An Interview with Robin Owens

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An Interview with Robin D. Owens

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Robin D. Owens as our guest today. Tuesday was the release of her latest addition to her Celta series….Heart Secret, which we reviewed yesterday.

Let’s begin our interview with Robin

 


Hi Robin.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.  We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Would you please tell us about yourself?

Robin: I’m single and living with cats in Denver, Colorado – and have used the cats for characters in my books.  I love to read and write (though that’s different now it is actually my job and deadlines come with that job).  I’ve picked up a few awards along the way…and I am ever hopeful of revising my website.

TRC: When and how did you become interested in writing?  Have you always liked to write?

Robin: Yes, I've been interested (and writing) since I was a child.  One of my relationships demanded most of my attention and when that crashed I had so much free time I decided to do what I'd always longed to…write.

TRC: Many writers bounce ideas and information with either a family member, a Friend, or another writer.  Who inspires you?  Do you have a muse?

Robin: I had a critique group long before I was published, and though it has morphed, I still have a critique group.  I have beta readers for my work who help with it…as for a muse, that would be the cats.  I’m firmly convinced that the telepathic cat with attitude (redundant) sold my first book, HeartMate.  I still watch them and use them.

TRC: I love your cats with an attitude.  I want a Fam Cat. 🙂

TRC: Would you tell us your steps to writing a novel? 

Robin: Um, sit down and write?  Actually I DO love to "pantz," write by the seat of my pants, but I sell on proposal now, which means I must have some kind of plot ahead of time.
Note: As a pantzer and before I was published, I compared my latest manuscript to the archetypical one described in Christopher Vogler's The Writers Journey and found that my plot points matched his…so that's what I keep coming back to. 

TRC: When you published Heart Mate in 2001, did you know how far you wanted to go in this series?  Now that Heart Secret being released this month, and it is your 11th book in that series, do have an end in sight?  We hope not.  🙂

Robin: THANK YOU!  I am hopeful for at least 3 more books in the Heart series…and until I tire of them.  I love doing them.  I’m also on my second series for Luna.  The first, the Summoning series, was about average American women summoned to another dimension to fight hideous evil – that was a run of five.  The urban paranormal series I’m writing now, Mystic Circle, I am hoping for nine.  I’m also thinking about epublishing some stories/novellas/novels out.

TRC: For new readers, please tell us the premise of the Celta Heartmates series, and how you came up with the idea of this world?

Robin: Ah, well I am Welsh (like Patty Briggs), and there wasn’t much of Celtic culture out there worldbuilding wise when I began writing it.  I’d been writing historical Regency romances, but they hadn’t been selling. 🙂  So I started something off the wall, which was HeartMate – with an alpha hero who not only consulted runes, but believed them, which, of course, doesn’t often happen on this planet.  I got T’Ash, surly blacksmith and jeweler.  Also the cats – my Maddox (Zanth in the book) strolled onto the page burping and complaining about the chef, and I got my story rolling.

TRC: Please tell us a little about Heart Secret?

Robin: I’ve introduced both the hero, Garrett Primross, private investigator, and Artemisia Panax (Mugwort) earlier.  Again, Garrett is a very alpha guy (and I LOVE the sexy cover!), and survived the most virulent form of a sickness that killed everyone around him.  The plague is back and the Healers want to study why he might have stayed alive.  Artemisia is assigned to him – a HeartMate he’s been avoiding.  Of course there’s also a murder.

TRC: Your Exotique Summoning series was wonderful, and your female heroines were great. Love that your female heroines in this series are as equally strong as the men.  Is there anything that made you want to make the women in your stories so strong?

Robin: I think women are strong.  It hurts to be strong, to gain that strength and use it sometimes, but we are certainly as strong as men mentally and emotionally.

TRC: Tell us about your Mystic Circle series, which is now in the second book .. Enchanted Again.  What is the premise behind this series, and how many books do you plan?

Robin: I live in a very fun neighborhood (bought when it was low and it grew up around me) and Denver’s mixture of architectural styles has always fascinated me.  And I wanted to do a contemporary urban series – women with magic.  Enchanted No More was about a half-human, half-magical woman; Enchanted Again is about a cursebreaker that must learn to take care of herself first (as many women must do) and Enchanted Ever After features a totally human woman who becomes a mermaid.

TRC: What are you currently working on? Any thoughts of a new series?

Robin: I always have an abundance of ideas!  I'm thinking of epublishing a lot – maybe some stories in the Summoning series that didn't get into the books, maybe some Celtan stories (through my publisher), and I have a urban shapeshifter story that's calling my name.

TRC: Who is your favorite Female Character in your books?

Robin: I love them all, as I love all my heroes. 🙂  But the one I had to watch like a hawk every time she sauntered on stage so she wouldn't steal the show (like most of the Fam animals do), was Alexa Fitzwalter of Guardian of Honor.  Not sure if this makes sense, but I think she is the true daughter of my father, the most like him. 

  TRC:  LOL Alexa was great.

TRC: Do you have any advice for new authors?

Robin: This has absolutely changed since the epublishing world has opened up!  I used to say, Never Quit, but before I'd say, as I do now: Read, read, read!  Make sure you hit those archetypical plot points that will satisfy your reader.  If you plan on writing in a genre, know what it is so you don't break some "readers' rules" (like having the heroine in a romance commit suicide at the end).

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Robin: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INTERVIEW.  You really came up with some thought provoking questions that I hadn't considered before. 


LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: (as I am writing this now, at breakfast: croissants)

Favorite Author: Eileen Wilks, J.D. Robb, Patricia Briggs, Iona Andrews

Favorite Movie: Ladyhawke, The Three Musketeers, Singing in the Rain 

Favorite TV Show: Once Upon A Time

Last Movie that you saw: The Avengers

Last book that you read: Shelly Laurenston’s Beast Behaving Badly

Favorite character (male & female) not written by you:  How can you top Eve Dallas and Roarke?  Though I do love Lily Yu and Rule Turner (rather like Eve and Roarke), and Anna and Charles of Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega world.

  TRC: sigh  Eve and Roarke are my all time favorite couple.  🙂

TRC:  Thank you, Robin for answering our questions. We look forward to continuing to read your books, and to work with you in the future.

Robin: Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.

If you would like to find out more about Robin, you can visit her at the following sites:

Website: http://robindowens.com
Twitter:
Facebook:
Author’s Den:
Goodreads:

Robin has graciously offered to give three members of The Reading Café a chance to each win a choice of one of her backlist books, which includes her Luna series. 

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment and say hello to Robin.

4.  Giveaway open U.S. or Canada Only

5.  Contests runs from August 9th – 11th.

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33 thoughts on “An Interview with Robin Owens”

  1. Since I have been reading the reviews of your series the last few days, I couldn’t wait for your Interview. It was great to get to know you Robin. I have read most of your Celta series, though I do have a few more to go. From what you say about Mystic Circle, I think I will go buy that series too.

  2. Fantastic review TRC, as always. Interesting, and informative. The different romantic fantasy/paranormal series written by this author sound very intriguing and original. I have had the first installment of the Celta heartmates on my TBR for quite sometime….sounds as if I need to check into them further. I am always looking for exciting fantasy with a love story in literature.

    Robin, thank you so much for taking the time to answer questions, and offer advice for those of us that love to write, and consider pursuing publication someday. The way you talk about your cats is so endearing.

  4. I am speechless! What a wonderful interview, all of Robin’s novels sound so good! I don’t know what series to start reading first! It takes talent to create the worlds that Robin uses in her novels. The Fam Cats sound wonderful, I want one too!! I love hearing an author’s favorites, Charles and Anna are one of my favorite couples too! I need to read Roarke and Eve, I am so out of the loop!!

    Thanks again for letting us readers have a glimpse into your life and works!

    • Jules, start with Heart Mate since that is the first and you meet the first Fam cat Brazos. Robin’s Exotique Summoning series is only 5 books, and I read that series first. totally fell in love with it. I have a synopsis tomorrow on that one for you to check out.

      Robin says below in the Heart Secret review, that her next book is going to have (due to fan responses) a Fam hawk. that should be cool.

  5. I found this series about 4 years ago and have read almost all the Celtan series… Heart Search is in the mail and hopefully waiting for me to pick it up in my mailbox today. 😀 Love them all… still waiting for Vinnie to get his story, though I know he is still young and has a way to go. He is one of my favorite characters.

    I have read part of the Enchanted series, but not all. Can’t seem to keep up with it all lately.

  7. Followed Robin’s link here today and am now even more excited about reading Heart Secret — once it arrives in the mail! I’ve now introduced my daughters and some friends to her books and look forward to more in both the Heart and Circle series. I was especially glad to read about potential e-stories from the Summoning series! Thank you for publishing this interview!

    • Welcome to TRC, Betty. I am glad to see someone else who has read the Summoning. I will post the synopsis tomorrow for those who would like to know more. Loved that series.

      Have not read the Circle series, but I will.

      • Thank you for the kind welcome and for the informative interview with Ms. Owens. I’m very grateful to a long-time pen pal I met from another author’s fan site for introducing me first to the Summoning series. I moved from there to the Heart novels and love Celta so much I sometimes have to reread parts of favorites just to meet back up with what feels like old friends. Reminds me a bit of when after watching the movie Avatar people reportedly were saddened because they missed Pandora. The beauty of novels is you can return whenever you want to a favorite place.

  8. Another great interview!! Thanks Robin for stopping by. I must say that I am eager to read your Heartmate series. Love the idea of the Fam!!! Congratulations on your success!!

  9. I have read all the Heart series would be interested in trying the Luna series, I had a really hard time finding any books in my local market are your books not available in some markets? If not why? Keep writing I love the cats in the heart series knew someone had to be a cat owner.

    • Welcome Krista, I want to try the Luna series. I plan to purchase the books. I love the cats too, sniff I want my own Fam cat.
      My two cats just ignore me when I try to tell them to talk to me. 🙂

  10. You had me at Fam Cat!!! Each series sounds absolutely wonderful, but like Barb suggested, I think I’ll start with the Heart series. Another fave author of mine involves cats quite often in her books, but Ms. Owens seems to highlight them — I can’t wait!

    What a great interview. Lovely woman!!!

    Great job, Barb!

  11. Wow, thanks all. I think I commented on the wrong page. And, wow, look at that glamor shot…would only take me about 3 hours to look like that now. 🙂 Currently wearing baggy shorts and tea-stained belly tshirt (hot in Denver).

    Here’s my blog site where I post between every day and once every three weeks, depending on deadlines, conferences, etc. There, I often ask about names/Fams you want to see, etc. http://robindowens.blogspot.com/

    As for Vinni, he is in the opening scene of Heart Secret..yes, everyone wants Vinni, but I’ve finally had a while to think about what the conflict would be between him and his HeartMate (they’ve known since they’ve been young), and I think I’ve got it now…

  12. This is my first time to TRC – thanks for a great interview with Robin! I’ve been following the Celta series since I first picked up Heartmate back in 2001. I wait breathlessly every year for the new novel to come out and I’ve loved every one of them! I even got my husband into reading them and now we make a game of who gets to read the new one first when it comes out. Would love to read the other series’. Bright Blessings!

  13. Thank you for giving this interview its is a great way to get to know about you, and it gave alittle insight into the heros and heroines of your books by sharing your thoughts about them.

  15. Great interview Barb and Robin. Eve and Roake have to be my all time fav couple too. Many close seconds though. Haven’t read any of your books Robin but will get them on my TBR list.

  16. awesome interview! i love your choices for best couples too… theyre some of my ult. favs..
    and im seriously intrigued by an urban shapshifting series!! any more details?

    would you ever write a YA? seems to be the thing lately, could you see yourself and your characters in a YA book??

    love your celta books, cannot wait for more!!

    (alainala AT hotmail DOT ca)

  17. Thanks! I don’t think I’ll go YA, my stuff is light, and the sex isn’t heavy (and in the Luna books more like Fade To Black), so it can actually be read by younger readers — the Luna books. 🙂

  18. what a great interview. Robin, I have read a few of your books, and i look forward to reading the rest of them. i so enjoyed reading about you. thank you

  20. Just found The Reading Cafe thanks to a post by one of my all time favorite authors Robin D. Owens. 🙂 Great blog Barb and to Robin, congratulations on your new release! Love all your books and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on Heart Secret.
    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    • awww Robin, you have been great. We appreciate you coming here and having fun with us. I’m sure the cats enjoyed your dancing, too bad you couldn’t understand what they were saying to each other 😉

  23. Hello Robin!!! Great Interview!!! I think it’s great that you reside in Colorado because I do too!!!! Your books sounds great and I hope to get a chance to read them soon.

  24. For those of you, who would like to know more about Robin’s Summoning series, which I loved, we will be putting up a synopsis for you to review later this afternoon. Check it out, as it is a great and fun series.

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