Interview Robert James Allison

by

Josie A. Okuly

Hi Robert, it's a pleasure to meet you. Since you've been interviewed before, I'll try to put a different spin on some of the questions I ask you. 

1) Describe how you felt when you sold your first book.

 I guess you could say I was relieved that someone finally found merit in my work. After years and years of rejections it was good to have someone who seemed to like my work.

2) How did your family feel to have an author in the family?

 They thought it was neat, but with reservations until they saw my work in print. Now it’s old hat to them.

3) As a lawyer, do you use real-life cases in your novels?

I sometimes use fictionalized real events, if that makes any sense to you. I base my stories loosely on my own life experiences to give the story reality, but none of the characters really exist although the idea for a character or event might come from something I actually experienced.

4) How do your colleagues feel about your work?

Some are very enthused and buy all my books as soon as they are out and then others take it with a grain of salt. Unless you are a best-selling novelist or screen-writer, most lawyers don’t get too excited over you.

5) How does it feel to sell subsequent books? Is it the same thrill you experienced with the first one?

I can’t say it is the same thrill. It is always nice to have your work recognized, but you get bogged down in the work of writing, editing and promoting and the thrill subsides a little.

6) Do you have a schedule for writing?

No, I write whenever the mood strikes me and for how ever long the ideas keep flowing. I write in bursts, some short and some long. Lately I haven’t done a thing and the mood may not strike me for weeks or months.

7) How much writing do you accomplish each day?

When I’m actually into a work I may write several hours a day depending upon how the book is flowing and then some days I won’t write at all. I don’t like to force the issue because that tends to lead to writer’s block in my opinion.

8) What inspired you to put that first story to paper? How old were you?

I think I was around forty when I wrote my first manuscript and it started out just to be something to do. It was twelve years or so before I got a contract on a manuscript.

9) If you were stranded on a tropical island with only three books for company, which ones would you hope to have?

Three long ones, probably all by James E. Michner or maybe one by Herman Wok.

10) This is totally off the subject, but what's your favorite color? Favorite food? Favorite singer?

Blue, anything with chocolate, and Dusty Springfield (see how old I am?).

Thanks so much, Robert! I look forward to your next novel!