Rob Kaufman - Emotionally Intense Psychological Thrillers

Rob Kaufman's novels are known for having characters with whom people can relate, while at the same time, bringing them on a journey from which most people would crumble. His degree in Psychology was the first step toward getting beneath the surface of the people in his life. What followed was a lifelong search for what makes people tick – what forces them to become evil when deep down they are yearning for love. Rob’s characters walk this search with him, deep into the human psyche, creating psychological thrillers from everyday events. Rob’s books are perfect for those who enjoy thrillers but also need strong emotion to keep them deeply involved with the characters.

“All my books hit home for me,” says Rob. “There are always parts that make me laugh out loud as I write them... and many, too many, that makes me cry. And the great thing is, I’m finding that many readers of my books experience the same emotions.”

Rob's books receive both national and international praise with most reviews noting that his storylines are extremely "unique" and "sobering" and the twists and turns are "masterful". As our Author of the Day, he tells us all about his book, The Perfect Ending.

Please give us a short introduction to what The Perfect Ending is about.

“The Perfect Ending” is about a best-selling suspense-thriller author who can’t come up with an idea for his next book. His publishers are hounding him, his agent is chasing him and he is at a loss - his creative well has run dry.

So he decides it’s time to end it all. However, he gives himself one last opportunity. He goes to a train station with his laptop. If he comes up with an idea, he will pursue the story and write his next bestseller. If not, he will give his fans the exciting ending they always crave by throwing himself in front of an oncoming train. So what happens? How does it end… or is it just beginning?

What inspired you to write this story? Was there anything in particular that made you want to write this?

I wanted to write my next book and couldn’t come up with an idea. Then I thought, what if I wrote about a best-selling author who couldn’t come up with an idea for his next book? What would he do? How low would he go to get ideas and characters? “The Perfect Ending” answers that question.

Tell us more about Scott Atwood. What makes him tick?

I am surprised by all the negative comments I get about Scott, the main character (author). I didn’t intentionally make him out to be so unlikeable, however, the reviews say it all, “We hate Scott!” - yet they keep reading until the very end because they want to know how things end, for Scott and his characters. What makes him tick is his ego and desire to be the best, no matter what he has to do or who suffers along the way. I guess that’s why people despise him so much.

Why did you make your main protagonist an author?

In reality, I was the author without any ideas. Therefore, the protagonist is an author, like me. Would I do hateful things to write a book? Never. Would I hurt people to come up with ideas? Of course not. But Scott would, because he’s not just an author, he’s a narcissist.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

My business is marketing, so I know how to sell pretty much anything through direct mail and digital channels. I’d rather be writing full-time, but that doesn’t pay the bills. Marketing consulting does… for now.

Readers say that The Perfect Ending had them hooked from beginning to end. How did you pull this off?

This took work. A LOT of work. I had to figure out a way to hook readers in, keep the story interesting enough to keep them heavily involved and then end it in a way where they’d shake their heads and say, “WHAT?” It takes a lot of editing, proofing, rewriting, and getting other people’s perspectives to know when you “got it right”. I know I can’t please everyone, but it’s the reader’s opinion that counts, not the “award” providers. I write so that readers are enthralled, and entertained and can escape reality for a while. I don’t write for the accolades (although, those are also nice to get).

The Perfect Ending contains some twists. Did you plan it all out before you started writing, or did some of it just "happen" along the way?

Everything in “The Perfect Ending” was planned before I started writing it. I’m a bit OCD, so I can’t start something without knowing how it ends. The beginning and ending were “set in stone”. The middle “happened along the way”. I had some ideas, but they grew and changed as I wrote each chapter. The “twists”, however, were always waiting to be put onto paper. I just have to figure out where they went and how I could have them make the most impact.

When starting on a new book, what is the first thing you do?

Panic. Questions like, “How am I going to make this work?”, “How am I going to keep my reader’s interest?”, “How can I entertain my reader but keep things real?” - are just three of the hundreds of questions I have to answer before writing my books. I write a summary of each character. Then each chapter. Then I rewrite them. I make sure all will fit with the storyline. I then write the book. Then review and rewrite. Then it goes to my editor. Then I rewrite it again. Then it goes back to my editor and I create the final version. Then I pray.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

Since I have a business that keeps my days full, I have to write at night, early in the mornings, and the weekends. So there really isn’t an average writing day for me. I write when I can and review only when I have hours to focus. There are some scenes for which I need the perfect setting, whether it be raining outside or the sun shining on my face. Sometimes I have to wait for that particular weather or that time of day to write specific “scenes”. Also, if it’s an emotional chapter, I have to be “feeling” it, or else I can’t write it. I cry when my characters cry, so sometimes I have to be in just the right mood before I can write a specific chapter.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a series about a psychiatrist. As usual, I’ve made things complicated (for me, not a reader), so I have a lot of figuring out to do. This book is like a maze and since it’s a series, I have to be sure that everything makes enough sense to carry over into the next book. It’s called “Altered” and that’s the most I’ll give away right now. I hope to have it released by July of 2022.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

I SO enjoy interacting with readers - whether they have positive or negative things to say about my work. It’s the best way I can learn to make my next book even better. They can visit me at www.AuthorRobKaufman.com or email me at [email protected]. I always respond and have made many great friendships through writing and sharing opinions and thoughts. I always welcome all feedback. As I said, it’s the only way to enhance my skills.