BookView Review

Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we talked to Steven Harrison about his writing and his recently published book, Perseverance, Journey to Alaska, a captivating journey through the rugged and untouched terrain of Alaska (Read the review here).

When did the inspiration come to you to chronicle your experiences and inspire others with Perseverance, Journey to Alaska? Did you always know you wanted to write everything down, or did that idea come later?

I started writing for Quora and a few other social media sites about seven years ago. It became more of a passion than a hobby soon after I received my first paycheck. I started writing short stories to assuage my passion for writing. When I left on my trip to Alaska, it was my instinct to bring my computer and write about the experience every night after dinner. I would sit by my campfire and journal my daily activities.

My first inclination was to write a travel guide for e-bike riders interested in touring on an electric bike. Bike camping/bike touring is a growing sport that allows the participant to interact with the environment and appreciate nature’s beauty. With the advent of e-bikes, the sport is now open to an amateur rider or older rider. I wanted to document my ride to help others follow in my footsteps and provide helpful tips about charging your e-bike while on the road.

As my adventure changed from e-bike touring to changing my whole life, the nature of my writing changed as well. I wrote about what I was experiencing and the emotional aspect of leaving my old life for something unknown. At the age of fifty-five, I was literally leaving everything I owned and knew behind. I changed my career, environment, and housing leaving friends, family, and support network behind. It was not an easy decision. I am sure there are many people like me who dream of doing something like this once in their lifetime. Well, I did it and wrote about it. The emotional aspect was my inspiration.

Were there any challenges about writing Perseverance, Journey to Alaska that you weren’t expecting to face?

I faced plenty of challenges in writing Perseverance, Journey to Alaska. I had no home, no job, and no place to write. My first few pages were written in a studio so small it had no desk. I opened my sock drawer, placed a board across the open drawer, set up my laptop, and wrote page one.

After a few weeks in Alaska, my temporary job settled into a routine that allowed me to write most of the book from the local library. The library was a great place to write and motivated me. It had picture frame windows looking out over snow-capped mountains and a fireplace, with comfy chairs and large desks to spread my notes and pictures out.

Riding a bicycle in the rain, snow, and ice is always a challenge. I will never forget the feeling of writing “the end” while it was pouring rain. I could see the snowline even in September. It would take a year to edit it, find a publisher, and start the process of getting it to print. I think every published author finds their first book, the editing process, and the trials and tribulations a challenge.

What has been the most unexpected lesson you have learned in your journey?

The most unexpected lesson in writing the book was the editing process. I wrote it, read it, edited it. Then I rewrote it, read and edited it again, and again and again. Then I had a friend read it and suggested a professional editor, whom I hired—she edited it and I rewrote it four more times. By the time I sent it to a publishing agent, it had been through a hundred changes already.

With the publishing agent, I went through the whole process three more times. I was ecstatic when the book was finalized. It was a learning experience.

What’s one thing you wish everyone would challenge themselves to do (even if they don’t go all out and start over in a new place)?

Try something new, do something different. Break out of your comfort zone and experience life. If you never do anything new, you will live with regret that you never truly lived life. If you want to do something, do it. Stop talking about it, just do it. If it doesn’t work out, think of the stories you can tell about the experience.

Did you learn anything from being an active blogger that you carried into the writing of Perseverance, Journey to Alaska?

Blogging on any social media platform will teach you quickly that you can’t please everyone all the time. There will always be an exception to the rule. There will always be someone who disagrees with your point of view. Even calling the sky blue will upset someone. I learned to accept other opinions and points of view and that my opinion might upset someone. I also learned to try to envision the other person’s viewpoint, no matter how crazy or upsetting it might be. There are times when the only reasonable response is none at all. Learning how to take criticism and avoid pitfalls is a necessary skill in the publishing industry.

The other skill learned from actively blogging is to keep it simple. Using large words and flowery speech is great for poetry, but blogging and getting the point across is best kept simple. Editing out unnecessary wording and redundancy is a must in the publishing industry no matter what platform you choose.

What’s next for you?

I am currently working on two projects. One is a Quasi-dystopian future Ai love story. It blends my love of sci-fi into a drama-based reality. It is set in my hometown of San Francisco and uses real-world scenes and settings to highlight current advancements in biotechnology and AI systems.

The other is compiling an “Idiot’s Guide to Living in Alaska”. I am using my blogs about “Living in Alaska”, published on Medium.com, as the basis for a guide to moving to and living life in Alaska. With the prevalence of reality shows about life in Alaska (Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, Gold Rush, etc.) people forget that real people live real lives here, not the Hollywood version of life. The book will contain edited versions of the blogs along with a running dialogue of wit and wisdom about life in Alaska.

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