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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Christopher C. Starr, author of The Road to Hell

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Christopher C. Starr, author of The Road to Hell
(Sanford House Press)

You talk to someone about Lucifer, and you already know what they’re thinking: he’s the Devil, Satan, Prince of Darkness, whatever. Truth is he wasn’t always bad; he didn’t start out like that.

In the beginning, he was spectacular, and the Father loved him. But he made a mistake: he got jealous and ungrateful, and then he got defiant. He forced the Father’s hand and all his efforts to make it right only made matters worse. He started a rebellion and a civil war. He broke the Father’s heart.

I figured I’d let him tell it.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write The Road to Hell?

Christopher C. Starr: This is an old idea for me. I’ve always been fascinated with this story, the fall of Lucifer. The idea was captivating—how could an angel decide that Heaven was so unpalatable under God that he foments a rebellion and convince a third of the others that he’s right? It begged to be written.

JP: What sets The Road to Hell apart from other books in the same genre?

CS: There are a few other version of this story, but no other story has tried to understand Lucifer’s motivations. No one else ever looked at it from his standpoint. Most stories are fairly light on the emotional arc such a character brings.

I think we can learn a lot about ourselves and our idea of faith if we look at it from the perspective of the angels. That’s what I want to explore.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to The Road to Hell getting out to the public?

CS: The literary community is incredibly accepting and helpful. It’s like we’re all in it together. Once you join it, they open their arms and resources. Social media have been tremendous—Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Goodreads—but word of mouth has probably been the best. Uncovering resources like this.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish The Road to Hell?

CS: My writing process is a combination of screenwriting and prose. I use Viki King’s How to Write a Movie in 21 Days to write a draft first. It helps me with pacing and dialogue. Then I start writing and break all my rules.

The Road to Hell took me a long time to write—I think I wrote it 4 or 5 times. Actual writing took me only 4 months then I took time off, retooled and revised. Took me a year to complete the revision and another 3-4 months for edits.

JP: What’s next for Christopher C. Starr?

CS: Two things: I have a horror/thriller called Rabid that I’m working on and Come Hell and Highwater–the sequel to The Road to Hell and the next book in the Heaven Falls series.

http://www.christophercstarr.net

http://facebook.com/christophercstarr

http://twitter.com/SuperStarr73

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5159882.Christopher_C_Starr

I feel it is my duty to say what must be said and to say it well.

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2 thoughts on “5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Christopher C. Starr, author of The Road to Hell”

  1. What an interesting direction to take a story in. Many people shy away from reading or writing anything about “the devil”. Mr. Starr has turned that notion on its head and digs deep into the intricate mechanics of what path Lucifer may have taken to become the Devil.

    I also think it’s interesting that he was embraced by the literary community. Since I’ve dealing with books semi-professionally, the interactions between authors has been an interesting lot. Some people liken that experience with dealing with rival drug dealers. Yes, it’s just that deep…

    Others, like Mr. Carr, have found a special group of like-minded people who have a common goal of spread the world of words. It’s a beautiful thing to be within.

    Something totally new as a concept to me is the book Mr. Carr’s mention of what may prove to be a valuable tool for writer’s. “How to Write a Movie in 21 Days” might be a valuable resource. It’s something I’m definitely looking into. As I trudge down this journey as a writer.

    I wish nothing but the best for Mr. Starr and hope to see more from this promising author in the future.

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