Robin Shope

[Lisa Lickel]

“I write stories about Christian people who struggle with their faith, but still depend on God.”
**Welcome, Robin Shope. Robin is offering a copy of her latest book, Wildcard. To enter, please leave a comment here or at http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com

Thank you Lisa, it is a pleasure to be here with you! Thank you all for coming to listen to the musings of a paperback writer - me.

**You have a fascinating background – prohibition stories, Babe Ruth, clash of generations and faith issues in the family home. How did all of those things work together to make you the person you are today? How did your upbringing influence your writing?

Since I wasn’t born with a math gene, it’s a good thing every part of my past richly affects my imagination for writing and I have been loading up on ideas since I was a little girl, storing them in my brain. How can it not? My past formed my thinking, my attitude, my vision and the way I view the world.

In most of my books, there is a weak or non-existent father (as in 'taken-off' or dead) because, most of the time, my dad was missing in action. Oh, he was around like at work or at his mistress's but never tossed me a ball, never watched me in a play, never listened to me read; okay, you get the idea. Some of it wasn’t his fault, I must admit. After all, I was born when he turned sixty (third wife). Poor man, he was tired after living a full life which included running away from home in sixth grade after his dad, in a drunken rage shot his mule. He worked his way from Iowa to Texas where he picked cotton and broke horses and then rode with Poncho Villa before joining the Texas Rangers. World War I came along and afterwards, he started a nightclub in Chicago with his older brother Ralph (that is another story - an interesting one at that).

However, what was his fault was his philandering and never ending love affair with alcohol. I loved my dad with all my heart but I didn’t have a relationship with him. I cannot write what I do not know about. However, my mother was a saint and the polar opposite to my dad. Took us to church. Museums. Listened to our prayers. Cheered us onward. Believed in us.

At home we were surrounded by noted sports greats. But this was also my ‘normal’ life as much as the fact that my dad was a drunkard. Even though my dad was badly flawed, he did so much good. He was the first person to open his wallet and give all he had to help someone in need. Generous to a fault.

I like to write about rich, round characters with a spicy past and a promising future if only they can overcome their fatal flaw. I want my readers to relate to my heroines, find some good in the bad guy, and come away with a sense of hope.

Someone once said to me, “I am so blessed.” And then proceed to tell me everything she owned. I don’t have nearly that and yet I feel totally blessed. Being blessed is a condition of the heart not earthly possessions. I like to convey that in my books as well.

**And today, you’re a special education coordinator. How do you draw on experiences from that side of your life?

Even the brightest person has deficits and the person who struggles in life has beauty to offer.

Raised among the rich and famous, so to speak, I went to school with the Gerber’s of Gerber baby food, and with the son of Marshall Fields, etc. However, the private school I was in was very difficult for me. AP high school Algebra was taught in 7th grade. I didn’t get it. I felt stupid. (Remember my absent math gene?) Because I struggled, my mother sent me to a psychiatrist who tested my intelligence. I didn't like her. Not at all. I decided to mess with her mind as she tried to figure mine out. I ended up labeled as severely retarded. I didn’t mind, one bit. The teachers finally stopped pushing me. "Poor Robin, she cannot help it." I understand how some kids just don’t get it, not understand. I struggled, missed building blocks in education because either the instruction was too advanced for me or I was too busy dealing with emotional business at home.

When I was in college, my first aim was to become an English teacher. For my practicum, I was placed in a special education middle school self-contained class. There were several students in the class who were mentally handicapped because their mothers drank or used drugs during their pregnancy. I found my niche in that class.

Years later, my husband and I adopted. First, a baby girl who turned out to be brilliant. Four years later, a baby boy who turned out to be sweet and filled with learning deficits. I learned so much from both children, but especially from my son, Matthew. He taught me about patience and hope and how everyone has a talent. To me he was and remains the bravest person alive because, for years, he had to go to school and work very hard on things that were nearly impossible for him to do.

**How did you get started in writing? What are some of the best things you’ve done to help yourself as a writer? Mistakes you want to share?

Due to the fact that my home life was strained and my school life was hard, I became a dreamer. I created a better life for myself inside of my head. I moved the characters around the way I wanted and created a new life for them. It helped sustain me and also developed a creative gene for storytelling.

The best thing I've done to improve myself as a writer is to take advantage of every opportunity to write, no matter if I am paid for it or not. Sunday school weeklies are crying out for stories, there are so many online magazines that would love to have an article about a fresh approach.

Also study the changing market. Big things are happening in the industry that are both scary and exciting at the same time.

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes but learn from them. The biggest mistake I made was not getting into a writer's critique group earlier. Be sure you are in a good one with writers and readers who know what they are talking about. You don’t want a group that loves everything or one that discourages you either. Honesty should be your best friend.

**How long did it take you to get your work published? I fiddled with my first novel for about six years before it was published.

Same here. I fiddled with my first book about six years as well. And I have other books that have languished just as long, begging for me to finish and send to my editor, while new, snappier ideas pop into my brain.

**Your stories are “emotionally driven.” What can you tell us about them?

Even though we all think our problems and situations are unique, we all experience the sort of emotions; misunderstandings, need for acceptance, past hurts, disappointments in love. My characters are the same. I love it when a reader e-mails me to let me know that they just had a similar experience to one of my main characters. Or, they identify with a certain character because she shares those feelings of worry or regret or sense of loss.

**What do you want readers to know about you and themselves by reading your work?

It's important to know that although crying (hurt, sadness) endures for the night, joy does come in the morning. Meaning, you eventually move forward. The horrid pain of this moment is replaced by a happily ever after. Life is like a wheel, it gets bad but then it gets better. Just roll with it.

**I have to ask, Robin, why is a Texas girl writing about Wisconsin, my home state? What’s attractive to your readers about Turtle Creek?

This Texas girl was born in Wisconsin during summer vacation. Our true residence was in Chicago near Lake Michigan but we summered in Wisconsin and finally made it our permanent home when I was turned thirteen. I was accepted and learned to be happy and trustful there. Turtle Creek is another name for my hometown in Wisconsin, Delavan. It's I the southern lakes region near Lake Geneva.

**Tell us about Wild Rose Press and what it’s like to work with them.

The Wild Rose Press (& White Rose Publishing - a separate publishing house under them) is a small eBook and print publisher. Small? Did I say small? In all their divisions they have about five hundred authors, just under fifty in the White Rose Publishing. They are approachable, kind, and bend over backwards to help. I have become good friends with my editor, Lori Graham. In the past year and a half we have developed a trust that I have never experienced with any other editor. It's great because we can be very honest with one another. Most of all, I feel they 'hear' me. They may not agree with me, or always do what I want them to, but they do listen and consider my request.

**What advice do you have for new writers?

The best advice I can give is to be proactive in your writing or whatever your bliss might be. Do not ever put your career totally into the hands of another. Study the market. Also be a voracious reader of the genre you want to write.

**Anything else you’d like to share?

Remember unhappiness is fleeting and so is fame. Treat those imposters the same.

My new book, Wildcard, will be available on Amazon (or can be ordered through bookstores) by the time of this interview. I think you will enjoy it. If you read it, please email me with your thoughts or drop your thoughts here at
http://governmentsecretsrevealed.blogspot.com/

The Christmas Edition, the first book in The Turtle Creek Edition contemporary romance series, is now available. Exciting news: Robin has teamed up with Fort Atkinson-based Salty Earth Productions, to produce a film of The Christmas Edition, prayerfully set for release Christmas 2010.

The second book, The Valentine Edition, releases early 2009.

Here is a blurb from Wildcard You can read the first chapter at livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot

Wildcard (2009)
What would happen if someone secured a microchip that could be manipulated to give his or her candidate the edge to win the next presidential election? Not enough votes for a landslide, but just enough to put their candidate over the top in a decisive win. The Wildcards are a group of maverick agents who want to take over the outcome of the next election for President of the United States. During Ivy Dillon's last week as a Washington Intern, she and Ms. Geneen Waters, the secretary to the President of the United States, overhear a conversation about voting machines and missing software. Months later Ms. Waters body is found floating in the Potomac River. FBI Special Agent Ian Serby, who swears he will give his life to protect her, takes Ivy into protective custody. Ian is smart, sexy and seems to have a hidden agenda all his own. Will Ivy follow her heart and believe what Ian tells her about trying to stop the Wildcards or is he actually a member of the Wildcards?

[Ashley Ludwig]

Hey, Robin! Glad to see you here! Great interview...