Robin Owens Spins A Mystical Weave of Romance

Book Help Web Exclusive Interview

Robin Owens knows how to find magic and share it with anyone willing to dally amongst the pages of her novels. With a conversational, easy style and fascinating characters, Owens burst onto the fantasy romance scene in 2001 with the novel Heart Mate, a novel that won her a P.E.A.R.L. award for best new author and best fantasy/magical romance and a nomination for best first book from the Rita awards.

Her Heart series helped launch Berkley Sensations in 2003 and her second series, the Lladrana series, were part of the early offerings of Harlequin's Luna Books.

Her writing continues to gain critical attention and her awards shelf has started to fill up with a 2002 RITA for Best Paranormal Romance, a 2002 Writer of the Year Award from Denver Area Science Fiction Association, a 2003 Pearl for Best Fantasy Magical Romance, a 2004 Golden Lungfish award, a 2004 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year award, a 2005 Pearl for Best Futuristic novel, a 2005 Award of Excellence from the Reviewer's International Organization, and a 2005 CataRomance Choice Award.

The Lladrana series with Luna features ordinary women, the first in her middle ages, who are summoned to a strange and magical world and asked to help defend it against hordes of evil. They do, of course, find companionship and love along the way.

Robin Owens took time out from her busy writing schedule to answer questions about her books for BookHelpWeb.

BookHelpWeb: On your home page, you credit a "telepathic cat with attitude" for selling your first book. Would you elaborate?

Robin Owens: On page three of HeartMate, Zanth, the telepathic animal companion of the hero strolls on stage licking his chops and saying "Fish again! Oily. Me not like and don't want anymore." This is an alley cat character who functioned as friend and comic relief throughout the book, based on one of my own cats and acting just like a real cat. I think most people with cats recognized him at once and it kept people reading.

BHW: Who do you write for? Do you think about your audience while you write? Have there been any surprises about who reads and enjoys your books?

Robin: When I began writing the Heart series, I'd already written three other books (the first of which will not see the light of day). My historicals weren't selling, so I just sat down and decided to write what I wanted. Critique group response was good and I continued. I DO pay attention to reader input, and I slanted Heart Thief more toward the sensual market. I've been introducing characters all along that I believe will continue to carry the series (and, well, they just walk on stage and I either have to kill them or pair them up). I have some male readers that I occasionally hear from and that can be surprising, also some younger readers than I expected.

BHW: What's the most common response you get from strangers when you tell them you're an author or a writer?

Robin: LOL. Usually they want to know what I write, sometimes where they can find the book, and then they ask about publishing. I think most people are more interested in the publishing business than the daily life of a writer.

BHW: What is your relationship with your characters? Are they purely bits of type on the screen or do they manifest themselves in some way during the creative process? How long do you know them before you start writing?

Robin: This is an excellent question that really made me think. Usually I can start writing and the character will come to life for me, full of motivation and idiosyncrasies. When I get stuck, I can interview him or her (I have a couple of character interviews on my WORLDS page under HeartMate and Heart Thief). However, now that I'm in the middle of two series, I have secondary characters who are stepping up to be heroes and heroines and I know a whole lot more about them since they've been around for a while.

BHW: Is it necessary to read Guardian of Honor before Sorceress of Faith?

Robin: I think Sorceress of Faith can stand on its own. Some characters from the previous book show up, but are definitely secondary, and I DO try and explain the whole situation for new readers.

BHW: Will Alexa Fitzwater make any appearances in Sorceress of Faith?

Robin: Oh, yes. Alexa appears in Chapter Four, and one of my favorite scenes is when Alexa comes to visit Marian a little later on. Alexa has quite a few appearances in Sorceress.

BHW: How would you entice someone to enter the world of Lladrana through the pages of your novel?

Robin: I always try to hook the reader. ;) I only hope it works. I think the most important thing to do is to have the reader identify with a sympathetic hero or heroine, and become emotionally invested in the character, so that's what I endeavor to do.

BHW: What can you tell us about the woman who will be summoned in Sorceress of Faith?

Robin: Marian is an academic...a grad student who is interested and curious about everything and has taken New Age courses outside the university to satisfy this interest. She's searching for something missing in her life. She doesn't have a good relationship with her mother, but she has a brother whom she loves dearly, and she doesn't intend to stay on Lladrana because of him.

BHW: If Lladrana were real and you were to receive a Summons, would you go? What role would you play there?

Robin: That's a very difficult question. If I knew I'd find love and master some of my weaknesses (grow) and triumph over evil like my heroines, then I might give it a shot. But all my characters are fighting evil, and it's bad stuff. Monsters. That might take more courage than I have. The women who will be Summoned are naturally powerful in magic once they get there, and that appeals to me...What role would I play? I'm not sure, probably a less active role than Alexa or Callista, someone more like Marian, I suppose. I really can't see myself flying into battle, though the winged horses are pretty cool. I'd like one. ;)

BHW: Can you give us any sneak previews into the third book of the series?

Robin: Sure, Calli is a barrel racer, a rancher who wants to train horses. She actually has seen images of Lladrana throughout her life through the crystalline side of a hill near her home. All these books use female archetypes with Alexa being the warrior, Marian the scholar, and Calli will be the nurturer - I know, she's Summoned for the knights (Chevaliers) of Lladrana, and will go into battle, but when all's said and done, she wants a family most. Alexa wanted to be accepted into a society, Marian wanted to fulfil her potential and find help for her brother, but Calli wants a love and family. All three have individual goals to accomplish.

Thank you for this opportunity to talk about my work. I appreciate it very much, especially the questions I had to think about! ;)