Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a North Carolina native living in Tokyo. I first left the US in 2001 (out of the blue according to my family) to go to graduate school in Christchurch, New Zealand. I earned my MA in Theatre and Film Studies from the University of Canterbury in 2004 and promptly hit the road (or skies). I went to Shanghai, China to visit my friend with every intention of moving back to North Carolina after my visit. After two weeks, I decided I liked China and ended up living there for four years. In 2008, I moved back to New Zealand. (By this time my family was used to my seemingly random moves.) After living through two major earthquakes in Christchurch, I decided to move to Japan in 2011. That last move in particular seemed to defy logic for most people. Anyway, I’m a conundrum even to myself.
Within New Zealand and China, I moved frequently from city to city. For a decade, only my parents and two of my three sisters, never all three at the same time, knew my physical address. I’m not really sure how many different places I’ve lived. I used to unpack but keep everything in grocery bags so I could just tie the bags closed when I was ready to move. I once moved from start to finish (packing, cleaning my old place, and unpacking) in an hour and a half. It would have been faster if not for traffic. Since moving to Tokyo, I have only lived in four different places. Marriage has definitely settled me down.
Dang: The Dang Series Book 1 (Episodes 1, 2 and 3) is my first and only book so far.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Dang was inspired by an idea I had to make a redneck soap opera series. For years, I started drafts and outlines for different books but I never finished anything. Dang was one of the ones I always wanted to develop. My wife encouraged me to just write and I followed her advice. I started writing Dang as a soap opera but somewhere along the way it turned into a trailer park comedy crime murder mystery thriller.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t really have any unusual writing habits. Sometimes I make myself laugh out loud when I’m writing. Is that weird?
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love to read Mark Twain. I like the characters and the dialogue.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on book 2 in the Dang series. The working title is Dang: The Legend of Vernon Boone.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think the best way to promote my first book is to write a second book. I’m working hard to get book 2 ready to publish.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Don’t worry if the first draft isn’t perfect.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever had is to have fun. If whatever your are doing isn’t fun, then it’s time to change.
What are you reading now?
2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m just going to keep on writing and see what happens.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A clean joke book, a dirty joke book and a book of motivational quotes.
Author Websites and Profiles
Rob D Smith Website
Rob D Smith Amazon Profile