About Robert McRay:
Robert McRay is a produced screenwriter for both television and feature films. As an actor he starred in movies and was a series regular on the action /adventure television show “Conan”. As a respected artist, his mechanical sculptures can be found in collections around the world.
A life in the arts should never be sedentary. It is all about trying new things, pushing myself to see not only what my limits are, but also what I am capable of. The rewards have rarely been found in the destination, but more in the adventure along the way.
What inspires you to write?
The overwhelming desire to explore new areas of creativity. I need to find out what I am capable of, and what my limitations are. My life has been filled with so many adventures and has filled me with a plethora of characters. Everyone has a story to tell. I do my best to offer mine.
For fiction, I twist my reality to fit the the story that is being told in my head… Truth be told, I am simply the middle man, a transcriber, nothing more.
For non-fiction, I try to offer what I have learned through experience. If it lends insight or assistance to anyone, i say break off a piece and pass it on.
Tell us about your writing process.
My creativity comes in waves, and seldom in a constant flow. My horror novel took over 15 years to write, but I didn’t work on it every day (sometimes a year would go by before I returned to it). I wait until the characters tell me it is time. In the case of non-fiction, I have been somewhat haunted by my past (both personal and career)… The only way to shake it was to put everything out there myself and let things fall where they will.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I both listen and talk to my characters. It’s an emotional process and I am usually the last to know what is about to happen as I transcribe the situation as it unfolds… If a character dies, My reaction is very much like that of the reader… I have learned not to try and correct it, or fight it… I accept the event and trudge on for resolution… Much the same way I approach life.
What advice would you give other writers?
Do it, work it, keep at it… Even if there is nothing to say, say it in a unique voice… Silence can be put into words.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I test the waters with self-publishing, to get a feel and some preliminary feedback. If the response is good, I submit it to my representation.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Self-publishing makes the literary world, very much like acting. It opens the floodgates for everyone to put their headshot on the table. The problem is that the quality can often be buried beneath a pile of low-quality submissions… I really think that time will slowly separate the cream from the crop and the better authors will get their recognition.
What genres do you write?: Horror, Fitness, Biography
What formats are your books in?: Print
Website(s)
Robert McRay Home Page Link
Link to Author Page on Lulu
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