Robert Rootes interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

A little introduction:

I’m from New York, moved around a few times, ended up in Alaska for a long time, before returning to the lower-forty-eight again. We currently reside in Virginia.

When did your love of books begin?

Introverted and lost a parent early in my life set me on the path. I could have become a serial killer, or just a writer, I chose the latter.

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

I remember writing my first book around the age of twelve/thirteen. It was a meandering, deeply plagiarizing experiment that needed to happen so I knew how dreadfully awful it was before it got better. 

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

It’s a daunting process. The evolution of the literary world changed right about the time I got serious about making it as a writer. I went to school later in life, got a BA in English, AAS (associate of applied science degree). My first attempts at published work came at the high cost of rejection and USPS postage. For years, I kept the rejections until I finally outgrew them. When I got a literary agent, it was short-lived (as she saw the writing on the literary wall ahead of the internet injection). She retired from the literary agency and I lost my one contact with the ones I assumed meant I’d get published professionally. 

In 2016, I finally got a break writing full-time. I’ve been lucky to give up my ego and throw away my hubris. Freelancing has afforded me some liberties in writing. I’ve made connections but still work hand-to-mouth to make a living. 

What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

Keep writing, the digital world rewards those who can write coherent words and make stories. However, if you intend to become a famous writer, it will likely be as easy as catching lightning in a coffee mug. If you want to get famous as a writer you need to understand the globalization of MARKETING. Writing a book is simple; getting that book in front of millions of people takes a PhD in marketing. Be prepared to spend $$$ on marketing instead of worrying about writing the book. If you have the chops at marketing you could publish a toilet paper roll of ideas and become successful. 

Tell us about your book/books:

I’d love to tell you all about the hundreds of titles I’ve worked on. Unfortunately, like all the ghostwriters who wrote the Harry Potter series for Bloomsbury Publishing house in 1997 signed NDAs. I have more titles and NDAs than those fortunate few who wrote Potter books ahead of Rowling cashing in her chips to write trivial work under her Pottermore project once the copyrights transferred. 

I can tell you that my work got plagiarized. My first book turned into a Canadian (short-lived) television series. It had minor success, but the producers used all my ideas and never once contacted me.  

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

Enjoy the words, they will outlive us all. 

Where can people connect with you?

I still accept long-term clients (within reason). They can reach out on Twitter

@RobertRootes

Those that go through the publishing houses know how to contact me.