So Robert somehow got wind of my debut short story Cristal Blue. I was new, I mean trying to figure out: what the heck Twitter was, how to market, Amazon, Smashwords, book covers, what the heck is a hashtag and what does it do? New.
Anyway, I saw he grabbed my book, well short story, and I was really scared. I mean I still get nervous when people tell me they are reading my work. Some authors say they get excited, not me I bite my fingers (figuratively), but yes my heart beats a little faster. And knowing he was a reviewer made me a little more afraid. Crap is he going to say I suck? And remember here I am, naive little me thinking, but why would he want my book? I write for women. Little did I know how wrong I was and how much of a success that short story would become. Initially, it was part of the Sweet Treats collection, but I broke it from that book as a stand alone piece so that I could make it free. I wanted readers to try my work and then buy the next book. Yeah that didn’t work so well. I do plan on bundling all three (including Peach’s Diary) closer to Valentine’s Day with a new cover, and I’ll probably replace the cover for Sweet Treats even though I love it. Things you learn.
So back to Rob, well, what can I say. He’s a sweet guy who spends so much of his time helping and promoting others. He doesn’t put up with bullshit and loves the written word, whether it’s books or poetry.
Now as to his writing, he is someone that writes poetry that you can relate to, that makes you feel for him, well really that makes you feel. And quite honestly, that is what poetry is supposed to do. He has one out there called I Would for anyone that wants a free taste. I loved that poem and gave it a 5 star rating. My reviews are always listed as SusieQ in case you want to find them. He also has some fantastic erotic shorts all over the web on others blogs, however you can find links from his blog, A Life Among the Pages. One erotic flash fiction piece he has published is called Breakfast In Bed, you will find a 5 star from me on that one too. Yum!
Don’t forget he is a reviewer, but last I heard he isn’t accepting anymore books right now. Check back though, sometimes he opens up for some short pieces. His blog is above; remember to read the policy people.
Thanks Rob for always being a friend I can count on, when I need a straight to the point answer and for helping me with so much. PS he did give me 5 stars on both Cristal Blue and Sweet Treats…I’m still waiting to see what he thinks about Peach’s Diary, not sure if he’s into girl on girl, guess we will find out. ;)
Anyway, I saw he grabbed my book, well short story, and I was really scared. I mean I still get nervous when people tell me they are reading my work. Some authors say they get excited, not me I bite my fingers (figuratively), but yes my heart beats a little faster. And knowing he was a reviewer made me a little more afraid. Crap is he going to say I suck? And remember here I am, naive little me thinking, but why would he want my book? I write for women. Little did I know how wrong I was and how much of a success that short story would become. Initially, it was part of the Sweet Treats collection, but I broke it from that book as a stand alone piece so that I could make it free. I wanted readers to try my work and then buy the next book. Yeah that didn’t work so well. I do plan on bundling all three (including Peach’s Diary) closer to Valentine’s Day with a new cover, and I’ll probably replace the cover for Sweet Treats even though I love it. Things you learn.
So back to Rob, well, what can I say. He’s a sweet guy who spends so much of his time helping and promoting others. He doesn’t put up with bullshit and loves the written word, whether it’s books or poetry.
Now as to his writing, he is someone that writes poetry that you can relate to, that makes you feel for him, well really that makes you feel. And quite honestly, that is what poetry is supposed to do. He has one out there called I Would for anyone that wants a free taste. I loved that poem and gave it a 5 star rating. My reviews are always listed as SusieQ in case you want to find them. He also has some fantastic erotic shorts all over the web on others blogs, however you can find links from his blog, A Life Among the Pages. One erotic flash fiction piece he has published is called Breakfast In Bed, you will find a 5 star from me on that one too. Yum!
Don’t forget he is a reviewer, but last I heard he isn’t accepting anymore books right now. Check back though, sometimes he opens up for some short pieces. His blog is above; remember to read the policy people.
Thanks Rob for always being a friend I can count on, when I need a straight to the point answer and for helping me with so much. PS he did give me 5 stars on both Cristal Blue and Sweet Treats…I’m still waiting to see what he thinks about Peach’s Diary, not sure if he’s into girl on girl, guess we will find out. ;)
Suzy Ayers: What is something people aren’t likely to know about you?
Robert Zimmermann: Some people might look at my Goodreads shelves or see my statuses on Facebook and Twitter, and think, “He reads a lot. Damn.” Well, I don’t. At least I don’t feel that I read enough. As a writer, we should be readers. It’s common knowledge and common practice. In a way, I guess I do read “a lot” but I don’t feel that overall it’s enough to experience writing and learn from it to help with my own work.
I think I just need to find a cabin in the woods without any contact to the outside world and read for a few years...wait, I almost live like that already.
Suzy Ayers: Who is a mentor or someone that you look up to/inspires you?
Robert Zimmermann: That’s actually an easy question. I have two people for this question. One is from a few years ago and another is a constant inspiration for my writing career.
I feel that a professor I had for a few different classes in college, James Allen Hall, is the one who really set me on the path I am on today with my writing. Before taking his classes, and learning from his own work, I don’t feel I took it as seriously and wasn’t as rewarded as much with the outcome of putting pen to paper. I owe a lot of thanks to Dr. Hall. Without him, From Where I Stand would have been a much more poorly written debut collection.
The other, current, mentor I have is S.M Boyce. I started out admiring her writing after reading her first book Lichgates. After connecting with her on Twitter and eventually through email, I gained a great friend and writing “advisor.” We’re very like-minded when it comes to book related things, while also being different enough. And it always helps to have someone that can be brutally honest in telling you something just doesn’t work.
Suzy Ayers: What is the biggest piece of advice you find that you give most often to aspiring writers?
Robert Zimmermann: I mentioned this earlier, but I’ll say it again. READ. It’s not easy for a writer to work on their craft without reading other authors. Even if you’re not studying the work itself, your mind will notice techniques and other parts of writing that’ll help your own work. Most will be subconsciously learned. So read. Read for pleasure, read for learning, and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself with an off-the-wall book. You might even find something you’d like to experiment with, in it.
That’s just one bit of advice. There’s more to say, but I think reading is very important to writers.
Suzy Ayers: Tell us the book you’re excited to share with us...
Robert Zimmermann: From Where I Stand is my debut poetry collection, and the book I’m most proud of writing, so far. It’s a culmination of years of writing and living, and it was a great therapy for me to get it all down on paper. Since it’s release, I’m happy to hear that other people have been able to relate and be stimulated in a variety of ways by my words.
While I plan on branching out from poetry, into short (and yes, erotic) fiction, I always come back to this one when someone wants to read my work. This collection is me on paper...or at least as me as you can get without stepping into my brain. Even I discovered things about myself I wasn’t aware of upon reading it over numerous times.
Robert Zimmermann: Some people might look at my Goodreads shelves or see my statuses on Facebook and Twitter, and think, “He reads a lot. Damn.” Well, I don’t. At least I don’t feel that I read enough. As a writer, we should be readers. It’s common knowledge and common practice. In a way, I guess I do read “a lot” but I don’t feel that overall it’s enough to experience writing and learn from it to help with my own work.
I think I just need to find a cabin in the woods without any contact to the outside world and read for a few years...wait, I almost live like that already.
Suzy Ayers: Who is a mentor or someone that you look up to/inspires you?
Robert Zimmermann: That’s actually an easy question. I have two people for this question. One is from a few years ago and another is a constant inspiration for my writing career.
I feel that a professor I had for a few different classes in college, James Allen Hall, is the one who really set me on the path I am on today with my writing. Before taking his classes, and learning from his own work, I don’t feel I took it as seriously and wasn’t as rewarded as much with the outcome of putting pen to paper. I owe a lot of thanks to Dr. Hall. Without him, From Where I Stand would have been a much more poorly written debut collection.
The other, current, mentor I have is S.M Boyce. I started out admiring her writing after reading her first book Lichgates. After connecting with her on Twitter and eventually through email, I gained a great friend and writing “advisor.” We’re very like-minded when it comes to book related things, while also being different enough. And it always helps to have someone that can be brutally honest in telling you something just doesn’t work.
Suzy Ayers: What is the biggest piece of advice you find that you give most often to aspiring writers?
Robert Zimmermann: I mentioned this earlier, but I’ll say it again. READ. It’s not easy for a writer to work on their craft without reading other authors. Even if you’re not studying the work itself, your mind will notice techniques and other parts of writing that’ll help your own work. Most will be subconsciously learned. So read. Read for pleasure, read for learning, and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself with an off-the-wall book. You might even find something you’d like to experiment with, in it.
That’s just one bit of advice. There’s more to say, but I think reading is very important to writers.
Suzy Ayers: Tell us the book you’re excited to share with us...
Robert Zimmermann: From Where I Stand is my debut poetry collection, and the book I’m most proud of writing, so far. It’s a culmination of years of writing and living, and it was a great therapy for me to get it all down on paper. Since it’s release, I’m happy to hear that other people have been able to relate and be stimulated in a variety of ways by my words.
While I plan on branching out from poetry, into short (and yes, erotic) fiction, I always come back to this one when someone wants to read my work. This collection is me on paper...or at least as me as you can get without stepping into my brain. Even I discovered things about myself I wasn’t aware of upon reading it over numerous times.
Suzy Ayers: Where are you going next? What is your next project/book?
Robert Zimmermann: What’s next? I have two things on my plate, but one’s gotten pushed behind my current project. I started out a few months ago wanting to compile my erotic flash fiction into a collection, along with some new and unreleased stories. There’s still a plan in my mind for that to happen, but since the leaves started changing and fall began, my poetic nature is jumping out of me.
I’m in the process of writing some “fall themed” poems. I think many will be about nature, the season, and all that. But behind it all will probably be some more of my personal stuff. It always tends to creep out even if I don’t want it to.
Robert Zimmermann: What’s next? I have two things on my plate, but one’s gotten pushed behind my current project. I started out a few months ago wanting to compile my erotic flash fiction into a collection, along with some new and unreleased stories. There’s still a plan in my mind for that to happen, but since the leaves started changing and fall began, my poetic nature is jumping out of me.
I’m in the process of writing some “fall themed” poems. I think many will be about nature, the season, and all that. But behind it all will probably be some more of my personal stuff. It always tends to creep out even if I don’t want it to.
More about the author:
Robert has been writing poetry since the eleventh grade. His writing started as impulsive rambling, but soon became a passion. A few years later, he attended SUNY Potsdam where he received a B.A. in Creative Writing.
His main focus is poetry, but he's also known for dabbling in short fiction, and at times erotica. Robert has also created the blog A Life Among The Pages, where he posts about his writing, love of books, and reviews books.
When he's not reading or writing, Robert enjoys spending time with his dog, Deuc. Deuc ran out of the woods in August 2011 and they have been inseparable ever since.
Robert has been writing poetry since the eleventh grade. His writing started as impulsive rambling, but soon became a passion. A few years later, he attended SUNY Potsdam where he received a B.A. in Creative Writing.
His main focus is poetry, but he's also known for dabbling in short fiction, and at times erotica. Robert has also created the blog A Life Among The Pages, where he posts about his writing, love of books, and reviews books.
When he's not reading or writing, Robert enjoys spending time with his dog, Deuc. Deuc ran out of the woods in August 2011 and they have been inseparable ever since.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website | Twitter | Facebook
BookLikes | Goodreads
Amazon Author Page | Smashwords Author Page
Website | Twitter | Facebook
BookLikes | Goodreads
Amazon Author Page | Smashwords Author Page
RSS Feed
