Inside the Mind - Logan Peterson

I had an English professor who encouraged me and said I had a lot of talent. I always enjoyed stories so I thought it would be the perfect creative outlet for me.

Earth's Last Encore is a close-to-home story about anyone who is doubting their purpose or simply at a loss for one. In an age of post-modernism, we need stories that have concrete answers about the world we live in and how we can fulfill our needs and those of the people around us. It also uses aliens to explore personal relationship trauma and growing to trust again, instead of giving in to the fear that can be caused by pain. Ultimately, it's a story about perseverance, even though you may not always see the finish line.

I see many of my characters as tools and work backwards from there. Once I determine what a character's purpose should be in a story, I draw inspiration from real life or some of my favorite media. However, this is only how I create a blueprint for them. While writing the story, they sort of take on a life of their own. There are characters I've started to write that have completely different character arcs than I had charted for them by the end of the story.

I could talk all day about Asuka Langley Soryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion. She's such a strong, tragic, and relatable character who goes misunderstood for most of the show's runtime. But when you do finally realize what's going on with her its heartbreaking. Its a great encapsulation of the shows message that we rarely know whats going on with those around us unless we truly connect with them. Asuka is a cautionary tale of what someone in our lives may be going through and encourages us to reach out and help each other.

It's the creative control and the distance from the toxic self-imploding trad publishing industry.

Finding the time to write and getting good criticism. Even among writers, I'm an introverted weirdo.

I love Scrivener's dark mode. The interface tickles my brain, and it looks so professional when I'm out writing in public

Get yourself a support group of some kind because you are not an island and cannot do this alone. I would have given up if not for my dad and my wife's continued support and belief in me.

Anime has got to be at the top of the list. I was a teenager just as anime was making its way in force to America in the late 90s and 2000s. I devoured their complex storytelling and unique culture, and it cemented a lot of my creative tone from some masterpieces and some admittedly not so great works. I also am a huge C.S. Lewis fan. I wish I were as intelligent and wise as he was to create such fascinating worlds that both instilled wonder, relatability, and communicated complicated ideas.

The next project, duh. I am excited about my next book, which is Christian fiction. It follows a father who tries to restore the soul of his daughter, who had committed suicide and is now working for a demon. I really want to put my religious beliefs in the forefront of this one and use the talents God gave me to glorify him and expand his kingdom. I'm still only about halfway done with it, but it'll be a story about healing and faith.