Ask the Author: L.M. Roth
Answered Questions (11)
L.M. Roth
The village lay nestled in a snug cove surrounded by low hills that sheltered it from the fierce gales that blew in from the North Atlantic. But the killing mist that silently crept in from the sea with the stealth of a thief stole the lives of its inhabitants, strangling their breath in their throats in the dead of night, and left it as barren as a November wood shorn of life until the return of spring.
L.M. Roth
Middle Earth, of course! I would sip tea in the Shire with Bilbo, listen to songs and old tales in Rivendell, wander through Lothlorien and sleep in a fret with the wind sighing through the branches and the sound of the stream lulling me into the arms of slumber, join the Riders of Rohan in the battle for Minis Tirith, and rejoice at Aragorn's coronation.
When do I get to leave?!
When do I get to leave?!
L.M. Roth
The Forest at the Edge of the World by Trish Mercer and The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke. I don't have a lot of summer reading time these days due to an enormous extended family with gatherings throughout the season, but I try to squeeze in at least a couple of books to savor outdoors under a tree or in a garden when the chance beckons. Those selected are in two of my favorite genres; fantasy and historical fiction.
L.M. Roth
There was a mystery about the house where I grew up. It was not unusual to hear footsteps pacing by an unseen walker, to see blades of grass bent under an unseen foot, to hear disembodied voices, even the occasional apparition of a woman. And I DID put some of these incidents into my Quest For the Kingdom series, particularly in Part IV A Stranger Among Us, Part V Rise of the Time of Evil, and Part VI The Sorceress and the Seer as manifestations of the evil Tuadan. As for what actually happened in that house? I will probably never know...
L.M. Roth
My favorite fictional couple is Marcellus and Diana from The Robe. I love how their undying devotion to each other overcomes the obstacles that try to keep them apart. Also, they are so realistic; she the best friend of his much younger sister who adores him for years without his knowledge until the day he realizes that she is all grown up. Love it.
L.M. Roth
I take a day trip somewhere to view new scenery that might spark imaginary settings in my head. I may listen to medieval minstrel music or epic movie soundtracks to release emotion as I write a dramatic or romantic scene. Taking a walk in the woods or by a stream or in a garden may inspire me with ideas for adventure or intrigue. But the last thing I do is to keep vainly trying to write if the words suddenly fail to come. Sometimes it helps to just take a rest and go do something else for a while to refresh. This usually then results in a new stream of creativity and words that flow freely again.
L.M. Roth
I love to create other worlds and develop characters that feel so real that their interaction with one another starts taking over the story and they end up dictating to me how their actions will advance the plot and influence the outcome.
L.M. Roth
Write every minute you can spare, and keep perfecting it. Read as much as you can in the genre that you like to write in. This will expose you to great writing and perfect your own prose and punctuation. Note how another author develops character and advances the plot. Take the story apart and study the mechanics of it, then put it back together again and simply enjoy it.
And don't give up until you have your story written. Have another author or an avid reader critique it, and take their advice on how to strengthen the story or eliminate the excess. Polish, polish, polish; never be satisfied with your first draft, and don't be afraid to change a plot line or character's story if they feel "untrue" after you read the first draft. Keep writing until the story flows without any visible seams and your characters feel as real as the people you meet every day.
And don't give up until you have your story written. Have another author or an avid reader critique it, and take their advice on how to strengthen the story or eliminate the excess. Polish, polish, polish; never be satisfied with your first draft, and don't be afraid to change a plot line or character's story if they feel "untrue" after you read the first draft. Keep writing until the story flows without any visible seams and your characters feel as real as the people you meet every day.
L.M. Roth
I am presently working on an historical romance about a princess who is extremely particular and not exactly nice. But I won't say more than that for now!
L.M. Roth
Anything can inspire me; a newspaper article, a sunrise or sunset, a walk through the woods, a garden, or children's laughter. I just suddenly visualize a scene in my head and then start writing it.
L.M. Roth
I wrote Abelard and the Dragon's Vapor last summer, about a simple farm boy who dreams of becoming a knight, but must first slay a dragon to do so, and then only after defeating 10 perils. He was such an endearing character to me and it was so much fun to write about his adventure that I missed him once the book was completed.
I was inspired by another adventure for him, this time about a witch whom he must find and force to break the enchantment over the Kingdom of Merdyce. I brought back some characters from the first book, and created some new ones as well, among them Wenda the flower seller who is Abelard's fiance, and his page Martin, who is training for knighthood. And then, of course, there is Percy...
I was inspired by another adventure for him, this time about a witch whom he must find and force to break the enchantment over the Kingdom of Merdyce. I brought back some characters from the first book, and created some new ones as well, among them Wenda the flower seller who is Abelard's fiance, and his page Martin, who is training for knighthood. And then, of course, there is Percy...
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more