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Author Interview – R.L. Oaks

Hello! Today I am very happy to have R.L. Oaks. Let’s jump right in!

Q: How long have you been writing, either as a hobby or professionally?

A: I’ve been telling stories since I was a little girl. My sister and I got our start putting on plays for our parents when we were very young. I actually started writing them down a little later, and the most memorable short story I ever wrote, “Cygnet,” was written when I was thirteen years old.

Q: What inspired you to get into writing?

A: I had been writing and telling stories for a long time, but it was a pair of professors at my alma mater, Central Methodist University, who convinced me that I was talented as a writer. Both men liked my work, and they were notorious on campus for NEVER liking the same things, EVER. I was originally a Theater major, but I decided that I was better off writing, so I switched my major to English and continued writing. No matter what kind of work I was doing, I was always writing on the side, so after I got laid off a few years ago and had a hard time finding a new job, I decided to split my focus between classes and writing professionally. I’ve tried a few things here and there, but writing children’s books seems to be the niche that suits me best, at least for now.

Q: What are some of the challenges of your work?

A: A big challenge is telling a story that keeps the reader engaged. There are times when I’m writing and I find myself utterly bored by what I’ve written, so I’ll tear it out and look for a new angle to tell that particular part of the story.

Another challenge I face is getting back into a story when I have to step away to take care of other things. I’m a single parent, an artist, and an Avon lady in addition to being a writer, so sometimes I have to step out of my groove to take care of more pressing matters, such as getting my daughter on or off of her school bus. If I’m in The Zone, it’s difficult to break away because getting back into it can be so difficult. There’s also something of a head rush when I’m in The Zone, so leaving that feeling behind can be a challenge, too!

Overall, though, the most massive challenge is having the courage to write something, polish it until it gleams, and put it out there for publication. The rejection level is HUGE, even when uses unconventional means to get published. But if you’ve got a story to tell and you really want your words to permeate people’s minds and inspire them, you must overcome the naysayers, be they internal or external. It’s easy to look at poor sales or negative reviews and go, “This is crap. I’m crap. Why bother?” It takes courage to take that first step, and it takes even more courage to keep on going.

Q: What are some of the rewarding aspects of your work?

A: The most rewarding aspect of my work is when it has a positive impact on someone else’s life. If I can inspire one person to keep dreaming and not lose hope, I’ve accomplished something remarkable!

Another rewarding thing is when I check the stats on my books and see who is at least reading samples. While having people buy the books is a wonderful feeling, having them at least read the books or borrow them through Amazon Prime llso makes me feel good. People are reading at least part of what I’m creating.

Also, I’m going to try very hard to have the first two Henry books available in paperback form ASAP

The thing that felt the most rewarding, though, was when our church’s preacher’s wife stood up in front of the congregation and joyfully told them all about my first book being published. As the congregation applauded, my mother’s eyes filled with tears, and she told me later that she was so proud of me. Sure, it’s not an Oscar or a Nobel Prize or a Pulitzer, but that moment, when my mom had visible pride on her face—that was everything to me.

Q: What is a typical day like for you? Or are there no typical days?

A: My days are scheduled out, but there’s always wiggle room in case of the unexpected. Each day is full of things that MUST be done, but it wasn’t until a friend of mine suggested scheduling out my days and designating certain amounts of time for classwork, writing, making art, and taking care of my other day-to-day responsibilities that I began to have any measure of success in my work. I even schedule time to take some sort of exercise each day. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by everything you need to get done, I suggest making a schedule and getting a trusted friend to look it over and hold you accountable for how well you stick to your schedule and what works for you and what doesn’t.

Q: What compelled you to write your first book?

A: Dog, Dog…Goose? was inspired by the stories my father used to tell when I was a little girl. When he was a child, he and his family really did have a goose named Henry who thought he was a dog. My mom tried to get my dad to write the stories himself, but he never got around to it, so, thirty years later, she asked me to do it. I talked to Dad, who gave me his blessing to do the work, and he has retold some of the old Henry stories. While everything is heavily fictionalized (Henry wasn’t really raised by a family of dogs, but he did hang out with the family dog and chased cars), many of the stories that will be forthcoming are based on real stories Dad told me.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment, I am working to expand the first two Henry books (Dog, Dog…Goose? and Henry’s Tail) to an appropriate length for paperback publication. The company I’m going through stated that the manuscripts are too short to be produced in paperback as they are, so I’m adding more illustrations as a bonus, since I feel that the stories themselves say all that needs saying with no additional fluff to lengthen them.

I’ve also got a rough draft of the third Henry book in progress, and I’m hoping to have it ready to go in ebook form before Valentine’s Day, but we’ll see how things go. I’ve had a few challenges thrown my way that are interfering with my progress, but I’m still pressing on.

Q: What are you currently reading?

A: I usually have a few books in progress—some are reference, and some are for leisure. AS far as leisure books go, I’m currently reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (I’ve heard good and bad things about it and the series, so I thought I would read for myself) and Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout.

Q: How do you balance out the writer’s life and the rest of life? Do you get up early? Stay up late? Ignore friends and family for certain periods of time?

A: As I mentioned before, I plan out a schedule, and it has helped me immensely with productivity. Just the same, sometimes a job is too big to finish on time as scheduled, so I’ll end up pulling an all-nighter just to ensure that it comes out on time and looking its best. I wake up early to get my daughter ready for school, and I’m a night owl and often have insomnia, so I tend to stay up late. Caffeine is my best friend.

Q: What do you do when you’re not writing?

A: In addition to being a writer, I’m also an artist, an Avon lady, a student, and a single mom, so if I’m not taking care of my daughter or spending time with her, I’m reading, studying, making art, letting people know about the latest and greatest from Avon, or playing the occasional video game. (And sometimes I play those with my daughter as well!)

Q: What is your writing space like? Do you have a designated space? What does it look like? On the couch, laptop, desk? Music? Lighting? Typing? Handwriting?

A: My space is extremely limited (I rent a bedroom and sitting room, and my daughter and I share the bedroom), so I write on a laptop on a bedside table in the bedroom. I sometimes have music going to help inspire me, but sometimes it’s more a hindrance than a help if I’m having trouble concentrating. I always have to have light, too—I can’t work in a dark room—so I’ve always got sunlight pouring in or a couple of lamps on.

Q: Is there anyone who has inspired, motivated, encouraged or supported your writing?

A: My family has been very on board about me writing these stories, especially my mother. She always thought I would make a wonderful children’s book author. My dad inspired them, of course, since he grew up with Henry and gave me his blessing to write stories about him. My friend Adam has been tremendously helpful in giving me new methods to get organized and stay on task—without his help and encouragement, I doubt the first two Henry books would have been written, illustrated, and made available as quickly as they were. Then there’s Ryan, my best friend and rock of two years now—he’s believed in my abilities and dreams since we first met. And there’s Chris, someone who I respect tremendously who encouraged me to never give up, even when I felt like it. And I can’t forget my good friend Bill, who is a fellow writer and someone who understands some of the health challenges I face all too well. Then there’s Jennifer, who has been a great patron of mine. And you, Vanessa—your encouragement has meant a great deal to me. And last but not least, my daughter Samantha—she has been the driving force behind everything I do, and she’s the reason I never give up on life. (There are even more, but if I mention them all by name, I’ll write a whole book. You know who you are, and you’re awesome!)

Q: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

A: Yes: You are loved, just as you are. You are unique, and while your circumstances may not be ideal, there are people in the world who love you and the things about you that make you who you are. It may take time, but you will find where you belong, your home, the people who love you—your tribe—and from there, you will soar—just be patient, pay attention, and don’t give up.

Also, the family you’re born into might not be the family that raises you or helps you to become who you’re meant to be, and that’s okay, too. Henry will be learning a lot from his adoptive family, and they’ll be learning a lot from him. And who knows? Henry might set out to learn more about his birth family someday. In the meantime, though, he loves the family he has, and they love him, too.

Q: It’s one thing to write a book and another to edit it. How do you feel about the editing process? What was it like to edit your book?

A: I have several novels in progress in addition to the Henry books, and it’s considerably easier to edit the Henry books, because they are shorter and more concise than the novels. I tend to get verbose in text, and with books, especially books intended for young children, it’s crucial to trim the unnecessary material from the books so that they remain easy and enjoyable to read without losing the main themes of the story. It can be challenging sometimes, but I’ve found that there’s always room for improvement in my work.

Q: Do you have a favorite brand, flavor, type of coffee?

A: I don’t have a coffeemaker of my own right now, so I pretty much live on Folgers instant coffee with a splash of creamer (no sweetener needed) and Hills Brothers cappuccino.

Thank you so much for your time. I wish you the very best of luck! Let’s chat again soon.

Thank you, V!

Bio: R.L. Oaks was born in Hannibal, Missouri, and spent most of her childhood reading, playing in the woods with her brother and sisters, or cuddling with the many cats who roamed their small farm. She graduated from Central Methodist University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and now spends her time making art and sharing stories about her father’s boyhood pet, Henry the goose. Oaks lives in Saint Ann, Missouri, with her daughter Samantha and dreams of the day when she and her daughter can share their home with cats again.