Hugo Negron's Blog - Posts Tagged "non-fiction"
Interview with Douglas Rudder from RudderHaven!
I met Doug at last year’s Gen Con where I had the pleasure of boothing next door to his table. I was impressed by his engaging personality, RudderHaven’s (a budding publishing company focusing on fiction and non-fiction) stable of work, AND the creative costumes Doug and his wife wore each day at the convention!
With a break in the Forging of a Knight action while ‘Prison Planet gets its final polish, I was able to reach out to Doug. He graciously accepted my offer to interview. So, without further ado…
HN: Hi, Douglas – thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who Douglas Rudder is, as well as the inside scoop on RudderHaven Publications.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
DR: I’ve enjoyed writing since childhood. I grew up on books like The Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, Jr., Robert Heinlein, and J. R. R. Tolkien. Our parents encouraged reading and nurturing our imaginations. I still have handwritten copies of stories I wrote as a child and teenager. Science fiction and fantasy have long been my favorite genres.
HN: How did you develop the idea for RudderHaven?
DR: My brother actually started it in 2000 as Athor Productions. He published his first fantasy novel, Sharamitaro, and it kind of took off from there. I joined him as publisher and general partner a few years ago and we morphed into RudderHaven. I’ve always been involved from an editorial standpoint, with a focus on monitoring story flow, continuity, and character consistency.
HN: In developing RudderHaven Publications, what was the most fun to develop? What was the most challenging?
DR: The characters, stories, worlds, and concepts top the list of fun stuff. Learning how to develop and compose books in InDesign and do graphic design in Photoshop has been both challenging and rewarding. The biggest challenge, of course, is figuring out how to make yourself known to potential readers.
HN: What is your plan long-term for RudderHaven?
DR: To be a source of fiction and non-fiction for the whole family. We want anyone to be able to read and enjoy the books we publish and want to offer publishing services to other authors who feel the same way. When Jonathan’s fifth novel is released, we will have thirteen titles available in print, with four of those also on Kindle.
HN: Your brother, Jonathan Rudder, has recently completed his Milhavior Chronicles series, and you have some other great works in your stable, including Tolkien: Roncevaux, Ethandune, and Middle-Earth that you authored. Can you talk a little bit about these projects?
DR: Jonathan’s final novel in the Milhavior Chronicles series, The Flame and the Shadow, is slated to be released in time for Gen Con in Indianapolis – just two weeks away. We recently released a new anthology spearheaded by C. K. Deatherage called Tales with a Twist, which is a collection of short stories and poems of various genres, all of which have a plot twist. We also just published the RudderHaven Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthology II, which was particularly fun to work on this year since my daughter (age 14) has published her first story in it. Watching her grow as a writer is an amazing experience – and may result in a blog post soon.
HN: As a self-published author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for RudderHaven?
DR: Conventions like Gen Con, websites (including the new RudderHaven page on Facebook), and a lot of word-of-mouth – beginning with family and friends – have been the staple thus far. I also have a little side outlet, because my office (at my day job) lets me put up a display in the lunch room on occasion. A couple of the authors in our anthologies have also been published in other works and now their readers are being introduced to RudderHaven, providing another avenue for reaching new readers.
HN: This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Douglas Rudder – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work or that of RudderHaven?
DR: I don’t really have a pitch. I’ve never liked in-your-face salesmanship; it’s a quick turn-off for me as a customer, so I don’t use it as an author. Mostly I rely on enthusiasm for the work. It’s more personal. My friends and coworkers know when something new is in the pipes because I’ll bring around concept cover art or proof copies, and they are often amused at my excitement. That’s okay; I AM excited.
HN: As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. In your works, is there anything you would go back and change? Were there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
DR: It is incredibly hard to hit that upload button to send a book to the printer. No matter how many editorial passes it’s been through, there is always the worry that something got missed, that something could have been done better. There are often times in revision when ideas are modified or even discarded. For example, in my short story, “The Observer,” there was some discussion dialogue that I removed when I realized it didn’t fit pacing of the story. There was another piece of dialogue that was pushed to a later scene because of the press of events. It no longer worked where it was in the original concept.
HN: Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
DR: Usually, the only light I have on is the desk lamp near the computer. It’s almost like creating a tunnel from me to the screen and helps keep me immersed in what I’m doing. I don’t have music going, because, well, I find myself listening to the music. I can write anywhere, but I prefer my “bat cave” approach because it’s easier to stay focused.
HN: What are you reading right now?
DR: Jonathan Rudder’s The Milhavior Chronicles and Timothy Zahn’s Night Train to Rigel.
HN: What are RudderHaven’s next upcoming projects?
DR: After the push to get our science fiction and fantasy books out in time for Gen Con, we have a manuscript for a Bible study book from my Dad, who is a semi-retired minister (he’ll never really be retired; I expect he’ll drop in the saddle someday). I’m also working on a science fiction novel, with bits and pieces of two more sci-fi and two fantasy novels floating around in my head.
HN: Where can readers go to find out more about Douglas Rudder and RudderHaven?
DR: Well, there’s my author bio in the back of my books (wait, was that a sales pitch?). My wife and I, along with C. K. Deatherage, will be manning the RudderHaven booth at Gen Con in Indianapolis, August 14-17. You can also go to the RudderHaven facebook page or company site (www.RudderHaven.com) for further information.
HN: Thanks, Doug, for sharing some of your time!
DR: Thanks for asking me. It’s been a pleasure.
With a break in the Forging of a Knight action while ‘Prison Planet gets its final polish, I was able to reach out to Doug. He graciously accepted my offer to interview. So, without further ado…
HN: Hi, Douglas – thanks again for taking the time to be interviewed! Let’s begin with telling us a little bit more about who Douglas Rudder is, as well as the inside scoop on RudderHaven Publications.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
DR: I’ve enjoyed writing since childhood. I grew up on books like The Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, Jr., Robert Heinlein, and J. R. R. Tolkien. Our parents encouraged reading and nurturing our imaginations. I still have handwritten copies of stories I wrote as a child and teenager. Science fiction and fantasy have long been my favorite genres.
HN: How did you develop the idea for RudderHaven?
DR: My brother actually started it in 2000 as Athor Productions. He published his first fantasy novel, Sharamitaro, and it kind of took off from there. I joined him as publisher and general partner a few years ago and we morphed into RudderHaven. I’ve always been involved from an editorial standpoint, with a focus on monitoring story flow, continuity, and character consistency.
HN: In developing RudderHaven Publications, what was the most fun to develop? What was the most challenging?
DR: The characters, stories, worlds, and concepts top the list of fun stuff. Learning how to develop and compose books in InDesign and do graphic design in Photoshop has been both challenging and rewarding. The biggest challenge, of course, is figuring out how to make yourself known to potential readers.
HN: What is your plan long-term for RudderHaven?
DR: To be a source of fiction and non-fiction for the whole family. We want anyone to be able to read and enjoy the books we publish and want to offer publishing services to other authors who feel the same way. When Jonathan’s fifth novel is released, we will have thirteen titles available in print, with four of those also on Kindle.
HN: Your brother, Jonathan Rudder, has recently completed his Milhavior Chronicles series, and you have some other great works in your stable, including Tolkien: Roncevaux, Ethandune, and Middle-Earth that you authored. Can you talk a little bit about these projects?
DR: Jonathan’s final novel in the Milhavior Chronicles series, The Flame and the Shadow, is slated to be released in time for Gen Con in Indianapolis – just two weeks away. We recently released a new anthology spearheaded by C. K. Deatherage called Tales with a Twist, which is a collection of short stories and poems of various genres, all of which have a plot twist. We also just published the RudderHaven Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthology II, which was particularly fun to work on this year since my daughter (age 14) has published her first story in it. Watching her grow as a writer is an amazing experience – and may result in a blog post soon.
HN: As a self-published author, I share the challenge of getting the word out on my works. What have you had to do to win broader exposure and branding for RudderHaven?
DR: Conventions like Gen Con, websites (including the new RudderHaven page on Facebook), and a lot of word-of-mouth – beginning with family and friends – have been the staple thus far. I also have a little side outlet, because my office (at my day job) lets me put up a display in the lunch room on occasion. A couple of the authors in our anthologies have also been published in other works and now their readers are being introduced to RudderHaven, providing another avenue for reaching new readers.
HN: This question will start off sounding like an old joke – a person walks into a bar (or convention or bookstore) and bumps into Douglas Rudder – what would be your elevator pitch to showcase your work or that of RudderHaven?
DR: I don’t really have a pitch. I’ve never liked in-your-face salesmanship; it’s a quick turn-off for me as a customer, so I don’t use it as an author. Mostly I rely on enthusiasm for the work. It’s more personal. My friends and coworkers know when something new is in the pipes because I’ll bring around concept cover art or proof copies, and they are often amused at my excitement. That’s okay; I AM excited.
HN: As an author, it’s sometimes difficult to finally say a product is finished, no matter how many times you review or edit. In your works, is there anything you would go back and change? Were there ideas you had in mind and then decided NOT to include?
DR: It is incredibly hard to hit that upload button to send a book to the printer. No matter how many editorial passes it’s been through, there is always the worry that something got missed, that something could have been done better. There are often times in revision when ideas are modified or even discarded. For example, in my short story, “The Observer,” there was some discussion dialogue that I removed when I realized it didn’t fit pacing of the story. There was another piece of dialogue that was pushed to a later scene because of the press of events. It no longer worked where it was in the original concept.
HN: Do you have a certain method you use when you write – i.e., a certain room, music, mood, etc., to help get you in the right writing frame of mind?
DR: Usually, the only light I have on is the desk lamp near the computer. It’s almost like creating a tunnel from me to the screen and helps keep me immersed in what I’m doing. I don’t have music going, because, well, I find myself listening to the music. I can write anywhere, but I prefer my “bat cave” approach because it’s easier to stay focused.
HN: What are you reading right now?
DR: Jonathan Rudder’s The Milhavior Chronicles and Timothy Zahn’s Night Train to Rigel.
HN: What are RudderHaven’s next upcoming projects?
DR: After the push to get our science fiction and fantasy books out in time for Gen Con, we have a manuscript for a Bible study book from my Dad, who is a semi-retired minister (he’ll never really be retired; I expect he’ll drop in the saddle someday). I’m also working on a science fiction novel, with bits and pieces of two more sci-fi and two fantasy novels floating around in my head.
HN: Where can readers go to find out more about Douglas Rudder and RudderHaven?
DR: Well, there’s my author bio in the back of my books (wait, was that a sales pitch?). My wife and I, along with C. K. Deatherage, will be manning the RudderHaven booth at Gen Con in Indianapolis, August 14-17. You can also go to the RudderHaven facebook page or company site (www.RudderHaven.com) for further information.
HN: Thanks, Doug, for sharing some of your time!
DR: Thanks for asking me. It’s been a pleasure.
