
You can find Wendy on the web on the following sites:
Website: www.wendyroberts.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorwendy
Instagram: @wendyroberts_author
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WendyRobertsAuthor
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Travel. I have a passionate love for seeing the world and it’s not always practical to bring my laptop along; like when I was on safari in Africa a few months ago. When I’m not travelling I’m drawn to all the travel sites online.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
Well, that happened without my planning! I’ve always written under Wendy Roberts which, of course, was my actual name. However, when I divorced a number of years ago I returned to my maiden name (Doell) and yet I continue to write under Roberts. There are a number of valid reasons an author might choose to use a pseudonym.
You’re published through one of the big five publishers. How do you determine the stories you write? Is the publisher involved in storylines, or do you have full creative authority to decide? Whenever I’m contracted within a series the publisher, of course, needs those books to follow the natural arc. That said, I have full authority to decide on how that plays out. Whenever I’m not contracted, I write whatever sticks in my head and won’t let go. I’ll fire off a new book to my wonderful agent (Melissa Jeglinski of the Knight Agency) and she sends it out into the world.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Long before I was published I attended the Surrey International Writers Conference annually. The workshops were invaluable and the conference introduced me to agents, editors and fellow writers. Also, paying my agent continues to be a great investment. In addition, I buy a new laptop every few years. I’m a bit superstitious about buying a new computer when I’m in the middle of writing the first draft of a story and earlier this year that bit me in the butt. My laptop died immediately after writing a large amount and I paid big bucks to have a tech guy retrieve those precious words. Well worth the cost but lesson learned!
What does literary success look like to you?
Emails from readers saying they loved a book is the ultimate success. Also, continuing to find publishers wanting my work.