Interview with the author of The Life Squad, Amir Yassai

The Life Squad

Amir Yassai

www.amiryassai.com

Book Blurb:

Adam Bronn never thought his life could get more complicated until the day he raised the dead

Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself!

I’m from Orange County, CA. I graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Communication in 2008. Since USC, I’ve fostered a love of writing. Writing allows me to express myself to the fullest. I love animals and love meeting new people who’ve had interesting experiences.

Tell us about your book? How did it get started?

I had a dream that I then extrapolated into the plot and the characters. My dream involved a group of people who could raise the dead. I took that idea and coined the term Revivanoid to refer to people who could raise the dead.

The book is focused on the protagonist Adam Bronn who has spent most of his life mourning the death of those around him. While working at a retirement home, he discovers the power to raise the dead. This power emits a very strong green light when used. He quits his job and takes it upon himself to find out who he is. Adam eventually finds a group of people with the same powers in turn forming a Squad of Revivanoids. Filled with epic battles, utter realizations of harsh truths, fantastical elements, and adventure all around, this book tests Adam’s will to push through and make it. The story builds to a final climax between the Squad and Thereon, an evil man who wishes to destroy the Squad. Will Thereon tear the Life Squad apart or will he be defeated?

How do you create your characters?

At a young age I learned to use imagination to escape the doldrums of daily life. This imagination was key in creating the characters and their unique powers in the book. The desire for fantasy and adventure exists in all of us; it’s just about being able to tap into that desire.

I also tap into parts of my own psyche and persona to infuse into the characters I create. This process gives more life and dimension to my characters.

What inspires and what got your started in writing?

I’m inspired by the world around me, I find the simple act of a honeybee pollinating a flower quite inspiring. I started writing as a therapeutic tool to express myself and then I just got addicted. Now I need to write to feel whole, which I guess is good if I want to make writing a career.

Where do you write? Is there something you need in order to write (music, drinks?)

Where I write really depends on my mood. Sometimes I’ll go to my office or other times I feel more comfortable writing at home. I like to edit in a busier place like a coffee shop or park just to give myself a change of pace. I don’t really like to listen to music when I write. I like it to be pretty quiet so I can flesh all the plot points and character sketches.

How do you get your ideas for writing?

My ideas for writing come from my own experiences, dreams, and things that people say. Sometimes someone will say something and I can see an entire book fall around what they say. I will hear conversations between people and see my characters dealing with similar dilemmas. A lot of my ideas just come to me organically as I write, which is why writer’s block hits me the hardest. There are times when I can’t write for an entire month.

What do you like to read?

I love series. I liked the Twilight and Hunger Games series. I like young adult genre and also crime fiction genre. I’m currently reading Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter series. I love descriptively dark and layered writing.

What would your advice to be for authors or aspiring in regards to writing?

Just hang in there. Don’t listen to the naysayers. So many people tried to bring me down with harsh comments about how I’m a starving artist and that writing isn’t a real job. Everything is real if you put your all into it. I think if you put 110% of yourself into writing it will give back to you as well. This isn’t the easiest industry to break into, but nothing easy was ever worth it. Keep your head held up high and keep on writing no matter what everyone else says. Most naysayers are usually jealous of the path you’ve carved for yourself.

Anything else you’d like to share?

It’s so interesting to me that a bunch of haphazard notes can become an entire book. Writing a book has been one of the most rewarding, difficult, frustrating, and amazing experiences of my life. It’s amazing what a little perseverance and hard work can accomplish. If someone had told me a year ago I would complete a book, I would have laughed in their face. But here I am done with my first novel.

Please check out my website for more information about The Life Squad and me, www.amiryassai.com