An Interview With
L.A. Schrock

How did you get started?

How I got started was a lot to do with what I deliberately read and studied, and what interested me so I could get a pretty good handle, and develop me to write as close to the truth and times of the subject as possible. I studied for the most part what I was interested in. Soon, my main interest in authors was authors of history.

What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?

Traveling down a road, or highway, crossing country that holds such historical settings, have stories to be written of. Stories coming from the magnificent mountains, the tortured badlands, and old mining camps, where too, are vast cattle spreads, and always, that old mighty legend in itself, the Missouri River. So often, this is what will spark a story within me, and when it does, I am emerged in my mind with a romance that I just have to put into words. So, you can see with out me telling, what type of writer I am, except not with every novel will I do the same things. At times I like to take a notebook, put down an outline, select my characters, and have a full field of story plot, character personalities and stay mostly within those confines. I will admit, I hardly ever begin with
but little thought as to where the story will go. Almost always, I have in at least my mind, where I want to begin, where I want to go, and where I want my story to end. Although....there are times, when I get off on such wild yet tantalizing rabbit trails, that I have to end a story early. Because of length of book, I will then finish with a sequel. This I will say happens more times than staying within my original plans. Always, and I mean always, I do stay with the story line from page one until the ending. You will notice, I did not use the word finish, but instead used the word "ending."

Do you write best at a certain time of the day?

I write best, first thing in the morning after a good night's rest, but not before coffee, or at least the first cup. Anytime, is best for me when certain parts of the story are developing and my interest is at its highest in my novel.

What type of writing schedule do you have?

Where I do fall down, is writing with a programmed schedule. I am the type, that when certain things are coming to me, creating at its highest level within me, I just keep it up. It may be that meals will have to be left out, conversation with anyone, nonexistent, and perhaps writing into the night. No time to cast another log on the fire, because, many a time, I have found, the fire in the stove has gone out, and all in the household have long past went off to bed, leaving me alone to get it now. Get it now, yes, because what is coming to me may never pass this way again. I am creating something, where before, there was nothing. So, I would have to admit, I have always had a bad schedule.

How do you handle life interruptions?

Because, some interruptions are so very important. Your wife, or your husband, or the kids, not to mention friends, do at times, need your attention. With me, how can I expect to write not just romance and love in a story, if I have not taken the time to do such, or to give such? Who knows, possibly that friend that interrupted your writing, wanting you to keep your golfing date, will show something about them to create. Or, the conversation on the phone, stopping for a child, or grandchild, or just taking the time to look into your mate's eyes, and hear what is upon their heart and mind? Friend, there is always time to write. It may not be a scheduled time, but it always has to be a dedicated part of your day. Just because you are not able to be at your computer, word processor, or whatever you write with, does not mean a part of you is not creating.

Do you get blocked? Any hints how to stave it off?

I cannot say, that I ever really get writers block, as I have read that so many writers, or authors
do. I find, if a time should arise, that it is not quite in me to create, I can always go back in the story, for better development, editing, rounding out, or whatever you want to call it. If this alone, does not get the motor purring on all cylinders, than I would say, such a writer has serious problems. It invariably causes me, to not be able to stay with the editing, but instead, has me creating.

What authors do you look to as a role model and inspiration?

During these times of studying history, I would also read such nonfiction authors as A. B. Guthry Jr., Louis L'Amour just to mention two, and of coarse, in my interest, one would be un American to have not read and studied, Zane Gray. But with the three authors I have listed, and several I have not listed, I would reread the same book, studying their writing style, development of characters, and writing explanations or presentations. Not one book of Guthray's novels did I like the ending, and I believe I have read all he wrote. I will bring in another author of renown that I believe I could have written several endings to Larry McMurtrey's Lonesome Dove that would have been better than what he come up with, Although, he certainly did do a good job of writing in my estimation. I hate to be un-American, but I do believe Zane Gray at times did get much too carried away in his explanation, and descriptiveness of landscape, scene, and such. In all, I have liked to think, I have gleaned greatly from the authors I have mentioned, in mentioning just a few, and I know I have. How could I not, from such writers who have gained such notoriety, and put out such good stuff. Incidentally, in pointing out two of the authors, Guthry, and McMurtry, I have in my study of history, found in such, where they had gotten their story line, but I shall keep that to myself.

What's the best advice you ever received?

It was not until close to graduating from high school, that a teacher had enough interest in my desire to write, that gave me the best advice I could receive. He told me, I might never be totally satisfied in life, until I would give writing a serious try.

What sparks a story?

Traveling down a road, or highway, crossing country that holds such historical settings, have stories to be written of. Stories coming from the magnificent mountains, the tortured badlands, and
old mining camps, where too, are vast cattle spreads, and always, that old mighty legend in itself, the Missouri River. So often, this is what will spark a story within me, and when it does, I am emerged in my mind with a romance that I just have to put into words. I like to incorporate within my writings, the descriptiveness of landscapes, sunrises, sunsets, mountain streams flowing fresh and clear from majestic mountains, and the total surroundings my story is taking place within. The environment is a steady stay in my novels, as I maintain to keep accuracy of wild flowers, type of trees, brush, and what the landscape is really like. I have always from earliest of age, liked to write romance. So, with mid eighteen hundreds history, mixed with romance I easily dream up, I get a story. It has at times, sparked a story when I have read a book. I become greatly inspired with the only book to my knowledge that Andrew Garcia wrote. It is titled Tough Trip Through Paradise, and this book enthused me to write a historical romance titled He Led Us Through Paradise.

What was it about your genre that interested you enough to choose to write in it and not in another genre?

I had from the beginning what style of writer I wanted to be, but that is not to say, what genre. Be what it may, I was reluctant to seek an education from an institution for writing. I had in my mind that such would change me from what I wanted to be, and into a writer that was what I would call, "a phony writer." I did not want that, because I had know so many that had went off to gain a higher education, and all it seemed to do, was change them, put them into a mind set, of being so intellectual. I did not want that to happen to me, and I would hope would not but, I wanted to be me, and not someone, that through further education, would mold into what I wanted to stay away from. I studied for the most part what I was interested in and in most instances that is what inspires me. Soon my main interest in authors was authors of history, authors such as Helen Addison Howard, who along with Dan L. McGrath, wrote War Chief Joseph. In my estimation and personal research, they wrote with such explicit accuracy. At this time, I was way off working on a project
of construction then; away during the week and sometimes longer from my family. With such long evenings, sometimes long week ends, I settled down to put together, not one story of great length, but enough for a sequel. Another historical author that has greatly inspired me is Bernard DeVoto. He wrote among other books, the book titled, Across The Wide Missouri, and wrote such with great accuracy. This book of his is of the early to mid eighteen hundreds of the American fur trade. I used this in writing a nonfiction historical romance novel of great interest to me, but other works of mine has for now taken center stage.

Have you seen an evolution in your writing? What steps did it take?

Have I seen an evolving in my writing, or an evolution? You bet your little booties, because if a writer cannot go back, re-read some of what he, or she has written, and has not grown, or evolved, than you'd better get back to basics. Read some good stuff, study how such an author has written, and try a better approach. Many times, I will read an author that writes something that really does not interest me, but I study their style, try to see exactly what they are attempting to get across, without having to write, the worlds biggest word count book.

What have you always dreamed of writing, but haven't yet?

Although, early on in my writing, I wanted to do a certain subject, and although it too held romance, I never got it done. I evolved away from that, and now have no time or interest in doing the project in another genre. I will have to add, that I have never had a dream of writing something that I have
not been able to do, or have done.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?

The one thing I like most about writing, is creating characters that have a positive outlook on life, and development of such, and always romance. I love to create dialogue that I feel will be interesting for the reader, and especially female and male characters, that are rather they know it or not, falling in love with one another. Along with my likes to do, is placing in also, the environment about them, and creating the descriptiveness of their surroundings. I like to incorporate this within my writings, the descriptiveness of landscapes, sunrises, sunsets, mountain streams flowing fresh and clear from majestic mountains, and the total surroundings my story is taking place within. The environment is a steady stay in my novels, as I maintain to keep accuracy of wild flowers, type of trees, brush, and what the landscape is really like. I have always from earliest of age, liked to write romance. I stay away from explicit sex, although I get into a very close proximity of such, but my main characters are of good moral standings, intermingled in a relationship with God. God has never been against sex--after all, He created it.
     What I like least in writing is the development, and description of minor characters. Although...,I want them too, to be the most realistic, as the main character, or characters themselves.

What is your next project?

I have in my future, novels to create that I want to get to, but it is not that I don't think it will happen. Lord willing that is, because I have a plan for what I call, an Arizona two book series, and have also a couple of books that will do follow up on what I have already gotten a handle on. I have written a biblical nonfiction that is at this time being evaluated by an e-publisher that will be coming out with We Traveled Through Paradise. If this should prove to be successful, I have enough notes, to do what some would call, more controversial than the one which is titled This Last Generation.

What advice would you pass along at this point in your career?

Any advice I would pass along at this point in my career, would be to encourage anyone interested in writing, to keep writing, and keep it in front of you. Go back over it often, and develop it better. Developing it, by filling it out, looking for places where you have thrown out a bone so to speak, and
such needs more meat upon it to be more appealing, alluring, tempting. Never when a work of yours that has been sent in and you have done your best, let a rejection from a publisher bother you. However, let it cause you to have another publisher in mind, and another. Don't forget too, that perhaps for you, an agent would be the trick. Look over what was rejectedÿ, although don't expect the one who rejected such, to be of help, but keep seeking for another publisher. Be what it may, not one successful author I have heard of, did not at some point in the beginning, not been turned down. Now, that should leave out of course, those who have because of notoriety, fame, or exposure in another field, gotten through on such coattails.

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