SFG would like to welcome Southern (Louisiana) author, Robin Wells. Robin is a RWA 2011 Rita Finalist in the Contemporary Single Title category along with some other well known authors. You may have heard of a few such as, Nora Roberts, Rachel Gibson, Victoria Dahl and a few other wonderful authors. (Wow!)

SFG: So Robin, give us the scoop on the Rita call from RWA:

RW: I was drying off from the shower when the phone rang. I headed to the nearest phone--it happened to be an older one with no caller ID-- and answered it. A woman asked for me, then said she was Diane with RWA. "I bet you know why I'm calling," she said.

I just assumed she was with the local chapter, so I'm thinking, Did I sign up to bring a snack this month? or Maybe they want me to do a program.

She said, "Your book ,Still the One ,is a finalist for the Rita."

I dropped the towel-- and darn near dropped the phone. I don't remember exactly what I said -- probably a lot of OMG-ing and "Are you kidding?" and "I can't believe it" type stuff. I do remember asking her who the other finalists were in my category, and she couldn't tell me because some of them were on the West Coast and she hadn't notified them yet because it was still too early. When I hung up, I danced a little jig, called my husband (he was out of town) then got dressed and made reservations for New York.

SFG: How exciting. That's one phone call I’m sure you will never forget. Would you tell us where you got the idea for the novel, Still the One?

RW: I got the idea for Still the One while I was writing Between the Sheets. I just felt like the secondary character of that book, Katie, had her own story-- and I loved the people of Chartreuse, Louisiana so much that I wanted to revisit them. I think the fact I have teenage daughters played into it, as well. I wanted to write about mothers and daughters and generational relationships. I'm fascinated by how people can have such different perspectives because everyone views life through the lens of their individual experiences-- and I'm intrigued by how those perspectives can change over time, especially if people are open to forgiveness and willing to let go of the need to be right.

SFG: (I know all about teenage daughters.) I remember Katie from Between the Sheets, she truly deserves a happy ending in her own story and I can’t wait to read it. Now on to the fun stuff. I always ask authors for some advice for aspiring authors. Can you give a few tips.

RW: Here are five pieces of writing advice that have been immensely helpful to me. I don't know who said the first four, but the last is a Nora Roberts quote.

"Create characters you care about and give them terrible problems."
"Put your butt in the chair."
"Write the book you'd love to read but can't find in a bookstore."
"Writers write."
"You can always fix a bad page, but you can't fix a blank one."--- Nora Roberts

About Robin: (Note: In the picture, Robin is wearing her Rita pin)

Before becoming a full-time writer, Robin Wells was an advertising and public relations executive, but she always dreamed of writing novels—a dream inspired by a grandmother who told “hot tales” and parents who were both librarians.
When she sold her first novel, her family celebrated at a Chinese restaurant. Robin’s fortune cookie read “Romance moves you in a new direction”—and it has. Robin has won the RWA Golden Heart Award, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Holt Medallion and CRW’s Award of Excellence.
Robin lives just outside New Orleans with her husband, two daughters and an exceedingly spoiled dog named Winnie The Pooh-dle.

STILL THE ONE BLURB:

After Katie Charmaine’s husband is killed in Iraq, all she has left is a closet full of his clothes, a few pictures, and fond memories. She not only lost her love, but her last chance to have the children she’s always wanted. Until Zack Ferguson shows up in town...with the daughter Katie gave up for adoption nearly seventeen years ago.

Zack Ferguson has never forgotten Katie, or the one magical night they spend together. Seeing her again brings up a tidal wave of emotions: regret over the way he left her, anger at the secret she kept, and desire he hasn’t felt in years. But he’s in town for Gracie. Their daughter is seventeen, angry at the world and....pregnant. She needs the love of her two parents now more than ever. Can these three forgive the hurts of the past and open their hearts to one another?

Thank you so much for the interview, Robin. Good luck in New York and enjoy every second of this wonderful Rita nomination. You can find Robin Wells and all her wonderful books at www.robinwells.com

Because after dark, things go south fast…

Dawn Chartier
Author of Not An Angel

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link to interview

Interview by Dawn Chartier

Thursday, June 23, 2011

2011 RWA Rita Finalist, Robin Wells

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