A Little about R.K. Gold
R.K. Gold graduated from the University of Maryland in 2014 with a B.A. in English and is now pursuing a M.S. in Economics from the University at Buffalo. He is a non-genre specific author who enjoys reading and writing about characters searching for their purpose in life.
1) When did you know that writing is what you were called to do? What is it about being a writer that you love the most?
I wish I had a good story here because I’ve been asked this question a few times and I’m usually able to pull some anecdote out of thin air that feels suitable but in reality I don’t know if I ever had a moment that I knew I wanted to be a writer. I think it was always in the back of my head but when I was younger I just liked the idea more than the act itself. It wasn’t until 2014 (my last year of undergrad) that I decided to actually give it a try. I wrote this crime comedy that’s still on my hard drive and thought “that wasn’t so hard” and just kept writing from there.
2) Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you? What projects are you currently working on?
Read my books? Wow, well first thing I’d do is ask if they’re sure they don’t want to read something by a better author. If they’re still stuck on me I’d probably point them to my website authorrkgold.com
As far as what my books are about? They’re all over the place. My last one was about a man’s journey from death to the afterlife (spoiler alert! He’s dead on the first page). I wrote a thriller about a cult in an old mining town and a novella about a forest that eats people. Currently I’m editing a novel I wrote about an artist from a religious family having to return home when he’s commissioned to paint a mural for the New chapel. It’s been giving me a lot of trouble in the rewrite phase though.
3) What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far? How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career?
Oh god my greatest achievement? I don’t even know. I guess I won a couple of those vanity awards that no one really knows they entered until they’re notified they won, or the ones where all your friends vote for you and you win something that more tells the world social media liked me more than the other contestants but actual achievements? I don’t know, maybe being able to pay a month’s rent on royalties once.
4) Do you have a schedule for when you write? Do you outline your novels? How long does it generally take you to finish a novel?
I usually give myself deadlines but no I don’t really outline or anything like that. The characters seem so fake when I try to outline. I prefer letting them write themselves it just feels more organic. As for finishing a novel man, that’s tough to answer. If I really put my mind to it I can write 50k words in a week (did it once) but rough drafts have never been my issue. It’s always been the re-writing and the editing. Ya know the things that actually make the book good.
5) Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?
I’m not sure. I know when I go for runs I have day dreams about winning the Pulitzer and seeing my name on a few best seller lists but in reality I just hope to get to a point where I make above the poverty line with my writing and only have to put my masters in economics to part time use. (Okay I don’t have the Masters yet I get it fall 2018.)
6) Do you believe that there is ever a point in life where it’s too late for an aspiring writer to become successful in this industry? Do you feel a late start would hinder their chances?
Absolutely not! Especially now! You can work a full time job and self publish a professional looking book (and professionally edited one) for only a few hundred bucks. If you’re looking to only publish one book a year you can start writing at what ever age you want and keep writing for as long as you want. As for hinder your chances I mean, all you need is that one book that catches fire and your career is off.
7) What’s the first book you ever read that really touched you emotionally and moved you? What’s the first book you read that made you know that you could do this for a career? What book are you currently reading?
Ender’s Game is the book that taught me reading is fun. I’m not sure I ever read a book that made me think I could do this as a career. When I want to feel like this is something I can do for a career I usually just listen to author interviews on Self Publishing Formula podcast starring Mark Dawson and James Blatch. As for what I’m currently reading, well I just finished my new favorite book Confederacy of Dunces and I’m about to begin Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
8) So many writers say that they hate reading their own work? Do you ever just sit down and curl up with your own book?
Absolutely not. I’ve read it enough during the editing and re-writing process. I’ve probably read Lost in the Clouds 50 times. Why would I do that again?
9) What are your thoughts about how the publishing industry is drastically changing? Are you more of an e-book person or a traditional book person?
I love ebooks. I love reading at night with the lights off and my dog curled up by my legs with my little kindle app on my phone. It helps me fly through books. Paperbacks serve a purpose for sure but I hate having to adjust to the light on my night stand.
10) I feel like so many of us writers, us artists in general, are made to conform to other people’s idea of what we should be. I think we creative types should be unafraid to be whoever it is that we feel we have the right to be. So what is your write 2 be? What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity?
I usually joke that if I could sell out I would. If I were capable of writing the next 50 shades of grey I would and if I could conform I would. One thing I’ve learned though is that the markets for fiction are always changing and consistency will get you farther than chasing the winds. I’m not sure what makes me authentic or exactly what my voice is, but I do know that all of the greats can answer that question and if your ultimate goal is to be one of the greats you shouldn’t hide from it, you should be focusing on your own voice because it’s something no one else can perfect and when you finally do, that goal you’ve been chasing will come.
To find R.K. Gold’s work click on the link below:
Or you can visit his website at: https://authorrkgold.com/
You can also follow him on social media by liking his fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/authorrkgold
Or follow him on twitter @RKGold91
And sign up for his mailing list to get all of the latest updates on new releases and free giveaways by clicking the link below: http://eepurl.com/cPDHXD
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