Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Revis.
Hi Beth, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve wanted to be a writer all my life. I distinctly remember spinning tales on the school bus to my friends and relishing their excitement about my unicorns and magical worlds. When it came time for me to go to college, though, I felt like I needed a stable career. I aimed for the lucrative position of becoming a public school teacher, and after grad school, I started working in a rural southern high school, teaching English during the day. But at night, I kept working on my stories, writing novel after novel, submitting it to agents, and praying for my big break. It took me ten years and ten novels that didn’t sell before I wrote the book that changed everything. The eleventh novel I wrote, Across the Universe, sold to Penguin Books, became an instant New York Times bestseller and enabled me to become a full-time writer. Since that time, I’ve sold seven more novels and have three more under contract and have gone fully hybrid by self-publishing even more novels.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Self-doubt may just be the biggest hurdle for anyone in the arts to cross, whether you’re acting, painting, or writing. All art is subjective, and the question of “am I good enough” is ever present. I have a career that my past self would be gob-smacked by. I’ve worked with Star Wars on two different novels, I’ve hit multiple different bestseller lists multiple times, I’ve had books be optioned for film, and have traveled the world on book tours. But even after all that, I still get rejected. Not every book I’ve written since I’ve found success has made it through the publishing gauntlet. I’ve gone years without a contract before–which meant years without a paycheck. And every rejection chips away at my confidence. I have had to learn to focus not on the business side of publishing, but on the artistic side. I may not always write a book that hits the market, but I do my best to always write a book with artistic integrity.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I write science fiction and fantasy for teens and adults. I strive for stories that are gripping and fun but still have emotional depth. I’ve also had the thrill of writing two novels for Star Wars–Rebel Rising, which tells the events that led up to Jyn Erso becoming the hero of Rogue One, and The Princess and the Scoundrel, which tells about Han and Leia’s wedding and adventure-filled honeymoon.
I’m currently working on a multitude of novels and projects–I write several things at the same time! Night of the Witch is a historical fantasy coming in October, co-written with NY Times bestselling author Sara Raasch. It dives into the real history of witch trials in Germany in the sixteenth century. While most Americans tend to associate witch trials with Salem, the misogyny, fear, and power struggles of witch trials have its roots in Europe. Blending a fantasy element into the real history of the deadliest witch trials in Germany made for a fascinating story–and gave me the perfect excuse to take a research trip to Germany, where I got to walk the cobblestones of Trier and hike in the Black Forest!
Every Sunday, I publish a new chapter of my serial novel, Museum of Magic, which is written in a highly unorthodox way. With the pandemic breaking up my Dungeons and Dragons group, I wanted to tell a story in an interactive way, using dice and other forms of a chance to write something new and unique. The result became the Museum of Magic. Every Tuesday, I outline a chapter with multiple different possible paths and choices, and then I roll dice–much like in my beloved DND games–in order to determine the path for the characters to take. Readers then have a chance to vote on a major decision for the characters. I write the chapter of the book using their input and the dice’s fate and publish it in serialized form on Patreon and Kindle Vella.
Kindle Vella is an Amazon program which allows readers to read books a chapter at time using any Kindle app or device. At the end of every new chapter of Museum of Magic, my readers get to vote in a poll to influence the story.
While I’m also working on more books under contract, outside of novels, I’m stretching my creativity by writing for video games as well. Storyloom.com allows authors to easily create interactive stories readers can participate in similar to the classic Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style. I’ve got two interactive novels on Storyloom–Ghost in the Machine and The Global Quest–and these fun stories put the reader in the driver’s seat of the narrative.
In addition to all my writing activities, I also truly and deeply value supporting other writers. I co-own Wordsmith Workshops with writer Cristin Terrill. We regularly hold online and in-person writing workshops, including five-day retreats hosted throughout the country, during which we teach and critique a small group of writers in a serene vacation home that’s fully inclusive with delicious food, outdoor and indoor spots to write, and more. If you’re an aspiring author, check out our full range of services and aids!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
My absolute favorite thing is Little Shop of Stories in Decatur! This charming bookstore is full of wonderful stories and even more wonderful people. I have always walked away from that copper-penny-floored store with the perfect book tucked under my arm. That whole area of Decatur is brilliant–lovely restaurants, charming stores, and friendly faces. It’s definitely worth a weekend visit–especially during the Decatur Book Festival! I have been lucky enough to be a featured author at the Decatur Book Fest more than once, but I’m just as happy sitting in the audience. With multiple panels from fascinating authors, crowds of excited book fans, and showcases of local artisans, this book festival is among the best of the best and is actively raising generations of readers.
Pricing:
- Read the first chapters of Museum of Magic for free on Kindle Vella
- Writing retreat spots start at $1200 for five days, all-inclusive
Contact Info:
- Website: bethrevis.com
- Instagram: instragram.com/bethrevis
- Facebook: facebook.com/authorbethrevis
- Twitter: twitter.com/bethrevis
- Other: wordsmithworkshops.com
