Interview Rhobin Lee Courtright

by

Kay Sisk.

1. This appears to be your first book for Wings. Is it also your first book?

Yes, MAGIC AEGIS (pronounced ee jes--I've run into trouble with this, I guess it is a beginner’s mistake) is my first book to be published. Wings has accepted four more stories since I submitted MAGIC AEGIS.

2. When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I have always read voraciously. When I turned thirty-seven I decided to try writing my own stories. I wrote a lot but didn't submit anything for many years.

3. Why fantasy?

I love reading fantasies. I think they are the new 'myths' and 'folk-tales' of our time and represent psychological depictions of our collective lives and cultures.

4. The spelling of your name is unusual. Is there a story behind it?

It was a mistake. My Dad decided on the name, but somehow when it was transposed onto the birth certificate an ‘h’ got thrown in. I was born at Mrs. Perry's maternity home in Holly, MI. It shared an alley way with the local beer garden. I've always believed Mrs. Perry might have ducked into the bar for a quick brew before filling out the papers. My Mom was always going to have it changed, but never got around to doing it. I've always gone by Robin because everyone knows how to spell it and as a young girl, repeating the same story of 'why the h' and then having someone try to repeat it with a pronounced H quickly got tedious. Now I am appreciative of the h as there are many authors with the first name Robin and it sets me apart.

5. Sometimes I have a mental block about naming my characters: I want everyone's name to start with M, for instance, then realize that's very confusing. In a fantasy, you can make up the names. Was this fun or difficult?

Actually, to remember a name I have to be able to pronounce it in my mind. I could never finish any of the great Russian novels because I couldn't remember the names. (I find this hilarious as my speaking pronunciation is frequently way off the mark.) If the names get too exotic in spelling it irritates me, so I depend on historical names. All the names in MAGIC AEGIS come from Teutonic or Greek names, except the character Vesper, which I never found on any naming list.

6. World-building is of the essence in fantasy. Now that your world is built, will you be writing about it again?

ACCEPTANCE, my next novel due out in August this year, is in the same world. I have a few plans for future stories, but they are not written yet.

7. What do your family and friends think of Rhobin--the-author?

They have been incredibly supportive even though I know most are not fantasy readers. My two sisters and my Mom have all been bragging me up in my home town. They've already sold numerous books. My Mom has a friend at the local newspaper to do an interview when I get home. My SO is also acting as a marketing agent. People in the grocery story, library, hardware and bank in our small town all ask me about the book. They are buying too. I have been extremely blessed.

8. Once people know you enjoy writing, do you find yourself being pegged to do the newsletter, run the e-mail loop, or write up the minutes of the meeting? (A little fantasy could have helped a few of the ones I've been in.).

No. I already had a huge volunteer job taking care of the database for the state garden club organization. I keep track of all seven thousand members and dues, etc. The one time I was asked to take meeting minutes, I was a dismal failure and never was asked again.

9. Does where you grew up affect your writing and setting? If so, how? If not, why don't you think so?

Everywhere I've been and everything I've done affects my writing and settings. All stories develop out of what a writer knows, feels, and what they've experienced. Part of the pleasure in reading is the voyeuristic journey into another person's emotions and life outlook. Which makes writing a strange endeavor for me because I am very protective of my privacy, yet here I am, exposing my soul.

10. What is your routine to get in the writer-ly mode?

I try to do some writing task everyday even when I'm not exactly 'writing.' I have a list of story ideas and stories in hiatus, stories that need research or editing or rewrites. So even when I'm not putting new words on a page, I'm advancing my stories. When life keeps me away from my computer I carry around a notebook to jot down ideas and notes.