Rocky Rochford: My dog, when I was young, for English class, we'd be given written assignments of things we got up to over the weekend, well come the weekends, my German shepard and I got up to a handful of things and when I began chronicling our little adventures, my journing into the written world began.
LBBB: How long did it take for you to write your first book?
R.R.: I spent 8 months writing my first book at 13, but then when I was 16 I re-wrote it and then did the same at 18 and again at 20 before finally releasing it when I was 21, so 8 months, or 8 years, I'll let you decide.
LBBB: How do you come up with ideas for your stories?
R.R.: Honestly, anything can give me inspiration, a work I have coming out this year, London Calling, it's a two part novel, but it only came about after I went "I'd love to write a scene that involves an assignation in the Alps."
Then I thought of the protagonist who would be best to do it, and then more ideas began to follow until eventually I have one book written and the second calling me to my computer.
LBBB: What is your writing routine like? Do you have a set schedule or are you flexible?
R.R.: I write when I have the opportunity, when my fingers are still capable after a week of grouting a pool, or when I actually have the time. I have so many things on the go that sadly I can go weeks at a time without writing, so instead I try to do most of my writing at night, just like I used to when I had insomnia and would write every night during the hours of 12pm and 6am.
LBBB: What inspires you to write?
R.R.: The roll of the tide, the bellows of the wind. Anything and everything beckons and inspires me to write, even the whispers of darkness.
LBBB: Are any of your stories written from personal experience, or any character traits that mirror yours?
R.R.: A lot of my characters reflect a side of me, how people have seen me, said I was like and how I know I am, how I was. Matthew Radley is one of the closest characters to myself that I have ever written.
LBBB: When in a slump, what do you do? If you read or listen to music, what are your go-to books or music?
R.R.: Well you can't read and run, but you can read and listen to Music, and depending on the mood or slump, a different artist and song are called for, but no matter what, it is always rock, or metal.
LBBB: How do you respond to negative feedback/comments with your work?
R.R.: I welcome it, hate mail is a sign that your career is on the right track. You're never going to please anyone and when that person is slagging you off, other people hear them and think I'll check him out myself and see what they are on about.
LBBB: What is your writing space like? Do you work anywhere or do you have a special place just for your writing? Messy or clean?
R.R.: I try to keep my space clean, but my dogs keep climbing all over it, seriously. I do most of my writing now in my bed.
LBBB: Do you have a favorite author? Series?
R.R.: I love the Dirk Pitt Novels by Clive Cussler, I have read every book twice and if I'm honest, will probably have read them all twice again within the next ten years, lol.
LBBB: Any fur-babies?
R.R.: Do my dogs count?
LBBB: They sure do!
Thanks for joining us this week, Rocky!
Author Bio:
I like to consider myself to be a Student of Everything, and yet a Master of Nothing, who does not choose what he writes, but writes what chooses him, be it fantasy, crime, poetry, philosophy or even adventure. After all life is a journey we all get to experience, just like a good book.
Every read of one of my typed works, is another trip into the imagination of my mixed up, crazed and deranged mind. Welcome to the World of Rochford.