Where are you from?
I live in Australia,
in a place of beauty with lovely mountains. The city of Melbourne is far enough
to be ignorable, but close enough that I can go there when I need to (as seldom
as possible).
You're a psychologist and mudsmith! Tell us a little about those interesting facts.
You can read all about
that at http://bobswriting.com/bobrich.html
Because I am a
conservationist and like recycling, this is actually the introductory part of
my short story collection "Through Other Eyes" http://bobswriting.com/othereyes.html
A mudsmith is a person
who crafts buildings from mud. A psychologist is a catalyst for inner change.
You are suffering? I can't fix you up, but can show you how you can do it for
yourself.
How did you like the writing challenge? Have you done anything like that before?
I cheated. :) The
story "Duck" is actually one of the 26 in "Through Other
Eyes." But yes, I have done things like that when I had the time to enter
short story contests.
Short stories are a
great discipline, and an excellent way to improve writing. I have three
collections published. "Through Other Eyes," "Striking Back from
Down Under" http://twilighttimesbooks.com/StrikingBack_ss1.html
and "Bizarre Bipeds" http://bobswriting.com/bipeds.html
They are very
different collections, but all were fun to write.
Have you ever been to any writing conventions, conferences, etc? How was that experience?
No I haven't, only the
online Museitup conference, about 3 times. I offered courses in writing. It's a
lot of work, but worthwhile.
What inspired you to write your first book?
From 1980 on, I had a
byline column in a wonderful magazine, "Earth Garden" http://www.earthgarden.com.au
You see, when I
started to build my house, I was certified and licensed as the most impractical
person on the planet. So, I worked as a builder's laborer in whatever field I
wanted to learn about. For example, I worked with a carpenter, installing
timber floors. Then I did it for myself in my budding house, and wrote it up
for the magazine.
By 1984, I was
teaching a course on building. I wrote a letter to Keith Smith, the publisher
of "Earth Garden," suggesting the two of us could write a book
together. He'd already had 8 published titles. I posted the letter, then
checked my PO box. In there was a letter from Keith, with the same suggestion.
So, it was meant to happen, and did, after 2 years of work.
That was the first
edition of the "Earth Garden Building Book: Design and build your own
house" http://mudsmith.net/builcont.html
The fourth edition is still in print.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes, mine. Well,
"Duck" is a good example.
I want my language to
be invisible. Writing can scream, "Look how clever I am! Admire me!"
Or it can do a job so well that you don't even notice the words. They are the
medium, not the message. The first is Literary. The second is readable. :)
For this reason, when
I write:
· I use the minimum number of words that will do
the job.
· I'll say, "He climbed the stairs"
rather than "He ascended the stairs" -- the most common available
word is the best, except to avoid repetition.
· I keep to the simplest syntax I can, again
without falling into a repetitious, boring pattern of sentences.
· I avoid anything that will attract attention to
the language rather than the message, such as repeating words.
· In fiction, I avoid author intrusions. Everything
is from the point of view of a character.
All
of this can be summarized by the motto of the Australian Army Engineers:
K.I.S.S.: "Keep It Simple, Stupid."
How did you come up with the title?
My new release,
"Ascending Spiral," http://bobswriting.com/ascending.html
is about the journey of a particular soul through many lifetimes. The first one
was perhaps 12,000 years ago, when that person was quite self-centered and not
really aware of the welfare of others. Life after life, sometimes as a male,
sometimes as a female, and on one occasion as neither but an intelligent plant,
this person grew in wisdom and maturity, as we all do. The lives went round and
round, usually going up, but often needing to go back in order to pay
restitution for a mistake, but overall, upward toward being able to learn the
ultimate lesson.
This is not because I
believe in reincarnation. I don't believe in anything, being a scientist by
training. Instead of believing, I look at the available evidence, and construct
a tentative model of the universe. Well, the evidence supporting reincarnation
is surprisingly robust. You don't need to believe what comes after death, any
more than you need belief about the shape of the earth (it's flat, right?) or
the causation of illness (it's a witchdoctor casting a hex, everybody knows
that). If you're interested, look up Peter Ramster http://pastliferegress.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Past%20Life%20Regression%20Hypnotherapy
and Jim Tucker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_B._Tucker
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
You've sprung me. The
book is a partial autobiography of my past 12,000 years.
Actually, everything a
fiction writer produces is autobiography. Hemingway said, "Write what you
know." We go through life, gathering raw material even if unaware of it,
and combine it in many ways.
OK, the heroes of "Liberator,"
the main story in "Bizarre Bipeds" are little, have green skin, no
head, and three arms and three legs. As far as I know, I have never been a
person like that, but the story is autobiographical all the same. Their
emotions, reactions to their situations, hopes and fears and joys and sorrows
are that of any person, including me.
What books have most influenced your life most?
When I was in high
school, I read every book in the school library, and every book in the public
library. Reading was a joy, and an effective antidepressant. I've been a keen
reader since. So, to give a proper answer would need a library catalog!
Part of my reading has
been to study the Bible, the Koran, the Buddhist writings, Confucius, the Tao
Te Ching, even Zoroaster. I did try the Hindu sacred texts but found them too
complex to follow. I realized that they share a common body of wisdom, and you
don't need to follow any religion to benefit from their teachings.
Actually, this wisdom
is best summarized by something that is not religious: "Above all, do no
harm," part of the Hippocratic oath all medical practitioners are supposed
to work by. It's a good guide to all living.
What book are you reading now?
You think I have time
to read for pleasure? I wish!
Actually, I have had a
great deal of pleasure reading a series of very good books, as part of
publicizing "Ascending Spiral." I have arranged review swaps with
several writers I respect and even admire. So far, I haven't been disappointed,
and my partners have posted very positive reviews. This is good, especially
since none of these people will lie to please me or anyone else. You can read
their reviews of my book, and my reviews of theirs by going to http://mudsmith.net/bobbing.html#reviews
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Sorry, haven't had
time to seek them out. As I've said, I've been reviewing books by people I know
write good stuff, and also I do a lot of editing, but that's not necessarily
new writers, and if they are new, they are not necessarily good yet. My work is
intended to move them in that direction.
One of the first
writers I edited a book for was Max Overton, in the late 1990s. I have just
finished reading his coming book, "We came from Konigsberg," as part
of a review swap. It's a masterpiece. I flatter myself that I've had a part in
helping him to improve his writing to the level he shows in this wonderful
book. Keep an eye out for it.
What are your current projects?
As a counseling
psychologist, I work with many suffering people. They come first. I am also
currently editing a science fiction story for a lady. A major time investment
is letting the world know about "Ascending Spiral."
In the background,
taken out and lovingly continued when I have the time, is a story I started
some years ago. Here is the start of the Preface:
A blind old gentleman was
referred to me as a victim of crime. He and his old seeing-eye dog had both
been beaten up by some teenagers.
You can’t do therapy with
a person if you share their emotions; if their issue becomes personal for you.
I needed to do something about my outrage.
So, on the evening after
my first session with him, I started a story I could invest the emotion in. I
invented old Sylvia, who witnessed a horrendous crime.
I thought the story would
be one of just retribution, but... but once you create a character, that person
comes to life. Sylvia had different ideas. The story has become one of
compassion, and changing the unchangeable through love.
So, Sylvia has become dear
to me, one of my teachers. I hope you will also make her special in your life,
and learn from her.
I've now written a bit
over 80,000 words, so am thinking about how to draw the various subplot lines
to a close.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I did, over and over.
I revise my work all the time. So, I don't think it's necessary any more.
There is one
exception. I sent a copy to my daughter in Sydney. She found a typo in it: an
"an" written as "and."
She takes after her
father all right.
Anyone else who spots
that same typo has earned a free copy of one of my books.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I started creative
writing in order to avoid breaking my marriage vows. I was a student nurse,
living in a nurses' home, and needed something to distract me from the hordes
of young women around me. So, I wrote short stories instead.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Finding the time for
it.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
There are many
favorites, but if I must choose one, it's Dick Francis. All his heroes start as
ordinary-seeming people, who are then put into an unbearable situation, and
cope. There is always a mystery element that is fun to solve. I am not
interested in horse racing, and every book has that in it, but I can forgive
Dick for the horsy bits because there is always some other specialty,
impeccably researched, so I can learn while I am being entertained.
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I travel as little as
possible. We live on a planet with finite resources that have been over-used.
Some years ago, humanity was consuming one and a half earths' worth of
resources, and we only have one. Since then, the global economy has grown, so
it's even worse.
Did you know that
globally, we use more fresh water than falls on all the land areas combined? We
are mining the aquifers. We are destroying the complexity of nature, and we are
kept alive by the web of life.
So, I do my best to
live as simply as possible. Above all, do no harm. Traveling does harm. I do it
only when I must.
Who designed the cover?
My publisher, Victor
Volkman, came up with the concept, and he has a favorite cover designer, Doug
West, who actualized it.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Nothing really. Perhaps finding names for
the minor characters. All the main characters came with names; I had nothing to
do with choosing them. But I had to experiment with the walk-ons. For example,
Amelia is one of the major characters. She is Amelia Margaret McQuade nee
Poole, and that's a given. But in childhood she had a couple of friends, and I
gave them three sets of names before settling on Ethel and Mary, simply because
they were very common names for the times.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learnt a great deal about Irish history
of the 18th and 19th centuries. I already knew about the Viking times in
Ireland and the Victorian era in Australia from previous writing.
Australian Aboriginals feature strongly in
the story. While I already knew a fair bit about their pre-colonial culture,
and the effect of the European invasion on them, I learned a lot more about
these wonderful people.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
A lot of advice is archived at http://mudsmith.net/bobbing.html#writing
Some is from me, some from other contributors to my newsletter Bobbing Around.
Perhaps the most important for beginning
writers is to seek feedback. In the early days, I paid for the editing of three
of my manuscripts, and learned lots from each. And don't be precious about your
work. Praise doesn't teach you anything much. It's when someone picks up what
you are doing wrong that you have an opportunity to improve.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Go to http://bobswriting.com
and enjoy the offerings. I hope lots of people will buy my books, particularly
"Ascending Spiral," because I think that's my best to date.
I have a standing policy. Email me proof of
purchase of any of my books, anywhere, in any format, and you get an electronic
book for free.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I lived for 33 years on a mountain of
beauty and power, much of it in the house I built myself. Because nowadays I
need a body transplant, my wife decided to export me, and I now live in the
town nearby. I'd love nothing better than to return HOME.
If you could pick a super power, what would you choose?
To transform people ruled by greed, hate,
resentment, self-pity and other negatives to becoming motivated by compassion
and caring for others.
Not only would this make our world a great
place to live in, but it's also the transformation necessary to allow humanity
to survive.
If you want to understand what I mean, read
"Ascending Spiral."
