Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in 1979 in Augusta, GA, where I still reside, and have been writing on and off since the age of four. Yes, four. I would use crayons and my sister’s bond paper to write out my own comics stories. At 15, I started writing more seriously and taught myself to type at 16, after which I quickly finished my first-and as yet unpublished-novel. I still revisit it on occasion and admit it needs a lot of work. Since then, I have written about a dozen novels, three of which have been published as ebooks (one of which is also available in paperback), as well as a short story collection on Smashwords.com called Halloween Tales.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The most recently published novel, courtesy of Firefly & Wisp, is called Relic. It was inspired by a trip to Los Angeles, CA, where I saw Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical version of The Phantom of the Opera on stage. The setting, as well as the plot of the show, inspired a novel about an actor who is disfigured in an accident and learns to love again amid a descent into madness.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I need music when I write… and sometimes ice cream.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As mentioned before, I began writing comics and cartoons at an early age, but when I was 12 or so, I read a Michael Crichton novel, The Terminal Man, that made me shift gears toward being a novelist. Other influences include Stephen King, Konstantinos, Ray Bradbury, and Edgar Allan Poe.
What are you working on now?
I’ve been editing a novella for publication on Amazon. My publisher mentioned that short works sell better on Amazon than novels, so I figured I’d give it a shot.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have my own website, www.royhudson.com, but I haven’t been keeping up with it. The same goes for my Facebook author page and twitter. I’ve done a few signings in the past, but my favorite method of promoting my books is to hand out bookmarks with all my info on them. A lot of hardcore readers are always in need of more bookmarks, and if they have one with a constant reminder of an indie author and his work, all the better for the self-promoting writer!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Stay positive. If you fall victim to creative block so that you can’t think of anything new to write, revisit another work for editing. It never hurts to keep editing until everything is perfect.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve read numerous books on writing, and the one consistent piece of advice is, READ. It helps to know what’s out there, what sells, and the type of stories that spark your own imagination into a new direction.
What are you reading now?
I’m actually reading The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book, by Chuck Norris. I know, I’m late joining the party when it comes to reading books about pop culture… but I always have been.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As mentioned before, I’m editing for self-publication on Amazon again, and I’ll most likely be ordering copies of Relic for the next local signing event soon.
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?
Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and From the Dust Returned, the hardbound collection of three Bunnicula books by James Howe, and Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot… probably. My answers change with the tides!
Author Websites and Profiles
Roy Hudson Website
Roy Hudson Amazon Profile
Roy Hudson Author Profile on Smashwords
Roy Hudson’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account