Interview with Robert Elmer

Robert Elmer has 26 years of experience as a news editor and reporter, freelance writer and advertising copywriter, assistant pastor, workshop leader and novelist. He has written more than 45 popular novels under his own name including his latest historical youth series, “The Wall”. His most recent contemporary novel is Like Always. Robert also recently updated the devotional classic Practicing God’s Presence and co-authored Off My Case for Kids with national speaker and Christian apologist Lee Strobel. When he’s not writing (or sailing), he often speaks to young audiences across North America, encouraging them to develop their own writing skills. Robert and his wife, Ronda, are the parents of three young adults and live in the Pacific Northwest.


Tell us a bit about yourself, your writing, and your publishing journey.

I’m happily married to my wife Ronda and we have three terrific adult kids. We live by a lake in north Idaho where I write full-time, plus I get out of the house to speak and do writing workshops for school and homeschool groups. I’ve been writing professionally since I graduated from Bible college, either as an advertising writer, freelance writer, reporter or editor. When our kids started reading chapter books, though, I thought I’d give fiction a try. That first attempt became A Way Through the Sea in 1994. And here I am about 50 books later, still loving it! I especially enjoy writing historical fiction for younger readers, creating stories where they can imagine themselves in the shoes of other people who lived long before them. Whether it’s Australian pioneers in the 1860s (my “Adventures Down Under” series) or kids living behind the Berlin Wall (in my latest series called “The Wall”) historical fiction helps create a bridge of understanding, a link to the past that we all need.

What is the greatest historical novel you’ve ever read and why?

I was greatly inspired twenty years ago by the work of Brock and Bodie Thoene, in their earliest Zion books. The books captivated me with their approachable and vivid feel. Maybe that’s because Bodie came out of a journalism background, as I did. When I read them, I knew how I wanted my books to be, as well.



Did you have any experiences that prompted your love of fiction and historical fiction in particular?

I’m the son of immigrants, and was always fascinated by the stories my parents and grandparents told of their lives in Denmark – especially their tough times under German occupation during World War 2. That gave me something to write about when I first started out. But aside from that, my immigrant parents did instill in me a love for reading and books early on. Books were always a prized gift at any birthday or Christmas, reading was a highlight of the day, and library cards were my ticket to ride.

How much time does it take to research your stories – what balance would you say there is between research and actual writing?

It’s easy to get carried away with research, because it’s so much fun to learn about new cultures, to hear the stories of people who lived years ago. I try to dive into my research at the beginning of a series, mainly so I can build a credible “What If?” context, to know what kinds of people lived at the time and what kinds of conflicts they might have faced. That can take a month or three. From there, I treat research as an ongoing effort, perhaps running in the background of my first draft but offering additional clarity and possibilities for deepening a scene or a character.


Describe for us, if you will, your writing style, as in plotter vs. seat of the pants, and do you put more time into developing characters or plot? Or are they equal?

I am by necessity a plotter, though not stringently so. And I can’t say that initial plotting is my favorite—for me it’s one of the most difficult aspects of writing. I just want to get it done so I can get to the fun part, the first draft. Plotting gives me the direction I need, the security that I have an overall direction and destination. It’s like my road map, which I will consult before leaving on a trip and then relegate to the glove box. I would rather just drive, and only pull out the map if I get lost. (Which I often do.) So I guess you could say I’m a reluctant plotter.

Was there a person who inspired you to write?

Come back tomorrow for the answer to that and more questions!
Please leave comments for a chance to win Robert Elmer's
Candy Bombers. Though it's written for young readers,
adults are likely to enjoy this book, as well. Our family
was delighted by some of Mr. Elmer's earlier historical
books as we read them aloud together. So whether you are
young at heart or have a special young person to share with,
you would be fortunate to win this week's drawing.