Irene Watson, editor-in-chief of Reader Views, talks with Richard L. Evans, author of “The Eagle’s Life.”

Irene: Your book “The Life of the Eagle” is considered mystical and magical, drawing the reader into the life of a man who cannot die, but must watch generation after generation pass before his eyes. Tell us about the struggles your character has while he watches things happen that he has no control over.

Richard: The main character (never named in the book) first discovers that he has a “gift” of healing while still a child. But every time he cures someone of a serious illness, he dies soon after under horrific circumstances. Isn’t he supposed to wear such a wonderful gift? Upon reaching adulthood, he discovers that he is still young and strong, while other men his age do not: he has stopped aging. Because? He later comes to believe that God is keeping him alive for a reason. But what reason? Is he to accomplish some task, some miracle that God has in mind? And if he does what God wants, will God grant his greatest wish: death? There is a terrible downside to immortality. He also bears a mark, a scar he got the first time he killed another man. Is it the mark of Cain? God marked Cain so that no one would kill him, so that he would continue to live.

Irene: Although it is considered fiction, how much truth is there in this story?

Richard: The truth of the story is the story that the reader sees through the eyes of the main character. All of history is accurate within that framework. And there is a lot of history. My research required me to investigate all of the following: what a child would learn about sailing in colonial times; about the Middle Passage slave trade, including life on a slave ship; General Washington’s military campaigns during the American Revolution; frontier life in the eastern woods, including the language and customs of the Shawnee people; the life and explorations of the western highlanders in the fur trade; San Francisco and the days of the gold rush; how to captain a clipper that sails from San Francisco and around Cape Horn to the east coast; Civil War battles at New Bern, NC and at Antietam; medical school practices in the 1870s; early Marine Corps airmen in World War I; World War II and Korea (the Chosen Reservoir); Viet Nam and the Hue massacre (of which so few Americans have ever heard of); and many biblical passages (The Eagle’s Life is a spiritual journey as well as a great historical adventure).

Irene: You have written two other books, however “The Life of the Eagle” seems to be very different from your previous writings. Tell us what inspired you to write this book.

Richard: “The Life of the Eagle” wasn’t supposed to be a book. He had never written a book before and had no intention of writing one. It was supposed to be a feature article on modern American attitudes toward death and dying. But it became a book about life and living. After it became clear that it was going to be a book, I just relaxed and enjoyed it.

Irene: Your protagonist is a metaphor for each one of us. Tell our readers how they might relate to this character.

Richard: I have never studied writing. But I have a friend, a creative writing teacher, who told me after I wrote the book that he always asks his students to name their characters because it helps readers identify with them. Well I guess I screwed up. But we are all mortal. We don’t like to think about it, but we know. So you might think we can’t understand this non-mortal guy, but we do. We identify with his greatest longing, to have what we have: the security of a finite life. If you think death is terrible, don’t even think about immortality.

Irene: Often writers put some of their own personality into one of the characters in a fictional story they write. Is there a part of you that was written in “Life of the Eagle”? If so, what areas of your own experience or thoughts did you incorporate into the story?

Richard: My main character is not a bad person. He does some very bad things in his life, but he rarely does them out of pure malice. Does that sound like someone you know? it happens to me

Irene: You made a comment that “you don’t want to live forever.” Many people would not understand that statement, some really want to live forever. Would you give us more information about your thoughts?

Richard: Ok, let’s say medical immortality is now possible, which may actually be true; if it is not like this at the moment, it will surely be with us in less than ten years. I’ve done my research, believe me. So, you take a pill and that’s it! you have it. No more wrinkles, no more age spots, osteoporosis, rotten teeth, sight, hearing or breath. You can also remember things. But now you’re an outcast. You are not like the others and that makes you seem dangerous. You will have to watch everyone you love die. All your old friends are going too. And then your new friends will follow them. You would have to learn not to love, it would be too painful. Suppose, however, that you are not alone, that there are others who have also chosen to take the “pill.” How will you order your new society? What happen with the kids? I think there could be no family units as we currently think of them, not unless you want to starve for eternity. And what will you do with all this new and long life? Whatever it is, you’ll have to be careful: break your back and you’ll spend eternity in a wheelchair or worse. I’ll leave you with this quote from Susan Ertz that I use as a foreword to my book: “Millions yearn for immortality who don’t know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.”

Irene: There is an underlying message in every story. What is the message you want readers to take away while reading this book?

Ricardo: God is with us. God works through us. There really are angels in this world.

Irene: Thank you very much Ricardo. Is there anything else you would like your readers to know about you or your book?

Richard: No, I can’t think of anything else. If anyone wants more information about me or my books, you can visit my website at http://www.ncauthor.com/. And thank you for your thoughtful questions.