Interview with Robert Boich ‘Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting!’

Robert Boich was born in Phoenix Arizona. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and attended Ohio Northern University where he graduated with a law degree. The author also received his LLM in taxation from Boston University. In his free time, Boich enjoys golfing, skiing, reading and traveling. The author is currently working on his second book, a novel, based on World War I and the battle of Verdun. He is married with four children and practices law in Ohio. You can find the author’s book on his website at http://www.rwboich.com/

Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, Robert.  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

I’m a first timer.

Q: What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting!

Q: For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

One rejection from a major publishing house; although it did make it to the second level, where the editor suggested that I try and find an agent.

Q: How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

The rejection wasn’t devastating. I had done enough research to realize that some of the most talented and influential writers of our time had a difficult time getting their first works published. Plus, I was fortunate enough to have my manuscript read by the head honcho at this major publishing house, and I know for a fact that he liked my work.

Q: When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?

I contacted an agent who was recommended to me by a family member in the entertainment business, and after reading my manuscript, she suggested that I consider using iUniverse to publish my book. She offered to represent me and try to find another alternative, but absent an author’s platform or celebrity status, she told me it would be difficult.

Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

It felt really good to finally see my ideas and my words in actual book form. I felt like I had achieved a longtime goal. I don’t recall doing anything special to celebrate.

Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I think the first thing I did was to call my family and friends and told them to spread the word. To tell you the truth, I hadn’t given much thought to promotion.

Q: If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

I don’t think so. The important thing for me was to get the book out there. I was, and still am more interested in helping people who are struggling with substance abuse issues then I am in the number of copies sold.

Q: Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

No, but I’m confident that the whole publishing experience has made me a better author. I’ve learned a lot from the process.

Q: Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up?  What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

I don’t know that there’s really anything I could have or should have done differently. The whole process actually ran quite smoothly.

Q: What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

The fact that my book has been able to help other struggling alcoholics and addicts find their way into sobriety is by far the biggest accomplishment. I’m also proud of the fact that my book was named the 2009 Best Regional Book of the Year in the Reader Views Literary Awards.

Q: If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

Do I have to be qualified for the other profession, or are we talking fantasy world here? I mean, I have another profession; I’m an attorney, so in a sense, by writing I have chosen something different. Of course, it seems like it might be fun to get paid millions of dollars for playing golf.

Q: Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

At this point in my life, I just turned 51 in March, I would be quite happy being able to earn a living by writing.

Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?

I really love what I’m doing right now. I get to travel; I get to write, and I’m able to spend time with my family. I hope things are no different in 10 years from now.

Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

Just do it. There is so much technology out there today, that there’s no reason not to get published if you really want to.