Interview: Author Kate Roth

I got to chat with friend and fellow author, Kate Roth. She has just released her first novel entitled The Low Notes with Rebel Ink Press. Check it out!

                                                           

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a 26 year-old newly published author and full time hairstylist. I’m married and have a sweet little dog named Sampson. My first novel was published May of 2012 and now I’m on the road to writing more and hopefully nurturing my career as an author.

2. Tell us about your upcoming book.

The Low Notes is a story about a forbidden love between a high school student and her teacher. It’s all about choosing whether to follow the rules or follow your heart. I think a lot of people connect with the idea of star-crossed lovers and forbidden romance.

3. Was there a "moment" where you got your idea, or was it more gradual?

In high school I had a pretty major crush on a teacher, so the idea has always been lingering. I took a novel writing course back in 2008 and I was working on something completely different at that time. When the class was over I told myself the teacher/student relationship idea was a good one and that I needed to run with it finally. The rest is history.

4. What book(s) have inspired your writing?

I’ve read tons of books with the teacher/student thread and a few are some of my favorite books. For some of my other works in progress I’m a little all over the place. I have ideas for paranormal and young adult so really all books inspire me. Along with music and films too!

5. What do you do when you experience writer's block?

Remain as calm as possible. When I start to wig out about having writer’s block it only gets worse. I try to do things I know will inspire me like listen to music or outline some vague ideas. Anything to get the creative juices flowing again. I had a rough few years of nearly constant writer’s block and for me it has a lot to do with the rest of my life. If I’m happy with everything else in life I can write but if something is off it blocks me up until I figure it out.

6. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), I haven’t been given a lot of criticism that I found tough or unnecessary. My editor of course gave me notes and changes to make but none of that was a blow. I guess I’m still waiting for the big heartbreaking comment. (Critics, please ignore that as a potential challenge!) Best compliment so far came from a friend who got my book and told me she was getting lost in the story and forgetting that I, her friend, had written the words. To me that was huge. It is one thing to support a friend by reading their work but another to end up falling into the story, escaping into the book like we normally do, forgetting it was someone’s creation. That was when I realized I’d written something worthwhile.

7. What advice do you have to aspiring writers?

Make the time to do what you love. Being published was always a dream of mine but that isn’t why I wrote and now that I’m published my reasons remain unchanged. I write because I love it. It’s no different than the person who loves golf so they make the time in their schedule to play because it makes them feel better. If you write with the intention of someday making money or selling movie rights or hitting it big, then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Whatever your passion, make the time, find the energy, make the commitment to doing it.

Find Kate @KateRothWrites on Twitter, http://www.facebook.com/authorkateroth on Facebook, & her blog: http://www.katerothwrites.blogspot.com/

Thanks for taking the time to chat, Kate! Best of luck with your book.