I’d like to thank Barbara for
inviting me to talk about myself, a subject my wife is always accusing me of.
Can’t think what she means.
I still remember
the very first book I ever read on my own because my older brother had just hit
me with it. Janet and John, book four. It took me a while to get through
because I was only six, but by the end of the first page I was hooked and it
didn’t take long before I got on to the adventures of Jennings, a series of real
boys books by Richmal Crompton. Billy Bunter soon followed and my reading life
was set. Throughout my childhood I must have read most of the gorgeous books
sold by Barbara and only wish I could read them again.
As I grew
older the wonder of new lives and worlds, at least while I was reading never
left me, and about twenty five years ago I wrote my very first novel. I thought
it was a wonder of the highest magnitude despite the beginning, middle and end being
in the wrong places. I even sent it off to a publisher who probably laughed
himself sick before sending it back covered with coffee stains and what looked suspiciously
like egg yolk.
Now, with
a market absolutely saturated with Indie writers like myself, the writing
almost takes second place to the marketing. But ultimately, and even if I don’t
sell a million copies and buy a Porsche, I’ll still write because that boyhood
enchantment with books has never left me.
My new
novel, The Book of Pain is a departure for me in that it’s a mixture of horror,
mystery and love. I’ve probably broken multiple rules there but it was
something I’ve been thinking about for years and had to get it out of my
system.
It can be found here:
It can be found here:
If you would like to connect with Roger, you can do so by visiting his very entertaining Three
Hoodies Save The World blog. Thank you for agreeing to talk about yourself Roger! I’m a fan of your work and hosting you was a pleasure.
Barbara.