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Author Highlight: Connor Royce Discusses his New Novel ‘Don Roberto's Daughter: Natasha’ and Stories from his Life

We are delighted to welcome a very promising novelist Connor Royce for a brief Q & A session at our website about his recent novel ‘Don Roberto's Daughter: Natasha’.

In this Q & A session, he will be talking about his writing aspirations, inclination towards contemporary romance fiction, and the route to getting his novel published. Stay on...while we chat with him.

Would you mind telling a bit about your novel – maybe in two or three sentences?

This novel is closely based on a true story. It is the love story that I lived while watching my beautiful young wife fighting for her life against the ravages of brutal disease.

What inspired you to write this novel? Any tales...

I was often asked about how I met my wife, and when I told the story I kept hearing, "It sounds like a romance novel." I finally decided they were right and abandoned my other writing project to focus on this one.

Do you think that cross-border rules cause trouble for common folks, especially people in love?

Relationships are difficult, and long-distance relationships are harder, but I certainly don't expect countries to change their border crossing laws to accommodate my love life.

Did you do any research for the novel?

I lived in Mexico for over a year in the town I write about. I know the supporting characters in this book well, and I love them dearly.

What was your biggest learning experience throughout the publishing process?

Writing the book was easier and more fun.

How do you handle the response of this book, especially from your friends and relatives and readers?

It's not at all what most people think. It isn't the first pumping, high five, look what I did reaction you see from athletes. I poured my soul into this story for years with many sleepless nights agonizing over scenes, sentences, and individual words. The genuine and sincere praise I sometimes get goes deep into me. It's like hearing that your son has grown into a good man, and knowing that you weren't the best father despite your best intentions, but he turned out well anyway. It's humbling.

Who is your favourite character from the novel – why?

That's easy. Natasha is my favourite character. That's why I married her. I loved her father dearly, too. That's why I named the book after him. Out of respect, it's a tribute to as fine a man as I have ever met.

What are you working on next?

I'm working on the sequel which takes Sean and Natasha to the second Gulf War in Iraq. It's also based on true, and sometimes tragic, events in our lives.
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