Author Interview ~ John Robinson

John Robinson is fifty-four years old, and is married to the finest woman on the planet, his wife Barb. The father of two grown sons and grandfather of two, in 2003 John retired after thirty years as owner of a successful financial planning firm. He is author of the acclaimed Joe Box suspense series, and has made some good friends in the Christian publishing world. These include Karen Kingsbury, Al Gansky, Wanda Dyson, and Christy-winner James Scott Bell, all of who used their talents to help John hone his craft. His works include Until the Last Dog Dies, When Skylarks Fall, and To Skin a Cat, all published through RiverOak.



What book or project is coming out or has come out that you’d like to tell us about?


First, Gina, thanks again for inviting me! My latest book, To Skin a Cat, is the third in the Joe Box series. This one features our intrepid PI going up against a porn king, who’s taking his twisted view of sexuality to a new—and dangerous—low. It should be on store shelves around September 1.

Tell us about your journey to publication. How long had you been writing before you got the call you had a contract, how you heard and what went through your head.

Oddly, I believe I received the writing call on my life in early childhood. I loved spinning stories; sometimes I’d get in trouble for it! But I didn’t get serious with writing until I was nearly forty-seven, in 1999. That’s when I got the idea of an end-times novel with a twist. Without going into too much gory detail, the thing was a trunk novel in the truest sense of the word. But I feel my obedience to the Lord in sitting down and pounding the thing out was rewarded in His giving me the Joe Box character.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

Absolutely. And I truly feel that any writer says they don’t have those seasons of doubt is living a fantasy. For myself, I just need to remember exactly Who it is that’s doing it. As the Word says, He who’s begun a good work in me is faithful to finish it (my own paraphrase).

What mistakes have you made while seeking publication?

Oh geez, that’s easy. My very first Joe Box book was shopped without an agent (bad move). Every CBA house that saw it took a pass, saying it was “too dark…too edgy…too…everything.” That’s when I made the mistake of going with a certain secular house which trumpets itself as a “traditional publisher” (bear in mind, this was in 2000, when there was very little on the ‘Net concerning them).

Later, after acceptance, I found out to my horror they were not only a print-on-demand outfit (the kiss of death in fiction), they literally take on everything that comes to them. Long story short, it took time, and a lot of prayer, but I finally got the rights to that book back in February. It’s since been rewritten, with a different main character, and my agent has been shopping it.

What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

Two pieces, really. One, always keep plugging away; writing really is as much a test of endurance as anything else. And two, seeing how the publishing industry is a very small fraternity, never burn your bridges. Fatal mistake.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve heard?

(laughing) “Kid, we’re gonna make you a star!” (from the infamous “traditional publisher” named above). Needless to say, that didn’t happen.

What’s something you wish you’d known earlier that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

I really wish the critique group I’d been a member of early in my writing career had had more fiction writers in it. Some feedback would have helped.

Is there a particularly difficult set back that you’ve gone through in your writing career you are willing to share?

Sure, the same one I mentioned with that unnamed “publisher” a few paragraphs earlier. The whole experience was a complete, drippy-fanged, full-tilt-boogie nightmare. I’ve since heard stories of their dealings with other writers literally killing those writers’ desires to ever write again. That’s plain evil.

What are a few of your favorite books? (Not written by you.)

ABA non-fiction, I’d say anything penned by P.J. O’Rourke or Tom Wolfe. CBA non-fiction, T.D. Jakes and David Wilkerson. For ABA fiction, I love Dean Koontz and Robert A. Heinlein. For CBA fiction, I have several favorites. Al Gansky, as well as Angie Hunt, Brandilyn Collins, Jim Bell, Wanda Dyson, oh man, a bunch...

What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

I’d say the first Joe Box novel that was commercially-published,
Until the Last Dog Dies. I suppose it’s because it was such an absolute God-thing that it was ever picked up at all. I dunno why now and not then. Maybe the market had changed enough from 2000 that the CBA was ready for a guy like Joe.

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?

Yeah! Everything about it is so…freaking…slow-w-w-w…! Lord, sometimes I feel the shifting of the tectonic plates beneath our feet is the Indy 500 compared to getting a book out.

Can you give us a view into a typical day of your writing life?

Since I’m not writing fulltime (yet), I try to squeeze in a couple of hours at night, after I get home from work. Sometimes, though, if I’m on a roll, that couple of hours may turn into four (or five).

If you could choose to have one strength of another writer, what would it be and from whom?

Another easy one: the productivity of either Dean Koontz or SF writer Harry Turtledove. How those guys can hammer out so much incredibly-good writing in the same 365-day year I occupy drives me bats. But I’m glad they do; more good stuff for me to read!

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?

Yes. One day, by the grace of God, I’d love to be a fulltime writer/speaker.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

Sure. What time is it? (laughs) Seriously, I have to battle that constantly. It’s like there’s a tiny little man living inside my brain who constantly says stuff like, “Just who do you think you are, fake-boy? Breathing the same air as your ‘favorite writers’…you’re pathetic. Why don’t you just hang it up and forget it?” Keeping his pie-hole shut isn’t an easy task. Has to be done, though.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?

My favorite part is probably the re-writing of a piece. In other words, I now have the skeleton down; it’s time to flesh the dude out. I’d say my least favorite part is actually sitting down to begin writing a new novel. That blank white screen staring back at me can look as desolate as the blind side of Mars.

How much marketing do you do?

I have a website and a blog; does that count? Plus I post a lot on writers’ online groups, making sure I include my website in my sig line. In addition, this year (2006), will be my second time teaching at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference. That, I love.

Any advice in this area?

Not really. I’m open for some good advice myself!

Parting words?

Keep on keeping on. God isn’t a respecter of persons; if He did it for me, He can do it for anyone. Thanks again, Gina. This has been rather cool!