Growing up has never been easy, but in today's rapidly changing world, it is harder than ever for budding teenagers to figure out where they belong. When Erik Hare decided to offer some guidance for these young adults, he drew on the influence of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and infused the ancient wisdom within his book, "Downriver." "Downriver," enjoyed by adults as well, is the story of the transformational journey of Popey, a three-inch-tall creature known as a Hopneg. When thoughtless humans unknowingly destroy Popey's home, he is bent on revenge, but ends up with something far more valuable. Popey's defiant determination takes him down a path of discovery, where he gains knowledge through two of life's greatest teachers: experience and observation.

Interview with Erik Hare

Today Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views has the pleasure of interviewing Erik Hare.

Erik has made his living as a chemical engineer, furniture designer and internet entrepreneur, and writer; this vast experience and his constant interest in dabbling in more things makes him believe himself best suited to be a writer. His new novel “Downriver”, the story of a transformational journey that follows a major life-changing event, also demonstrates that he is a gifted teacher of life lessons.

Tyler: Welcome Erik and thank you for joining me today. “Downriver” is the story of Popey, a Hopneg, whose home is destroyed by a Human, and who then sets out to learn more about Humans. How did you first come up with the concept of the Hopnegs?

Erik:  Actually, my son George had a very small imaginary friend named Popey when he was 3. When I talked with him about it, I realized that George was dealing with being the smallest member of the family. It didn’t take me long to understand that everyone feels small and scared at some point in their lives, especially as kids. Getting past that, rather than accepting it, is very important to not only realizing your dreams but actually becoming them.

Tyler: How old is George now and what does he think about Popey and the fact that he provided you with the inspiration for the character and his world?

Erik:  George just turned 7, and frankly he doesn’t like to talk about imaginary friends much.

Tyler:: What kind of response to “Downriver” have you received from other children?

Erik:  They’ve liked it, but it is a bit challenging for them. They always ask me questions! The ones here in Saint Paul recognized that all the places it is set in are real, so if nothing else they have to ask me about them.

Tyler: Would you share with us one of the insights into human character Popey gains?

Erik:  That life is rarely an epic battle between “good” and “evil”. It is mostly a daily struggle between the mundane and the obvious--the daily grind of moving through the motions versus taking a step back where you can see how obviously beautiful life really is.

Tyler: What were you trying to say about human society by viewing humans as giants from the perspective of a small creature?

Erik: At this point in history, everything in the world is available to all of us.  That makes us feel small and helpless much more than it invigorates us.  No one really has control over the whirlwind of forces that make our lives what they are. We all have to accept this and somehow find a space for ourselves. Some of the brightest and most creative kids become Goths, which I have little problem with. I offer “Downriver” to them as a brighter, more hopeful alternative--don’t worry about “the machine” because no one knows what’s really going on. Find a way to do something decent and let the others wallow in their own delusion if they have to.

Tyler: That’s a wonderful point, Erik. We all need to take responsibility for our lives rather than blaming society or “the machine”. In “Downriver”, the main character, Popey, learns more about the magic of the world through experience and observation than simply by reading and other traditional educational methods. Are you suggesting there are many roads to knowledge we largely ignore?

Erik:  Definitely. If you keep your eyes open, you can learn almost anything. It also can take a lot of stupid questions if you are fearless enough to not care about what people think of them.

Tyler: Your work seems to reflect a need for individualism and following our own paths and dreams. How have your own personal experiences led you to these beliefs?

Erik:  I’ve been lost many times in my life. I grew up in Miami, and saw more violence committed than I should have as a child. I’ve been searching for better ways ever since.  Through these experiences, I’ve had the feeling that I see the world differently than many people. Perhaps it’s a defense mechanism, but it’s what I am and I have to make it work somehow.

Tyler: When did you realize writing could be a means to finding and teaching those better ways?

Erik:  Reading to my kids, I started to realize that so many works of this sort are about good triumphing over evil through swordplay, magic, pistols, or some other violent means. That’s just nonsense to me. Violence doesn’t solve anything, even if it is sometimes necessary to make a point. It’s always, “The King is dead, long live the King” and then everything goes on as before. I realized that my kids and all the other ones out there will probably never see such a situation. What will they see?  How can they make it work? What kind of people will they really be? If I was going to be a good father and teach them how to be decent people, I had to answer some of that myself.

Tyler: I know you have written other stories. Would you tell us a little about your past writings?

Erik:  My writing has been mostly technical and political, designed to convince people. So many stories in the newspaper leave another more interesting story untold, and I love to follow these stories to that next level. At some point, I realized that this complicated world is better understood through the heart than the brain. I developed a desire to help people down a path where they can “get it”, and act more purposefully. When I write fiction, I tend to write about misfits and people at the margins of the world. I’ve used people with serious social problems and homeless people as a way to get the world to open its eyes a bit and actually see what is around them.

Tyler: Do you feel “Downriver” marks a change or transition in your writing?

Erik:  It’s my first long work, so that is important. I wasn’t sure that I could keep something this long and full of ideas about the world moving. I also taught myself how to keep a constant theme running; in this case, I tried to write like water, always moving and shimmering and changing. I was happy with the effect, even if it meant my writing style became a bit unusual, so I will do more of that.

Tyler: Should we look for more tales of Popey and the Hopnegs, or what other kinds of projects are you currently working on?

Erik:  I’m working on more profitable writing these days, but I’d like to write a sequel. It may take its form later this summer, and my first blush has it more radical and edgy. Popey is a leader, but on his terms and for his own reasons.

Tyler: We will be looking forward then to meeting Popey again. Erik, thank you again for talking with me today. In closing, would you please let our readers know where they can find out more information about your book and where to purchase it?

Erik:  It’s available on amazon.com and other online booksellers. I maintain a page at www.authorsden.com/erikhare with more reviews and other works of mine.