September '16 Featured Interview
Interview with
Robyn Carr
New York Times Bestselling Author
Photo Credit: Michael Alberstat
About Robyn:
Decades ago, Robyn Carr picked up a pen and found that she couldn’t put it down. Although educated to be a nurse, she began thinking about a writing career while on bedrest during a difficult pregnancy. Since then, Robyn has become a prolific writer and New York Times bestselling author. Her early novels were historical romance fiction, the first of which was published in 1978 and titled Chelynne. However, Robyn soon found her voice with contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Her books address sensitive issues, such as domestic violence, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), workplace burnout and miscarriage.
Decades ago, Robyn Carr picked up a pen and found that she couldn’t put it down. Although educated to be a nurse, she began thinking about a writing career while on bedrest during a difficult pregnancy. Since then, Robyn has become a prolific writer and New York Times bestselling author. Her early novels were historical romance fiction, the first of which was published in 1978 and titled Chelynne. However, Robyn soon found her voice with contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Her books address sensitive issues, such as domestic violence, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), workplace burnout and miscarriage.
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Her latest novel, The Life She Wants (MIRA Books), is about women, friendship and the complex path to happiness (Release date: September 27, 2016). Over the past 17 years, 41 Robyn Carr titles have been translated into 19 languages in 30 countries, and she is the winner of the 2016 Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also been a dedicated volunteer in her community. For many years, she worked with her local library to coordinate book discussions and author visits, and she continues to support literacy programs. Robyn lives with her husband in Las Vegas and has two grown children.
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Myrna Beth Haskell , managing editor, talked with Robyn about the writing process, character development, finding inspiration and her latest novel, The Life She Wants.
Your books have themes which encompass difficult issues women face. Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from? Do you write about women you’ve met in real life or from personal experience?
I started writing historical romance, and I soon realized I was writing about complex women’s issues. Romance, after all, is a woman’s issue. If it hasn’t happened to you, it’s happened to your sister, neighbor, friend or acquaintance. People love to talk about themselves, and I love to listen. So, I get loads of ideas through conversations. With The Life She Wants, I envisioned what it would be like to be the wife of a Bernie Madoff type and the aftermath of experiencing that. The main character, Emma, has to come to terms with her past and find a way to move on.
Is there a common thread or message throughout your books?
I write “girlfriends books.” All of my novels are a juxtaposition of women’s issues and romance – often issues that compromise a woman’s life just because she’s a woman. My novels are about ordinary women just trying to get from Monday to Tuesday. If I have a problem I like to work on it, and so do many of my characters.
What are you hoping readers will take away from your latest novel?
I always hope that my readers will ask questions throughout the book. With The Life She Wants, I’m hoping that on a deeper level readers will ask themselves, “What is the true meaning of wealth?” Is it wealth of spirit or happiness? After all, you have one chance to live one life.
Is there anything about your writing process that you’d like to share? For example, do you think of a character first and let the character drive the story…or is it plot that you have in mind?
I just start on page one and often fly by the seat of my pants. I usually don’t know how it’s going to end until I get to the end. However, I always start with the characters. Characters are extremely important to me. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do. Sometimes I’m 100 pages in, and then I remember, “Shit…something needs to happen!”
What is your typical day like?
I get my coffee first thing, and then I work all day. Sometimes the hardest work I do doesn’t look like work at all. I have a lot that is going on in my head as I’m working through ideas and characters.
Robyn on writer’s block:
In order to be a successful writer, you have to be able to write crap. Just fill up the page with words and something will happen. Don’t lay your head on the desk and weep. Just keep writing. Yesterday, I threw a sappy love scene out, but when I went back to it later, all that needed to be changed was some of the dialogue. I revised that a bit, and then it was a much better scene.
Many actors say they “become” their character while they’re making a movie. Do you feel the emotions of your characters…become depressed, for instance?
I often get lost in [the story]. I almost missed a speaking engagement once. Thank goodness it was up the street. That’s the very best part sometimes….getting lost in your work…but you hope nobody sees you. (Robyn laughs.)
There is a deep personal connection with certain stories…perhaps so personal that you have a hard time letting go. I had a book hangover after finishing What We Find. I wanted to keep writing that book. I thought it was my best writing and my best characters. I was so in love with that book that I initially felt that I didn’t want to write another one.
Are there any community projects that you’ve been involved with?
I spent four years as a trustee at the local library. For eight years, I set up bestselling author visits. The program was very popular. I love libraries, and today in particular, they need a lot of support from their communities. I continue to support literacy programs.
Robyn on motherhood:
I raised my kids to realize that the most important thing they could achieve was to do something they loved - something that would get them up in the morning – and also someone to share it with. I’m thrilled that both of my kids have achieved this.
Robyn’s favorite fictional character:
Atticus Finch: To Kill a Mockingbird.
Your books have themes which encompass difficult issues women face. Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from? Do you write about women you’ve met in real life or from personal experience?
I started writing historical romance, and I soon realized I was writing about complex women’s issues. Romance, after all, is a woman’s issue. If it hasn’t happened to you, it’s happened to your sister, neighbor, friend or acquaintance. People love to talk about themselves, and I love to listen. So, I get loads of ideas through conversations. With The Life She Wants, I envisioned what it would be like to be the wife of a Bernie Madoff type and the aftermath of experiencing that. The main character, Emma, has to come to terms with her past and find a way to move on.
Is there a common thread or message throughout your books?
I write “girlfriends books.” All of my novels are a juxtaposition of women’s issues and romance – often issues that compromise a woman’s life just because she’s a woman. My novels are about ordinary women just trying to get from Monday to Tuesday. If I have a problem I like to work on it, and so do many of my characters.
What are you hoping readers will take away from your latest novel?
I always hope that my readers will ask questions throughout the book. With The Life She Wants, I’m hoping that on a deeper level readers will ask themselves, “What is the true meaning of wealth?” Is it wealth of spirit or happiness? After all, you have one chance to live one life.
Is there anything about your writing process that you’d like to share? For example, do you think of a character first and let the character drive the story…or is it plot that you have in mind?
I just start on page one and often fly by the seat of my pants. I usually don’t know how it’s going to end until I get to the end. However, I always start with the characters. Characters are extremely important to me. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do. Sometimes I’m 100 pages in, and then I remember, “Shit…something needs to happen!”
What is your typical day like?
I get my coffee first thing, and then I work all day. Sometimes the hardest work I do doesn’t look like work at all. I have a lot that is going on in my head as I’m working through ideas and characters.
Robyn on writer’s block:
In order to be a successful writer, you have to be able to write crap. Just fill up the page with words and something will happen. Don’t lay your head on the desk and weep. Just keep writing. Yesterday, I threw a sappy love scene out, but when I went back to it later, all that needed to be changed was some of the dialogue. I revised that a bit, and then it was a much better scene.
Many actors say they “become” their character while they’re making a movie. Do you feel the emotions of your characters…become depressed, for instance?
I often get lost in [the story]. I almost missed a speaking engagement once. Thank goodness it was up the street. That’s the very best part sometimes….getting lost in your work…but you hope nobody sees you. (Robyn laughs.)
There is a deep personal connection with certain stories…perhaps so personal that you have a hard time letting go. I had a book hangover after finishing What We Find. I wanted to keep writing that book. I thought it was my best writing and my best characters. I was so in love with that book that I initially felt that I didn’t want to write another one.
Are there any community projects that you’ve been involved with?
I spent four years as a trustee at the local library. For eight years, I set up bestselling author visits. The program was very popular. I love libraries, and today in particular, they need a lot of support from their communities. I continue to support literacy programs.
Robyn on motherhood:
I raised my kids to realize that the most important thing they could achieve was to do something they loved - something that would get them up in the morning – and also someone to share it with. I’m thrilled that both of my kids have achieved this.
Robyn’s favorite fictional character:
Atticus Finch: To Kill a Mockingbird.
