The online writing community is fabulous and supportive, but there’s just no substitute for knowing someone in person! Today’s guest is one of those precious writer-pals who’s become an in-person friend as well, thanks to being my roomie last year at ACFW. It gives me great joy to welcome today’s guest, Robyn Hook!
Hi, Robyn! Thanks for hanging with us!
Thank you so much! It’s wonderful to be here!
What inspired you to start writing? What are you working on now?
I started writing after my husband’s cousin was in a bus accident. A beautiful, joyful, young woman on her way to a mission trip with other college students from the same Christian University where I had earned my master’s degree. The bus driver fell asleep and the bus veered off the road and flipped. Many were injured, but she was killed. I questioned how God could allow it and wondered how the bus driver felt, dealing with that level of guilt. Out of those questions, my first character was born— a young woman responsible for the death of her sister in a car accident. The hero of the story is also dealing with guilt over his past choices,and together they find true forgiveness in grace. My second novel was much lighter and now I’m working on several more.
What does your writing routine look like, if you have one? What obstacles or challenges frequently crop up when making time to write?
This is the first year all my kids are in school, so I’m excited to be able to treat writing like a job. In the mornings I pound out as much as I can while the house is quiet. I try to protect that time because it’s easy to let other activities get in the way. I may also write during the evenings after the boys are in bed.Also, to repay all the help I’ve received from so many experienced authors, I try to give back by doing critiques for new writers. And of course, I love assisting my critique partners with their work—mostly because I love to read their stories.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I have a never-ending list of mom duties for my boys, ages 5, 7 and 10. Thankfully my husband does his own laundry— probably because I don’t keep up! I’m also working on getting an exercise routine going. And I love to draw.
What is the best book you’ve read recently, and why?
I’m targeting the Love Inspired line for my Christmas novel, so I’ve been reading their contemporary line. And I love Arlene James. Her romances feel authentic and her spiritual threads are so relatable.
If you could have coffee/tea/gratuitous amounts of carbs with any author(s), living or dead, who would you choose? What would you talk about?
I’d love to sit down with Francine Rivers. Her Mark of the Lion series is one of my all-time favorites. At the beginning of my writing journey, I read new-writer advice from her that went something like,“your relationship with God is the most important thing. Work on maturing as a Christian.” It was so different than the majority of the instruction I’d read,which focused on learning craft, improving grammar etc… I’d like to talk about that, about her writing journey from a mainstream romance writer to the inspirational market, and spirituality in general.
How has God changed you during your writing journey?
About two years into my writing journey, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I managed to keep writing through chemo, surgery and radiation treatments, but it was hard. Now I feel blessed to have experienced it. I understand what it means in James 1:2… consider it all joy when you face trials of many kinds.
Wow! What a beautiful testimony!
Last question, Robyn. How can we pray for you?
Focus. I have novels started in different genres: mystery, contemporary, historical, even a YA fairy tale. I could use help in identifying which one to pour my energy into. Which would serve the Kingdom well, and hopefully also sell in a book market I’m just starting to comprehend.
Done and done! Thanks so much for being here today, Robyn!
Meet Robyn
Robyn Hook writes inspirational romance. She earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and has worked as a counselor and university administrator before answering the call to be a work-at-home writer-mom.She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and is currently preparing her novel for publication. She and her husband live in Northwest Arkansas with their three young boys and a two rescue dogs. Find her at www.robynhook.com and on Twitter.