This moving debut novel from Gregory Erich Phillips won the grand prize in the Chanticleer Reviews International Writing Contest. From a prolific literary family, Gregory tells stories of aspirations through strong, relatable characters that transcend time and place. Living in Seattle, Washington, he is also an accomplished tango dancer and musician.
Welcome Gregory, and thanks for being with us today! Why don’t you start by telling our readers a bit about your journey to becoming a published author?
It has been a long road, no doubt. I wrote the first draft of this novel fifteen years ago and have been writing novels since I was fourteen. There has been a lot of frustration and rejection along the way, but I can look back and see how much my craft as a writer has improved over the years. Ultimately, it takes a combination of hard work and persistence to get to this point.
What is it Ended Years Love on?
It is the story of Elsa, a young German immigrant who arrives in the United States in the years before World War I. As a teenager, she works in the sweatshops of Lower Manhattan, learning English in her few spare hours. A casual job with an elite Long Island family opens up her world. Invited to a degree, she precariously crosses the social divide, jeopardizing everything she had worked for. The last part of the story follows the events of the war. It is also a love story.
What motivated you to write about the early 20th century era and World War I?
I’ve always been fascinated by the First World War and the world at the time. The war was truly one of the most shocking events in modern history, and yet it is not covered as much in literature or film, especially when compared to World War II. This piqued my curiosity from an early age, and the more I learned about it, the more tragically fascinating it seemed. From that curiosity, the character of Elsa emerged, and then the story of her life.
As I delved deeper into the events of that time, I was amazed at how many parallels there were to our own time. We tend to forget how controversial America’s entry into World War I was and how little many people, including soldiers, understood what was going on. There are other parallels. This novel is about an immigrant family, from a country -Germany- that was considered hostile to the United States. His experience in the 1910s foreshadows the experience of many immigrants in America today.
How extensive was your research to Ended Years Love?
Looking back, it was extensive, but I didn’t think of it that way because I had so much fun with it.
There are two parts of the investigation that delves into historical fiction. The first thing you, as the author, need to do is immerse yourself in the environment. You should familiarize yourself with the time period and the historical and cultural context in which your characters live. Due to my previous fascination with this era, that part was relatively easy for me when I wrote this book.
Then comes the second part, which for me constituted a large part of the work of multiple rewrites of the novel. That’s where you need to investigate the specifics, both for accuracy and to add color to the narrative. I visited the Museum of Housing in New York City and walked the streets of the Lower East Side where Elsa lived. I read extensive accounts of soldiers who experienced the first world war. It’s the details that really build the world of the story that will hopefully immerse the reader and make them feel like they’re there.
Ended Years Love it launched in January 2018 and has already won a couple of awards. Tell us about these awards and what they mean to you as a new fiction author.
Winning the grand prize of the Chanticleer Reviews International Writing Contest really led directly to getting the book published. Before that, he had only received a constant series of rejection letters. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity. However, on a personal level, it meant even more to me. It is naturally discouraging to be rejected over and over again. Winning that award, when the book was still just a manuscript, validated me as a writer and encouraged me to keep it up for as long as it took.
What kind of reaction to your writing are you most looking for from your reading public?
I hope to write stories and characters that stay with my readers long after they read my books. I think the character of Elsa will be memorable. Her experiences speak to many things that people face today, both as a young working woman and as an immigrant in the United States. An inspiring character is the best gift that I, as an author, can give my readers.
What do you like to read?
I always love to read a good novel. I especially love early 20th century American novelists, but I also read a lot of contemporary fiction. I look for novels with inspiring characters. Not surprisingly, I also love reading about history.
Which writers have inspired your own work as an author?
Ernest Hemingway has a brilliant style of storytelling that I think is perfectly suited for today’s readers. His narratives are concise, never a word wasted, but full of descriptiveness, emotion and nuance. He studied his trade. I also learned a lot from my father, Michael R. Phillips, a career novelist.
Tell us a little about your literary practice. Do you have a routine? Do you subscribe to the “write every day” philosophy?
I wish I could write every day! However, with a demanding work day it is not always possible. The goal routine is vital for me. I do most of my best writing early in the morning before I go to work. That is the time when my mind is freshest. I think it’s important to stick to my routine, even if I don’t feel particularly inspired. Sometimes just sitting quietly and thinking about my project has its own value. In a busy life, it’s very easy to get out of that rut if I’m not diligent about it.
One philosophy I subscribe to is not to mix writing with editing. They are made with different sides of the brain.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love to dance tango. I love music. I love hiking in the beautiful mountains of Washington. And of course I love to read.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, about writing or about life in general?
Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Catching up emotionally with what others are going through in life leads to the kind of empathy that makes the world a better place. As a writer, this practice allows one to develop likeable and realistic characters, giving even the most flawed characters emotional depth and redeeming attributes. You really need to put yourself in the minds and circumstances of your characters, even the dark-spirited ones.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
For new writers, those trying to write their first novel: Be a storyteller. Don’t worry at first about the details, the so-called rules of writing, or whether you think it will be good. Just tell a story and let it flow.
So, for those who have gotten over the hurdle of writing a full novel: hire a good editor. It is the best investment you can make in yourself. Even if that book never gets published, editorial comments will be an invaluable lesson as you improve your craft and write your own. next novel.
What’s next, do you have another project in the works?
I have several more finished novels. And I started a new one last month. I’m not sure which one will be released next, but there are many more stories to come, so stay tuned!
Do you have anything else you would like to share with our readers?
hope you enjoy Ended Years Love!
