Spotlight on Robyn Rychards, Escape To Paradise #Giveaway

This week's Spotlight on Author is on Robyn Rychards and her latest release Escape To Paradise. There's a Kindle Copy Giveaway of Escape To Paradise to one commenter! 

Robyn Rychards grew up in the granola bowl of the United States, Boulder Colorado, a town filled with fruits, flakes and nuts. She considers herself a Jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none and has taught herself to sew, paint, play the piano, garden, cook, the list goes on. But now that her books are published, she’s thrilled to finally be considered a master of one. At least as much as a person can be, for the learning never really stops.

She feels her active imagination is a blessing and a curse, with the blessing far outweighing the curse since it has led her to fulfil her dream of writing for Harlequin. Robyn started writing stories when she was a teenager because she didn’t have enough books to read. Sometimes she finds it hard to believe that people are willing to pay her to do something she enjoys so much, but mostly she’s happy to have such a wonderful excuse not to cook and clean. And a job that means you can stay in your jammies as long as you want? Priceless. 

Twitter: @RobynRychards     Website            Facebook

What inspires you to write?

Lots of things can spark ideas for me or make me feel like writing a story. Sometimes it’s just people watching at an airport, the park or the mall. It can also come from a song on the radio, a television show or a movie. I’ve even been inspired after reading a book, though the story I come up with is nothing like the book that inspired it, as well as waking up from a dream and deciding I need to make a story out of it.

Tell us about your writing process.

I didn’t realize there was such a thing until after I was published and became part of a writing community. The only thing I need to be able to write is to be away from my kids. Before I had children, I could focus on anything and tune out the world. Nothing could distract me if I didn’t want to be distracted. I think being the oldest of four children and tuning my siblings out all the time to read or do homework trained me for that. But after my first child was born, I quickly learned tuning out the world wasn’t a good thing. And I couldn’t bring myself to tune my kids out for writing. So I would get interrupted all the time, lose my train of thought and struggle to get back in the writing zone. Therefore, I quit writing until the last of my four kids was in school. The result is that I’m published several times over. Though I still can’t write when the kids are home, after school or during school breaks. I either have to get them or myself out of the house to accomplish anything. Other than that, everything just happens for me. 

Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?

When I first heard an author talk about this, it freaked me out. It had connotations of the supernatural and supernatural stuff scares me big time. Since then, I’ve come to appreciate what this is, and it’s not quite so frightening for me. However, it still isn’t something I do. I think I may be too much of a realistic person to ever get in the zone where my characters become real people in charge of MY story. Or maybe I’m a bit of a control freak… 

What advice would you give other writers?

Don’t give up, don’t let the rejection letters get you down for too long, but also be willing to take suggestions and have a realistic view of your writing. Always be willing to learn. But remember, the publishing business is subjective and what one person in charge of it likes, another one may not. Keep your options open.

What is your favourite genre to read? Is it different to what you write?

I love to read romance first and foremost and love to write it. I think I’ve read more Harlequin Romances and Presents than any other kind of book. However, as long as there’s an HEA romance in the story, I also thoroughly enjoy historicals, suspense and intrigue. That doesn’t mean I haven’t read other genres and enjoyed them, but with a busy life, when I do have time to read, I want it to be something I know I will enjoy.

Tell us about your book...

Andree Bancroft lives a sheltered life on St. Barthelemy and there’s no place she’d rather be.  When a famous singing artist shows up at the villa her father manages, she has no clue who he is.  It’s the compelling man that attracts her.

Maximillian Chanteur is desperate.  His fiancée dumped him, his muse has vanished and he’s sick of living in a fishbowl.  Escape to an island villa is exactly what he needs.  Andree Bancroft is not! 

Their time on the island and in the whirlwind life of a celebrity in the States, teaches them what’s really important.  Being together.

Buy Links:

Amazon

iBooks

And the prequel to Escape To Paradise...The Professor's Secret is still free everywhere you can buy ebooks from.