Robert J. Duperre
Interview
1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to
write?
I usually start
writing between six and eight in the evening, and stop around eleven. With my work schedule, it allows me to
get a few moments of rest and eat dinner before getting to work. The more I think about it, the more I
realize my wife is a saint. At the
end of the day, I’m in her presence for maybe two hours a day (not including
sleeping). Hell, I miss myself
sometimes.
2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or
is it all on the computer?
Most times, I grab
one of my fifteen half-filled notebooks and start jotting down ideas. The majority of these ideas (ne – all)
won’t amount to anything, but it helps get the motor humming. Then, once I sit down to actually
write, everything is done on the computer, unless there are changes I need to
make down the road. In that
instance, I simply pull out yet another notebook, write a letter to myself that
says, “fix this!” and then get back to work. All of my corrections are done during the rewrite. When I start a manuscript, I like
to allow it to flow, without looking back.
3: What do you draw inspiration from?
Oh, wow, just about
everything. Books, television,
movies, you name it. And dreams
enter in there, as well. One of my
favorite scenes from my first book came about because of a nightmare I
had.
4: Do you set goals for yourself
when you sit down to write such as word count?
Absolutely not. I don’t
want that much pressure. The only
stipulation I have is time. If I
sit down and only have a half-hour to write, I won’t do it. I become distracted and lose focus. I need to have a good block of hours
available to create something decent.
5: Are you a published or a self
published author and how do you come up with your cover art?
I’m self-published. My
cover art is created by my partner-in-crime, Jesse Young. He illustrates my novels, which makes
them OUR novels now. It’s a
fantastic feeling to not be alone in an endeavor such as this.
6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?
Simply put, the love
of stories and the imagination and desire to create them. I have so many ideas that flounder
about in my head, I have to get them out.
And not to be pompous, but I’m good at it. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do, and I will do it. That’s that.
7: Do you own an ebook reading device?
Yes, I own a Kindle,
and it’s been my lifeline. A major
tripping point for me in the past has been the availability (or lack thereof)
of decent reading materials. Now,
it’s all right there at my fingertips, anywhere I am. It’s a nice feeling.
Once I finish one book, I can obtain another one in a hot minute.
8: Who are some of your favorite
authors and what are you reading now?
I’ve had a continuing love affair with Clive Barker, John Banville,
and, Steven Pirie. As of this
moment, I am completely immersed in reading fellow indie authors, and I’ve
found some hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems. It’s been nice.
9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any
plans to have any?
I have a book trailer
for my first book, The Fall. I
think they’re a wonderful tool for reaching folks who might not otherwise have
found your work. People can watch
the trailer by visiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7r6dqiGAxQ
10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?
It was a long,
drawn-out process. The original
title was “Balor”, but that felt too D&D for a horror novel. Then, I realized that the series had
broken down into the different seasons, so what better way to start an
apocalyptic journey than with The Fall?
11: What are you working on now that you can talk about?
As of this moment, I
am putting the finishing touches on “Dead of Winter”, the second book in this
series (which is titled “The Rift”, by the way). After that, it’s on to the third book. In the meantime during breaks, I’ll be
adding, bit-by-bit, to another novel that’s been in the works for a couple
years, and also breaking that up by writing some new shorts.
In other words, I’ll
be busy.
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