Author Q&A: R J Gould

Today we're interviewing author R J Gould, who writes romantic literary fiction and humorous literary fiction. 

Gould's contemporary fiction about relationships uses a mix of wry humor and pathos to describe the tragicomic life journeys of his characters. Much of his writing features fresh-start, second-chance, and later-in-life romance. 

In addition to an addiction to telling stories, he has milder addictions to playing tennis, watching film noir, completing Wordle, and eating dried mango slices. He lives in Cambridge, England.

SADYE: How did you come to see yourself as a writer, and what inspired you to seek publication?

R J: Receiving compliments from members of my writing group was a huge encouragement.

To be truthful, I didn’t set out to be a romantic fiction author, I just got put there by my publisher because I write about relationships. My stories use humor, the wry British type, to describe my protagonists’ bittersweet pursuit of romance.

I was encouraged to join the UK Romantic Novelists’ Association and have been short-listed for their prestigious first novel award. 

Time for a confession. My name is Richard and I’m a coward. An agent suggested I use a female pseudonym to attract what is for this genre a predominantly female readership.

“No way!” I declared with bold pride. “People are going to have to accept me for who I am.”

That evening I considered Rebecca, Rosemary, Rachel and Rita before opting for the cowardly compromise of using R J instead of Richard.

SADYE: Tell us something about your writing process that’s unusual or that you haven’t revealed before.

R J: I begin writing a novel by creating characters, with little idea about plot development. For me, it's the people that make the book — the villains, the heroes, the supporting cast.

Of course plot matters, but in a romance novel the traditional plot is repeated time and time again — seemingly insurmountable obstacles are overcome and finally the relationship flourishes. The characters that the author creates make or break the novel. 

My protagonists are organic, only revealing their personalities to me as I write. Frequently they surprise me with thoughts and actions that I hadn’t included in the original plan. They are usually right and I make the changes.   

SADYE: What have been the most surprising, rewarding, and challenging parts of your writing career?

R J: After having been published by two UK indie companies, Headline Accent and Lume Books, I decided to take on self-publishing, which has been both rewarding and challenging.

The reward is having control of all aspects of publishing, including the essential marketing. I’ve enjoyed the journey and have had success in terms of the number of sales and quantity and quality of reviews on Amazon.

The challenge is the unrelenting need to promote and advertise to gain and retain visibility in the saturated ebook market.

The surprise is the wide differences between all aspects of the UK and the USA readership and markets.

SADYE: What has been the most touching or memorable piece of reader feedback you’ve received?

R J: I have received many lovely comments from bloggers and readers, and I’ve added some of them to the descriptions on my Amazon book pages.

I could quote some of the great reviews, but instead here’s one with a two-star rating that made me laugh. “My husband says no.” 

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Learn more about R J Gould on his website, where his books can also be purchased; like his page on Facebook; and follow him on Twitter and Instagram. 

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