Author Interview with Ruth Robinson

Who are you?

I am Ruth Robinson. 

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Where do you live?

I live in Asia, where I teach English to elementary students. My homebase is in Ohio, where I stay in the summer. 

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What’s your home life like?

Peaceful,and quiet, except for my upstairs neighbor. For the past six months, he has been bouncing a basketball up and down. 

This happens at ten to fifteen minute intervals, up to five times a day. 

The story (of why my neighbor does this) might make a wonderful short story or novel. ​

via GIPHY

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What genre(s) to you like to write? To read?

I like to read all genres. It depends on the mood I am in. For example, if I am in a scholarly mood, I want to read a a traditional translation of The Canterbury Tales. (I'm good for one tale at a time,and then I do another activity.)

If I've had a stressful day, I just want to read something where I don't have to think. I will read romance, chick-lit, stories of the paranormal, historical fiction, and sci-fi. 

If I feel restless, I love to read mysteries, horror, suspense, and any mix of those three genres.

If I want to read something that I know will improve my own writing, I will read anything by Dickens, Stephen King, Dennis Lehane, and Elmore Leonard.

This summer, I want to revisit poetry from Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe. (I haven't had time to read poetry to enjoy it.)

So, basically, I like to read everything!

via GIPHY

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Why did you start writing?

When I was a child, I felt blissful when I was writing fiction stories. I got a lot of praise from teachers, and that reinforced my desire to keep writing.

In high school, I was fortunate to have a wonderful writing teacher and, with his help and encouragement, I won a Christmas short story contest. I got my name and story in the newspaper, and my mom bought twenty-five copies. From that moment, I was hooked! 

Next, I went to university to be a writer, but I've been on sabbatical for 12 years!  

I was working on my master's when I realized that I was writing one to two thousand words a week, about a lot of stuff that didn't interest me. I figured it wouldn't take me that long to write a fiction story (for publication) about stuff that I was excited about. 

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What do you do when you’re not writing?

I eat, sleep, run, and watch t.v. and movies. Next, I love reading and travel. 

In the fall, I will be back at school, teaching. ​

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Where do you like to go when looking for a new book to read?

Twitter, Amazon, Kindle, the teacher's room bookshelf, the library, bookstores, etc.

Also, garage sales and antique stores.

via GIPHY

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At what point do you call it quits when reading a new book?

After 100 pages, if I'm not interested in the story. 

If I really like a story, (and I have the time) I will read until I'm finished with the book. 

via GIPHY

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Are you independently or traditionally published?

Independently. After I finish my new ebook series about Harley Johnson, (and her hunt for a new kind of serial killer) I am going to look for an agent.

For now, my motto is to take one step at a time. 

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How many books/stories have you published so far?

I completely forgot! I have published about ten children's stories on www.teacherspayteachers.com

Obviously, I don't write serial killer books for kids, but my children's books do have elements of horror (and humor) in them.

I also have a blog about movies, TV, and teaching stories. (I am working on linking this site to Twitter, and will let you know when Twitter has fixed this issue.)

Harley Johnson is the first series (that I am working on) for adults.

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What book/story are you currently promoting or working on?

Harley Johnson is my current project.

I admire heroines that are tough, intuitive, and funny. Harley is all three things, and she is kind of like me. 

Where we differ:
1. Harley loves to drink whiskey. I hate drinking whiskey.
2. Harley is the sheriff of a small town in Kentucky, and I am an English teacher in a large city in Asia. 
3. Harley is racing against the clock to find a sadistic killer. I am currently racing against the clock to locate my reading glasses. ​

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What’s the elevator pitch?

Quirky, funny, horrific, and like a breath of fresh air. You won't read anything else quite like it. 

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How long have you been working on it?

About a year, give or take. 

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When will it be available to buy? Where?

Volume 1 is available on Amazon, in ebook format, and it's free if you have Kindle Unlimited. (Without Kindle Unlimited, it's only 99 cents.)

Volume 2 of the series, Blood is thicker than water, will be out (via Amazon Kindle) by the fourth of July, 2019!

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How can readers find you?

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What inspires you to keep writing?

Anne Lamott
"Just take it bird by bird."
​(A reminder to take life, and writing, one moment at a time.) 

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Anything you’d like to add?

A big thank you goes out to Nicholas Adams, and to you, my lovely readers.

Now, I am going to go eat some delicious pizza.

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Sincerely,

Nicholas P. Adams

Just a small-town boy with an overactive imagination.