CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Rawhide Robinson

Tell me a little about yourself (where you live, who you are, what you look like, what you hope to achieve, etc.)

Folks call me Rawhide Robinson. It’s been “Rawhide” for so long I don’t recall what name they hung on me at birth. I ain’t nothin’ extra—just an ordinary cowboy. Not too old, not too young. Not short, but not exactly tall, either. Whilst dogs don’t bark and women don’t run when they see me coming, I ain’t much to look at. You could say I’m from Texas, but my home is wherever you find cattle to look after and horses to do it with, and my trail has taken me hither and yon across the Old West. For an ordinary cowboy, I guess you could say I’ve had more than my share of extraordinary adventures—and that’s what them books about me is all about.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Other than catchin’ a little extra shut eye when the opportunity arises, there ain’t no such thing as spare time for a cowboy. Evenings around the campfire or the bunkhouse will find me socializing with the other hands. I’m inclined to spin a windy now and then—fact is, I’m known far and wide for such stories. Some folks claim to disbelieve my tales, but I’ll swear with a straight face and a twinkle my eye every word of ’em is true.

What is your favorite color and why?

I ain’t never spent no time ruminating on such foofaraw. I guess you could say dun. I’ve forked a fair amount of fine horses in my time, and most of them has been of the dun persuasion of one shade or another, from claybank to coyote to buckskin to grulla. Most of the West is dun-colored, too, so my eyes is accustomed to the hue.

What is your favorite food? Why is it your favorite?

Where I come from, a man eats what’s put in front of him and he don’t ponder on it much. In terms of tonnage, I’ve et more beans than anything else. Like ’em, too. Especially if they’re spiced up some with chili peppers.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

I won’t admit to having no quirks, but them that knows me would likely say it’s a gift for gab and an uncanny ability to string words together in a euphonious manner.

What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why? Share a line in the book where this irk is manifested.

While my vocabulary is filled with fancy words, I confess unfamiliarity with “antagonist.” But I’m told it means something like “opponent.” I’ve had plenty of them in my time, and they’ve been written up in the various books about me.

In Rawhide Robinson Rides the Range, there was a button name of McCarty whose lack of appreciation of my stories was downright obnoxious. His typical response was %&@*!# or some such. But, him being young and all, I believe that as he got some miles on him he would come to recognize the value of those true tales of adventure and daring in the Wild West that I tell.

If you read Rawhide Robinson Rides the Tabby Trail, I think you’ll come to share my dislike of an old frontier relic name of Buckskin Zimmer. Rustlers ain’t fit human beings in any situation, but hanging is too good for a man who would kidnap cats.

My next adventures, which you will read about in Rawhide Robinson Rides a Dromedary, involve a hulk of a man called Balaban. In his hometown of Smyrna, he sets out to upset by various nefarious means our acquisition of camels for the United States Army. And if that ain’t bad enough, he attempts to inflict bodily harm upon a young girl I call “Hurry” (Huri in her native tongue) who knows more about dromedaries than any ten men you could round up.

What or who means the most to you in your life? What, if anything, would you do to keep him/her/it in your life?

That’s an easy one. I’ve spent my life horseback babysitting cows, and them critters and the cowboy life are what mean the most to me. I’ll keep rolling out in the morning and saddling up and riding the range as long as I am able.

What one thing would you like readers to know about you that may not be spelled out in the book in which you inhabit?

Somewhere, deep down inside the wrinkled recesses of my brain, there lies an itch (that also tingles my lips) to play the flugelhorn in a marching band.

If you could tell your writer (creator) anything about yourself that might turn the direction of the plot, what would it be?

While not inclined to be idle or lazy, I believe Mr. Miller consistently overlooks opportunities for me to take naps. I am firm in the opinion that if you read about me in them books of his, you’ll see that the siestas he does allow me often precede strange and exciting adventures. (The dreams ain’t bad either.) How’s about he spends a few more pages allowin’ me to prop my thirteen-gallon hat over my face and check my eyelids for leaks? 

A Question for Kathryn:

Why is it you writer types is so fussy about the way words is spelled? Mark Twain said he had no use for a man who could only come up with one way to spell a word, and I tend to agree with that sentiment.

Lovely question. While I love Mark Twain myself, I don't happen to agree with him.

While reading a book, you want the reader to be on the same page, so to speak, as you (the author) are. You don't want the reader wondering about a spelling of a word when they should be enjoying the scene. You don't want them so hung up on a word or a phrase of words that they frankly forget to finish the book. Accents like yours are quite another story, however.

***

Learn more about Rawhide Robinson:

I am online at www.writerRodMiller.com and www.writerRodMiller.blogspot.com, and my Amazon Author Page is www.amazon.com/author/rodmiller.

COMING SOON!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Rod Miller

Tell me a about yourself. What got you started in writing?

Since at least junior high school I had some ability to string words together. I worked on school newspapers and earned a degree in journalism. For nearly four decades I have worked as an advertising copywriter. But I never studied or practiced creative writing until, in my mid-fifties, curiosity led me to wonder if I could write a poem, then a short story, then a novel, then a nonfiction book. I have had the good fortune to be published in all those areas, in anthologies and books of my own. I have also written magazine articles. Having grown up in the West in a cowboy family, I have an ingrown interest in those subjects and that is what I write about.

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

In my day job I learned to write to specific (and often ridiculous) deadlines. As a result, I can write anytime, anywhere. I don’t even understand the idea of writer’s block. If there’s something to write, I make the time to get it done despite the usual distractions of life. Early mornings, late nights, long days, short snatches—it doesn’t really matter.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or some other method of getting your words down?

While I am not technically inclined and dislike computers—even to the point of being something of a Luddite—I early on saw the advantages writing on a computer provided. When the first “portable” computer came on the market, the Osborne, I bought one (it’s still in the basement) and have written on computers ever since. I’ve had a variety of desktop and laptop computers over the years, but do not like to change hardware and software and resist doing so as long as possible.

I have a home office of sorts, but also write at the kitchen table if there’s something on TV I want to sort of pay attention to. Distractions like that—TV, radio, music—actually help me focus. For some reason I don’t like peace and quiet when I write. I have written in airports, on buses, in cars, and just about anywhere and everywhere else I’ve found myself.  

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

To borrow a phrase from Bill Moyers (he was speaking of poetry, but it applies to any writing), I like “fooling with words.” Beyond the basics of their meanings, I enjoy paying attention to the sounds and the rhythms they create when strung together. A well-turned phrase, a well-crafted sentence, a well-structured paragraph are always enjoyable to write and read. Samuel Taylor Coleridge said prose is “words in their best order” and poetry is “the best words in their best order.” I think all writing can and should be poetic to some extent.

There’s nothing I dislike about writing itself, but many of the related aspects of being a writer can be frustrating. Sometimes it seems to take forever to see something in print. Whether it’s a magazine article, a collection of poems or stories, a novel or nonfiction book, waiting on publishers to finally apply ink to paper gives one a glimpse of eternity.

How did you come up with your book idea? How long did it take you to write your book?

Over the past decade I’ve had two collections of poetry and a chapbook, four history-related books, and five novels (with another just accepted by the publisher) published. Most of my ideas come from some aspect of history—the people, places, and events related to the American West.

It’s hard to say how long the books take. I know one of the nonfiction books went from zero to ink in nine months, because that’s what the publisher needed. Some of the novels probably took less time. Collections of poetry and short stories take years.

In a way, it has taken a lifetime to write the books.

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

There’s a web site I try to keep current (www.writerRodMiller.com) and I post short items on www.writerRodMiller.blogspot.com every week or two, and inform by e-mail a few hundred folks when there’s something new there.

I try to teach at conferences and workshops whenever possible, and speak to community groups. When I hear about a book-related event I try to participate.

I write for several magazines, and the byline and short bio that accompanies articles gets my name out, and the names of my books. And I try to get reviews of my books published and I write cover blurbs for other authors. I have been fortunate to win several recognized writing awards and I try to publicize those when I can. Finally, I am a member of a few writers’ organization that work, in various ways, to promote reading and literature.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

As mentioned earlier, a publisher just picked up a new novel, my third book featuring the character Rawhide Robinson. Like the other two, it’s adult/young adult crossover fiction that features an Old West cowboy with a penchant for spinning outrageous tall tales around the campfire, along with living a lot of real-life cowboy adventures.

A second edition of my first poetry collection is in the works. The original publisher closed up shop to spend more time writing, and another publisher wants to keep the book in print, so we’re getting all that arranged.

A historical novel is in the early, early stages and I am always working on a magazine article or two.

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

There’s a history book—chronicling Old West lawmen who were also, at times, outlaws—I have been wanting to write and have done a lot of research for. A publisher of another my books has even expressed interest in it. But it will take considerably more research and I am not yet convinced there will be enough there to make a book. I haven’t given up on the idea yet and will keep nibbling away at it.

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?

If you don’t believe you can write, how can you expect other people to believe it? Earn some confidence in your ability. Much of writing is simply a skill that anyone can learn with effort. But it takes talent to employ that skill in exceptional ways. Work on the mechanics of writing with practice, learn the artistry of writing by reading and studying the best writers. And all the while, write and write and write, but write with a purpose.

Enjoy what you have written, but don’t fall in love with it—be more critical of your work than anyone else could be and don’t quit rewriting until it’s as good as you can possibly make it. Then try again. And again.

While critique groups can be helpful, I would be leery of taking too much advice from others—they can only tell you how they would do it, and you have to ask, what do they know? Always remember that it’s not theirs, it’s yours, and follow your heart or head or gut or whatever guides you.

I’ve never understood why so many people say they want to be writers, pretend to be writers, learn all kinds of writer jargon, talk a lot about writing, and exhibit all kinds of “writerly” behavior, but never actually write anything or attempt to get anything published. Why is that?

***

Thank you, Rod!

Learn more about Rod:

Online links:

www.writerRodMiller.com, 
writerRodMiller.blogspot.com, 
www.amazon.com/author/rodmiller

I'M HOME!

I had a blast in Texas from golfing to beaching...

Now I have loads of work to catch up on.

Thanks for hanging in there while I was gone. A special thanks goes out to my friends from near and far who wished me well and commented on my facebook posts. I appreciate all of you in my life.

Tomorrow, I have an author interview set up and you'll want to tune in, especially if you like westerns.

Ye Haw! And I'll see you with your spurs on tomorrow!

Kathryn

Do you know who this is?