Interview with Roger Lawrence

Published 2013-08-24.
When did you first start writing?
I began writing while I was in the Royal Marines. During countless military exercises (in between any real wars of the late 70's) the nights were long and boring. I used to jot things down in my notebook - a real notebook since this was long before any electronic machines small enough to carry.
What's the story behind your latest book?
This is something that's been hovering in my mind for years. What if a man were cursed to live forever? Not so bad on it's own, but what if he could never eat, or sleep? Again not so bad if one is eternal. So just to stir the pot a little, what if eternity was to be spent in ceaseless, unspeakable agony? Yet there is an escape from this awful existence. The curse can simply be given away; but only to some he truly loves and in turn loves him with equal intensity. It's my longest book at over six hundred pages.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
To be frank, I discovered the chicken-and-egg dilemma which faces all writers. I couldn't attract an agent because I'd never been published, and I could not be published for the absence of an agent. I'm currently being considered by a major publishing house for one of my horror novels. I'd love to be traditionally published but until then I'll continue to do it indie-style. I love the freedom.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
I received more sales from Smashwords in the first week than in the previous six months with another major Indie distributor. It was very impressive. The fact that Smashwords converts the files into every electronic format has undoubtedly contributed to that.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Finding myself in the same situation as my characters. If the scene is in a cold climate then I become cold. It's the same with heat, or danger, or excitement. Writing gives me the opportunity to leave this world for a while.
What do your fans mean to you?
Fans are very precious. That they took the time to read my books, and (mostly) gave them favourable reviews means everything to me. I love writing and will do it forever; that there are people out there who will read my new books on the strength of my previous, is a joy and a responsibility.
What are you working on next?
Apart from my latest, I've just finished the next two books of two different series. My Three Hoodies series is now up to number three and my Kongomato at number two. Writing three novels at the same time was a mistake and one I shall never attempt again. Or at least I would if I were rich and had no job but alas that time is not yet. It may, or probably never will be but there's no harm in hoping.
Who are your favorite authors?
A tricky one since there's not enough room here. I loved and read every one of Stephen King's earlier works. Len Deighton had always been able to immerse me in his world of espionage with consummate skill. For Fantasy, there's could be no other choice than Raymond E Feist. Every page is a masterpiece.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
If I'm not at work then for me the only pastime is reading. I have a good life but to be able to disappear into other worlds is something I love. Then tomorrow I can do the same thing all over again. Priceless - and cheap.
What is your writing process?
I just get it all down as it comes out and edit much later, since the majority of my books are written with no planning. I just begin with a sentence, or perhaps a line of dialogue and see how it goes. This often results in dead ends and frustration, but for me is the only way to write. That includes my newest book about the potentially eternal man. I knew how it would begin and even knew what would happen in the middle, but I let the end take care of itself. In fact I have two endings written and shall let my wonderful beta readers advise as to which they think is the better.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.

Books by This Author

When the Lights Go Out - Ink Slingers' Halloween Anthology
Series: Ink Slingers Anthologies. Price: Free! Words: 110,020. Language: English. Published: September 23, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Horror
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
A collection of twenty-five short stories just in time for Halloween. Enjoy thrills, chills, and mysteries. Meet ghosts, demons, vampires, and monsters everywhere from dark city streets to the English countryside. Scares lurk in the most unexpected places and, when the lights go out, no where is safe and no one will be spared.
Old Geezers, The Back of Beyond
Series: Old Geezers, The Gateway. Price: $2.30 USD. Words: 102,620. Language: English. Published: January 20, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Adventure
the old geezers thought their adventure was over, but it was not. once more they would have to use the time machine, and this time it would take them to nazi germany. the bomb was ticking, and there was less than a week to save the world.
The Book of Pain
Price: $2.30 USD. Words: 149,340. Language: Commonwealth English. Published: January 17, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Occult, Fiction » Romance » Action/adventure
a punishment of eternal agony awaits tom fletcher. never to die, never to eat, sleep or even go mad. Only one escape is open to him, but after three hundred and fifty years has his humanity become so warped that he will commit the ultimate crime in order to free himself?
Strange Portals - Ink Slingers' Fantasy/Horror Anthology
Series: Ink Slingers Anthologies. Price: Free! Words: 92,930. Language: English. Published: December 7, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - multi-author, Fiction » Anthologies » Horror
(4.00 from 3 reviews)
Just in time for a much needed holiday break, twenty-two stories about fairies, vampires, zombies, werewolves, and everything in between. Stories by AK Stein, Adan Ramie, B.G. Hope, Barbara G. Tarn, Bonnie Mutchler, CG Coppola, DM Yates, JK Rosaline, Joleene Naylor, Kay Kauffman, Maegan Provan, Mark R. Hunter, Rami Ungar, Roger Lawrence, Roxanna Mathews, Terry Compton and Tricia Drammeh.
Spawn of Kongomato
Series: Kongomato, Book 2. Price: $2.30 USD. Words: 108,240. Language: Commonwealth English. Published: June 29, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Occult
All the flying monsters are presumed dead and London safe again. Now a vengeful man determined to bring the government crashing to its knees might just prevent world war three - perhaps.
Three Hoodies Save The World 2
Series: Three Hoodies Save The world, Book 2. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 98,280. Language: English. Published: February 4, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » General, Fiction » Humor & comedy » General
Monsters trashed, worlds saved. They thought it was all over - it was only just beginning
A Little Twist
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 45,670. Language: English. Published: January 30, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense
A collection of short stories. Some sad, some funny, and others, quite frankly, a little sick. But all with a little twist at the end.
Old Geezers, The Gateway
Series: Old Geezers, The Gateway, Book 1. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 105,180. Language: American English. Published: January 27, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic, Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy
Three old men destroy the Earth, and that's only at the beginning of the adventure.
Kongomato
Series: Kongomato, Book 1. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 97,740. Language: Commonwealth English. Published: January 19, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » General
After three right-wing thugs accidentally release a ten million year old flying creature into the skies of present day London, the deaths begin. Faced with an impossible dilemma, the Prime Minister has only one week to solve the problem.
Three Hoodies Save The World
Series: Three Hoodies Save The world, Book 1. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 107,770. Language: English. Published: September 15, 2010 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
After David's Granny 'buys' him a star from one of those strange magazines that sell Xray specs and has photographs of film stars after their twentieth face lift, he and two friends are forcibly transported to another planet which looks just like Earth, apart from mutated aliens bent on their destruction. It was just a game, right? Until the game suddenly turned serious.