The Author Interview featuring Carol Roberts

Welcome to the Author Interview. This time, it features the lovely Carol Roberts, author of Atlantis.

If you’re an author who’d like to take part in the series, email me: debbie@myrandommusings.co.uk

Now over to Carol:

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

I am a free lance writer, and I have always been interested in mythology, especially stories of creation. I believe these types of stories hold keys to our understanding of how we evolve and become who we are.

I am originally from Vienna, but have spent all my adult life in New Zealand.

2 Tell us a little bit about your books

I have written two books; my debut novel Atlantis was published by Clean Reads last November, and my second novel Tower of Babel is now being edited.

Atlantis is my take on how individual and collective destiny unfolds, and Tower of Babel explores the true power of love, which is its alchemistic potential to re-shape a set path.

3 What, for you, is the best thing about being a writer?

It’s the feeling of creating landscapes and characters that tell a story which is close to my heart.

4 And the worst?

Writing can take over everything else. Once the story starts to have a life of its own, it can become quite consuming, keeping me awake at night and making me absent-minded in actual reality-contexts.

5 Do you have any tips for anyone wanting to write their first book?

Writing to me is like any other discipline; you have to keep it going without letting it take too much control. So you have to learn how to detach and then re-inspire your writing project.

6 Tell us one random fact about you

My real-time profession is coffee roasting.

7 Who is your favourite author?

I have several, but it would probably have to be Margaret Atwood.

8 And your favourite book(s)?

Books I have recently enjoyed reading are The Night Circus, The Golem and the Jinny and The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

9 What book are you reading right now?

I am researching for my next book, so I am not actually reading for entertainment right now

10 Where is your favourite place to write?

Good question. I would like to say that I just sit down by my computer and start typing away, but that’s not often the case. I conceive the story firstly through dialogues, and they can start up anywhere. So I often hand-write extremely quickly, whenever and wherever that happens. Then, when I fill in the settings, details, etc. it’s a lot more civilised, and I write in my study.

11 Do you prefer to write in silence or do you have a writing soundtrack?

I need silence; that’s when I can ‘see’ and ‘hear’ my characters. Unfortunately, they are most active during the silent hours of night.

12 What can we expect from you next?

Tower of Babel will be published later this year.

13 Where can we find you?

Amazon and Twitter.