Check out this spotlight for author N. M. Rudolph
You can find all his links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out his books!
1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!
N. M. Rudolph was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in Bonn, Germany. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and teaches a great range of subjects at Gamut Academy. He has dabbled in music, painting, programming, and more. He is the author of such books as Meadowvale, Untold Tales, and Unhinged: 36 x 36. For more information about N. M. Rudolph’s books, visit nmrudolph.com.
2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!
Hunter or gatherer?
My gut response is hunter. I’ve never done real hunting in my life, but, if I can put myself in a fictional setting, I like to pretend I’d be a great survivalist.
Witches or wizards?
Definitely wizards. In most stories, witches are pretty creepy and grimy. Wizards can be too, but, more often than not, they’re whimsical, colorful, and at least a little eccentric.
Ninjas or pirates?
Totally pirates. I’m not subtle enough to be a ninja. Plus, my beard always makes for an easy costume addition. Beyond that, I love the ocean, loud singing, swords, treasure, and all the stereotypical pirate shenanigans.
Mountains or beaches?
Mountains are beautiful! But I can’t resist the lure of ocean waves. I love all the water sounds. The sunshine and sand are lovely too.
Hero or anti-hero?
I love the depth of the anti-hero. A true hero is simply helping and winning: not very inspiring. Some heroes are just villains in disguise. The anti-hero, however, doesn’t hide his internal struggles. He often doesn’t care much for rules or convention but is focused on the mission.
3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?
Magic—but not the Harry Potter kind of magic. I’m not so inspired by chanting Latin and waving wands. Instead, I love magic that seems to tap into something deeper. I especially love when magic almost seems like science, but the knowledge of it is lost in history or myth. Then, as you go through the story, you discover where it came from and how it works.
4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!
My two main genres are fantasy and science fiction. Lately, sadly, most of my energy has been spent trying to package and market my various projects. However, when I have the time and energy, I’m finishing up my novel called Michael the Traveler. It has a lot of fantasy elements, but I think of it as science fiction. Besides that, I have piles of poetry that I’m trying to compile into thematic collections.
5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!
Meadowvale was released on June 3rd!
The story begins with the Highfallows, a charming family of rabbits whose livelihood is farming. An army of lizards sweeps in and shatters their peace. Those left behind must figure out how to rescue lost loved ones. When Meadowvale elders realize the problem extends far beyond just themselves, the story’s scale increases exponentially. Clashing cultures, the struggle for unity, wrestling with despair, festering regret, battle, forgotten magic, and beyond: it’s all there.
Meadowvale can be found here on Amazon.
6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!
Too many! So many. I love magic and the elements—earth, water, air, fire—so I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from video games over the years. One of my favorites is Baldur’s Gate 2. (It’s old. I’m old.) One of my favorite authors is C. S. Lewis, and I’ve been inspired by a lot of his work. I read Brian Jacques growing up, so he’s influenced my style. Most of the time when writing, I listen to ocean ways so that I can feel calm, but, for one of my story ideas, I’ve already imagined what it could be like as movies. “I Miss the Misery” by Halestorm inspired one scene. “Drums of Drakkar” by Amoebacrew transitioning into “Come Together” by Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL inspired another scene. The list goes on forever.
7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!
When I’m in writing mode (right now, I’m in marketing mode), I treat it like a job. Depending on what other responsibilities I have that day, I’ll either plan on a whole work day for writing or a half day. I get up at 7 or 8, eat breakfast, and make coffee. I usually read during breakfast anyway, but it helps put my mind in that zone. Then, around 9, I’ll clock in. If I only have a half day, I aim to write 1000 words. If I get a full day, I write 2000.
8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?
“Your friends and family love you, but don’t listen to a word they say.” If I got the chance to say more, I would explain that most people can’t wrap their minds around the idea of writing and publishing books, so it makes them anxious and discouraging. I can’t count all the stories I’ve heard of other aspiring writers giving up before they even started because some friend or family member shamed their aspirations. Sorry to get intense, but that’s the truth.
9. Last but not least, where can we find you? Drop those links!
Website: nmrudolph.com
Instagram: @n.m.rudolph
