With new novel Waxed having
just hit the shelves (click here to read our review!) Trashionista couldn't
wait to interview author Robert Rave. We asked him about his inspirations, his
tips for writing, and of course, what made him choose to delve into female
fiction...
Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.
Only
15? I feel like I'm Twitter! The pressure.
Three relationship-challenged sisters working together at New York's hottest
waxing salon. Obviously, hilarity ensues.
How's that? I think I barely made it...
What inspired you to write Waxed?
I
always loved these three characters. They kept popping into my head while
I was editing my first novel, SPiN. I thought about inserting them in
that book somehow, but the more I explored these women the more I felt they
deserved their own journey. The setting came secondary to the
characters--but I loved the idea of the types of personalities one would
encounter at these waxing salons.
It's always interesting to hear from a male who writes books aimed at women.
What made you decide to write female fiction?
I
don't know that I really set out to write female fiction at least not
consciously. I simply wanted to write an entertaining story. In books,
film or television I'm always drawn to the female characters so it felt natural
for me to write WAXED. SPiN was very different because it was told from a
first-person narrative that was male. With WAXED, I liked the challenge
of writing three very different women who have three very different journeys.
Where do you do most of your writing?
I
write in this little cubby hole in my bedroom that I think the previous owner
used as a make-up table or something. I used to have my desk in front of
a huge window, however I would get distracted by everything. I would be
in the middle of writing and then see a dog walk by and my head would jump to
the fact that I needed to give my dogs a bath, make an appointment at the vet,
and then get lost in an entirely different tangent before returning back to the
paragraph I was writing. This was happening all the time. I'm fully
aware that it sounds completely insane, but it's true. So, I had to
make a change. Now I stare at a white wall with a framed print that
reads, "Get Excited and Make Things."
What is your favourite book?
Of
all time? There's no way I could choose one. That's like asking me what
my favorite dessert is. I can't limit myself to just one.
Which part of Waxed was the most fun to write?
As
cliché as it sounds, the entire experience of writing WAXED was quite fun.
If you're not loving the story that you're telling or finding the sublime
joy in the creation, it's time to move on. I love the entire process of
creating the characters, the world, everything--and the idea that a complete
stranger is going to take the time to go there with you--well, that blows my
mind.
What are you currently reading?
I
recently finished Chelsea Handler's latest book, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang.
I love her--she's absolutely hilarious. I'm taking Beth Harbison's
new book, Thin, Pretty, Rich with me on vacation and I can't wait to
jump in. I just started One Day by David Nicholls.
Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published authors?
Focus
on writing the story first. Tell a story that you love. Tell a
story that excites you and that you're passionate about. After you've
finished, then focus on the publishing part. Too many times, I think
writers/authors get too wrapped up in the getting published part instead of the
actual story. Be prepared for a lot of "no's." However, don't give
up. Believe in yourself and the work. We are also living in such a
fantastic time to be able to share our stories in so many different
ways--whether it's a blog, a book from a major publisher, a self-published
e-book--the technology is constantly changing and evolving to allow us create
and more importantly SHARE!
Are you working on anything else at the moment, and if so can you tell us?
I have a nonfiction
book with St. Martin's that is coming out in the fall of 2011. I'm not
sure that exact release date, but if you join my page on Facebook or follow me
on Twitter I'll post the information as soon as I know.
I've also started writing an entirely new project--a series of books. It's
one of those things that I kept trying to delay for whatever reason, but
something inside of me kept telling me to start writing it.
Thanks, Robert!
