Fiction author Gregory Erich Phillips is known for telling aspirational stories through strong characters that transcend time and place. His historical and contemporary novels feature strong, female protagonists that are genuine and relatable.
Why Become a Fiction Author?
Gregory grew up in Eureka, CA (a small town north of San Francisco), where he was inspired to begin writing at an early age. “I come from a literary family, so you could say writing was in my blood. My father is a novelist and frequently there were plot-brainstorming sessions at the dinner table. I wrote my first novel when I was 14 and have been writing ever since.”
The powerful draw of a compelling story inspired Gregory to become a fiction author. “When a reader is absorbed in a novel, the character’s experiences can, at an emotional level, become the reader’s own experiences,” he explained. “For this reason, reading fiction can broaden one’s outlook on the world and humanity, fostering greater understanding and empathy. Non-fiction speaks to readers’ heads, while fiction speaks to their hearts. Thus, I truly believe in fiction as an instrument that can change the world.”
Improving the World Through Storytelling
Gregory believes stories can change hearts, increase understanding and empathy, and indeed change the world. If this is true for people who read stories, it is equally, if not more, true for those who write them.
As a fiction author, writing novels has broadened Gregory’s perspective and forced him to reach into the minds of characters that think very differently from his own point of view, pushing him to look at situations from all possible angles.
As a writer, Gregory believes that walking in the character’s shoes allows the author to develop sympathetic and realistic personalities, giving even the most flawed characters emotional depth and redeeming attributes. To emotionally put oneself in step with what others are going through in a fictional story (as well as life) leads to the kind of empathy that makes the world a better place.
Finding Inspiration as a Fiction Author
How do Gregory’s stories come to life? He finds inspiration by imagining himself in a particular time, place or situation. That helps him take on the potential character’s mindset and see a first-hand view of the conflicts they face. Much of this comes to him while outdoors walking, hiking or simply sitting in nature.
Gregory also draws inspiration from other authors, specifically Ernest Hemingway’s concise narratives. “There’s never a wasted word, yet it is full of descriptiveness, emotion and nuance. I study his craft.” Other authors that inspire and influence Gregory include:
- His father, Michael R. Phillips, a career novelist
- John Steinbeck
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Life Outside of Writing
Dance has played a major role in Gregory’s life for more than two decades, providing innumerable life experiences and connecting him to people around the world. “Through dance, I have developed a varied and multi-cultural circle of friends, and this has impacted my outlook on the world, which comes through clearly in my novels.”
He sees dancing with a partner as a way of connecting and understanding other people while allowing them to understand you. “When you dance with someone, you have to put yourself out there, so to speak, and allow an intimate connection to happen. All those connections over the years have undoubtedly influenced my writing, helping me to write deeper characters.”
Gregory specifically enjoys dancing tango, having appeared on stages in Seattle, San Francisco and New York City. He also loves music (singing and playing the violin), cooking and getting outdoors by hiking in the beautiful mountains of the Pacific Northwest.
Of course, Gregory also loves to read (what fiction author doesn’t?), seeking out stories with inspiring characters. He especially enjoys the early twentieth century American novelists as well as contemporary fiction and history.
About Gregory’s Novels
As a fiction author, Gregory aims to shine light on universal truth through the hero(ine)’s journey. He is the grand prize winner of the Chanticleer Book Awards and first place winner of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest for mainstream fiction. Gregory’s fiction novels include:
- Love of Finished Years
- The Exile (coming March 2019)
You can learn more about Gregory’s books here and connect with him on Facebook and Twitter!