently doing a complete renovation on my house, so that takes most of my time. When I'm not doing that, I tend to be out hiking, biking or spending time outside somehow.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.

Books by This Author

The Barn
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 109,950. Language: English. Published: April 15, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Psychological thriller
(4.25 from 4 reviews)
On a narrow stretch of desolate beach hundreds of kilometres away from the closest civilization stands an enormous, ancient, wooden barn. Inside, sixteen people of varying ages and backgrounds struggle through icy cold winters, stifling hot summers, and a feast or famine supply of the basic necessities of life, waiting to be chosen. From every surface, surveillance cameras record every moment.