Steven Guglich | Author
1. What inspired you to start writing/creating art, and how has that inspiration evolved over time?
I've had many people in my life who have inspired and influenced me as a creative, but I can narrow it down to three who truly gave me the wings to soar. First, my Dad. He had such a vivid imagination and a was a storyteller in how own right. He was also an avid reader of sci-fi and fantasy, so we always had books all over the house as well as the yearly Frank Frazetta Fantasy Art Calendar hanging in my Dad's shop. The second person who influenced me to become a writer was my high school English Teacher, JoAnn Hauptman. She saw something in me that I thought was only an unobtainable dream. But she encouraged me to use my writing skills, making me first the art editor of the school newspaper and then the Editor-in-chief. Finally, it was my wife that truly encouraged me to take all these crazy ideas in my head and turn them into stories.
2. Can you share the story behind your latest work? What was your creative process like?
Every culture in the world has stories of myths, legends, magic, and fantastic beasts. But why don't we see or hear about these things now? I took that question to another level and imagined that these magical beings that once lived, and once co-existed with humanity, became fed up with humanity's penchant for war and destruction, so the elves, dwarves, gnomes, and other magical races, hid themselves behind a magical Veil, awaiting for humanity to destroy itself. That was the premise for The Veil Saga.
3. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your work, and why are they important to you?
Hope and wonder! I want readers to finish my stories feeling hopeful that there is good in the world. And I want them to experience the child-like wonder that we held dear to as children.
4. What advice would you give to aspiring authors/artists who are just starting their journey?
Just write. If you have a story on your heart, just get that first draft from your mind into written form and don't worry about spelling, grammar, and structure... just write the story from beginning to end. Then when you're ready to write the second draft, you can worry about all of those other things.
5. What role has self-publishing or independent production played in your career, and what have you learned from the process?
I chose to self-publish because I did not want anyone telling me what to put in my stories and how many books they wanted me to write. So my wife and I started our own publishing company. I've learned that with faith, hard work, dedication, and encouragement you can see your dreams come true.
6. How do you connect with your audience, and what has been your favorite moment of reader or viewer feedback?
I'm on just about every social media outlet and I talk to readers all the time. But my favorite reader feedback was from a podcaster who said that she was reading "Piercing the Veil" and after three chapters, she forgot that she wasn't reading a Brandon Sanderson book.
7. How do you handle challenges like writer's block or creative burnout, and what motivates you to keep going?
The cure for writer's block is editing. When I get to a point in the story, and I'm not sure where to go, I just go back and I edit some chapters. By the time I get back to the part of the story where I was stuck, I'm not stuck anymore.
8. What’s next for you? Can you share any upcoming projects or future creative goals you’re excited about?
Book 2 of the Veil Saga is almost done! I'm hoping to have a Kickstarter for it in 2025.
9. Who are some of your biggest creative influences, and how have they shaped your work or style?
My Dad was probably my biggest creative influence. He was always telling stories and coming up with ideas for games. He was my Dungeon Master when we played Dungeons & Dragons. And he told me I can be whatever I wanted, as long as I tried hard. Most recently, Brandon Sanderson has become a creative influence for me. Especially after reading his Stormlight Archive series. The world building on those books is just top notch!
