Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a daydreamer, and that is why I write. OCD runs in my family, rather than a handicap, for me it is a writing tool. I immerse myself in a subject, a location or time and then do my best to tell a good yarn from the place.
I have written eleven books, five of which take place in the 1920s and six that take place during the Roman Empire.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Murder Most Haunting: A Mrs. Xavier Stayton Mystery
I had a desire to tell a story of what appears to be a murder from beyond the grave. The plot twist came to me as I worked out how to tell a story with an eerie atmosphere without the an actual supernatural element. I think a good old fashion whodunit requires a flesh and blood killer at the end; as Mrs. Stayton said: “I have never met a ghost, but I have met a few murderers.”
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know if this is unusual or not, but to start a book I first write out different occurrences that must happen on to note cards. Sometimes it is a clue, sometimes it is a statement that needs to be said, or a bit of physical action. Then I can arrange all of my plot points before I start to write, and I don’t miss some factor that moves the story forward.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Graves, Daphne du Maurier and Agatha Christie have all shape my writing style and interests. Graves is a great story teller, using little description he gets right to the point. Mrs. du Maurier’s novel Rebecca is just a marvel. I only wish I could match her talent. Agatha Christie was a master of her craft, she knew how to write a page turner!
What are you working on now?
Murder Most Plagiaristic: A Mrs. Xavier Stayton Mystery
Mrs. Stayton finally gets a book publisher, and then finds herself nearly sued for plagiarism. Of course, matters get worse when her publisher is killed. It is up to her to find out just whodunit.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think you have to mix it up, what worked last year, or last month may not work today. Product recognition is important. Someone needs to see the cover of your book multiple times before it becomes familiar to them and they think, oh, I should check this out. I think people tend to prefer what they know, what they recognize, so they need to notice your book cover in different places.
Find the people who like the subject and genera you write about, thanks to social media they are out there waving at you. Don’t spam them, get to know them, interact. I enjoy the relationships I have made by becoming part of the people who read the subject I write. It makes it all more worthwhile.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stop rewriting and rewriting your book and hire an author coach or some similar professional to critique your manuscript. I know I wasted a lot of time because I didn’t know what to do after I wrote my first story. Luckily, I made the next jump and stopped asking my friends to read it, because of course they all said it was a masterpiece, and I hired someone. He told me it was a good start, and then he told me everything wrong with the pacing and the conclusion. I listened, I rewrote, and rewrote and it was the best thing I could have done. Less than a year later, I was no longer saying that my hobby was writing, I was saying “I’m an author.”
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
More of a statement, “Life is short.” I love a particular episode of Green Acres, where Lisa Douglas makes a head gasket out of pancakes. I turned on the TV countless times when the reruns were on to see if that was the episode playing, and even if it wasn’t, I watched the show. Don’t waste your time watching reruns, write – or whatever it is you love doing, do that because life is short.
What are you reading now?
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie
I have been on a kick of rereading all of the Queen of Crimes books.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am just going to keep writing. I have a lot of stories to tell.
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?
I, Claudius by Robert Graves; Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie and Murder Most Posh -by me!
Author Websites and Profiles
Robert Colton Website
Robert Colton Amazon Profile
Robert Colton’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile