Ask the Author: Robin Storey
Answered Questions (8)
Robin Storey
It's actually coming into winter in Australia where I live, but that's even better - the ideal weather to snuggle up on the couch with a good book. I love reading crime/suspense/noir, which are also the genres I write in, so I'm looking forward to reading:
Dennis Lehane's latest novel Since We Fell
Melina Marchetta's novel Tell The Truth, Shame The Devil. She's an Aussie author who's previously written young adult novels - this is her first adult crime novel and it's had rave reviews.
The first Parker novel The Hunter, by Richard Stark (commonly known as Donald Westlake) (I haven't read any of the Parker novels, so I'll start with the first). Parker is a ruthless thief and I'm interested to see how the author handles a main character who is so unlikable. Obviously these novels allowed Westlake to take a break from comedy and indulge his dark side.
Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King. I haven't read a lot of King, but this is reputed to be one of his finest books.
After by Nikki Gemmell. A book about how Nikki coped with her mother's suicide after being in a lot of pain and the whole issue of euthanasia, told from the perspective of a bewildered and grieving daughter.
Dennis Lehane's latest novel Since We Fell
Melina Marchetta's novel Tell The Truth, Shame The Devil. She's an Aussie author who's previously written young adult novels - this is her first adult crime novel and it's had rave reviews.
The first Parker novel The Hunter, by Richard Stark (commonly known as Donald Westlake) (I haven't read any of the Parker novels, so I'll start with the first). Parker is a ruthless thief and I'm interested to see how the author handles a main character who is so unlikable. Obviously these novels allowed Westlake to take a break from comedy and indulge his dark side.
Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King. I haven't read a lot of King, but this is reputed to be one of his finest books.
After by Nikki Gemmell. A book about how Nikki coped with her mother's suicide after being in a lot of pain and the whole issue of euthanasia, told from the perspective of a bewildered and grieving daughter.
Robin Storey
I would have to say Rosie and Don from The Rosie Project, a contemporary romantic comedy novel by Graeme Simsion, which I really enjoyed. On the surface they are such a mismatch. Don, who has Asperger's Syndrome, is neat, orderly, an obsesssive planner and makes frequent social gaffes. Rosie is the antithesis of his ideal woman- she is a smoker and a drinker, disorganised, impulsive and frequently late.
She also happens to be intelligent and beautiful. I love how as the story unfolds they each learn more about themselves from the other person and in the end, find a way to make the relationship work.
She also happens to be intelligent and beautiful. I love how as the story unfolds they each learn more about themselves from the other person and in the end, find a way to make the relationship work.
Robin Storey
An Affair With Danger (which I'll call my most recent book even though it's not published yet) is, at heart, a classic story of a boy falling in love with a girl on the wrong side of the tracks.
I've always been interested in the concept of people from different backgrounds falling in love and how it works (or doesn't). The character of the criminal's girlfriend Frankie - feisty, fiercely independent, yet underneath very insecure - had been in my mind for some time. She and her armed robber boyfriend Eddie grew out of all the characters I came across in my previous job as a probation and parole officer.
So then I wondered what would happen if I paired her up with a respectable middle class lawyer from a very status-conscious family. From there I had to work out how they would meet, and of course, a relationship like that is never going to be smooth sailing - especially with a violent and possessive boyfriend in the mix.
An Affair With Danger is the first novella I've written and I enjoyed the challenge of writing a story within the shorter word limit. It definitely won't be my last!
I've always been interested in the concept of people from different backgrounds falling in love and how it works (or doesn't). The character of the criminal's girlfriend Frankie - feisty, fiercely independent, yet underneath very insecure - had been in my mind for some time. She and her armed robber boyfriend Eddie grew out of all the characters I came across in my previous job as a probation and parole officer.
So then I wondered what would happen if I paired her up with a respectable middle class lawyer from a very status-conscious family. From there I had to work out how they would meet, and of course, a relationship like that is never going to be smooth sailing - especially with a violent and possessive boyfriend in the mix.
An Affair With Danger is the first novella I've written and I enjoyed the challenge of writing a story within the shorter word limit. It definitely won't be my last!
Robin Storey
I'm often not inspired to write at all, but I force myself to sit down at my computer every morning and start. If I waited for my muse to show up, I'd get nothing done! Sometimes it takes me a while to get into the flow, but often the days when I've started off not feeling motivated are the days when I do my best writing.
I find that writing away from home works much better for me, particularly when I'm in first draft mode, as being in a different environment seems to kick-start my creative processes. So I usually go to a coffee shop or the local library. Being around books inspires me, plus there are no distractions - Iike piles of dishes to be washed or a comfy bed to have a nap on.
I find that writing away from home works much better for me, particularly when I'm in first draft mode, as being in a different environment seems to kick-start my creative processes. So I usually go to a coffee shop or the local library. Being around books inspires me, plus there are no distractions - Iike piles of dishes to be washed or a comfy bed to have a nap on.
Robin Storey
I am currently in the final editing stages of my romantic suspense novella An Affair With Danger. It's about a corporate lawyer who falls in love with a dangerous criminal's girlfriend, which ultimately puts both their lives in danger. It should be available as an e-book in early January.
This is a little different from my previous works - my two novels and book of short stories are comedies but this isn't. However I enjoyed writing it - I like to experiment with different genres.
However I'm back to comedy with the next book - Making The Breast Of It - Breast Cancer Stories Of Humour And Joy. This is a light-hearted account of my own recent experience with breast cancer and those of other women I've talked to.
This is a little different from my previous works - my two novels and book of short stories are comedies but this isn't. However I enjoyed writing it - I like to experiment with different genres.
However I'm back to comedy with the next book - Making The Breast Of It - Breast Cancer Stories Of Humour And Joy. This is a light-hearted account of my own recent experience with breast cancer and those of other women I've talked to.
Robin Storey
Write, read, keep writing, keep reading and find yourself a good critique partner/group or a professional manuscript appraiser. Constructive feedback is vital for improving your writing.
Robin Storey
Being able to live in my own world - I love spending hours with just myself and the characters in my novel.
The other great thing about being a writer is holding your published book in your hand and knowing that you created it, a living breathing story, out of your imagination.
The other great thing about being a writer is holding your published book in your hand and knowing that you created it, a living breathing story, out of your imagination.
Robin Storey
Writer's block for me doesn't last long and is usually because I'm stuck in a piece of writing and don't know where to go next. I try a number of things - a change of scenery ( going to a cafe with a notebook and pen sparks off a different thinking process from working on a computer), going for a walk on the beach, working on a different piece of writing (say, a short story if I'm writing a novel) or writing down my frustrations in my journal.
Failing all those things, I read a book or go to a movie. It mightn't solve the problem but at least I'm enjoying myself!
Failing all those things, I read a book or go to a movie. It mightn't solve the problem but at least I'm enjoying myself!
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