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Your next favorite book
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Nora Robert explains how three feet of snow, two active children and a dwindling supply of chocolate kick started her life as a writer.
Tell us about the blizzard of 1979 that jump-started your career…
The blizzard of ’79 hit in February, and I was stuck in the house with
two small children. Any mother out there knows what it is to weep bitter tears
when the radio announces that there will be no morning kindergarten. I live in
rural Maryland, and had no four-wheel drive transportation, two active sons, a
dwindling supply of chocolate and three feet of snow. I’d never thought about
writing as a career. I thought everyone made up stories in their heads. But
after days of being trapped by the blizzard, I was tired of playing Candy Land
and was desperate for some sort of release. I took one of those stories in my
head and wrote it down. The minute I started the process of writing, I fell in
love with it. I had, to this point, sought some avenue for creativity in every
craft known to man. Ceramics, embroidery, sewing (I even put little flies in the
overalls I made my sons) canning, macramé, needlepoint, baking. I had a
distressing craft addiction. Fortunately writing cured me of it, and I found the
right avenue.
When you first took a number two pencil to a spiral notebook, did you
realize that you were on your way to becoming a bestselling author?
Writing down stories during that long week in February was more to save my
sanity than a career move.
How long was it before you published your first novel?
By the time my first novel, Irish Thoroughbred, was published in 1981, I
already had three years of hard work behind me and several rejected manuscripts
languishing in desk drawers.
Have you thought about publishing those early works?
The very first story -- definitely no....never! But everything else has
been reworked, punched up, and sold years ago. There's really nothing else
languishing now.
What did you do before you became a writer?
I was a really bad legal secretary.
Who helped to develop your talent as a young person?
I imagine every teacher helped. I joke about the nuns, but the fact is the
discipline that they drum into education sticks. You can have all the talent in
the world but if you don’t have the discipline to sit down and write on a
regular basis, you’re not going to write or publish any books.
What influence did your family have on your writing career?
I grew up in a family of readers. Books and stories were always a part of
my life. I always loved to read.
You’ve achieved so much as a writer and career woman. Is there any
goal you feel you have yet to attain?
I don’t think about goals. I just try to concentrate on writing the best
book I possibly can.
What do you find difficult about this writing business?
The business of writing – all the extra stuff that isn’t actual
writing – can be difficult simply because most of us who write prefer to sit
down and do just that. Traveling can be stressful, inconvenient and tiring. The
writing is a joy, even when it is not going particularly well. The simple fact
that you are lucky enough to have a job you love can’t be beat. The days when
you can’t wait to get to the keyboard are the best. You can sit there and work
in your pajamas. It doesn’t get much better than that!
How is your career evolving? Where do you see yourself five years from
now? Ten years?
I never do this. Never have done it. Why look five years ahead when now is
what’s going on I’d much rather focus on now – and the book I’m writing
now – than try to figure out what’s coming down the road. My goal has always
been to write the best book I possibly can.
How difficult was it to establish your name?
It was a gradual process. Selling the first book was like a miracle.
Silhouette opened a marvelous door for me, and gave me the opportunity to write,
publish and establish a readership. None of this happens overnight. The best
advice my agent ever gave me was: Build a foundation. That’s what I’ve tried
to do – to build a foundation of reliable and entertaining stories that the
reader can depend on.
Can you tell us what a typical Nora Roberts’ day is like?
It would look, to anyone outside the business, incredibly boring. I sit in
front of the keyboard all day. On a perfect day, I get up and maybe work out for
about 40 minutes or so – because I’m on my butt the rest of the day. I
usually go up to my office by 9:00 and work for about 6 – 8 hours. And I
write…check email…write some more. After dinner, I either call it a day or
go back to work for awhile.
How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically to write a novel?
Honestly I don’t do a thing. I have a basic idea in my head, I do
whatever research needs to be done – and will continue to research throughout
the course of the book – and then I sit down and start. That’s it. Oh, and I
try to make sure there is a good supply of Diet Pepsi in the house. And pretzels
or some salty thing. And chocolate.
How can you be so productive with so many outside and family
obligations? How do you keep a balance between home and work?
Life’s a juggling act. Practice enough and you get pretty good at
keeping the important balls in the air. This is my job. If I were a doctor or
businesswoman, I’d still be juggling. I have a fast writing pace – that
helps. But I work every day – a full day.
When you are researching a book, what is your most valuable resource?
Before I was dragged kicking and screaming into the world of computers, I
did all of my research at the library. I’d start in the children’s
department – it was a great way to get basic information which I would then
take to the “grown-up” section of the library for more in-depth research.
Now I just use the internet. You can find anything on the internet. I do all my
own research because the process gives me ideas for plot angles.
How do you cope with the inevitable stress of deadlines?
I don’t think about them. Denial works. Seriously, I’m never on
publisher deadline anymore. They can’t keep up with me. I put myself on a
personal deadline, and that can flex. But normally, I’m tougher on me than the
publisher so I stress myself out perfectly well on my own. I have to give myself
deadlines in order to figure out how to fit in the book tours, the traveling,
the conferences, the extra projects…and my life as I’d like to know it.
How long does it take you to complete a book, from the time the idea
for the book is conceived, to when you submit it to your editor?
Each book is different. It takes as long as it takes. I try not to think
about how long a particular book is taking to write.
How many drafts does it take you before the book is just right?
In general I do a first draft fairly quickly. Just to get the story down
without looking back – I don’t worry about fixing or fiddling. Once I have
that initial draft, I know my characters more intimately, know the plot line
more cohesively, so I can go back to page one and go through it all again,
fleshing out, fixing little problems, finding where I went wrong and adjusting
it, or where I went right and expanding it. Adding texture, sharpening the
prose. Then I go back to page one again, for the third draft, polishing, making
sure I hit the right notes. If it feels right after that, I send it to my agent
and editor. If it doesn’t, I go back and try to find what’s not working. No
book is perfect. I try to send in the best book I can write at that time. And I
trust my editor to tell me if it can be made better.
Where do you find the time to produce so quickly?
You don’t find time, you make time. I have a fast pace – that’s just
the luck of the draw, like eye color. But I also have a great deal of discipline
– a gift from the nuns who educated me for the first nine years of my
schooling. Nobody instills the habit of discipline and the shadow of guilt (two
essential writer’s tools) like a nun. And I love what I do – I seriously
love the process of writing.
What inspires you?
I don’t believe in waiting for inspiration. It’s my job to sit down
and figure out what to write.
How do you keep your books fresh?
I don’t have any tricks. For me each book is the first book. It’s new
to me each time. There are so many different kinds of people in the world, and
creating characters as people, mixing those people together, builds a different
conflict each time. There are 88 keys on a piano. Think of the different music
made from them.
Can you explain your working environment?
I write in my office. My husband, who is a carpenter, added a third floor
on our home. We live in the woods and the office features a large window in
front of my workstation and skylights. I see nothing but trees when I look out.
It’s full of light and very roomy. It’s a nice comfortable place to work.
What advice would you give writers starting out today?
Write what you read for pleasure. Concentrate on the work, on making the
story better. Whatever the market. Most of all have fun with it. This is the
best job in the whole world, and if you can’t enjoy it, you’re missing the
biggest perk – besides not wearing pantyhose!
Where can aspiring writers go to learn about the business?
Join a local writers’ group. Those interested in writing romances should
join the Romance Writers of America. They have chapters all over the country and
offer a great deal of information and support.
How important is it to attend writing conferences?
I think writing conferences are invaluable. If only for the contact, the
perk of being able to talk with people who do what you do. For the beginning or
aspiring writer there are so many workshops that can help map the way through
the maze of publication. Friendships made through conferences make the business
human. On the business front, it’s a chance to meet and talk to editors and
agents.
What should aspiring writers know about Nora Roberts?
That she started out as an aspiring writer, too. We all spring from the
same dream.
Why did you start writing books under the name J.D. Robb?
I write quickly. That’s just my natural pace. As a result, my publishers
had considerable inventory of my books for publication. My agent and editors
suggested I write under a different name. I didn’t like the idea, really
dragged my feet on it. It took about two years for me to be convinced to try it.
My agent explained it this way…there’s Pepsi, there’s Diet Pepsi,
there’s Caffeine Free Pepsi. And the light went on in my head! I got it! I
agreed to try it if I could do something a little different. I still didn’t
see the point in writing straight romance or romantic suspense under a different
name. That’s when Eve Dallas and Roarke walked on the page.
Why do you enjoy writing as J.D. Robb and revisiting the same
characters?
I enjoy writing romantic suspense and was intrigued by the idea of adding
a little science fiction to the mix. I could create my own world! I felt that
while the toys may change, people remain basically the same. And I enjoy writing
a series with continuing characters so I could develop relationships – and the
romance between the main characters over a number of books. Each book resolves
the particular crime or mystery that drives it, but the character development
– the growth and changes – and the tone of the relationships go more slowly.
I enjoy that tremendously.
How did you come up with the name J.D. Robb?
I took the initials of my son’s first names – Jason and Dan – and
Robb was a shortened version of Roberts.
How many more Eve and Roarke books can we expect from you?
I have no plans at this time to stop writing about Eve and Roarke. More
books are planned for next year.
Many of the books you write are part of a larger series. Do you find it
more difficult to write a book that is part of a series?
No. Each book has its own set of challenges. Each book must stand alone
and be complete. I enjoy writing connecting books but they are not more
challenging than the others.
There is a very strong theme of family in your books. Is there a reason
for this?
Relationships have always played a key role in my books. I’m fascinated
by the dynamics of family, the shared history and the way each individual grows.
Do you have a favorite family from your books?
My favorite family is the one I’m currently writing about.
You write single title contemporary romances, romantic suspense and
mystery/crime as J.D. Robb. Do you have a preference? Is one type of book easier
to write than another?
I enjoy writing different types of books. One type is not easier or harder
than another type – they are just different.
Which of your characters would you choose to have as a best friend?
They are all my best friends. I couldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
Which was your favorite book to write and why?
The favorite is always the one I just finished. Like childbirth, the pain
is forgotten almost immediately and all you remember is the bliss.
Which novel would you select as your best work of fiction?
My best is always the one on sale now.
Have any of your books been made into movies?
CBS aired Sanctuary as a TV movie staring Melissa Gilbert in
February 2001. They are currently working on a script for The Reef. Many,
many years ago This Magic Moment became the film “Magic Moments,”
which aired on the Showtime Channel.
Do you have any male readers?
Yes, I have a varied and interesting base of male readers. And since the
J.D. Robb books were published, that base has expanded. Recently I got a letter
from a guy who drives a rig, and habitually listens to my audios when he’s on
the road. He assured me he was a real GUY, but that parts of – I think it was Jewels
of The Sun -- had him tearing up at the truck stop. I love that. I’ve
also seen an increase at my signings of father-daughter readers. I’ve always
had mother-daughter readers, and I love knowing books, my books, are a bond
between generations.
How would you describe your typical fan.
They’re not typical! They range from age 13 to great-great grandparents.
They bridge all occupations, all income levels, backgrounds and interests. They
are extremely loyal. They take care of me. When I’m on tour, they’ve been
known to bring me French fries, chocolate, Diet Coke and other treats to keep me
going while I’m on the road.
It is estimated that traffic on your web site has increased by 1500%.
Why do you think so many fans visit your site?
I think a lot has to do with me being so approachable. I’m on the site,
I read and answer my guest book, I’m active on the boards. I’ve made some
wonderful friends this way. And a lot of my readers have formed friendships
after meeting at on-line chats. This is how the Noraholics came to be.
Who are the Noraholics?
A wonderful group of readers who met on-line back in February of ’97
when AOL created a forum for fans to chat about Sanctuary. It was there
that the Noraholics, a loyal, devoted group of fans, were born. Many of the
people who participated in the chats continued to stay in contact through
message boards and e-mail. When my husband’s bookstore, Turn the Page,
scheduled a book signing for that July, many decided to meet – for the first
time – face to face. These new friends shared frequent flyer miles, cashed in
inheritances and made plans for road trips! They came from all over the country
– from as far away as San Diego. This past summer they gathered at Turn the
Page for the Fifth Annual Turn the Page road trip. One devoted reader traveled
all the way from Australia to be there.
What do you consider a romantic evening?
Any night my husband cooks and I don’t have to cook, clean, answer the
phone or get dressed up works for me.
What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
I love reading across all genres. Favorites include Carl Hiaasen, John
Sandford, Sue Grafton, Elizabeth Berg, Stephen King and Patricia Gaffney. Mary
Stewart will always be one of my all time favorite authors.
What do you do to unwind in your free time?
Very ordinary, normal things. I love to garden. I enjoy reading in the new
library my husband built and I enjoy watching TV and movies.
Unless otherwise stated, this interview was conducted at the time the book was first published, and is reproduced with permission of the publisher. This interview may not be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the copyright holder.
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