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TRRC
would like to thank Ms. Robin Allen for participating as one of our
Authors Of The Month for October.
I have read some of her books and always find them interesting,
and her latest book is no exception.
Lora
McDonald
LM:
Ms. Allen would you tell our readers something about yourself?
RA:
I grew up in
Pittsburgh
,
PA
and graduated from the
University
of
Pittsburgh
. I have lived in
Atlanta
,
GA
for the past 15 years. I’m
the mother of two young daughters and stay busy doing Mommy things:
soccer and softball games, piano lessons, and homework.
I love going to the movies, concerts, and plays.
LM:
Why did you decide to become a writer?
RA:
Reading
has always been my favorite thing to do, so becoming a writer is, in
many ways, a natural extension of my love for the written word.
This may sound strange, but writing chose me.
LM:
How did you feel when you got your first book published?
RA:
Happy, excited, and relieved.
It was most the wonderful feeling to see BREEZE in book form.
The book had been delayed, so I was relieved when I finally
held BREEZE in my hand. I
was filled with joy. It
wasn’t just a manuscript, but a tangible product—a book with pages
filled with my words. My
dream was a reality.
LM:
What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment as a
writer?
RA:
My play, “The Bridal Shower”, was produced last year.
It’s a story about five college girlfriends who are reunited
at a bridal shower. The
whole acting and stage production process was an enlightening and
exciting experience. It
was an incredible, almost indescribable, feeling to see my characters
come to life. They
weren’t just these imaginary people in my head; they were “real”
people on the stage. I
look forward to many more great writing accomplishments.
LM:
Please list the titles of the books that you have written.
RA:
IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN is my latest (available October 2002)
book. Last year, THE
PROMISE was published. I’m
also the author of HIDDEN MEMORIES and BREEZE.
LM:
Which book was the most difficult for you to write?
RA:
HIDDEN MEMORIES because it was my first attempt to write a
book. I just started
writing the book without a plan or outline.
It was a learning process, and I rewrote the book several
times. HIDDEN MEMORIES is
still my favorite book.
LM:
Which one was the most fun to write?
RA:
THE PROMISE was fun to write because the chemistry between
Gillian and Romare (the hero and heroine) was so dynamic and natural.
I didn’t have to think hard to build the “push and pull”
in the relationship, it evolved naturally as the characters came to
life.
LM:
I have read a couple of your other books.
I noticed that a different company published them.
Have you switched companies or are you working with both
publishers? What lead to
your decision?
Currently,
I’m contracted with BET Books. IF
I WERE YOUR WOMAN and THE PROMISE are published by BET Books.
In 2003, BET Books will also publish THE BEST THING YET.
My
two previous books—HIDDEN MEMORIES and BREEZE—were originally
published by Genesis Press in trade paperback and then in mass market
by Ballantine.
LM:
In your latest novel, IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN, Satin Holiday
agrees to marry a man she really doesn’t love then changes her mind
and moves away to start her life over and finds her true love.
How did you come up with this storyline for your book?
RA:
I started with the premise: “What if you were engaged to a
man you really didn’t want to marry?”
With that in mind, I created my characters and then let the
story flow.
LM:
Drake Swanson, the man that Satin meets and falls in love with,
couldn’t get Satin out of his mind after seeing her only once.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
RA:
I believe you can meet someone and have an instant attraction
to him or her and feel an unexplainable connection.
For many, love-at-first sight is romantic fantasy, but it’s
rooted in real life experiences.
LM:
I think you are a very good writer. What can we expect from you
in the future?
RA:
My next book, THE BEST THING YET, features Tangi Ellington from
THE PROMISE. Many readers
fell in love with Tangi (Romare’s sister), so I decided to write her
story. THE BEST THING YET
will be published in October 2003.
I’m
hoping to get published in the women’s mainstream arena.
I’m also venturing into the children’s market.
(Click
here for a review of IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN)
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