In 2011, Fulton Secondary graduate Thomas Andrews released his first novel. This year, he is back in Vernon and is releasing his second novel titled, The Year That Followed.
The Year That Followed is loosely based on the expression that “life is 90 per cent on how you deal with things that happen to you and only 10 per cent (on) the actual things that happen to you,” said Andrews.
“(It’s based on) how many possible outcomes exist for every situation or decision in your life and how you can control this one or the next.”
Andrews, 25, has been working on this idea for a few years, dating back to his first note recorded in September, 2014. His latest novel is in no way related to the first.
He describes his new book as “speculative fiction.” It follows the tale of two lovers who are in an accident. The story then follows the characters’ two separate stories, as each deals with the loss of the other.
Andrews’ first novel, Type: Writer, was more of a narrative, or similar to a stream of consciousness.
When writing The Year That Followed, Andrews faced many twists and turns as the characters took on a life of their own. Focusing on the two characters was enough to keep the story at a reasonable novel length and prevent it from becoming too convoluted like Cloud Atlas, said Andrews.
However, he did end up deleting around 9,000 words because the characters strayed from their intended paths.
“I was going to write myself into a really weird corner,” he said, with a laugh.
Some of the challenges he faced while writing was picturing how the characters looked. He spent time researching his characters’ appearances in order to create ideas.
He hasn’t had the chance to reread his second novel, but says he wasn’t ecstatic about the first.
This novel, he said, is much more planned than his last.
“I had a storyboard on the wall. It looked kind of scary,” he said.
He set word count goals to reach each day – he started the first draft on Jan. 21 and finished March 11 – focusing all his time on completing the novel.
Andrews drew upon experiences from his life to create the novel, but the characters are in no way related to himself.
“The experiences that happened to these characters… are definitely linked to a past relationship I’ve had,” he said.
During his time at Fulton, Andrews connected with teachers Mr. Edgar and Mr. Gee, who he says inspired him.
Plans have changed for Andrews in the last few years since writing his first novel. He spent time getting his master’s degree in Scotland and then taught in Dubai and Vietnam. Now he is residing in Vernon, with goals of getting a PhD.
“I dig this place,” he said.
Andrews hopes to get famous enough as a writer to have a “bro out” and go for a beer with Ryan Gosling.
Writing for Andrews is showing what an individual can do more than anything else.
“You have to create your own experience because no one’s going to hand it to you,” he said. “(Nowadays), students are more apt to create their own careers.”
Andrews believes that if you are getting a degree or publishing a novel, you should be giving something to society, whether it’s a literary argument, or an interesting story.
“If you have to pay to do it, it probably means you shouldn’t be doing it,” he said.
Andrews’ next novella is already in the works and has a title: The Royal Canal.
The Year That Followed will be available on amazon.ca.
Andrews will be signing and distributing copies of his latest release, as well as Type: Writer, on Saturday at Bean To Cup, 3903 27 St. in Vernon, from 6 to 8 p.m.
