Welcome!
I have a wonderful treat for everyone.
I would like to introduce to you to Author RJ Roles.
He is a newly published independent writer who has the hopes of becoming a great storyteller.
It was a joy being able to chat with him for this interview.
He is a newly published independent writer who has the hopes of becoming a great storyteller.
It was a joy being able to chat with him for this interview.
Sit back, relax and enjoy.
Thank You!
Ivy:
Welcome, RJ! How are you doing?
RJ Roles:
I'm doing good, glad to be here, Ivy.
Ivy:
I'm happy to have you here. You're a new author to us so please tell me and the audience alittle bit about yourself.
RJ Roles:
Well, I'm a very new author in general actually. I've just started publishing my writing March of this year.
Ivy:
Congratulations! How long have you been writing overall?
RJ Roles:
Growing up, my buddy and I would always create RPG type adventures for ourselves. Taking bits of pop culture we liked and mashing them all together. While in high school I dabbled with a few stories, but just for fun. It wasn't until 2015 ( I think) that I started to write stuff and think "Why have I not been doing this all along?" In mid to late 2018 I let a few of my friends, who are very accomplished authors in their own right, read some stuff I'd written and they told me I should just release it into the wild.
Ivy:
Sounds like a great start on this writing path you have. It's always a good thing to have a support system from those who are in the same industry.
Please tell us about your first book. What's the title? How did the story develop? And How does it feel to have it published and read by the public?
RJ Roles:
My first book and short novella-length story called Girl's Best Friend. The idea came to me one day while I was sleeping (I work overnights) and I woke suddenly with the idea of a little girl befriending a spider. I let the story marinate a bit in my mind, and started to lay down what the book is now.
On release I was a nervous wreck. When an author releases a book it's like opening your soul for everyone to look in and see what you're made of. Thankfully the readers have seemed to really enjoy Girl's Best Friend, and it makes me happy to have written it.
Ivy:
I look forward to reading it myself.
What genre would you categorize it under?
RJ Roles:
It's firmly in the psychological thriller ballpark with a splash of horror. I never had a certain genre in mind as I was writing it and didn't know myself until it was complete.
Ivy:
As a new author in the Indie publishing industry, what do you hope to accomplish for yourself after taking this first step? How far do you want to go?
RJ Roles:
First and foremost I just want to be a storyteller. Anything after that is just cake. I really just want to tell the best story I can to entertain people.
Ivy:
As a reader, I do enjoy the escape I'm given when I open a book. I believe you will do just what you set your mind too.
Have you taken up writing as a full-time job or is it something you try to get done as often as you can during your day to day life?
RJ Roles:
It's a hobby for me as of right now. I believe for any storyteller, the ideal life is supporting ones self with their writing. Who knows what the future may hold, on that account.
Ivy:
When you aren't writing, what do you do for fun?
RJ Roles:
Reading, of course! But I also enjoy watching movies and documentaries. Video games when I can spare the time. Typical nerd shit I guess, lol.
Ivy:
Lol sounds like a normal guy to me.
Who are your go to author's as a reader?
RJ Roles:
I could be here all night listing some amazing authors,but I'll try to boil it down to a few. Starting out with some bigger names in the industry: Robert McCammon, Brian Keene, Stephen King, JK Rowling, George R. R. Martin, Ray Bradbury. Moving into the indie realm: Justin M. Woodard, Jay Sigler, JZ Foster, Matt Hayward, Patrick Lacey, Chad Lutzke. Just to name a few.
Ivy:
I recognize some of those names, you have a great list there. I'll definitely have to look into reading those indie authors.
In what ways does your family support your writing?
RJ Roles:
They've all been great! From my wife beta reading for me, to other members champing at the bit to get my stuff in their hands. It's part of what makes it all worth it.
Ivy:
That's wonderful to have them all on your side.
So what's next for Author RJ Roles? What are you currently working on?
RJ Roles:
Well, aside from Girl's Best Friend, I have three drabbles in the anthology 100 word horrors book 2. I recently entered and won a throw down competition. (which is where I believe we met?) And like any other writer you could ask, I have about a million works in progress, to which I'm hoping to have at least two more solo releases this year.
Ivy:
Yes, the throw down competition was where we met and I really enjoyed the short stories you'd written. It's groups like that that bring readers and authors together.
RJ Roles:
It's a great community. Speaking of which, I might add that if any of your readers all in the Facebook group Books of Horror, I was a co-founder for that group and has it's own amazing community.
Ivy:
Thank you for letting us all know that. I don't believe I am a member but I would really like to check it out.
If someone came up to you and asked you for some advice about becoming a published author, even though you are new to all of this, what would you tell them?
RJ Roles:
Invest in proper editing, because it's impossible to self-edit. Don't read reviews of your work, but if you must, just know that not everyone likes the same thing. Write what you'd want to read and if you find yourself stuck in a story, just switch tracks for a bit and come back to it, I guarantee it'll help.
Ivy:
That's some really good advice there. I, myself, have to Thank you for it.
RJ Roles:
You're very welcome!
Ivy:
Well RJ, I want to Thank you so much for opening up to me and to all the readers out there in the world. I've learned and I know they've learned about who Author RJ Roles is and what we can expect from him. This definitely isn't the end but just the beginning. As time passes, I look forward having a second interview with you. I also have to Thank you for allowing me to be your first interviewer on your writing journey. I enjoyed myself.
RJ Roles:
Thank you again, Ivy. This was a lot of fun and I'll definitely be down for a round 2 when you come calling.
Author Bio
RJ Roles grew up in the mountains of West Virginia. His love for horror and all things macabre was instilled in him at a young age as was reading when he discovered the Goosebumps series. He currently works as a private security guard when he's not trying to peck out stories on the computer. He spends the majority of his time at home with his wife Jessica and their spoiled-rotten cats.
Girl's Best Friend by RJ Roles
Click here: Amazon
Things aren't always what they seem. . .
Books have always been Janney Fenton's best friend until she met Alice. Now the two are inseparable.
Her mother doesn't approve - though she's never approved of anything when it comes to her daughter.
It's only later in life, with therapy to reconcile the tragedies of her past, that Janney can begin to understand the person she is.
Twisted with emotions, all will be revealed with each passing session.
Follow Author RJ Roles on Social Media.
