Interview with Robin E. Mason

About the Author

​“I’ve always had voices—er, stories in my head. I once said I should write them all down so someone could write them someday. I had no idea at the time that someone was me!”
 
Ms. Mason has been writing since 1995, and began working in earnest on her debut novel, Tessa, in 2013.  Meanwhile, she cranked out a few dozen poems, made countless notes for story ideas, and earned her BFA in Interior Design.  Ms. Mason lived with depression for many years, and the inherent feelings of worthlessness and invisibility; she didn’t want to be who she was and struggled with her own identity for many years.  Her characters face many of these same demons.
 
Ms. Mason writes stories of identity conflict. Her characters encounter situations that force the question, “Who am I really?” For all who have ever wondered who you are or why you’re here, her stories will touch you in a very real—maybe too real—and a very deep way. “I know, I write from experience.”
 
Ms. Mason has three novels previously published in the unsavory heritage series. Tessa, Clara Bess, and Cissy are available on Amazon, both for Kindle and in print. She also has several poems included in an anthology, Where Dreams and Visions Live (Anthologies of the Heart Book 1) by Mary Blowers, as well as a short story, Sarafina’s Light, also in an anthology, Blood Moon, compiled by Mary Blowers. She is currently working on The Tilting Leaves of Autumn, Book Two in her new series, Seasons. It releases in November, following The Long Shadows of Summer which releases in August. Books 3 and 4 in the series will be out in 2018.

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The Interview

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
The voices in my head! LOL I’ve always had story ideas, and once I started writing and got serious about it, this whole writing thing just took off!
               
2. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did becoming an author ever cross your mind?
It really never did. The stories were there but writing them just didn’t occur to me. I wanted to be an actress (I have done some acting and I love it!) When I was pre-teen, I wanted to be an Interior Designer—and I earned my degree four years ago.
 
3. Who are some of your favorite authors?  Do these authors influence your writing?
As Tosca Lee said when I asked this question in interview, “Are you trying to get me killed?” LOL I have so many author friends, so many I love to read—I could mention a few but not possible to list them all... That said, and in no particular order, I give you Pepper Basham, Mikal Dawn, Tessa Afshar, Kristen Heitzmann, Laurie Tomlinson, Conni Cossette, Varina Denman, Marian Merritt…
 
4. When you are not writing, what hobbies do you enjoy?
Reading, of course, and working in the yard, painting / drawing, designing, creating artist books.
 
5. What inspired the idea for The Long Shadows of Summer?
As with all my stories, there is a question of identity. TLSoS is the first of four stories that are woven together in a larger story. That larger story is what first incubated in my mind.
 
6. What do you want readers to take away from reading The Long Shadows of Summer?
We are who God made us to be, no matter our life or circumstance.

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