About Rob Kaufman:
As a child, I was always fascinated by the stories recited by those around me and the words used to tell them. As I got older, my need to tell my own stories grew, as did my ability to share them in exciting and captivating ways.
However, I wanted to share more than just stories. My primary desire was to create characters with whom people could relate, while at the same time bringing them through a journey from which most would crumble.
I feel that my degree in Psychology was the first step toward getting beneath the surface of the people in my life. What followed was a lifelong search for what makes people tick – what forces them to become evil when deep down in their heart of hearts, they are yearning for love. My characters walk this search with me, deep into the human psyche, creating psychological thrillers from every day events.
My first book, “In the Shadow of Stone” continues to receive great praise and is selling well in both electronic and paperback formats. My current book, “One Last Lie” is much darker than my first, with characters who hold bits and pieces of strangers I’ve known, friends I’ve had and lunatics I’ve only read about.
“This book hits home for me. There were a few pages that made me laugh out loud as I wrote them… and many that made me cry. And the great thing is, I’m finding that many readers of this book are experiencing the same emotions.”
Through social and other media, I hope to get “One Last Lie” into the hands of millions, so that they, too, can experience the ups, downs, twists, turns and final tragedy that has helped me make this book a Five-Star contender
What inspires you to write?
What inspires me to write most are the ideas that pop into my head without warning. I need to get them out in an organized, fun and “thriller-like” way. It’s not until I’ve formed them into a great story that I feel more at peace and can let them rest in the hands of a great editor.
Tell us about your writing process.
Although I write down my characters’ characteristics before I start writing (name, age, appearance, etc.), I’m more of a “go by the seat of my pants” writer. New ideas show up AS I’m writing my books. If I were to create an outline or “restrict” myself in any way beforehand, I might not be able to incorporate these ideas. My day-to-day job requires outlining, restrictions, constant copy editing and not enough freedom with my writing. When I write my books, I need all the freedom I can get!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I first “watch” my characters – as though they’re in the scene of a movie. I then get into them, actually move myself into their body so I can sense everything they’re seeing and feeling. I have to react as they would react, say what they would say, feel what they would feel, in order for the scene to come out as truthful on the page. If I feel it, my readers will feel it.
What advice would you give other writers?
I’ve learned, although I’m still learning, to let go of negative reviews. 95% of my reviews are 4 and 5 star ratings, and yet it’s the 1 and 2 and even 3 star ratings that stick with me. That’s not a good thing and I know it. I’m learning to focus on the positive reviews because they help me to feel as though I’m heading in the right direction. I can’t please everyone (no matter how much I try), but if I can make one person more fulfilled with my story and my characters, I’ve succeeded.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I decided to self publish because it was very difficult to find an agent to help promote my book. These agents are inundated with authors vying for a spot in their agency and I’m sure it’s difficult sometimes to weed out the good from the bad. Self publishing is a difficult route. I would advise reading everything possible on the subject and picking/choosing what you think are the most beneficial tidbits of information. Then, it’s trial and error. (Sometimes, more error than trial, but it’s the best way to learn.)
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think book publishing will stay the way it is right now for at least another decade. Publishing companies are learning how to adapt to the online, e-reader, new developments currently taking place, so they will still be around for the next 10 years or so. Self publishing allows anyone to publish their ideas and get them out to the public. Is that a good thing? After reading many self published books, I’m not so sure. But I’m sure it will continue, and probably triple in size over the next decade because it’s a moneymaker – not so much for the author as it is for the big self-publishing companies.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: Thriller, Suspense
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Rob Kaufman Home Page Link
Link To Rob Kaufman Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
