Interview with Roland Smith

http://www.rolandsmith.com/

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

Unconsciously, I think, before I even learned how to read. I loved books—not the illustrations…those funny little black symbols on the page, which I later learned with letters, words, sentences, paragraphs. When I learned to read I KNEW I wanted to become a writer. And here’s a confession from my childhood. I loved the way books smelled. I was a book sniffer.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

It was long. I wrote almost every day for nearly 20 years and sent in stacks of manuscripts, and even larger stacks of rejection letters, before my first book, Sea Otter Rescue, was published in 1990. After this I wrote a number of non-fiction books, but my dream was to write novels. The first, Thunder Cave, came out in 1995. There have been many novels since then, and many more to come.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

I have three books coming out in 2009. I,Q Book Two: The White House. A novel called Beneath. And the sequel to Cryptid Hunters (for which there is no firm title). I’m afraid I don’t talk about my books until after they are published. I think it’s bad luck. All I can say is that I think everyone will like them.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

It’s not a who or a what. Being a lifelong reader has been my greatest inspiration. I read 2 or 3 books a week and I’ve done that for over 40 years. I learn something every time I read someone else’s books.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

I have three wonderful stepchildren, and four very cool grandsons. And yes they are happy “Gramps” is an author.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

I love all food that starts with the letter “P”. I also love egg salad sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Brush my teeth. Drink Coffee. Write.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

It would not be a surprise if I told you.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

I have no idea.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

I don’t have one.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I don’t watch cartoons…well sometimes with my grandsons, but truthfully I don’t pay much attention. I watch my grandson’s watching cartoons. I don’t watch much television. I’m too busy writing and reading.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

I would like to go back to the Lewis and Clark Expedition (which I wrote about in The Captain’s Dog) when Captain Lewis found the Great Falls. That was probably the most wonderful day of his life.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to?

I like almost all types of music.

Favorite musical artists?

Too many to name.

Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I sometimes listen to jazz or classical when I write, but I can’t listen to music with lyrics when I write because hearing the words while I’m trying to write words is too confusing.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows?

American Idol.

Movies you watch over and over again?

A lot of them. But if I had to choose a favorite, which would be hard, it would be Patton with George C. Scott.

What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

I saw the latest James Bond film with my son-in-law, which I liked, but I can’t remember the name of it. Terrible I know.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Read and write everyday for the rest of your life. Reading will change your life for the better, it has changed him dramatically.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

Too many to name. I will have two or three novels coming out every year for the next several years.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at http://www.teensreadtoo.com/!