Interview with Author Katherine Roberts on Her Writing Journey and Inspirations

Roberts began her storytelling at a young age, creating tales for her younger brother using toys as characters, despite not initially envisioning herself as a writer due to a lack of enjoyment in English classes at school. To date, she has written 50 books, with 16 published, along with around 100 short stories, about half of which have appeared in magazines. Her favorite published work is "I am the Great Horse," which tells the story of Bucephalas, Alexander the Great’s legendary stallion.

When it comes to storytelling, Roberts believes a compelling narrative is one that keeps the reader engaged. She is not a proponent of the concept of writer's block, stating that while the writing may not always be good, she can always produce something. However, she acknowledges the existence of "publisher’s block," which can hinder talented writers from getting their works published if they do not align with market demands.

Currently, Roberts is working on five different projects, including two young adult novels, a middle-grade Roman book, a series featuring a young heroine, and an adult novel, all without publishers at this time.

Roberts cites Anne McCaffrey as one of her favorite authors, particularly for her dragonrider series, which has influenced her own writing. In her creative process, she now often starts with character development, especially in her series work, while in short stories, she usually begins with an idea or theme. Her writing routine varies significantly with the phases of the projects she is working on.

When drafting, Roberts has transitioned through various methods, initially using paper and a typewriter before moving to computers. Now, she prefers to draft on paper for the added creativity it brings. She finds herself surprised by her characters, often discovering how their stories will end only in the final chapters.

Roberts expressed a desire for her book "Spellfall" to be adapted for television or film, though she believes all her works could potentially lend themselves well to visual media. She enjoys the autonomy that comes with being a writer but also recognizes the challenges that accompany it. She advises aspiring writers to simply write and continue honing their craft, emphasizing that writing should ultimately be for oneself.

In her reflections on inspiration, Roberts shared that her desire to write stemmed from a scarcity of enjoyable books in her local library, motivating her to create stories that resonated with her. While she typically avoids music while writing to prevent distractions, she may play classical music during editing sessions to aid concentration.

Roberts views the heart of a book as a compelling story with relatable characters. She has co-written a novella titled "Children of the New Disorder" with author Tim Lebbon, although she used a pseudonym due to the darker themes of the work.