Author Bio:
I listen to the voices in my head. Those vibrant personalities that struggle to permeate empty spaces. They’re nameless, yet familiar faces, that constantly speak to me and beg for release. Until I heed, there is no inner peace as they endeavor to unearth the impetus that inspires me to create. And once those impulses are ignited, I have no choice but to tell their stories of suspense, romance, mystery, and heartache. These characters are my friends and family. They are a part of me. And they are the reason I write.
My name is Robin Michele Carroll, and I’m a writer from Colorado, who began writing short stories at the age of 9. In the 7th grade, I created my own soap opera and became known as the little girl with the big imagination. My formation of “The Search for Love” made me popular among my peers and teachers who appreciated my ingenuity. I included my friends in the dramatization, and every day the pages of my story would circulate throughout the halls of middle school. Eventually, I was called to the principal’s office with my mother, and they told her that my soap was too mature for junior high. However, they didn’t want to squelch my talent so they placed me in an advanced English class. That’s where the seeds were planted and started to grow – I was born to be a writer.
What inspires you to write?
I was a quiet, introverted child who didn’t find joy in many things until my 3rd grade teacher gave me a copy of the book, Little Women, which sparked my love for reading. Within books, I was able to live vicariously through different characters. They took me to unknown places, introduced me to unique people, facilitated my experiences on unforgettable adventures, and helped me to understand that I’m not alone in the world. For years, I felt isolated and silent. But as I grew older, I realized that I could find my voice and power through writing. I relished the challenge of communicating what we each encounter in our everyday lives and bringing those inimitable moments to life through words. I was fascinated with the idea of creating my own form of literature, which is why I decided to write a book. I didn’t know what or who it was going to be about; all I knew was that it was going to be about people who often feel defenseless against life’s trials and tribulations. My book is suspense however the focus is on the women who fight the various people and circumstances that try to destroy them. Like me, I want readers to find strength in these resilient characters and recognize that they too are not alone in the world.
Tell us about your writing process.
I don’t have a process. I don’t take notes. I don’t make outlines. I don’t have any idea what is going to happen in the story until I’m writing the scene. I merely go with the flow and allow the characters and the words to lead me. Sometimes, I’m even surprised by the direction, but I let myself trust the progression and development of the narrative. I’ve been called a “fly by the seat of my pants” writer, which I suppose is true. People ask me all the time what's going to happen in the sequel, Dream Killer, but I honestly have no idea. I just let the story tell itself.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
This is going to sound strange, but most of my ideas come from dreams. I believe that’s one of the ways that my characters speak to me. With Two Faced, that character was Missy Melendez. I was asleep one night, and I had a dream about a woman who simply stood in front of a mirror staring at herself. Her face was wrapped in bandages, and I could tell by her body language that she was crying. I was startled awake when I heard her whisper, “I’m afraid of the dark.” It sounded like she was right there in the room with me, and I immediately turned on the light because I didn’t want her to be frightened. I pulled out a pen and my notebook and wrote, “I’m afraid of the dark. It exists merely to torment me as my unconscious mind becomes a barren wasteland inhabited by the lives of strangers.” That was my initial introduction to Missy. And when she’s presented in the book, those are the first words you read as she writes in her journal. That night, with Missy’s help, I came up with the premise of Two Faced. I felt like she came to me in a vision, which is why I gave her character psychic abilities.
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite author is Stephen King. As a child, I was told that I was too young to read his books, but I used to sneak and read them anyway. His book Carrie was the first one that I read. It scared me, but I was fascinated by his style of writing. I wanted to have that same type of power where I could scare people but also tell a story that made the reader empathize with the characters, even the bad ones. He’s the master of horror, and eventually, I would love to follow in his footsteps and write horror because It is still one of my absolute favorite books.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
For me, the most difficult part of writing has been the ability to find my own voice. People in the publishing industry strongly suggest that you follow a certain formula to be successful with book sales. Every writer’s conference that I’ve ever attended has been filled with agents and publishers warning the participants about the dos and don’ts of publication. But I’ve learned that I don’t want to follow the exact path that’s been laid out for me, which is why I decided to self-publish. I want to carve out my own space, and I can only do that if I stay true to myself and my talent. However, that choice could mean losing a portion of my audience. So, every time I write, I wonder if I should abandon my artistic process for something that is considered more mainstream, and the answer is always no. I’m proud of what I’ve created on my own, and that accomplishment is worth more than money for me right now.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think it’s great that more people have the opportunity to publish without all the traditional publishing constraints, but there is still condescension associated with doing it the non-traditional way. When people hear that an author self-published, there’s sometimes the assumption that he/she couldn’t find an agent/publisher or that their manuscript wasn't good, which isn't always true. Sometimes it’s more about artistic expression. I was told not to use a prologue, third person voice, etc., in my book. But what if those items were a big part of my writing style and content? They were, which was why self-publishing was a better choice for me.
I believe if the publishing industry wants to catch up, they’re going to need to consider more of these non-conventional types of books and authors. If they don’t, they’ll lose more and more money to self-publishing companies and vendors. So, hopefully, we’ll start to see traditional publishers looking closer at self-published authors in the future.
What genres do you write?
My current book is a mixture of genres – suspense, mystery, drama, crime, paranormal and romance.
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Website(s)
Robin Carroll Home Page Link
Follow Robin Carroll On Amazon
Author’s Social Media Links
Facebook
Twitter
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
