by: Shannon McNear
**Make sure to read to the end for a chance to win a paperback copy of her newest historical release, To Capture a Mountain Man.**
A long time ago, during a particularly tough stretch of my life, the book Ribbon of Years by Robin Lee Hatcher kept me up until the wee hours and had me ugly crying before the Lord, recommitting to trust Him. Whenever the subject of “brave” books comes up, I think of that story and the hard issues Robin often tackles in her writing. I’m so excited to welcome her for this interview, since I consider her one of Christian fiction’s original Brave Authors!
Shannon: How would you define bravery? What is it? Where does it come from?
Robin: Bravery isn’t the lack of fear. It is when you choose to act even when you are afraid. I believe bravery comes out of character, a character that has been shaped by experience and a willingness to grow and learn.
Shannon: That’s such a great perspective. Do you consider yourself brave? Why or why not?
Robin: I was scheduled to leave for a trip to Israel in October 2023. My bags were packed, and I was ready to go. Then October 7th happened. I was very thankful I wasn’t in the land when war broke out, and I remember thinking that I wasn’t brave enough for that. However, the truth is that we don’t need to be brave before something happens or in case something happens. I believe God would have prepared me (shaping my character as mentioned above) if He’d intended for me to be in that situation.
Shannon: Wow…yeah, that would have been intense. I was following a private news source that covered this event and the aftermath. But I’m sure it was disappointing as well to not go. On a lighter note, what’s your favorite genre to read?
Robin: Christian fiction is my favorite, both contemporary and historical. But I am a very eclectic reader, and I do read a lot of general market fiction as well. I enjoy romance and women’s fiction and cozy mysteries and historical sagas.
Shannon: Why do you write in the genre you do? Did you always want to write in that genre?
Robin: Currently I am writing historical romance. It was where I started my career. I love history, especially the late 19th and early 20th centuries in America. However, I enjoy writing contemporary stories and branching into women’s fiction as well.
Shannon: When did you know you wanted to be an author?
Robin: In my late twenties. I was a voracious reader from an early age, and I was a born storyteller. But it wasn’t until I was 29 that those two loves came together and I decided to try my hand at writing a book.
Shannon: What is your brainstorming process like? Where do your ideas come from?
Robin: Brainstorming is my favorite part of the writing process. That’s when every idea feels possible. While I can brainstorm on paper by myself, I prefer to brainstorm with other authors. There is something so energizing about talking through ideas with another author (or several other authors). I meet annually with a group of authors to brainstorm, but not every book can wait for that annual get-together, so I use Zoom at other times of the year.
Shannon: That sounds like such a joy—to be able to share that process with others! When do you write, and where?
Robin: I’m an early riser. After I spend time with the Lord (reading the Bible, worship in music, prayer) and walk on the treadmill, I get to work. Monday through Friday, I usually participate in writing sprints with other authors which has been a big boost for me. Although I have a nice office in my home with an iMac computer, I usually write in the recliner in my living room using my MacBook.
Shannon: Do you prefer paperback, eBook, or audiobook? Why?
Robin: Audiobook!! I have tripled the number of books I read in a year because of audiobooks. I listen while I get ready in the morning and as I get ready to go to bed at night. I listen while the coffee perks. I listen while I fix meals. I listen in the car while running errands. I listen in short bursts (three minutes) and long spells (an hour or so). And, of course, a great audiobook is a road trip’s best friend; it makes the miles fly by.
Shannon: Do you listen to music while you write? Do you need complete silence? Or something else?
Robin: I used to always write to music (mostly movie soundtracks without words). But for some reason, about five or six years ago, I stopped turning on the music and I just write in silence. I don’t know why that changed.
Shannon: Did you always write stories that deal with such hard issues (a la Ribbon of Years)? Was it a conscious thing on your part to do so? Did you get much pushback from the Christian community, and how have you continued to write about tough topics?
Robin: The first novel where I dealt with what I consider a “hard issue” was also my first novel for the Christian market, The Forgiving Hour. I had written 27 historical and three contemporary romances for the general market by then. The opening scene of The Forgiving Hour came to me in a dream, and portions of the story were based on difficult experiences in my own life, dealing with infidelity and forgiveness.
I write whatever the Lord lays on my heart, and many of my novels deal with hard issues (i.e. Beyond the Shadows tackles alcoholism in a Christian home). Those stories usually have been informed by personal experiences and the lessons God taught me through them. While I have had the occasional pushback, mostly I have seen God use those books to minister to readers in ways that surprise and humble me. I think it is all about trusting God to use whatever I offer up to Him.
Shannon: I love that … and have seen that as a common theme in our work as believers, whether writing or otherwise. How has the Lord shown Himself faithful in your life overall?
Robin: In every way. He saved me, then He began sanctifying me which has been a decades-long process that will continue until I go home to Him. He provides my every breath. Even when I am faithless, He is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
Shannon: That’s so beautiful! What are you working on now?
Robin: As I answer this question, I am writing the fourth book in The British Are Coming series, To Reveal a Reckless Love. This series brings characters from England to explore the American West (particularly eastern Idaho and Yellowstone National Park) in the closing years of the 19th century. Naturally, the British visitors have been falling in love with Americans, and that’s been a delight to “witness” as the stories unfold on my computer screen.
Shannon: Robin, thank you so much for taking the time to share with us! To readers—Robin is giving away a paperback copy of her newest historical release, To Capture a Mountain Man. U.S. addresses only!
About the author
Robin Lee Hatcher is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 90 novels and novellas with over five million copies in print. She’s known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of courage, faith, and love. In addition to many writing awards—including the Christy, Carol, and RITA Awards—she’s the recipient of prestigious lifetime achievement awards from both ACFW and RWA. She lives in the Boise area with a demanding papillon dog.
