C.R. Fabis Captivates Readers With Unforgettable Stories of History, Morality, and Imagination
PHOTO: C.R. Fabis in his Littleton, Colorado home, where culinary artistry meets literary imagination, crafting stories that transcend genres and time.
Blending Creativity, Character, And Genre-Defying Narratives
C.R. Fabis shares his journey from dessert chef to award-winning novelist, exploring historical fiction, science fiction, complex moral questions, and visual storytelling, offering insights into his creative process and characters.
C.R. Fabis transitioned from a celebrated 25-year career as a dessert chef to an award-winning novelist. He reflects on how crafting desserts inspired the storytelling creativity now evident in his books. “When my children were young, I made up bedtime stories for them. A few years later I wrote those down as a novel. Now, I knew I could do it, so the transition to writing was quite easy,” Fabis shared.
The story has to be visual in the author’s head. This makes it real to me and my readers.” – C.R. Fabis
Culinary Influence on Characters
Fabis draws inspiration from quirky personalities he encountered in the culinary world. “Most of the chefs I have known over the years have strange and quirky personalities… The dark personalities can be the most interesting, and the most fun to write about,” he explained, highlighting how real-life experiences inform his fictional creations.
Merging History with Science Fiction
In his debut novel Rome Never Fell, Fabis blends historical fiction and science fiction. “Since time travel is the science fiction, and going back to a historic time was the historical fiction, the merging of the genres worked well. The challenge was the research… I wanted my interpretation of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and others to be as accurate and real as possible,” he noted.
Exploring Morality in Maggie Love
The Angel and the Amazing Life of Maggie Love tackles complex moral questions. Fabis explained, “It is extremely hard to justify murder, even in literature. Maggie was dealt a bad deck as a child… An Angel, along with the reader, has to decide if revenge is enough justification to save her soul.”
Visual Storytelling through Cartoons
Fabis’ work as a cartoonist informs his prose. “Before I can make a cartoon, there has to be a story, and it has to be visual in my head… Whether it is a novel, a cartoon or any other creative endeavour, the story has to be visual in the author’s head,” he said, emphasising the importance of imagery in engaging readers.
The Writing Process
Character and plot development come to Fabis spontaneously. He revealed, “I have to have a basic idea of who the characters are and where the story is going… Plot twists and surprises come to me while I am writing… It is a 24/7 process, where a little bit of magic can happen at any time.”
Advice for Aspiring Authors
Fabis encourages authors to incorporate their creative backgrounds. “Do not try to be like Hemingway, or Rowling… Use whatever creative spark you had in your field. Use it in your plot development, and your characters. Make your story as real as possible in your own head. That way it will be very real to your readers,” he advised.
Creating Compelling Characters
Fabis reflected on Maggie Love’s enduring appeal: “In chapter 3, Maggie’s parents were forced into murder-suicide… She develops a sense of humour, uses her intelligence and beauty… She is very self-determined. She can change her appearance constantly… and thus, she has 12 aliases.”
Originally published in Reader’s House Magazine.
