Indie Publishing Group Author Interview with Canadian Author Terry Evans
Welcome to Indie Publishing Group, Canadian Author Terry Evans, and welcome to our author interviews! If you could start by introducing yourself to everyone, tell them where you’re from and share a few of your interests and hobbies.
I’m Terry Evans, an author from Oromocto, New Brunswick, now living in Dieppe. I spent 25 years in Japan, mostly in Sapporo, where I taught English and built a life. I enjoy Japanese culture, rhythm guitar, and martial arts. Those years inspired my eight-book 25 Years Under the Rising Sun series.
What inspired you to start writing?
After I returned to New Brunswick, I kept sharing stories about my years in Japan. A coworker encouraged me to write them down. Once I began, I realized I had 25 years of funny, difficult, and unforgettable experiences to share.
What is your writing process?
I start with a memory or an idea that stays with me. I write it down, build the story around the people and details I remember, and then read it over and revise it until it feels right.
What is one thing you wish you knew now that you didn’t know when you started writing?
I wish I had known how much patience writing and publishing would take. Getting the words on the page is only one part of the journey; shaping the stories and sharing them with readers takes time too.
What was the hardest part of self-publishing?
The hardest part was learning how many decisions go into bringing a book to readers. Writing the stories was personal, but preparing them for publication and finding ways to reach readers required me to learn new things along the way.
If you use a pen name, why, and how did you come up with it?
I write under my own name, Terry Evans. The stories are drawn from my life and experiences, so I wanted to share them as myself.
Which book is your favorite and why?
My favorite is Book One because it’s where the series begins and where I first shared my real stories from 25 years in Japan. It has many stories that mean a lot to me and introduces readers to the experiences behind the rest of the series. I’m proud of all eight books, but Book One will always be special because it started everything.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
My favorite author is Sidney Sheldon. My ex-wife in Japan introduced me to his books, and once I started reading, I fell in love with his stories. I enjoyed them so much that I bought all of his books.
What are you working on right now?
I recently finished Book Eight about a month ago, and Books Nine and Ten are already written. I still need to edit them. Book Eleven will be about moving back to Canada after living in Japan for 25 years and the difficulties I faced as I adjusted to life back home.
How do you handle a bad review?
I try not to let a bad review discourage me. Before I met my publisher, my books were still on my computer. I was telling one of my best friends, whom I hadn’t seen in ages, about them when he advised me to get my original stories out into the world before AI took over. I believe my stories have a voice that’s uniquely mine because they come from my own life and experiences. I listen to fair feedback, but I keep believing in my work and sharing it with readers.
What’s next for you as an author?
I’m focused on getting my books in front of more readers. I recently had my first Canadian business card made, and it looks great. It has a QR code that takes people to The Good, Book One of my series, on Amazon. I’ve also just finished building my own website, and I’m very happy with how it turned out.
My next goals are to get my books into more bookstores across Canada and to appear on more podcasts. In April 2025, I was a guest on The Carr Brother Show, Episode 143, and I’d love to do more interviews like this one. I believe I have something special to share. At book signings, readers have told me that my writing made them feel as though they were in Japan. That was a wonderful compliment, and it encourages me to keep getting my books out there.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself continuing to grow as an author and sharing my stories with many more readers. I hope to have Books Nine and Ten ready for readers and to be working on Book Eleven, about my return to Canada after 25 years in Japan. One of my goals is to make my books available as audiobooks, so people can listen to my stories wherever they are. I’d also love to see the series in more bookstores across Canada and connect with readers through book signings, podcasts, and my website. Most of all, I hope my stories continue to transport readers to Japan and make them feel part of the experiences I share.
If you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?
I’d love to have the power to travel through time and return to Japan whenever I wanted. I lived there for 25 years, and I still love the country. I’d revisit places, take in the details, and gather inspiration for more stories. At the same time, I’m building a new life in Canada and reconnecting with my Canadian roots. I’ve been back for three years, and this coming January will mark four. Being able to travel between the two would let me stay close to both countries that have shaped my life.
Where is your ultimate holiday destination?
My ultimate holiday destination would be Japan, especially Sapporo and Hokkaido, where I spent so much of my life. I’d love to revisit familiar places, enjoy the food and culture, and take in all the little details I’ve missed. Japan will always hold a special place in my heart, and every visit would give me new memories and inspiration for my stories.
What’s some of the items on your bucket list?
Japan is still at the top of my list. I wrote about Wakkanai, in northern Hokkaido, in Book Eight, and I’d love to visit it again. I also want to climb Mount Fuji—something I still haven’t done—and explore more of southern Japan, including spending more time in Kyoto. After living in Japan for 25 years, there’s still so much I’d love to see and experience, especially more of everyday Japanese life.
Thanks so much for taking the time to do an author interview. Take a minute and check out Canadian Author Terry Evans using the links below:
Canadian Author Terry Evans Author Website
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark Publishing, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and children’s book formatting and layout services.
Indie Publishing Group is a proud member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and we’ve served the Canadian publishing industry for over a decade.
For Canadian authors who are still deciding which self-publishing platform is best for them, Amazon KDP, IngramSpark Publishing, Draft2Digital, Apple Books, or Kobo, read our comprehensive guide on the best self-publishing platforms for Canadian Authors, which covers everything you need to know about different self-publishing platforms, including the pros and cons. We have also created an extensive Author Resources Directory which contains useful self-publishing guides, platform based-information, and articles for Canadian authors, along with our Self-Publishing FAQssection.
Chrissy Hobbs is the owner and founder of Indie Publishing Group, a self-publishing services provider based in Ontario, Canada, which helps Candian authors self-publish their books on Amazon KDP, IngramSpark Publishing and other self-publishing platforms. With over a decade of experience in the publishing industry and also being a best-selling children’s book author of The Day My Fart Followed Me to Hockey, the Hockey Wars Series, as well as the author of the Navigating Natural Disasters Series, you know your book is in good hands.
