John Rogers

Today I am excited to introduce to you John Rogers!  He's a historical fiction writer that has been all over the world! Be sure to connect with him on social media!

Tell me more about yourself:

An American, I was born and raised abroad the son of a diplomat, first, and later a businessman. I lived for the first 18 years of my life in Antwerpen, then Paris for 10 years, and later Kinshasa, DRC for three years, where I graduated from high school. I hold a B.A. degree in French literature from Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus, a language in which I am fluent. I moved from the East Coast (Washington, DC) to the West Coast (greater Los Angeles area) where I worked for many years for a major aerospace defense contractor. I also found time to spend a year studying the craft of short story writing at UC Irvine, Div. of Continuing Education. I live in southern California with my partner.

What inspired you to be an author?

Probably my love of reading; I have been an avid reader since childhood. My parents were both obsessive readers and I can only imagine that their interest, and perhaps my international upbringing, fuelled my imagination to write and to write the type of fiction I do.

How many stories have you written? 

I have self-published seven historical thriller novels and I’m working on a new one. As to short stories I have had published six of them in literary publications and or online although I have written well over 30 stories; occasionally I will put aside writing my latest novel and begin to write another one.

Is writing your full time profession? If not, what else do you do and how do you manage both jobs?

Fiction writing has become my full-time work for the last 11 years ever since I had to retire prematurely.

What is your writing process?

Because I write historical fiction I spend a good deal of time doing research—often a month or two before I begin to write. Then I pick an international locale that interests me. All of my novels are set in different out of the way places in the world that have caught my attention and/or, for some reason, have intrigued me. For instance, settings in some of my novels have included Famagusta, Cyprus, Novorossiysk, USSR (now Russia), Dinard, France, Asmara, Eritrea, Port Lyautey (now Kenitra), Morocco, and my latest set principally in Lourenco Marques (now Maputo), Mozambique. When it comes to structuring the story I erect only a few guideposts to help me write. I don’t like outlines and don’t find then very useful instead I prefer a more free-flowing unraveling of the story. Usually I have already decided on an ending, but not always, and have a semi-formed impression of my protagonist: male/female, what nationality, what is his/her problem, what event has happened that has caused me to write his/her story, that sort of thing. Obviously writing this way results in frequent derailments and I have to watch carefully so that I adhere to my story line. I find this approach usually results in a more interesting and captivating story.

Why is research so important for writing? 

As to historical fiction it is imperative to know the period well not only in terms of historical events that were occurring but also to know how people spoke, what were the popular first names, what they wore, how they communicated and generally how they lived their lives. My novels are all set in the time periods that either pre-date WWII by several years or extend through to what is generally referred to as the Cold War period.

What is the craziest thing you've had to research?

What was a popular American name for a male dog in the 1940s. Answer: Jack

How do you create the world you are writing in?

Research, of course, other novels I’ve read, perhaps movies I’ve seen but fantasy plays a huge role as I always try to place myself in the moment of my story line.

How do you pull us in with amazing characters?

I think at least one character, often the protagonist, has to be memorable in a certain way and I usually expose this through dialogue highlighting the character’s opinions, state of mind and/or their reactions to others and events.

What authors inspire you to write?

I read widely across many different genres so it’s safe to say I have been inspired by countless writers. One of my earliest influences was Paul Bowles who wrote The Sheltering Sky, a novel I re-read at least once a year for its richly descriptive setting (Morocco) and its uncompromising characterizations. Another would be William Trevor, he an Irish short story writer, whose many stories, including my favorite Two Lives, are unparalleled in their use of beautiful sentences, vivid dialog and marvelous descriptions.

Fiction or non-fiction? Which is easier to write?

Non-fiction. You only have to open your eyes and record what is happening.

What are you currently working on?

An as yet untitled historical thriller novel featuring a young German-French Jewish couple fleeing the Nazis who become embroiled in espionage in 1940s Lourenço Marques, the capital of neutral Mozambique in Portuguese East Africa. The story begins in Paris, moves to Lisbon and evolves in Lourenço Marques.

About the Author:

J.R. Rogers is a literary historical thriller novelist of foreign intrigue and espionage. He has written seven novels in this genre. Far away settings and exotic locales that have caught his attention and became the setting for his novels have included Cayenne, former French Guiana; Montevideo, Uruguay; Dinard, France; Famagusta, Northern Cyprus; Novorossiysk, Russia and Asmara, former Italian Eritrea, the setting for his latest novel. His new project is set in Paris, Lisbon and Lourenço Marques, the former capital of neutral Portuguese East Africa.

He is also a prolific short story writer a number of which have been published in various literary publications and/or online sites, including Steam Ticket: A Third Coast Review, The Legendary, The Copperfield Review, Outside In Literary & Travel Magazine, Driftwood Press Literary Journal, River & South Review, and others.

Besides writing fiction his interests include art, culture, gender equality, indie film, and photography.

An avid reader he holds a B.A. in French literature from Georgia Southern University – Armstrong Campus and studied short story writing at the University of California, Irvine, Division of Continuing Education.

He has lived in Europe and West Africa and now lives in southern California.

Author Links:

Twitter: @authorjrrogers

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorjrrogers/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768367.J_R_Rogers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-r-rogers-039613a9/

Website: https://authorjrrogers.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/J.R.-Rogers/e/B005710EZI/