Interview with Evelyn Vozar

When did you start writing and what inspired you to start? Did you have any mentors or people who inspired you to start?

I started writing when I was in the fifth grade- and haven’t stopped since then. I was always an avid reader, and I guess I figured I’d give it a go. It was that same year my teacher had pulled me aside after a writing assignment and said “Hey. You need to keep writing, seriously. I’m going to read this to the class.” I think it lit a fire under my ass.

What inspired you to write the work you submitted?

Honestly, what inspired me to write my story “A Suicide Note: Health and Safety Unit” was the ending quote in “Stand By Me”- “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” I just couldn’t get it out of my head, the pure simplicity of it. So, I wanted to write a story, with a similar, but darker tone to it- with that reflective type of narrative.

Tell us more about your work. What is it about? Is there any message you hope for the reader to take away from it?

“A Suicide Note: Health and Safety Unit” is exactly what it sounds like. A very telling suicide note, explaining where, for a lack of better words, it all went wrong, and how nothing seemed to change that despite tireless effort. Really, I just want readers to enjoy the story- and if they do find that relatability, that glorious “God, someone gets it” moment, in regards to such deep rooted frustrations and traumas within our lives, I’m here to be that for them, I did my job. We all need that cathartic release.

What do you think is the best part of your work? It could be a specific line, symbol, etc.

I was really proud of the opening line, “It was the first time I saw a dead body”. I felt like it set the tone immediately, jumping right into it like that. There’s stories where I’ve rewritten the intro countless times- but I had that “YES” writer moment, and let it be. I knew I had something worthwhile once I had that sentence down, and I don’t say that often.

You can read Evelyns's piece, 'A Suicide Note: Health and Safety Unit' in Morning Star Literary Issue One: 'Seasons'.