Interview with Robyn LaRue

Published 2014-08-20.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up primarily in Montana with summers and some school years in Minnesota. The winters are cold and the summers are hot, so I spent a lot of time with my nose in books. I wrote off and on throughout childhood and more seriously by the end of junior high school, and I think the love of literature made it easier to craft words of my own.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Ah, just one? I'm happy when I'm writing or working on story ideas. Regardless of mood, there's a deep happiness that comes from putting words down. I'd have to say the greatest joy, however, is when characters surprise me or plot twists appear from my fingers before I realize it's happened.
What do your fans mean to you?
Everything. Readers who love my characters mean the world to me. They make my stories live and allow me to do what I love.
What are you working on next?
Shoot the Moon is slated for a mid-November release. It is the coming-of-age story of a girl torn between romance and education (and future career). As in Shadows Wake, a family secret plays a prominent role in Charlotte's life as well.
What is your writing process?
I draft fast and edit slow. I'm what George R. R. Martin calls and "organic writer" in that I don't always know how the story will end and don't outline in the traditional sense (a few bullet points is all I usually need). I pre-write (write about the characters and plot and setting without actually writing story) and explore to help the story and characters develop. The pre-write might be as much as a third the word count of the finished novel, but I like the sense of not always knowing what's coming next. It makes me eager to sit down and write every day since I want to find out what happens.
What do you read for pleasure?
My reading tastes are seriously eclectic. I tend to shy away from slasher stuff, but I read just about anything I can get my hands on in terms of fiction and anything that interests me for non-fiction (including a lot of history and psychology). I'll even read really scary horror as long as it's daylight and I'm not home alone. :)
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I was less than three years old and I think the book was called Bubbles. I'm told I could pick out words or recite the text on any given page. The girl in the story lost her bracelet and had to go look for it with her doll, Bubbles. I had just (temporarily) lost my parents and her plight definitely resonated. I think the only reason I can remember is that my life had changed in a dramatic way. I was picking out words and reading before I started school.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Back pain, usually, lol. Though the first thing I do every morning is check my Skype logs for the open channel my writers group maintains. We talk throughout the day every day and share our writing adventures with each other in real time. With two writers in Europe, there's always someone up and chatting before I get to the computer. It's a big part of my day.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Reading, quilting, painting, dreaming about the next time I can get to a pottery wheel, and helping my writer friends with research or projects. I also listen faithfully to Joanna Penn and the Self Publishing Podcast and watch documentaries. If I'm in draft and working on a story, I'll do jigsaw puzzles and housework to help my brain work out the necessary details.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
The industry is changing rapidly, and I wanted to make sure I had some control over my books as no one knows where things will end up in the next six months, much less the next six years. I like to stay flexible and didn't want book rights locked down. I have an editor and a professional cover designer, and it is important to me to produce a quality product. I can't see giving the biggest cut to a publisher when I'm doing all the work, you know?
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Books by This Author

Shadows Wake
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 67,930. Language: English. Published: August 20, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » USA, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Historical
Gold Hill is a peaceful place with a dark secret and forgotten calling. In ancient times, a native tribe trapped evil inside the mountain. That prison is now weakened, and the tribal blood line responsible for its maintenance is dangerously diluted. Lillian, a social outcast with secrets of her own, learns about love, friendship, and loyalty, but can she save Gold Hill and all she holds dear?