Interview with Judith Rook

Published 2015-04-30.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in rural Yorkshire in the UK. It was a quiet and contented childhood, with intimations of the greater world always just over the horizon. I liked being a child. There were interesting people around me who, even if they teased, never let me down. I wasn't particularly interested in dolls but I cannot remember a time when I did not read.
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite authors must be Charles Dickens, for his characters and storylines; Isaac Asimov, the master sci-fi writer for his robot conceptions and hard science backgrounds, Holbrook Jackson, a relatively obscure essayist, for his thinking, Terry Pratchett for his incredible imaginative flair, Alexander McCall Smith, the author of the "44 Scotland Street" series, particularly for the awful Bruce and poor Bertie, the child prodigy; Kerry Greenwood for the stylish Phryne Fisher and Kenneth Grahame for "The Wind in the Willows." I mustn't forget all the good sci-fi/fantasy and crime writers of the world.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Most of my books came from the local library which had an excellent children's section. There was a series of books featuring twins who lived in different places in the world. They are the books I remember most clearly. There was one called "The Eskimo Twins". If ever I find myself in the arctic I will know how to build an igloo. Then there was a book called "Eric, or Little by Little" written by FW Farrar, It made me cry, not so much over the sadness of some of the incidents as because of the determined stupidity of some of the youths in their pursuit of honourable dealings. Not that I am against striving for honour - I do it myself - but I did feel, at the age of about ten, that these boys took it too far. I received "The Wind in the Willows" as a Christmas present when I was nine, and the world wasn't the same again. I know I was nine because my relatives always put the year of the gift into the flyleaf, with the formal greeting. The principle they worked on was that I would read the book one day even if it didn't quite suit my immediate taste. They were right. I received "The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" (Robert Tressell) when I was fourteen and although I read it there and then I didn't understand it completely until I was in my early twenties. Books are wonderful things.
What is your writing process?
I begin to write from a single idea. There is no substance or direction to the idea - it could be the simple thought of an apple - but it has a certain feeling of importance about it. Whenever the idea comes up again within the next day or so I give it time to breathe, and other thoughts begin to come with it. These thoughts are the foundation of the book.
I begin to think about theme, plot and storyline, and by the end of the first week the basic structure of the book has appeared. I fix the basic concepts in about two or three pages, then I begin to write.
I have never stuck slavishly to those first two or three pages, but I couldn't have done without them. But as any writer will know, writing takes one into a dynamic existence when even the writer can be surprised at what appears.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I had been following the traditional way of searching for interest through agents and publishers. One day I received a rejection notice from an agent who said he felt that he and I would not get along. When I got over this particular bit of unprofessional cheek (and I know that most agents are highly professional and are in a very hard job) I wondered if there might be another way. I am a member of two authors' websites and I had seen "indie" publishing mentioned, so I finally looked into it. I discovered that I could get my book out to people all over the world if I was prepared to cut the ties holding me to tradition and not look to make money, not immediately anyway. So I became an "indie" author and I'm glad that I did. Since I put my book onto the e-shelves as a free offer for the present, people have down-loaded the sample and then the whole book. It does appear that people are reading my book. I feel very privileged.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
There's nothing inspiring about it; I just do it. After my first cup of tea I find a reason for doing it and begin to enjoy the day.
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Books by This Author

First Steps for a Hero
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 27,650. Language: English. Published: September 3, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction, Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
Escaping from the local bully is part of David’s life, but when the bully threatens his sister, the peaceable young school-leaver must turn into a hero as best he can. He is helped by an enigmatic man from a parallel universe. But with the man comes a danger which could threaten the safety of Earth, and only David can deal with it.
Man Of Two Planets
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 116,240. Language: English. Published: August 15, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic
Born on Circe, the strange planet, Borto is learning to be a guardsman on the neighbouring world of First Home. He finds life as a warrior difficult, especially since he carries within him a being from Circe’s darkness. Although the creature gives him great strength and unusual powers, he tries to suppress it. But finally, Borto must accept that he has become a different man.
The Three Ways of Desire
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 92,030. Language: English. Published: September 19, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Erotica » Menage/Multiple Partners, Fiction » Fantasy » General
In a society which shares its high women among only a few great houses, the time has almost come for the intelligent and affectionate Yolande DesPrez to be sold. Her remote guardian, Morrain, controls an empire and Yolande must accept the future he chooses for her. But Morrain has unusual plans for Yolande. With the help of his best friend, he will keep her to be his own woman.
Planet Woman
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 104,300. Language: English. Published: April 15, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera, Fiction » Romance » Sci-fi
(4.60 from 5 reviews)
Circean humans have always known that their planet can think, but a diplomatic mission from another planet finds this difficult to understand. Lewis, the sardonic envoy, certainly does not understand Tethyn, his Circean hostess, and the independent and determined woman desperately fights against his desire for her. But Circe needs them to come together to help defeat an approaching danger.