Motivated to Write: Author Interview with Robin Winters

You have now published multiple books, but what inspired you to write that first book?
I have always been a writer. I wrote my first stories in elementary school, and I never stopped. For years, I pursued traditional publication, but I only wrote for children and teens. I got a couple of short stories in well-known children’s magazines like Ladybug and Turtle. I ghostwrote a middle grade novel from a defunct series for girls.  While this was going on, I earned a bachelor’s degree in English as well as master’s degrees in Elementary Education and Library Science. 

I ended up getting a couple of literary agents, but my middle grade novels never sold. I parted ways with my agents and just kept writing. I never thought I could write for adults because I have always surrounded myself with literature for kids. I even became a school librarian and public librarian, specializing in children’s literature. With that being said, I always read books for adults, too. I read romcoms, paranormal romance, and historical romance. My sister and my husband kept pestering me to try self-publishing, and I finally decided to give it a try.

What book did you publish?
The first book I put on Amazon was a story I had on my hard drive for years. I was just anxious to get the ball rolling, even though it wasn’t a romance. It was just a true confessions type of story. I decided to try my hand at writing a sweet and clean paranormal romance. It ended up in the Amazon short read category, and it’s called The Night Librarian. The story evolved from my love of libraries and paranormal romance, but I wanted to make sure it was clean. When I put the book up for sale on Amazon, it gave me the greatest feeling seeing people read the story and leave positive reviews. 

After that, I was hooked. I started writing sweet and clean romcom novellas as well as clean paranormals. I’m having a lot of fun and learning so much from other romance authors who graciously and generously share their knowledge on Facebook groups and podcasts. I focus on short reads that are enrolled in KU. I have one YA fantasy novel that is not enrolled in KU, and it’s a full-length novel.

What are your writing goals for 2026?
My writing goals for 2026 include writing more high-quality sweet romances–both romcoms and paranormal. I also want to write faster. I’m a slow writer, and I want to improve in this area. Like most self-publishing writers, I also want to earn more money! LOL! My goal is to one day earn $5000 a month. I know it’s possible because other writers are doing it too. I’m getting close to retirement age, and I want to bring more income into my household so I can provide for my family. My mom is in her 70s, and my dream is to take her to Disney World one day. I would also love to help other members of my family pay off their student loans! That would be a dream come true! 

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
 I have received so much encouragement from other writers through the various romance writer Facebook groups I belong to. Everyone I’ve encountered that self publishes romance is so welcoming and helpful. No one is a gatekeeper. There’s room for everyone, and people freely provide advice and guidance to newbie self-published authors like me. 

Marketing is the biggest key to making sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
 Right now, I’m doing newsletter swaps, which has helped so much in gaining new readers. I also have been using TikTok. If you had told me five years ago that I would be posting on TikTok, I would have said you were crazy. And, yet, here I am! I use an author app called Authorscale that helps generate slides to post to TikTok so I can gain the attention of people who love sweet and clean romance. In the past, I’ve tried Facebook ads. The first time I tried it, I noticed a small uptick in sales, but it wasn’t as successful as I hoped. Now that Facebook ads have changed, I’m looking for an inexpensive class to help me navigate it. I find it extremely intimidating. I’ve tried paid promotions like Bargain Booksy, but I haven’t experienced any increase in sales. So I would have to say that TikTok and newsletter swaps have provided me with the most sales. 

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Years ago, I never entertained the thought of self-publishing. I only wanted to be traditionally published by a Big 5 publisher. If I could travel back in time, I would have started self-publishing sooner. I wish I had known how personally satisfying the process can be. It’s exciting and scary and exhausting, but so much fun. Years ago, I had no idea there were so many self-published authors out there making enough money to support their families.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
One piece of advice I read in a writer’s craft book is that successful authors know how to sit in a room and write–whether that “room” is your car, your bedroom, or somewhere outside while your kid is at soccer practice. You can be the most talented writer in the world, but if you are unable to put the hours of work into your writing, it is more difficult to become successful. Writing is something you do alone in a room. It’s a solitary vocation. And it can be extremely lonely. Ask yourself: how long can you stay in that room? Writers who succeed consistently work on their craft. They sit in that chair, and they write. Butt in chair. That’s what I’m trying to do: devote more time to working on my craft. 

Another piece of advice is that you shouldn’t compare yourself to other writers. It evokes negative emotions, often leading to toxic feelings of jealousy. I will never be able to write like some of the authors I admire, but I can always strive to be the best writer that I can personally be. I can only write like myself and strive to be a better storyteller with each book I write. It’s like the late, great Kobe Bryant and his personal philosophy called Mamba Mentality. Be a little bit better than you were the day before. 

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
If you want to write a book, just start writing. The only way you can become a better writer is to sit down and write. Read books on the craft. Take writing classes if your finances allow. Join a critique group so you can get feedback on your writing. It also makes you feel less alone because you have other writers who can encourage you, tell you what’s not working with your story, and give you a figurative or literal shoulder to cry on when you get a rejection or a bad review on Amazon. Overall, just don’t give up. Keep writing and then write some more. Allow yourself to write badly and then go back and rewrite/revise. Being a writer is one of the hardest jobs you can ever have, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. 

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
I have two new books in the works. One of them is called My Fair Librarian, a sweet and clean romcom. I was inspired by the story of My Fair Lady, a musical. It’s about a librarian who’s trying to catch the eye of a handsome doctor who visits the library every Thursday evening to check an item out from the Library of Things. She’s kind of a plain Jane type of girl so her brother’s best friend decides to help her transform into a fashionable woman who can catch the doctor’s eye. Of course, the librarian is going to end up falling for her brother’s best friend instead!

My other book I’m working on is called Letters to a Vampire, a clean paranormal inspired by the classic book/movie Daddy Long Legs. It’s about a young woman who has a secret benefactor who pays her way through college. This benefactor just happens to be a vampire who feels guilty for not being able to save the women’s parents from another vampire. To assuage his guilt, he pays her way through college, offering financial support. But then he ends up falling in love with her. 

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Robin's books, click on the links below. 
https://www.amazon.com/author/robinwinterswrites
http://www.robinwinterswrites.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@robinwinterswrites
https://www.facebook.com/p/Robin-Winters-Writes-61569121246621/
https://www.instagram.com/robinwinterswrites/

And here's a bonus for my readers, leave a comment on this post and we'll pick one reader who'll receive an eBook of The Billionaire’s Pet Project. It’s a sweet and clean novella. So do that now. It can be as simple as I want to be in the giveaway. We'll chose a winner next Sunday!

Writing for Book Packagers: An Interview with Carolyn Larsen

What inspired you to write you Biblical storybook and devotionals for children?
When my husband and I raised our three children there were very few Biblical storybooks available for children to help them understand the truths of the Bible on their level. That realization coupled with God giving the opportunity to write the first book made the decision. I try -- when I know God is presenting an opportunity -- to take it. The adventure is always worth the fear or anxiety that comes with a new challenge.

When did you actually start writing your first book? How long did it take to write your first draft?
I started writing my first book in early 1994 and I believe I had about 3 or 4 months to write the first draft. It was 365 devotions for toddlers.

Who encouraged you along the way to complete the first book?
Nothing is more motivational than a deadline. However, I was working with a book packager who was a friend and he was very encouraging. My husband was also a great encouragement. He made certain that I had time and privacy in our busy household to work on the book.

What was your process like in getting your first book published? 
I was very blessed in getting started in my writing career. I worked in the office of a book packager who presented book ideas to publishers. When a publisher became interested in the idea of a bedtime devotional for young children, they wanted to see samples from several writers. My boss asked if I'd like to write a sample for him to present along with several others. I did. They chose mine and since that time I've published more than 50 books. 

The packager friend has done some of the legwork like an agent would do. I do not have an actual agent. Some of my proposals are rejected but I don't take those rejections personally. I view submitting kind of like a puzzle in which the publisher is putting together pieces that fit with their vision and goals. Sometimes my book idea fits and sometimes it doesn't. However, it was a learning process to not attach the rejections to my own abilities or style.

Are there any stories you’ve written that are l packed away that you hope will

get published someday? Anything you would like to share about them?
Yes, I have two that I keep wondering if God will have a place for someday. One is a book for children, encouraging them to look at the lives of Bible people and learn from them. It is a combination of modern day stories and Bible stories. The other "dream book" is a series of essays for adults about aging -- humorous and thought provoking. Someday . . .

Are you active with any writing groups? Who acts as the sounding board for your stories before they’re submitted to a publisher?
I have friends who I trust and can bounce ideas off of. I also have a daughter who is a writer and we have a healthy, honest relationship. She will always give me good criticism. But at this point I also am privileged to have a good relationship with a couple of different editors who will look at my proposals and give me good feedback.

What has frustrated you the most in the process of putting together the books? 
Writing is a lonely profession and it's easy to get stuck in my own head so that I become negative about my work and ability. 

What has pleasantly surprised you in the process?

Very often when I get stuck in that negative place, I will get an email or letter from a reader telling me how much a particular book has meant to them. I believe that is a gift from God and it's always encouragement enough to get me going again.

What are your writing goals? 
I try to write daily, though of course, there are days when that doesn't happen. My writing goal is to develop books that will encourage readers to have a close, honest relationship with God and to see the possibilities of the people they are becoming.
Do you think you’ll try any other genre?
I have enjoyed writing children's books, tween books and some teen books as well as devotionals for women. I hope to try other genres -- fiction and nonfiction life stories.

What is the best writing advice you’ve been given?
There are two good pieces of advice that I try to remember -- one is to just do it -- sit down and get busy. Realize that it isn't about me . . . it's about God. And the second is to tell stories. I try to make the things I write as real and practical as possible -- relatable.

What message would you like parents and children to take away from your books? 
I would like the take aways to always be . . . know God. Trust God. Don't be too hard on yourselves because the Christian life is a journey, not a destination. I'm currently working on a book about the basics of faith -- the things children need to understand about the faith they embrace.

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Carolyn's writing and speaking engagements, here is her contact information. 

http://www.carolynlarsen.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11496.Carolyn_Larsen

What are Your Writing Resolutions for 2012?

Once again it's the start of a new year, a time for a fresh start. For me a new beginning started in October when I moved to Texas. The last 3 months have been a time for getting settled and finding my way around the surrounding cities. Now in January I will be starting a new career. Although I've had lots of experience doing this work in another state I am willing to be a sponge now and take in everything I can learn to be the best in my job and earn a progressive income.

I will also have a new start for my writing. I will be attending my first meetings this month of two writers critique groups in the area. I've missed not having the friendship and encouragement of my past writer's group where I lived. If you are a writer and aren't participating in a local group you are missing a great opportunity to learn and grow. Writers' critique groups are easy to find. You just do an internet search like "writers' group near city, state" filling in your locality. That's how I found 5 different writers' groups in my area and narrowed it down to two that should fit my writing style. They are both within a 30 minute drive of where I live so it will be easy to get there.

My writing goals for this year are to first revive my novel which I started over a decade ago. I had about 200 pages then, but can only seem to find maybe 100 now.  I dropped it  because I got frustrated that a humorous book I completed wasn't picked up by a publishing house after sending it out to 30+ targeted companies. Looking at the humor book now, I can see it needs some work - especially my "artwork." I will probably work on it some more but that is not my writing priority.

I also plan to work more on my children's writing and finding homes for my picture book stories. I will also work on my devotional/inspirational pieces which for now I am happy to send out and get published in anthologies, but would someday like to put my own book together. With all the interviews I've been doing with indie-published authors, I am also considering going that route myself once I can figure out if it would be cost effective to me.

What are your writing goals for this new year. Can you make a weekly or even daily commitment to write? What encouragement do you have for other writers to keep on writing?