We talk to author James Wade about Hollowing out the darknessa gothic adventure set in a Depression-era landscape where a whiskey war threatens to destroy a small Texas town.
Hi James! Can you tell our readers a little about yourself?
Hey, Nerd Daily! What do you want to know? I’m a liberal-minded cowboy from Texas who loves his wife and two kids, a good pair of boots, and long walks in the woods. I’m a mental health advocate and a conservationist. I can switch from struggling with the existential burden of inevitable emptiness to marveling at the beauty of nature in about 2.5 seconds, and switch back just as quickly. The only religion I believe in is love of the earth and grace for the people who live on it. My personal philosophy begins and ends with humility. And I’m a proud supporter of Rhaenyra Targaryen, the named heir and rightful queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I imagine the story part came around the time I discovered object permanence. As for writing, I remember “writing” a book about the Alamo when I was four. Later, there was some Indiana Jones fan fiction, my own version of the Scream series, and a field guide that was just for my backyard. By the time I was in high school, creative writing had waned and journalism had taken over. That sustained me for more than a decade, but eventually fiction called again and has been with me ever since.
Quick blitz round! Tell us:
- The first book you remember reading: Roxaboxes by Alice McLerran
- The reason why you wanted to become an author: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
- What you must always remember: The crossing of Cormac McCarthy
Her latest novel, Hollowing out the darknessis available now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Southern Gothic poetry about morality
What can readers expect?
A historical novel full of moral conundrums, naturalism, realism, and unforgettable characters. There’s adventure, forbidden love, and social commentary, but all set under the bleak skies of a Depression-era winter in a small East Texas town.
Where did the inspiration for Hollowing out the darkness come from?
I have written in previous novels about characters who go through the classic journey of growing up or losing innocence, but with Hollowing out the darkness We meet our protagonists after they’ve gone through their transformations, so I really wanted to ask the question, “When we realize that the world is no longer the wonderful place we thought it was as children, what do we do next? How do we cope? Can we rediscover those moments of pure bliss, or do we know too much to ever go back there? And if we are able to hold on to that former joy, what would we be willing to sacrifice to keep it?”
I also wanted to explore the question of what our moral responsibility is to our family versus the world at large. Having become a father twice in the last few years, I’ve found my own sensibilities have shifted somewhat. I wanted to dive deeper into this, but therapy is expensive and my insurance sucks, so enjoy the result of my working through my issues on the page.
See also
Were there any moments or characters that you particularly enjoyed writing or exploring?
I love a good supporting character. In books dealing with serious subject matter, it’s important to have some lightness. This novel has a few of those comic supporting characters, my favorite being Moss, an eccentric old man who names his pet pigs after celebrities and well-known figures of the time (think Albert Swinestein).
What’s next for you?
I’m currently stuck in the revisions of my next novel. Narrow the roadwhich will hopefully be released at the end of next year.
And finally: Which books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you really want to get your hands on?
So many great novels have been published this year! hillbilly by Taylor Brown really caught my eye. Amanda Churchill’s debut, The turtle housewas nice. State of Paradisethe incredible collection by Laura van den Berg. The border between us by Rudy Ruiz. I don’t know, there are too many!
