Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a single dad with three kids and a dog, and I’ve published six books. I’ve actually written way more than that, but seriously, they were really bad. Consider them my apprenticeship. I keep them under lock and key, dreading they’ll one day see the light of day. I need to get a shredder. But I’m very pleased with the six books that did make it past quality control. They include my Alien Infiltration series (not as painful as it sounds), and my one space opera, Callisto.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Callisto (I think I mentioned this once already). I was probably inspired by a sci-fi book I read by an unnamed author that made me think, “OMG, seriously? I can do better than this.” Thus does pride cometh before a fall, as it took several years for the project to make it to market. My other, more positive, inspiration was the book (and movie, Denzel Washington was awesome in it): Man On Fire. Not a space novel, admittedly, but I had a little girl at the time, and the theme of paternal protection resonated with me. Throw in some detailed research on gangs, social breakdown and how to survive on a frozen moon, and there you have it – a tour de force of a hundred ways to die in space. If you like flowers and poetry, it’s probably not your thing.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
What, like extreme ironing, where you try to smooth out the creases on your shirt while sky diving or having sex on a water slide? Well, I might be able to get the laptop on a water slide, but most of my writing habits are pretty mundane: Drink coffee, stare at screen, get an attack of the munchies, empty the biscuit barrel, have another coffee, stare at the screen some more, etc. Somewhere in the middle of all that, writing gets done. Miracles do happen, but only with coffee.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I suppose my earliest influence was Enid Blyton, as I read all the Famous Five books, and adventures are what I like to write about now. I tried reading one of those books to my children recently, though, and they couldn’t stop laughing at the idea of a girl called George and a boy called Dick. Kids today, eh? I abandoned the book at page two and sent them out to scrub the yard instead, the ungrateful wretches. More recent influences include Len Deighton, especially his excellent Goodbye Mickey Mouse, the book that first taught me about characterisation. Michael Moorcock gave me a handle on introducing fluidity to my writing, and Eric Van Lustbader’s Sunset Warrior series lit up my teenage years with some of the best epic action scenarios that still slip into my writing now. And, of course, I have to mention Susanna Clarke’s masterpiece, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel. It’s so good that it actually made me want to quit writing. So, kind of the opposite of an influence really, but I survived (damn you Susanna!). I’ve also enjoyed reading a lot of non-fiction soldiers’ memoirs, because I love the action, the humour and the poignancy. It’s the perfect mix for fiction, I think. And yes, I have ripped large amounts of it off.
What are you working on now?
That depends. If you’re reading this in the future, I could be writing anything, but right now I’m nearing the end of my first post-apocalyptic zombie novel, which will be the start of a new series and is scheduled for release in July 2016. Cue lots of gore, action and a hero on a quest across a zombie wasteland to find the man who betrayed him and left him for dead. And it might not be who you think.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Apart from dancing naked round a fire at midnight and crossing a gypsy’s palm with silver? (Doesn’t work, by the way, unless you like to stir-fry your noodle. The nurses will never believe you, and the gypsy will always do a runner.) Well, I have my blog, which helps, but the bulk of the heavy lifting is done with sites like this one, and Awesome Gang is permanently on my go-to list. Freebies and bargain giveaways are the way to go.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Never leave an Oreo in your milk for more then three nano-seconds unless you want to be slurping up soggy chunks at the end. And never answer the phone when you’re ironing, unless you want to steam your ear.
But seriously, if you want advice on the trade, I can only say that you should write with your heart, but make sure your heart aligns with the market. Write what you want in your own unique style, but make sure it’s not that different from your contemporaries. And finally, enjoy what you do, and suffer because of it. Contradictory? Yes, because this kind of question presupposes that there’s only one type of new author: the author who wants to be successful. Not every author wants that, however. Some are happy simply to commit their work to print (or pixel), satisfied if only a few friends read it. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But my most pertinent piece of advice is: work out which of those two author types you are, because it’s a rare piece of luck to be able to be both. If you do want to be successful, then the market matters, and it will change how you write. And that can hurt. So think about what people want to read. Or don’t. But understand that you’ve just made a choice.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’m not sure I’ve heard any good advice. I’ve been fed on a diet of outdated nonsense, the bland posturings of know-it-alls, and things that never actually applied to my situation. So I tend to learn stuff the hard way. Sometimes it’s the best way. While not exactly classed as advice, I’d have to say that the best maxim I ever read was that written by Richard Bach: “A professional writer is simply an amateur who never gave up.”
What are you reading now?
I don’t normally read much when I’m writing, especially when I’m nearing the end of a project, but I’ve got three zombie novels on my Kindle waiting to be read. The most recent book I’ve read, however, was I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson. When it comes to descriptions of dystopia and post-apocalyptic despair, there’s not much to rival this one. And the book’s over fifty years old, so you can see how high the bar was set. It’s an exceptional read.
What’s next for you as a writer?
The next project. Always. Finish one, market it, start laying down the foundations for the next one. I currently have more ideas than I can write, and with each year I get more. My only problem is I can’t write fast enough to keep up with my brain.
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 book I hate, to light fires with, a book I love, to fan the flames, a beginner’s guide to boat building, and a hefty tome to smack Tom Hanks round the head with if he ever wanders into shot.
Author Websites and Profiles
Rob Lopez Website
Rob Lopez Amazon Profile
Rob Lopez’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile