Author Interview: Laura Roberts
by A.E. Albert
@aealbert23
This is an interesting question, because the first book that I started writing isn't the first one that actually made it into book form! But the first book that I published, Ninjas of the 512, was inspired by living in Austin, Texas – a city that likes to project an image of itself as a liberal bastion within the greater conservatism of the state.
I was inspired to write a novel that asked the question “What would happen if a high school History teacher joined a band of ninjas in a quest to prevent another Texas governor from becoming President of the United States and thus destroying the world?” It’s a satirical take on state politics, but it’s also the story of what happens when people are pushed to extremes and take the law into their own hands. And it’s also what I like to call the best book about ninjas vs. pirates that you'll ever read.
Is there a message in your book and/or books?
My books are usually about people on the fringes of society, fighting against the views and misconceptions that others have about them. I like to write about underdogs, as well as people who are typically viewed as odd or unusual. I also like to write about people who are fighting various systems and prejudices, probably because I read a lot of dystopian literature and philosophy in my formative years.
That being said, I also like my books to have a sense of humor. I'm not big on dry, academic writings. I like action and adventure, and I love humorous stories like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, so my books are also meant to be fun and silly.
Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences?
Oh yes, definitely. All of my books have been inspired by real-life experiences, whether mine or someone else’s. I write both fiction and nonfiction, so I do mine my past for ideas and situations and emotions. I’m sure all writers do this, but some just won't admit it.
My series, Naked Montreal, is full of characters that were inspired by my time as a sex columnist in the city. I've used a lot of stories people have told me, transforming them into fiction, and that gave me lots of other ideas, so I’m planning to write a lot more of these in the future.
What books and/or writers have influenced you the most?
I've got a lot of different influences. Some of my favorite authors are Leonard Cohen, Jeanette Winterson, Douglas Adams, David Sedaris, Dorothy Parker and, most recently, Amanda Palmer. I also love reading dirty books, particularly those written by women, and my favorite current series is the Once Upon A Dom series by Sydney St. Claire.
What has been your greatest challenge when writing?
My biggest challenge is always finding the time to balance writing, marketing and my day job. Since I always have tons of projects going on at the same time, it can be hard to decide which to focus on first, and time can easily slip away from me, so scheduling time to write is very important.
What are you working on right now?
I'm currently working on a couple of different projects. I’ve got another book in my Indie Confessions series on the subject of editing, a book about online dating called No More F*ing Weirdos!, and several fictional stories vying for my attention, in addition to more steamy Naked Montreal stories.
What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors?
One of the most important things I've learned is that writing faster is actually better, at least for me. I took part in the 3-Day Novel Contest in 2011, and it totally changed the way I write. My latest book, Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist, describes the writing process I learned to implement when participating in that contest, and gives lots of advice for authors who would like to do the same. Other than that, the most important advice I have for authors is to sit your butt down in the chair and WRITE. That’s the only way it'll get done, so get off Facebook, get off Twitter, turn off your phone and do it!
Is there a message in your book and/or books?
My books are usually about people on the fringes of society, fighting against the views and misconceptions that others have about them. I like to write about underdogs, as well as people who are typically viewed as odd or unusual. I also like to write about people who are fighting various systems and prejudices, probably because I read a lot of dystopian literature and philosophy in my formative years.
That being said, I also like my books to have a sense of humor. I'm not big on dry, academic writings. I like action and adventure, and I love humorous stories like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, so my books are also meant to be fun and silly.
Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences?
Oh yes, definitely. All of my books have been inspired by real-life experiences, whether mine or someone else’s. I write both fiction and nonfiction, so I do mine my past for ideas and situations and emotions. I’m sure all writers do this, but some just won't admit it.
My series, Naked Montreal, is full of characters that were inspired by my time as a sex columnist in the city. I've used a lot of stories people have told me, transforming them into fiction, and that gave me lots of other ideas, so I’m planning to write a lot more of these in the future.
What books and/or writers have influenced you the most?
I've got a lot of different influences. Some of my favorite authors are Leonard Cohen, Jeanette Winterson, Douglas Adams, David Sedaris, Dorothy Parker and, most recently, Amanda Palmer. I also love reading dirty books, particularly those written by women, and my favorite current series is the Once Upon A Dom series by Sydney St. Claire.
What has been your greatest challenge when writing?
My biggest challenge is always finding the time to balance writing, marketing and my day job. Since I always have tons of projects going on at the same time, it can be hard to decide which to focus on first, and time can easily slip away from me, so scheduling time to write is very important.
What are you working on right now?
I'm currently working on a couple of different projects. I’ve got another book in my Indie Confessions series on the subject of editing, a book about online dating called No More F*ing Weirdos!, and several fictional stories vying for my attention, in addition to more steamy Naked Montreal stories.
What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors?
One of the most important things I've learned is that writing faster is actually better, at least for me. I took part in the 3-Day Novel Contest in 2011, and it totally changed the way I write. My latest book, Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist, describes the writing process I learned to implement when participating in that contest, and gives lots of advice for authors who would like to do the same. Other than that, the most important advice I have for authors is to sit your butt down in the chair and WRITE. That’s the only way it'll get done, so get off Facebook, get off Twitter, turn off your phone and do it!
Title: Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist
Genre: Nonfiction/Writing Guides
Book retailer links: http://buttontapper.com/confessions-of-a-3-day-novelist/ (all of the places where you can buy the book are located here)
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