Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born Matthew Roland Stephenson, I decided to use the pen name Roland R. Stephenson to honor my grandfather, who unfortunately passed away last month. His name was Roland Stephenson.
May he rest in peace.
I initially began writing to make sense of my thoughts, with hopes to one day better understand myself. Although the more of myself that I bring to light, the less I seem to understand. I’ve been an aspiring indie author only since early 2014, and gain my inspirations from imaginative spiritual beliefs and life struggles. I’ve had a surprisingly interesting life, filled with death, incredible accomplishments, and a handful of un-explainable events. I also notice the more I mature, the further society distances from me (which worries me I confess, because I’m only 25).
I’ve written and published two indie books so far.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My newest book, The Conceptual Revolution: Awakening (published on Amazon January 30th 2015) is a unique novel, inspired by my frustrations with society around me. Not simply people and their greedy tendencies, but companies and corporations as well. It started as a smaller poetic project, that turned out so well, that I decided to expand the project into an artistic ebook. I’m very happy with the results!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Oh jeez, the list would be too long to speak of. I have “a lot” of unusual writing habits to say he least (from how I use/or incorrectly use grammar, to the music I have playing in the background while I write, to feeling more comfortable writing with a phone/or tablet than a traditional keyboard), but probably the two most unusual writing habitsthat I’ve tried to break are 1). I had an initial tendency to rhyme everything I put on paper 2). I am the worst with run on sentences (it’s something I’m currently struggling with).
What authors, or books have influenced you?
A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony was (is) truly the most incredible book. I was addicted to his books growing up (the Xanth series). His use of imagination opened the doors into my “own” imagination.
What are you working on now?
It’s an imagintive fiction novel, about a young man who dies many years before his time, and due to unfair circumstances gets sent to hell. It might only be a short story/ebook (rather than a traditional sized novel), but I can’t wait to release it. There are so many unique aspects to the story!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ll have to get back to you on that once I know haha, but so far I’d have to say awesomegang.com
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get stuck on one project. If you hit a wall and/or don’t know how to continue, set it aside and come back to it later (it isn’t going anywhere).
Lastly if you write because it’s your passion, don’t ever get discouraged, everything will fall into place.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When life gives you lemons, find some sugar.
What are you reading now?
To be honest, I’m not reading anything at the moment. I’ve been spending time on philosophical and scientific sites, talking and learning about the many things that interest me. Reality is so much weirder than science fiction!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Next I’d like to write a pure and simple fiction novel. I’ve got two stories already in the making!
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?
That’s a quuestion I can’t truthfully answer (my brain would overheat and I would keel over dead if I even tried to).
Although, one without question would be “How To Build A Raft From Turtles And Back Hair, For Dummies”. Classic!
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