Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews Robyn. It is great to have you here.


Blood and Tears is your first published work. Can you describe this story for fans that have not had a chance to pick up a copy?

Blood and Tears is a vampire romance with a very different vampire. Tyler is not your typical brooding, I'm-so-sorry-I-have-to-kill-people-to-survive vampire. He is a fifteenth century nobleman who feels it's his due to feed off the peasants. He is strong, proud, not the least bit ashamed of what he is or how he lives.

Marie is a bit of an innocent and a romantic. Vacationing in Romania - Transylvania in her mind - she wants to find Prince Charming with fangs. Little does she know that's exactly what awaits her when she descends a 'staff only' staircase into the bowels of 'Castle Dracula'. A mysterious, unseen stranger saves her from her folly, leaving her with the taste of him on her lips and his presence forever stuck in her mind.

Back in Los Angeles, Marie has no idea that the gorgeous man who has requested her to be the designer of his expensive new home still has the taste of her lips on his mind. And a craving for the blood of this woman he cannot forget.

How did you react when you knew the story was going to be published?

At first, I was skeptical. I had received several offers of publication just to find that they were more-or-less scams, people offering to publish my stuff if I'd pay them fill-in-the-blank. I know some writers go the vanity publishing route. If they have the money they should go for it. I didn't and I didn't appreciate the bait-and-switch routine. One guy who called himself an 'editor' said he would 'perfect' my work for just $200. When I suggested that my work was just fine the way it was, he said there was no market for vampire novels anyway. I'd like to know in what bookstores he'd been shopping! Anyway, when Allromancebooks.com contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in helping them to launch their new site, I was cautious at first. But when I figured out they were on the level, I cheered, I cried and, most importantly, I thanked God.

How does a story and its characters come to life for you?

Usually, the male lead comes into my mind first. Who is he? What is he? What’s his background? The man has to be right for the story to work. You can have the best idea in the world but if your guy is a mess it won’t work. I fantasize about the male character, how I’d like to meet him, how I’d like him to feel towards me, what I’d like him to do to me. Once he’s real to me I create a woman who will fit with him and still be interesting in her own right. A female character that relies completely on the male character for her reason to exist is boring and offensive to my readers. I want the women who read my books to want to be the female lead. And if there are men out there reading my stuff, and I sincerely hope there are, I want them to love the idea of being the hero.
Last, but certainly not least, I read the finished product to my two best friends and they tell me if it works or it sucks!

Do you write start to finish or from a pivotal scene?

Start to finish. I may have one or two pivotal scenes in my mind when I begin a novel, but sometimes the characters develop differently than I had planned so the scenes never happen. I don’t carve anything in stone until I send it to my publisher!

What do you find the most compelling aspect of writing?

Getting to bring my fantasies to life and share them with others. Having them enjoy the story and want to go to that place again and again makes all the time and sweat worth it.

When you are not writing, how else do you spend your time?

Reading; enjoying my eccentric taste in music; playing with my house full of animals; watching TV and movies; browsing the ‘net. I do volunteer work for the elderly preparing income taxes. And I teach computer/Internet basics.

As a newly published author, what has kept you motivated to write while awaiting publication?

My friends. I started out writing for them, never imagining anyone else would want to read my ravings. Being avid readers, they kept telling me that my stuff was as good or better than the published works they were reading. They praised and bullied me into submitting my works for publication; suffered through my whining when the mail brought countless rejection letters; and said I-told-you-so when God smiled and brought Allromancebooks.com to my email.

Blood and Tears is a vampire romance. What do you find compelling about vampire romances?

I prefer the supernatural genre because I don’t feel so bound by the rules of reality. Vampires, at least the way I see them, are undeniably sexy. What woman doesn’t shiver a little at the thought of a man’s lips on her neck? And women have a need to nurture the man they love. Providing his sustenance while experiencing mind-blowing bliss is having your chocolate cake and eating it too!

In addition to writing, are you an avid reader? Are there certain writers or genres you can’t resist?

I read every chance I get. I love to fall into a good book. J. D. Robb - Roarke, what a man!; Laurel K Hamilton, harsh but very sexual; the Kinley MacGregor Darkhunters warm me right up on a cold night.

You offer readers a chance to download free novels and novellas on your site. What has been the response to this?

Fantastic! It was one of my fans who recommended me to my publisher. My guestbook has kept me going through one or two of those rejection letters. And the great thing is I heard from people all over the world, even some who can’t get romance novels in their country. I can’t tell you how great it feels to think that someone 5,000 miles away who I’ve never met would recognize my name.

Is there a particular character within all of your writing that you would deem your favorite? If so, which one and why?

Boy, that’s like saying one of your children is your favorite. But, as all mothers out there know, one always is. Tyler is my favorite - so far. He’s strong, proud, arrogant and handsome. And so full of himself that he presents endless opportunities for fights that end up in make-up sex!

You also write poetry. What can readers expect when reading your poetry?

A lot of deep emotion, some preaching and, pretty much, my soul laid bare.

From a creative standpoint, how are poetry and novels different for you?
While romance comes from the heart and the loins, poetry comes from the soul. Sometimes I have something to say that I just have to see on the page. Maybe it makes it more real, maybe it takes away some of the pain. It touches me and I hope it touches others.

What are you currently working on?

The sequel to Blood and Tears. And Gabriel’s story. I haven’t had a lot of time to write in the last year but I hope to get back to it in the near future.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I just got a new puppy! Her name is Ginger and she is an American Staffordshire Terrier - that’s AKC speak for ‘pit bull’. I’ve never really had a puppy of my own and I’ve always been afraid of big dogs so I decided it was time to face my fears. I absolutely adore her. She’s taught me that love comes in many shapes and sizes.

Thank you for joining us Robyn. Readers if you have not had an opportunity to see her website, stop by for a visit. She has some novellas and poems waiting for you.


Interviewed by: Amanda