Location: United States
Member Since: July 17, 2014

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Robert Pickering

Biography

I never wanted to be thought of as an author. Somehow to me, authors were the men and women who populated the pages of those dreaded anthologies we were forced to read in school. The worst fate I could possibly suffer would be to appear alongside Hemmingway, Melville or O'Connor in one of those enormous volumes - not that I have anything to worry about on that score. I would much prefer a space on bookshelf next to the likes of Stephen King, James Patterson or John Grisham. Better yet, to be in the tote bag of some young lady headed to the beach.  I've always considered myself more of a storyteller. If I can get you engrossed in one of my stories, I'm satisfied that I've done my job. 

I was born and raised in South Louisiana, and draw on the heritage and folklore of the area. Though I may veer off into other genres from time-to-time, be it crime dramas, action adventure, non-fiction, even romance, I find myself returning to my roots time and again. I've also moved around the Southeast, first to Georgia, and then North Carolina. In both cases, I managed to pick up on some of the character of the place, and include it in my writing. 

I currently live in the city of Wilmington, North Carolina with my wife, my youngest daughter and two dogs. 

Smashwords Interview

What is your writing process?
Most ideas really come out of the blue, whether it's a memory from my childhood, or a place I visit, or just a really cool idea that pops into my head. As far as the actual writing goes, I believe it's akin to what method actors do, and try to become the characters. What would I do if I were them, what are my likes and dislikes. For the most part I don't go by a strict outline, the story more or less develops organically over time. I don't think it's as natural and believable if you start out with a predetmined beginning, middle and end.
How does your Louisiana upbringing affect your storytelling?
Oh, it's very much influenced by being raised in South Louisiana. You know old people like to tell stories, especially Cajuns. There is - or was - a Saturday morning event in the little town Erath near where I grew up where they featured a rotation of storytellers. It's even better because I don't think I ever met a Cajun who doesn't like to embellish. You can take a simple story about how somebody saw an alligator on a boat ride and it becomes and epic tale of survival in the wild. We like to take things that have the simplest logical explanations and spin these elaborate stories.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Robert Pickering online

Website: http://robertpickering.net
Twitter: @robppickering
Facebook: Facebook profile

Books

Oh My God, I Forgot the Plug ... And Other Stories From a Misguided Youth by
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 15,790. Language: English. Published: October 6, 2019 . Categories: Nonfiction » Entertainment » Humor & satire » Form / essays, Nonfiction » Entertainment » Humor & satire » Form / anecdotes & quotations
This book is epic ... or at least filled with epic foolishness. Parents will enjoy this book, perhaps breathing a sigh of relief that someone else's kid was actually worse than theirs. Kids will enjoy it because they'll undoubtedly see something that reminds them of their friends or brother or sisters ... or God forbid, themselves.
Fire on the River by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 36,260. Language: English. Published: October 6, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Ghost, Fiction » Horror » Occult
An antebellum mansion on the Mississippi River that was partially destroyed by a fire years earlier is renovated by a newly married couple; however, all is not as it appears. As her husband begins to exhibit inexplicable behavior, and Laurie Weller begins to encounter ghostly entities, can they uncover the mystery of what really happened all those years ago before the house destroys them both?
Swamp Gothic 2 by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 36,270. Language: English. Published: October 6, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Ghost, Fiction » Horror » Occult
Following on the success of Robert Pickering's first Swamp Gothic collection of short horror set in the bayous and marshlands of South Louisiana, he has produced a second collection of an additional 13 stories. Whether it's a good ol' fashioned ghost story you're looking for, or something more along the lines of a psychological thriller, this book has a little something for everyone.
Swamp Gothic by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 26,640. Language: English. Published: October 6, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Ghost, Fiction » Horror » Occult
A collection of 13 spooky shorts from the swamps an bayous of South Louisiana. Swamp Gothic is full of ghosts, monsters and other creepy creatures that make up the rich tapestry of the regional folklore.

Robert Pickering's tag cloud

demons occult    family humor    folklore    ghost horror    ghost mansion    ghosts horror    ghostshaunting    ghoststory    horror romance    horror shorts    humor essays    humor funny    humorous story    monsters    occult demons    occult horror    quirky humor    swamp monsters