Author Interview: Eve Koguce
"If writing is your true dream, if you don’t see yourself as anything else than only a writer, do not give up."
Today, we’re hearing from award-winning, genre-hopping author Eve Koguce.
Let’s dive in!
Eve, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What's your background?
First of all, I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to tell your audience about my writing journey and my books. For every author, there is no greater joy than to talk about their work.
I live in Latvia, and for those who might not be familiar with my country located on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe, I’ll take the liberty to share the words of my fellow writer – the author of the epic fantasy series The Drowned Kingdom P.L. Stuart – which he dedicated to my homeland introducing me in the interview on his website: “You hail from beautiful Latvia, a unique country, filled with astounding scenery, a vibrant and compelling history, and rich literature and diverse authors worth exploring.”
Before exiling myself to the life of an indie author, I used to enjoy a mildly successful office career. Just like in my writing journey I don’t stick to one genre, in my previous life of a nine-to-fiver I tried various industry fields. I even switched from private to public sector at one point. After graduating from the university with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing, I worked in different places, including a bank and an oil product company. I also had a chance to put my theoretical knowledge into practice when I was invited to set up a place of business in the UK.
When did your writing journey begin?
To be completely honest, I think it really began when I was about five and my parents started reading to me before bedtime. It didn’t last too long. One evening, I snatched the book from their hands and declared that from now on, I didn’t need their assistance in exploring the new worlds unfolding magically on the pages. For me, books have always been pure magic – the only true magic that exists in the real world.
When I was about thirteen, I started writing poetry. Also, with my best friend as a co-author, I tried to write the kind of fanfic based on the TV shows we watched at the time. Needless to say, I made an attempt to write a full-length novel too, but I’d never finished it.
Then, life happened. University, first love, first part-time jobs, new friends. The whirlpool had drawn me in and corked the writing genie in the practical reality bottle.
Fifteen years later, the spark of creativity returned out of a clear blue sky – quite literally. It was a regular day. I was sitting in my office on the fifth floor, looking at the roofs and spires of Riga's medieval Old Town stretching majestically as far as my eyes could see. It was summer, and the window was open. Suddenly, it wasn’t the floor of the office I was seeing. It was the man with intimidatingly black wings, with blood dripping from between long, silky feathers.
I’d written the first few chapters of what would later become the first book of the Neglected Merge trilogy right there and then.
Alas, reality seldom resembles the movies. Fast-forward rolling to the full-time writer didn’t happen. Instead, life happened again. Soon, I became a mother, and my focus shifted from creativity to more practical issues yet again.
A few more years passed, and the stars finally aligned so that I started and finished writing “Neglected Merge”, my first book, which, at the time, I truly believed would be my first and last creative endeavour.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
Yes, I have never wanted to be anything but an author. I’m not ashamed to admit it, even though it sounds pretty lame, especially nowadays, when the common notion goes along the lines that ‘Anyone can write a book’.
After three years dedicated almost exclusively to writing, I can say that no other activity has even ignited such a productivity in me. My husband calls me a ‘navy seal commander’, for I seem to function even if I’ve had too little sleep (and it is a regular occurrence) and do not need to rest on weekends. I always do what I’ve planned to do, irrespective of how I feel.
How many novels have you completed so far?
I have completed six novels. Five of them are published and available for readers.
All of my books are in different genres. Even the books within the same trilogy. I was asked in one interview why I do not stick to one genre. And it is a great question. To be honest, I started asking it myself only when I was already deep in the promotion and marketing jungle. Learning more about the indie publishing universe, I realised the risks a multi-genre author has to face. Still, I do not regret having written books in different genres. These are the stories I wanted to share with the world.
The Neglected Merge fantasy trilogy opens with a fantasy romance, followed by the fantasy drama “Tangle of Choices”, and wraps up with “Shifting Directions” which comprises coming-of-age, drama, and even thriller elements. The trilogy doesn’t fit neatly into any fantasy category. Besides, the protagonist is thirty-two in book one and fifty-one in book three.
The first book of the trilogy “Neglected Merge” has won three literary awards:
Silver Medal in the 2021 Global Book Awards in the Science Fiction / Fantasy category
Award Finalist in the 2021 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Fantasy General category
Honorable Mention in the 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category.
“Finding Your Way” is a coming-of-age novel with magical realism elements. It is set in 2008, right before the global financial crisis hit. In Latvia, it was an exciting time. There was a feeling in the air that from now on, everything would get only better. People started to travel a lot. They bought new flats, moved to the countryside, drove new cars. It wasn’t like this for everyone, of course. Many people struggled to earn a decent living. But since Latvia joined the European Union in 2004, there was an option to go abroad. Many used that opportunity and went to work in Ireland, England and other countries.
While “Finding Your Way” is a seventeen-year-old girl’s coming-of-age story, it also depicts a broader picture. The ways to earn millions were plentiful, still, not everyone had a chance to grab the right opportunities.
Zanda is seventeen. It is the age of so many discoveries. The reader meets Zanda at the time when she makes her first steps outside of the cocoon of her family. She has spent her childhood not venturing much into the wide world. But now she is determined to meet new people, enter the university and flee her parents’ nest.
And, of course, seventeen is a perfect age for the first love. For Zanda, love matters turn out to be a little more complicated, for she meets not one but two young men who make her heart flutter. Under any circumstances, for a seventeen-year-old girl, It is a difficult choice to make. But in Zanda’s case, everything is even more complicated. While trying to understand her heart’s desires, she has to wade through the maze of cultural differences and prejudices. She also struggles with her own dreams that seem to contradict one another.
“The Accidental Cop” is also a cross-genre book. It isn’t a purely crime fiction novel since it doesn’t start with finding a dead body and end with unmasking the murderer. It also doesn’t tick all the boxes of a noir crime genre. It is a blend of noir crime and police procedural with psychological suspense elements.
Set in Latvia at the end of the first post-Soviet decade, “The Accidental Cop” tells the story of Roberts Bergs. At twenty-one, he struggles to find his place within the corrupted police system without betraying his principles. To succeed you must play by the rules. Roberts learns the rules quickly. The system run by the Soviet-era ex-militia officers is a good teacher. Who you know counts for more than your abilities, qualifications, and knowledge. The system also doesn’t tolerate disobedience. Still, Roberts keeps climbing up the career ladder. The contrast between those who play by the rules and those who believe in honesty and justice becomes starker. Luxury and self-indulgence for the first, and dragging out a miserable existence for the latter. Roberts has to make more difficult choices. Is it worth it to remain true to his principles? Or is succumbing to the corrupted and merciless system the only way to survive?
Writing “The Accidental Cop” was a unique experience. It was inspired by countless stories I’ve heard from different people over two decades. Readers say that it was interesting for them to find out about the period of time in Latvia they didn’t know anything about. “Savage 90s” were a time of great turbulence for Latvia. It was challenging to try to portray this grim page of my country’s history without slipping either into the rose-tinted glasses outlook or utter disillusionment.
“The Accidental Cop” has won a finalist award in the Pacific Book Awards 2023 contest in the Best Thriller category.
What are you working on right now?
At the moment, I am at the final stage of preparing my next book for publication. It will be available for readers early in 2024. I won’t reveal the title just yet. It is a story of a young woman from Latvia who married an Englishman and moved to England. She realises she doesn’t really know the man she has married. At the same time, she falls deeper in love with the island she now calls home.
The story is set in beautiful Dorset in the United Kingdom, on the fictional island of Southbay. I spent a couple of years living in the region. My lack of knowledge of local customs got me into some awkward situations. So, writing this book was a great chance to share these funny stories. I met many wonderful people while living in Dorset. Besides, my work let me travel all around the country, and I got a glimpse of the differences between North and South.
What's been your biggest challenge as a writer?
The biggest challenge so far has been to come to terms with the universal truth that I am the only one who cares about my dreams and that it is my sole responsibility to pursue them. If I want to write and share my stories with the world, I have to do it, not waiting for a ‘lucky chance’ or ‘fateful coincidence’ to make it happen. This is the hard work I have to dedicate a huge amount of time every day to, at the same time, not expecting to ever gain ‘fame and fortune’.
Another struggle is finding the time to write. Or, more precisely, finding the balance between writing and other obligations. I guess, considering the dynamic lifestyle of the times we live in, it is a common problem for most writers. At times, I feel consumed by guilt that I “steal” time from my family, concentrating on writing yet another book. I also often feel distracted when I spend time with my son and my husband. The scenes that play on repeat and voices that talk in my head when I am working on a story aren’t easy to switch off.
Also, as an indie author, I constantly feel pressure from those around me regarding the financial aspect of writing. Only a few people, even in my closest circle, support my choice, and even fewer show any interest in my books. It is certainly a psychological burden I have no other alternative than to learn to adjust to.
Which online platforms help support your journey?
The writing communities on X/Twitter and Instagram have been tremendous support since almost the beginning of my indie author journey. For me, it is vital to have people with whom I can discuss topics related to writing and publishing. I don’t have many such people in my real life, so I am beyond grateful for having found so many like-minded people on social media platforms.
I don’t treat my social media presence as a book-selling tool. Fellow authors do buy my books – some of them have even read all of them. Still, for me, being on social media, first and foremost, is about sharing my writing journey with those who can relate to the struggles and small triumphs I encounter on the way.
Where can people find you online?
You can follow my writing journey and also read my book reviews on my website/blog: www.evekoguce.com
My books are available on Amazon (worldwide): https://www.amazon.com/author/evekoguce
You can read my reviews of the books by indie authors and not only on Goodreads and/or BookBub. And if you happen to read some of my books, you can post your reviews of them there.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/eve_koguce
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eve-koguce
You can find me almost daily on X/Twitter and Instagram. Please don’t hesitate to comment with whatever comes to your mind when you read my posts. Or drop me a line in DMs. I share my thoughts – especially on Instagram – about the things that caught my attention, inspired me, upset me, etc. I also write about my everyday life with my family and our adorable ginger cats Peach and Honey.
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EveKoguce
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eve_koguce_books/
If you are more comfortable using this platform, I do have an author page on Facebook.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evekoguce/
Do you have any big plans for the future?
Next year, I plan to start working on a new five-book series. After writing three books in other genres, I am returning to creating a fantasy world. This time, unlike the magic-less universe of the Wingless and the Winged Ones in the Neglected Merge trilogy, there will be plenty of magical powers and creatures.
Finally, can you share a golden nugget of advice for any aspiring authors reading this?
If writing is your true dream, if you don’t see yourself as anything else than only a writer, do not give up. Do not listen to those who try to discourage you. Do not listen to those who say that ‘everyone can write a book’. Do not listen to those who say that nowadays you can’t make a living from writing. Listen only to your heart. Cherish that fragile spark that blossoms inside of you every time you think about your stories and sit down to write. This is one of the most precious things in the world.
Once, my husband shared with me what he’d heard in some motivational speaker’s speech. Have you ever wondered where the biggest number of great ideas can be found? On a cemetery. People live and bury their dreams even before they die themselves. And after they are gone, so are their ideas. That’s true – not all of them might have turned brilliant. Not all of them would have made their lives better or impacted other people’s lives in any profound way. But since they’d never given them a chance, they haven’t had a chance to find out. Do not do that to your ideas. They deserve better. They are unique, and you are the only person who can bring them to life.
As a final chord, I’d like to share the words that always help me pull myself together whenever I feel that the burden becomes too heavy for me to carry. I even used these words from Winston Churchill’s legendary speech as an epigraph to my favourite book – “Tangle of Choices”, book two of the Neglected Merge trilogy:
“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”