Indie Authors Uncovered - Meet the person behind the pages - Meet C.S. Evermore - Epic Dark Fantasy.
Where were you born?
I was born in Africa.
Where do you live?
I now live in Scandinavia.
Do you have fur babies?
Yes. I have a fierce guardian in the form of a Pomchi who is also the biggest food tax—she demands a percentage of every meal I eat.
Do you use a pen name?
C.S. Evermore
I use a pen name because I want readers to connect with the story first. My books carry pieces of my heart and my life, but the goal is for readers to find their own meaning in them. The pen name simply helps keep the focus on the work, not on me as an individual.
What kind of writer are you?
- Contemporary Tech Writer (phone/tablet/voice over)
- Modern Day Laptop/PC Writer
Name one book you loved as a kid - one you loved as a new adult - and one you love now.
I find it hard to choose one.
- As a kid:
The Concubine by Elechi Amadi
Charlie Bone and The Castle of Mirrors by Jenny Nimmo - As an adult:
Twilight Light Eyes by Dean Koonzt
Is there an author you look up to? Or had an influence on your craft?
- Dean Koonzt for his exploration of the human psyche under pressure
- N.K Jemising—for her complex world with layered truth
- Samantha Shannon—for her Lyrical writing with heavy worldbuilding
- Charlotte Bronte—well this is Nostalgia of the literature classes at school that made me fall in love with books
How would you describe your craft in one sentence
Epic dark fantasy with psychological undertones that mirror real life.
At The Dreamer's Bookshop, we embrace diversity and advocate for invisible illnesses. How do you feel about those topics? Do you include messages in your writing?
I believe those topics should be on the shelves a lot more.
Yes, I do include messages in my work. My work is life seen through the lens of Fantasy and myth. I explore topics such as trauma, existential crises, healing as a non-linear curve, anxiety, depression, fear, coping, etc. in a way that makes readers feel safe enough to feel seen.
Do you have red lines when it comes to writing/reading?
I believe that the world of literature—especially fantasy is limitless and people should follow where their heart leads because the that is where the best stories are born—as long as they are presented in a manner that the readers can understand, relate to, or enjoy, (without feeling violated) then there is no topic that can be taboo.
That line of thought also applies to when I read books.
Was there a review that touched you more than others?
There are some reviews that have hit close to home and it is hard to only mention one, however, one thing they all have in common is that the readers have understood the message between the lines and their reviews show that the books are making an impact: that the fantasy aspect of it doesn't distract from the core theme which is acknowledging the life journey most of us go through.
Here is an example of such a review from one of my readers (The Nixian Chronicles series)
"Because the world loved survivors. But only the kind who smiled. The kind who wore their pain like armour, not ashes."
.
Let's start this review by saying I liked it more than the first book.
Book one was fast paced, lots of things happening, and overall I felt moved too quickly, but what I enjoyed in this book was the depth that was woven into this story because it had already been set up. There were many moments where I was impressed with the way certain topics had been included, that it actually made me feel seen, and able to relate to the characters on a deeper level. The topics of grief, anxiety, and loneliness were seamlessly blended, time jumps were handled well with minimal confusion, and there was an overall feeling of "realness", which I think is hard to achieve in a fantasy book.
If someone asked you why you write, what would you answer in one sentence?
I write to offer myself grace and to give anyone who needs to be seen a home—to let them know it is okay if you're still bleeding or figuring out life. I also hope that the books raise awareness of the need for unrushed support during the healing journey—sometimes all someone needs to heal is for another to sit with them in that darkness until they are strong enough, for someone to be their voice until they regain their own: regardless of how long it takes.
Which book are you most proud of and why?
I’m most proud of The Nixian Chronicles because they explore life through fantasy with a realism that gives readers a safe space to feel seen. They are my heart on a page.
What would you tell an aspiring writer?
Follow the story to where your heart leads & do not compare your journey to others because they are on a different path—I'm still learning the last part.
What's a wish you have for yourself as an author?
To continue writing words that bring healing and soothing to anyone who reads my books and for the books to reach far and wide—find their home in the hearts and on the shelves of people in different nations.
What's a wish you have for yourself as a person?
Continue being the healing that others need and most importantly that I need.
Do you have a message for your audience
That healing isn’t linear, there isn't a set timeline for it, and strength doesn’t always look heroic—sometimes it looks like surviving long enough for the tide to change.
