Interview: R.S.Natanevin

As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
I have a manuscript completed (a spy story, plus a bit of romance) and one in the making (love story)

If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?
The female protagonist; she keeps her emotions under wrap and hopes for the best

Can you give us a sneak peak into this book?
Cool and classy Karyn likes Michael---but Michael swings between the urge to punish her (because of her father’s wrongdoing) and the strong attraction she exercise on him. They get together and then things happen: somebody mismanages Karyn’s wealth, Karyn is kidnapped, the stock market collapses…

Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing? Critique groups can be very time-consuming. In the past I did belong to three groups, two of which were helpful.

Objective criticism, in the literary world, is rare, especially in fiction. In writers’ circles one finds people (often unsuccessful authors) who behave as if they were in a bowling alley: the “more” they knock down, the better. Probably this is due to the fact that one has to enter into a writer’s head before offering a competent and useful judgement. I rely on two excellent editors (who are also writers): Harvey Stanbrough (US) and Sharon Crawford (Canadian); they point out errors, suggest changes and make my ms ready for submission

When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?
I had written six novels (about one hundred thousand words each) and several short stories; I wanted to see if I could team up with another author for a novella. The challenge of trying a new format (novella and co-authorship) was appealing.

What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
“Keep writing” was the best; the worst dealt with asking me to change sixty percent of my novel, after the contract had been signed and the publisher had kept my ms for a year. I refused, and withdrew my ms.

Do you outline your books or just start writing?
Often, my stories have a theme---a conflict that opens up a realm of possibilities.
What happens if you were poor and became, all of the sudden, rich? (Mountains of Dawn).
What happens if you discover that all what you believe in is nothing but lies? (The Jungfrau Watch)
What happens if a man of the law falls in love with a woman of dubious reputation? (Cross of Sapphires).
What happens if your country asks you to perform a duty that conflicts with your beliefs? (The Blackpox Threat).
Then I start writing---the story almost flows by itself

Anything else you might want to add?

I’d like to thank Rogue Phoenix Press for publishing Fire Underneath the Ice!