EXCLUSIVE AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT STRZALKO: FLUID WRITER, February 2014

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We got a chance to catch up with Award Winning Author, Robert Strzalko for a one on one interview covering his thoughts on the publishing industry, his current projects, and of course an in depth exclusive coverage of his favorite topic, writing...

You can follow and connect with Robert on the links below...


https://twitter.com/robertstrzalko
https://www.facebook.com/robert.strzalko


Q: How long have you been writing?

I started writing when I was attending school at Eastern Illinois University. I didn’t write that much or that often but over the years it started adding up. When I was in my late twenties I decided to really devote myself to writing and to dedicate my life to it. I also took an art class and started drawing more at that time as well.

Q: How many books do you have published?

Three.

Q: What events in your life prompted you to write your first novel?

My first novel, A Bullet For Two, is a western. I’ve been a fan of westerns as long as I can remember. I spent a lot of time as a kid reading book after book about different Indian tribes, famous battles, etc. I’m also a big fan of the Clint Eastwood westerns. One day I thought to myself why not try to write a western? So I did.

Q: Can you provide us with a brief synopsis?

Wanted dead or alive after he rescues a girl from being raped, Jeb McCulloch goes on the run. She falls deeply in love with him as they flee together through mountains and desert but with hard men and fast guns on their trail they find themselves in bloody wild west shootouts with corrupt lawmen and greedy bounty hunters.

Q: How long did it take you to complete, A Bullet For Two?

The first draft was written over a period of several weeks. The storyline came fast. After that I layered it several times to bring out the character development, etc.

Q: Do you currently have an agent?

I don’t have an agent at this time, but I am open to future possibilities.

Q: What did you learn about the publishing industry and publication process?

The first time was the hardest because I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

Q: What is the most frustrating thing about the industry?

Technical things like graphic quality can be very challenging. A book cover can look very different depending on the size of the display and graphic quality of the site. Kindle and other e-book editions can also look quite different than paperbacks. One image thus becomes many different images depending on a multitude of variables. Formatting can also be a challenge the first time around. How it looks on your computer and how it looks when the publisher sends it back to you can also take some getting used to.

Q: Do you like the idea of self-publishing ?

Yes, very much. The possibilities today that technology has created are better than any other time in history. Every year technology gets better and thus more and more things become possible for the independent minded writer as well as other artists. I think there’s a very important movement taking place right now and technology is what makes it possible. Not only is this good for writers, it’s also good for readers. Readers have more choices today than ever before.

Q: What marketing platforms do you currently use?

I’ve enjoyed my greatest success thus far on Writer’s Café. It’s a great site for connecting with other writers and for building a readership.

Q: As a writer, what type of platforms are most helpful with connecting to your fans?

Creating a presence on the internet is the most important thing today; far more important than doing book signings. You can connect with people from all over the world.

Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Don’t worry about form. It doesn’t matter if it’s a novel, a short story, or a poem. What matters is if you communicate what you want to. Seek to create rather than imitate.

Q: What’s the best advice you have received as a writer?

A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. If you know your ending, then all you have to figure out is how to get there.

Q: What would you like your readers to know about you?

Music is my first love. I started out writing song lyrics, and from there I started writing other things. I still haven’t published any of my song lyrics yet, but perhaps someday I will.

Q: What upcoming projects are you currently working on?

Most of my time is devoted to working on a novel about Alaska. However, I am always working on different things at the same time. I like to work on something for a while and then set it aside and work on something else and then come back to it. I often receive ideas for another book when I am working on something else. In addition to the Alaska novel, I have written some new poetry, short stories, and have several other novels in the works as well. I also have ideas for others, but I haven’t actually written any of the chapters yet.

Q: What famous quote inspires you?

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Albert Einstein