Good morning, R.M., and welcome to Vision and Verse. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?
My latest is an epic fantasy novel launching September 5, “Liberation,” but there is also another dark fantasy novella already out. It’s called “Marked,” and I published it this spring. It’s about a boy named Davy who loses everything dear to him and has to face the darkness of a judgmental, harsh society. It occurs in the same medievalesque dragon- and magic-filled world as the other books, and provides backstory on one of the characters you’ll see in “Liberation.” I’ll have the next novella “Myrmaiden” out soon, followed by the second full-length novel “Sundering.”
What is your favorite genre to write?
Fantasy, hands down, especially high fantasy with the traditional elements of magic, magical beings, and magical beasts.
Favorite food.
Ramen in any form. I love the real stuff with tonkotsu, but I’ll settle for 13-cent packs if I have to.
Tea or coffee?
Espresso, black.
Pizza or ice cream?
Pizza…with pepperoni, jalapeno, and pineapple. Please don’t throw my interview in the garbage. I am fully aware that I’m a monster.
Wine or beer or soda or what?
Wine.
Where would you like to visit?
Japan. I have family there and a history that I know so little about. I’ve been to China and South Korea, and I thought they were both stunning in their own ways.
Favorite musical artist.
That’s tough. I stim with music so this is nearly impossible. I suppose there is only one person I’ve flown across the country for though: Joe Hisaishi, the composer who did much of Hayao Miyazaki’s films.
Do you listen to music when you write?
What?
Yes, absolutely. I typically listen to scores with playlists dedicated to each character point-of-view. My favorite group is Two Steps from Hell, but there are many amazing artists out there.
What makes you laugh?
My dragon character It’tholl. She’s young, and dragons by nature tend to be very factual and straightforward. She did not understand the analogy I wrote this morning.
Favorite work of art or sculpture.
One that has stuck with me for years is Picasso’s Guernica, exhibited in the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain. You walk into the room, and it just overwhelms with its presence, its tragedy. My group abandoned me because I couldn’t leave it.
How old were you when you started writing?
My mom had me keep a journal, one page for every year of my life starting in Pre-school. Along with my lists of favorites and horrifyingly embarrassing school pictures, this journal included what I wanted to be when I grew up. I started saying “Author” when I was 5.
I have always loved reading and writing, and I wrote a number of shorter stories and McCaffrey fan fiction when I was younger. I paused during college because LIFE, but realized when I entered the workforce that something essential was missing: a creative outlet through which I could express myself. I started writing again, and it brought me such joy that I know I’ll never stop again.
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards?
Or just write?
I do outline obsessively using spreadsheets and a visual tackboard called Prezi.
Describe your perfect evening.
Outside, laying in the hammock reading a book with a light breeze and a cold drink.
I’m not really sure, but my stories are a melding of my imagination and my life experiences. That’s how you get baby dragons who are vehemently offended by being compared to something else. The magic and world-building is certainly inspired by my favorite authors. I very much prefer a world with magic in it.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
I have a rigidly structured writing schedule, clear plan, and mini-goals, so I don’t typically get writer’s block per se. However, if I find my brain is just really struggling, I sit back and re-evaluate myself. If I’m burning myself out, it’s time to give myself some grace and truly rest. If it’s just that business needs to be taken care of and is distracting me, I either switch tasks or establish a block of time during which I can focus on those tasks. If I know I have time set aside, I can compartmentalize and get back to work.
Who is your favorite author?
My favorite author is Anne McCaffrey, followed by J. R. R. Tolkien, and I have to give a nod to Brian Jacques, Michael Crichton, and Stephen King specifically for “The Stand.”
Best book you ever read.
Another impossible question! I know I just mentioned McCaffrey and Tolkien. That said, there are a few books that just stand out in my memory, books that made me set them down and stare into the void for a while. I suppose, from that perspective, one of the best books I’ve ever read was “Quo Vadis” by Henryk Sienkiewicz. It’s written in an older English, but the story is heart-wrenching, a personal story of love and sacrifice during the Neronic persecutions. When the title came up in the text, my heart stopped and I cried. Another one.
Last book you read.
I am just finishing an early copy of “Cursed King” by the indie author Brady Hunsaker. He writes clean young adult fantasy so well, his stories are always a pleasure to read even though I don’t typically read YA.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I am also a scientific researcher who studies the intersection of aquatic ecosystems, fish and other living organisms, and people, and I assist a habitat conservation nonprofit with outreach.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
My husband, because he made me return to writing seriously. That was not a light-hearted gesture, as it affects our time together, our daily schedules and expectations, and our budget. I would not be writing if not for him calling me out on the “Someday, if only, I woulda-coulda-shoulda…” (Oh and did I mention that Shel Silverstein is brilliant?)
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
Anne McCaffrey. She was trained in biology like me, obsessed with ensuring her world made scientific sense in the most fantastic way possible. She had stunning anatomical drawings of her dragons and other creatures, planned out her planetary orbits for the stars in the sky, and presented a believable path of development for a society with lost technology. Plus, she lived in a house called Dragonhold-Underhill. I wish she knew how much she inspires me.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Give yourself grace and patience. Writing is a skill that develops with time, practice, and intentional study. Even if you are naturally a strong writer, you will still have areas that could improve. Give yourself the time to garner feedback, the humility to accept criticism, the grace to forgive yourself for not being perfect, and the patience to soldier onward. I’ve heard the first million words written are considered a writer’s apprenticeship, and I can certainly agree that it takes at least a few hundred thousand to find your own voice and settle into a style. All the while, you should study the craft of storytelling and strive to develop good habits that keep you on track and productive.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
(social media links to your amazon, Facebook, whatever else you want publicized)
Website: https://www.rmkrogman.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/r.m.krogman
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rmkrogman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/rmkrogman
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/r-m-krogman
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/rmkrogman
AllAuthor: https://rmkrogman.allauthor.com/
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