I met and had a nice chat with R.M. Scott this spring, and now I’m very happy to bring you this quick chat about her writing.
Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Hi Wonderful Readers!
I am R.M. Scott, a young adult and children’s author.
My first traditionally published novel is Unseen.
It is a captivating tale of sixteen-year-old Alaia, a gifted healer. She can cure her father from a lung disease given enough time, but instead she must disappear, because the Inquisitor has accused her of practicing magic.
She flees with Mateo, the Inquisitor’s nephew, in a forbidden romance, but the young healer must learn to use her herbal knowledge to fight back to save those she loves. Even those she’d believed were already lost.
It is influenced by Basque culture and the European witch hunts of the 17th century, but it is a sweet and adventurous, young adult read.
www.rmscottauthor.com
Amazon.com: Unseen: 9781942856825: Scott, R M: Books
Unseen – Kindle edition by Scott, R. M. . Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Unseen by R. M. Scott – Audiobook – Audible.com
Unseen (Paperback) | The Rediscovered Bookshop (rdbooks.org)
www.instagram.com/rmscottauthor
www.facebook.com/rmscottauthor
www.twitter.com/rmscott99
Are you a native Idahoan? What brought you to Idaho in the first place? (answer whichever question applies) What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I was born in Idaho Falls on the coldest night of the year. There were power outages, snow, and storms. All the heat in the maternity ward was routed to the babies to keep them alive, and I was one of them. So yes, I am a native Idahoan. I’ve traveled to Europe, Asia, Central America, and all over the U.S., but the Northwest is more than where I am, it’s simply who I am. Home. A connection of life and being.
Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
I joined SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) after meeting a local author at Hastings. It has been huge for me. I met other authors that helped mentor me in critique groups. I grew in my skill and craft. I took courses and attended conferences, still do.
What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
I like to attend the Idaho Writer’s Guild conference held annually in Boise. There are usually agents to pitch work to and classes on craft. SCBWI also has great conferences, with a focus on writing for children. It has conferences occasionally in Idaho, and annually or semi-annually in Utah, Seattle, Portland, and other areas.
Utah also has a couple amazing conferences that I’ve attended – LTUE (a must if you’re a Brandon Sanderson fan) and the Storymakers Conference. The Storymakers Conference has an annual competition called the Whitney Awards. I was honored to be a finalist in 2022 where I got to meet Brandon Sanderson in person. And yes, I am a fan.
What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
My audience is wide-ranging in age groups and geographical areas. For example, readers of my book have ranged from 11 to 90-years-old. My book is at different libraries across the U.S. I’ve had readers in the U.K. as well.
Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
When you attend large conferences, you realize how much a “small fry” you are. There are definite advantages to big areas with big names and big conferences. However, sometimes I see being from a smaller venue as an advantage because you’re not as easily discouraged by how intense the competition can be. You’re more likely to try simply because you’re a little unaware of it.
Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I think writing is an expression of the soul. It’s hard to divide it into who you are and the story. It’s intertwined. Sometimes I can tell where an author is from quite easily from the choice of words, perspective, and storytelling. All our experiences shape our viewpoints, and I’m no different. I do believe kindness and helping others is part of being Idahoan and that is always going to be an undertone in my writing.
One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
For those who have grown up hearing about their pioneer ancestors, I enjoyed Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson. It’s a young adult novel with a magical twist influenced by covered wagons, walking the Oregon trail, and the gold rush.
Good looking pick!
Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it! Readers, be sure to click on at least one of those links above and check out Scott’s work out!