To celebrate the relaunch of the Skinjacker Trilogy here’s a quick interview I did that provides some  fun insights into the world of Everlost.

1. Where did the idea for Everlost/The Skinjacker Trilogy come from?

I was always fascinated by people who have had near-death experiences, as so many people experience the same thing – a tunnel, with a light at the far end.  While watching a TV show dramatizing people’s experiences, a stray thought came to me.  What if you tripped over your own shoelaces on your way down the tunnel?  Where do you go if you don’t quite make it all the way to the light.  That idea bounced around in my head for years until it connected with a reason to tell it. It was realizing that the Twin Towers would still exist in Everlost that made me want to tell it.  In Everlost, those towers will stand forever, and nothing and no one will ever tear them down.

2. What made you want to write a ghost story?

The fact that it was a ghost story kind of turned me off at first.  We’ve seen so many ghost stories, how do you tell one that’s original? So I set out to take a lot of the tropes and conventions of ghost stories, and break them.  Defying the genre is what made it interesting to me.

3. Are Nick and Allie inspired/modeled on anyone in particular?

My characters are always their own people. I try not to model them after anyone, as I want to respect them enough to be unique.  Heroes are inherently difficult, because the hero’s journey is basically the same, story to story – so trying to give them unique and individual personalities is how I differentiate them.

4. What historical item in the book was the most fun to research?

No question it was the World Columbian Exhibition of 1893 – the greatest world’s fair of all time  (featured in Everwild). This was the peak of the age of invention, and everything from telephones to electric light was introduced to the public on a grand scale.  This was where the future began!  Of course Everlost is a contemporary story, but iconic places from history still exist in that world between life and Death.  I had a great time recreating a Chicago where the World Columbian Exhibition still stood.

5. What was the hardest part about creating a ghost world?

Following my own rules!  The hardest thing about world building – especially when you’re trying your best to build a world from scratch – is that you need to be consistent, and adhere to your own rules.  And if you end up having to break them, then you need to go back and layer in a plausible reason as to why the rule can be broken.  That’s harder after you’re done with the first book, because you are 100% bound by the rules you’ve already put into print.

6. Is there any rule you created in the ghost world that you wish you hadn’t?  Or that didn’t workout as you expected?

 Here’s the funny thing about that – any time I found myself frustrated by my own rules, I found ways of using that rule in an interesting way.   For instance – At first I was annoyed that I set the rule that it takes nine months to wake up once you cross into Everlost.  But that allowed me to have Mary create warehouses, and train cars full of “Interlights” – kids still asleep, waiting to be born into Everlost.  I was frustrated by the fact that Nick was permanently stained with chocolate, and realized that the chocolate would become an increasing problem as it grew like a cancer.  Then I stopped looking at it as a problem, and saw it as an opportunity.  And so the Chocolate Ogre was born!

7. Where did the idea of “skinjackers” come from?

I wanted to give Allie a power that no one else in the first book had.  The ability to enter people, hear their thoughts, and eventually be able to control their actions. Then it occurred to me that such a power is extremely dangerous.  You could take over anyone, and make them do anything.  So what if there was a team of such people controlling events in the living world.  If it was your goal to destroy the world, it would be remarkably easy with a team of skinjackers.  As for calling them “skinjackers” I wanted to come up with a cool sounding name for it.  So instead of hijacking, or carjacking, you’re stealing someone’s body.

8. Did Mary Hightower influence the creation of the Thunderhead?

Interesting question.  I would have to say everything I write influences what comes after.  I can’t say Mary and the Thunderhead are much related, though. Mary is a deeply flawed, self-important, and self-righteous individual.  Perhaps the most evil character I’ve ever created – because true evil is convinced of its own righteousness. The Thunderhead, on the other hand, is flawless, benevolent, compassionate, and humble.  If they ever came in contact with one another, Mary would do everything within her power to destroy the Thunderhead, convincing herself that anything with more power then herself must be evil. The Thunderhead, on the other hand, would weep over Mary’s damaged soul.

9. The characters of Moose and Squirrel are a reference to the classic cartoon characters of Rocky and Bullwinkle – Do any other characters have similar inspirations?

I’m always throwing in little Easter Eggs like that for my fans’ (and my own) amusement.  Another one that comes to mind is in Everfound – the reference to the basement of the Alamo.  If you get it, it’s a fun chuckle, and if you don’t, it doesn’t matter. (Google it if you have no clue where that comes from.  It’s actually the first thing that comes up when you enter “basement of the”.)

10. Which one of your afterlife world creations would you most like to see when you get there?

Well, I hope I don’t end up there, because it means I didn’t get where I was going – and also adults who end up in Everlost sink directly to the center of the earth, because of the weight of the personal baggage they cross with.  But to answer your question, I love the idea of “Wurlitzer”  the mystical jukebox that plays prophetic songs!

11. Do you have a favorite question  that the fans have asked about this series?

Yes!  I’ve been asked on multiple occasions if Unwound kids end up in Everlost!

12. Is there anything about the series that you’d like fans to know before they start reading?

Just to settle in for a fun ride!  A lot of readers have said that each book in the series is better than the one before it – which is what every author wants to hear!