Author Spotlight - R.J. Rogue

Grab yourself a coffee, sit back and find out a little more about this up and coming author!

L: So, I know you focused on dance for a while, but at what point did you know you wanted to be a writer?

R.J: I knew I wanted to be a writer when I seen how much I enjoyed doing it. My teacher in high school suggested to take it as a career and it sounded great, but I guess I took her word out of trust, being that she studied English. But I still didn't FEEL I was a writer. So I gave it a go. I started noticing I was writing more through the summer of 2008, just before my freshman year of college, and over time, I couldn't stay away from a computer or notebook. I was writing EVERYWHERE. 2008 to 2009 was the year that really pushed and convinced me that I was called to write. That's when passion and career became one.

L: That's awesome! So back in 2008/2009, were you writing different things or is that when you came up with the concept of the Black Rose Series?

R.J: Back in 2008/09 I was writing a ton of fan fiction and wrote my first screenplay. I was addicted to Stephen King so at the time, I actually wrote a lot of horror and suspense. The screenplay was called The Cleansing, about a deadly sickness that plagues a small town stuck in a storm. I wrote the 110 page screenplay in a week, over spring break. Besides that, I wrote a ton of short stories, a collection of them, and soon after, I had a dream that developed into the Black Rose Series which I wouldn't start writing until almost another year later.

L: Wow! Do you still have all your short stories? Will we ever seen a published collection?

R.J: I have every single one of them. Some are typed and need some editing. Others are ready for publication. And a few are written in notebooks. I do wish to publish them as a collection, all in which are alternate worlds and towns and villages filled with plot twists. I guess that's the Twilight Zone fan in me. They're all what I call "mini dystopias" because they're different types of dystopian worlds given to you in short story form. I wonder what I would call such a collection of "mini dystopias" haha

L: That's so cool, can't wait to have that on the bookshelf alongside The Black Rose series!! So you've mentioned Stephen King and The Twilight Zone...are there any other big influences in your writings?

R.J: Definitely! Ernest Hemingway, C.S. Lewis, Allie Condie, and Toni Morrison. Love their work, their genres, their characters. They are really inspirational and have practically mastered story structure. There's also R.L. Stine and his Goosebumps and also, The Bailey School Kids. Huge fans of the series growing up.

L: My daughter is just getting into Goosebumps, I read them all as a teenager and I introduced her to them, she is loving them although she is a bit more wimpy than me so she has to read them in the day.

R.J: Yessss I think if any series a child should come across it's Goosebumps.

L: So, when you aren't being an awesome writer and getting ready to release an amazing looking book, what do you like to do with your free time?

R.J: Thank you! And when I'm not writing, I'm normally thinking about writing as I'm doing homework for college. Playing my Xbox with my friends from all over the place. Or with family playing board games and going out to dinners. I also workout out from time to time while sustaining my vegetarian diet. And of course, reading whatever I can get my hands on.

L: Are you reading anything at the moment or are you focusing on the writing and editing side of things?

R.J: I'm currently finishing Nobody's Goddess by Amy McNulty of Month9Books, and also finishing up outlines for book two.

L: I will have to check that out as I'm currently between books! Ok last serious question then I have some not so serious ones for you. Where do you want to be in 5 years time?

R.J: Definitely do so! Humm, great question. In 5 years, I'd like to own my first house, somewhere nice. Maybe warmer like Los Angeles. I'm working on that haha..Still writing of course. Close to the end of another series. Living the "write life." I'd also like to help others with their work. Whether teaching, hosting workshops, speaking at schools. I think that would be great to work with kids to help them develop their writing skills. Not just story, but in general. Maybe if I'm in LA by then, I can also test my hand at screenwriting once more. I'd love to write for television and film. It's always been a dream apart from being published.

L: That sounds amazing R.J!! I'll eagerly await my invitation to the housewarming party and the premiere! Ok now for some silly ones that have absolutely nothing to do with writing because quite frankly, who doesn't like to be a bit silly!! If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

R.J: I'll have that invite for you for sure. Superpower? Oh wow, that's probably my toughest question so far haha! Hmm, I'd have to go with something common and simple but highly beneficial--for me (Jeez I'm selfish) but Flying. Why? Because I'd love to travel more and to anywhere at anytime. Like lately it's because of travel expenses. So if I can fly, that means I don't need to pay gas or pay flight tickets. I guess I'd only have to worry about luggage and not dropping it into the ocean or something or being in the government's airspace because we all know what happens then..if not flying, being able to breathe underwater... I can't swim..but I can float..when I'm unconscious!

L: haha! Brilliant! Ok next question...what's the weirdest thing you do when you're alone?

R.J: Weirdest thing? Hahaha, I'll try not to confuse that with embarrassing but I think the weirdest thing I do alone is dramatically cite romance movie dialogue and trying to sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger when I hear certain songs. I love citing Twilight (with all the extra gasping after every sentence)

L: Wow, I love it! I can just picture it now! Anyways, moving swiftly on, describe your perfect date...

R.J: Thanks! My perfect date for me would have to have a great deal of exchange. Conversation. It can be over coffee or during a walk and after talking about the simple stuff, I want weird. So you have 3 siblings, you're a nurse (making all this up, it doesn't reflect any tastes, but I'm not picky to begin with), and you have a dog. NICE.. Do you believe in aliens? What house would you be a part of if you were in Harry Potter? That sort of thing. I'm weird. I love weird. We can talk about more "intellectual" things at some point. But I don't want every moment of a date to be all serious. I want to see a goofy side. A geek. Then after the exchange, we can go back into the cliche for dinner and movies. Everyone loves food and movies. Or a comedy club. Why not both? Haha

L: Absolutely, why not?? And just out of interest...which house would you be? (I reckon I would be a hufflepuff!)

R.J: Right?! Haha, hmm, I think I would fit in with Ravenclaw . Yet I'd whisper to the hat for Slytherin. My aggressive and competitive edge kicks in at times so I'd love a toe to toe with the celebrity Harry Potter alongside Draco.

L: Awesome! And I would be cowering at the back like the wimp I am! haha! so one last question before I ask you to plug your book, tell me your favourite joke...

R.J: Okay...What do you call a cow with no legs?

L: I don't know, what do you call a cow with no legs?

R.J: Ground Beef...that poor cow.

L: Oh my god, that was so bad it was almost good R.J! Thanks for your time and for letting me ask you some questions! Only one last thing to do...Plug your book!

R.J: Evanescence is book one of my Black Rose Series and takes a new spin on vampires. It is about a late-blooming vampire who has amnesia about his human childhood. The book begins with Evan as an average, human, high school adolescent. He lives alone with his mother, who never wants to talk to Evan about his childhood or answer any questions about family. "It's just me and you," is what she always tells him. Evan has always been an outcast. Bullied. Mistreated. He's always asked, "who am I?" and "where do I come from?" and each night, he fights traumatic nightmares that he believes his trying to tell him something about himself. When Evan begins to change; his eyes change color, fangs develop in his mouth, an indescribable hunger plagues him when he's around people, and his heart stops beating, he becomes depressed, afraid, and confused, unknown of his true nature or what's happening. With the help of his only friend, Mike Druin, and his crush since middle school, Essence LaRoux, Evan finds the answers he's looking for. However, a stranger group of people try to convince him that they are his real family. A clan of vampires, who have been awaiting his transformation since he was young. As Evan prepares for his transformation, which will only complete after his unavoidable impending death, there is a rival within this "clan" who knows of a family secret and destiny that will be handed to Evan, and he will do anything he can to take it from him, even if that means spilling family blood.

L: Well it sounds amazing, and I personally can't wait for it's release!