Author Interview Thursday: Welcome Gregg Rosenblum

Welcome to Author Thursday hosted by Never Too Old for Y.A and N.A. Books group on Goodreads.

Today we welcome author Gregg Rosenblum.

Gregg has written a most spectacular Dystopian/Science Fiction book called
Revolution 19


Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us. Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies. Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed

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   And Gregg's second book in the series, Fugitive X, is set to release January 7, 2014

   
   

   
   
   

   

   
   

   So, please welcome Gregg and read along with what he had to say!

   
   

   
   

   Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?

Writing has always seemed liked the most worthwhile thing I could do with myself. Ever since I started thinking about what I was “going to be”—probably in my early teens—I’ve always pictured part of that answer to include “writer.”

How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?

Revolution 19 took about a year. It’s hard to say exactly, though—there are starts and stops, waiting for publishers/editors then rushing to meet deadlines—I wish it were a smooth, steady process, but in my experience it’s more of a wild ride.

How do you come up with themes for your stories?

Writing Revolution 19 was a conscious decision to get back to my roots—to the kind of story that I loved as a kid and couldn’t put down. Before this book, I had spent a lot of time and energy working on “adult”, “literary” efforts, and while I know this work helped me hone my skills, it just wasn’t fun.

Do you have a schedule of when you write?

I wish I did! My temperament is better suited to steady, consistent effort, but life doesn’t often allow for that. I work a full-time non-writing job, and I have a family, so much of my writing happens on lunch hours, nights, and weekends.

How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?

It can be hard, especially around deadlines. I just have to remind myself that without health and family, nothing else matters, so I have to pace myself. I also try (not always successfully) to be in the moment, whether I’m writing or with my family. If I’m with my daughter but worrying/obsessing about my book, then I’m wrecking my time with her. Likewise, if I’m writing but worrying about other things, then I’m wasting the effort. Easier said than done, of course.

What elements do you think make a great story line?

Above all, characters who the reader can care about. Without interesting people to root for (or against), then it won’t matter how many car chases and explosions and plot twists you have.  

What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

Not getting ahead of myself, especially early on. It’s very hard, when you’re on page 20, to not panic and think, “How am I going to write another 300 pages?” So it was a constant exercise in focus. At the same time, though, I had to hold onto the larger sense of what I was doing—how the chapter I was working on fit into the whole—so I couldn’t get too narrowly focused. It’s a real balancing act.

How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?

Revolution 19 is my first published book, so certainly it’s my favorite! I’ve written two other books in my early days that will never see the light of day—a novel and a short story collection. I’m glad I wrote them; they were great learning experiences. But that doesn’t mean I want to share them with the world. Book two of the Revolution 19 planned trilogy is almost done, so I’ll be able to add that one to the list soon.

Do you have a favorite character?

That’s like asking a parent to pick his favorite child! I’ll dance around the question a bit and pick a minor character—Doc. I had a lot of fun with him.

Where do you write?

All my best ideas and problem-solving happens in the shower. If anyone invents a waterproof laptop, I’ll be the first to buy it. The actual writing, though, happens in my office and in a local café. 

When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route you took?

I’d had a handful of short stories published in literary journals, and nonfiction articles in the Writer magazine, but this was a chance to work with a major house, and I jumped at it. 

Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?

It’s nerve-wracking, actually, to have friends and family read your work. Thankfully, they loved it, and didn’t try too hard to find themselves in the characters. My nieces and nephews and daughter were the audience I cared about the most—and they gave me the thumbs up, which felt great.

What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?

Hang out with my family, play guitar (mostly blues, because I have no musical theory and it’s the easiest to wing), listen to music too loudly through my headphones, tinker with gadgets, play golf (cheap municipal courses, not country clubs)

What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing?

Read everything you can get your hands on, and read critically, trying to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and why. Revise, revise, revise, and then revise some more. Read your work out loud when revising. Learn to listen to that little voice that’s saying “this isn’t quite right,” no matter how much you might want to be done. 

What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?

There really are so, so many brilliant writers and books—how could I possibly pick just one of each? Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings may not be perfect, but they absolutely blew my mind as a kid and will always have a special place in my heart. Hemingway’s short stories are absolute genius. Vonnegut showed me it’s possible to break a reader’s heart and have him/her laughing out loud at the same time. George Saunders is a contemporary master and will win a Pulitzer soon, mark my words. Of Mice and Men was the first book that left me completely wrecked (in a good way)…I could go on and on…

Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such?

My editors in NY have been wonderful. They really did help make Revolution 19 a better book. My wife, though, is my most helpful reader. She’s a writer too (Wendy Wunder, the author of the YA novel The Probability of Miracles). We have different strengths and sensibilities, and she’s able to give me an invaluable perspective.

Are you working on anything now?

Book two of the Revolution 19 trilogy! I’m just about done with a draft.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Gregg! It's been really great having you here and we wish you continued success in your writing career! The publisher is offering up a copy of Gregg's first book (US ONLY) so fill out the Rafflecopter below to be entered to win!

 Gregg Rosenblum works at Harvard, where he wages epic battles against technology as an editor/webmaster/communications/quasi-IT guy. He graduated from UC San Diego and has an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. He lives in Boston with his wife and daughter.

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