Interview with Robin Jones Gunn
Robin Jones Gunn is a prolific writer, with 63 books published and more in the works. Robin recently won a Christy Award for Sisterchicks in Gondolas in the Lits category.
I have read all of her Sisterchicks books and really liked Gardenias for Breakfast as well. Robin's Sisterchicks books are great for armchair travelers, and the stories are a fun and rich blend of women's friendships and faith.
I'm very pleased that Robin took time from her busy schedule to answer some questions for me!
What writers or books have been your greatest influences?
[Robin Gunn] I’m kind of a nut about Hawaiian history so I’ve read dozens of books on the subject. What influences me the most from those books is the way each writer retells the same series of events of the past two hundred years and each author has a different spin.
C.S. Lewis also comes to the top of the list of favorite authors. I know. Not very original but it’s true. Perelandra is my favorite book of all time. I love that Lewis was such a brilliant historian and professor and yet he chose to write fiction. Science fiction and children’s fairy tales, no less! His critics thought he was wasting his time and intelligence but look at what an audience he was able to reach.
I read a lot of poetry and biographies. Some of my other favorite authors are Jeanne Guyon, Oswald Chambers, Amy Carmichael and lately I’ve been reading Robert Benson’s latest books.
Who is your favorite of your characters?
[Robin Gunn] Like any other novelist, I’m prone to say that selecting a favorite character is like trying to single out one of your own children as your favorite. (But if you promise you won’t tell any of my other characters, I think I’d single out Christy Miller since she’s my first born and we’re still very good friends.)
I must admit that I'm envious of all the stamps you must have in your passport! Where is your favorite travel destination?
[Robin Gunn] I’ve already mentioned how much I love Hawai’i so I’d start my love letter to world travel with an opening entry on Maui. The next entry would be about Italy. Then New Zealand and England. Oh, and Brazil. Definitely Brazil. I haven’t written about the Canary Islands yet, but I’ve been three times and am already dreaming of going back. Basically, before heaven I’d love to see it all.
Women's friendships are central to many of your books. Why do you think that close friendships with other women are so important? If women don't already have a Sisterchick in their life, how do you recommend that they develop those kinds of relationships?
[Robin Gunn] I think something eternal and bonding happens when we tell each other our grace stories. I’ve seen it happen many times. When we open up to other women, we reveal to another eternal being who we are and where we’ve come from, which allows them freedom to do the same. In that truth-telling moment something deep and lasting happens. Our hearts become knit together. The eternal part of us begins interacting with other women on a soul level. This is what we were created for – this open, authentic relationship with God and with others.
Can you tell me about your next book?
[Robin Gunn] “Sisterchicks Go Brit!” is the next Sisterchicks novel and you can guess where the two friends go in that story. The release date is set for 2008 and I’m eager to reconnect with lots of Sisterchicks who have been waiting for the next adventure.
This fall I have a novella titled, “Finding Father Christmas.” That will be available October ’07 from Faith Words. It’s a story of belonging and was a delight to write. I’m currently working on the sequel novella, “Engaging Father Christmas.” (More delight!)
In March of 2008, the first book in the new Katie Weldon series releases with Zondervan. The title is “Peculiar Treasures.” This book was a dream come true project because I had waited many years for the chance to revisit a cast of favorite characters.
I “met” Katie Weldon years ago when she showed up as a walk-on character at a slumber party in the second Christy Miller novel. Christy and Katie opened up to each other in that scene – hey, I guess you could say they shared their grace stories – hmm. Interesting. I never thought about why these two characters became such close friends so fast. Interesting. Art imitating life.
I can honestly say I sat back and watched the friendship grow between Katie and Christy throughout the entire series. Now that Katie is in her early 20’s and trying to figure out what to do with her life, it seemed like a good idea to check in on her as well as the rest of the gang from the Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen and College Years series.
This first story rolled out as a direct result of all the input I received from my 21- year-old daughter. I couldn’t have written this story without her. I’m eager to start writing the second and third Katie Weldon books with more help from my favorite in-house-fount-of-all-insights-into-being-20-something daughter.
Thanks, Robin!
You can find out more about Robin and her books at her main web site and its sister site Sisterchicks.com.
I have read all of her Sisterchicks books and really liked Gardenias for Breakfast as well. Robin's Sisterchicks books are great for armchair travelers, and the stories are a fun and rich blend of women's friendships and faith.
I'm very pleased that Robin took time from her busy schedule to answer some questions for me!
************************
[Robin Gunn] I’m kind of a nut about Hawaiian history so I’ve read dozens of books on the subject. What influences me the most from those books is the way each writer retells the same series of events of the past two hundred years and each author has a different spin.
C.S. Lewis also comes to the top of the list of favorite authors. I know. Not very original but it’s true. Perelandra is my favorite book of all time. I love that Lewis was such a brilliant historian and professor and yet he chose to write fiction. Science fiction and children’s fairy tales, no less! His critics thought he was wasting his time and intelligence but look at what an audience he was able to reach.
I read a lot of poetry and biographies. Some of my other favorite authors are Jeanne Guyon, Oswald Chambers, Amy Carmichael and lately I’ve been reading Robert Benson’s latest books.
Who is your favorite of your characters?
[Robin Gunn] Like any other novelist, I’m prone to say that selecting a favorite character is like trying to single out one of your own children as your favorite. (But if you promise you won’t tell any of my other characters, I think I’d single out Christy Miller since she’s my first born and we’re still very good friends.)
I must admit that I'm envious of all the stamps you must have in your passport! Where is your favorite travel destination?
[Robin Gunn] I’ve already mentioned how much I love Hawai’i so I’d start my love letter to world travel with an opening entry on Maui. The next entry would be about Italy. Then New Zealand and England. Oh, and Brazil. Definitely Brazil. I haven’t written about the Canary Islands yet, but I’ve been three times and am already dreaming of going back. Basically, before heaven I’d love to see it all.
Women's friendships are central to many of your books. Why do you think that close friendships with other women are so important? If women don't already have a Sisterchick in their life, how do you recommend that they develop those kinds of relationships?
[Robin Gunn] I think something eternal and bonding happens when we tell each other our grace stories. I’ve seen it happen many times. When we open up to other women, we reveal to another eternal being who we are and where we’ve come from, which allows them freedom to do the same. In that truth-telling moment something deep and lasting happens. Our hearts become knit together. The eternal part of us begins interacting with other women on a soul level. This is what we were created for – this open, authentic relationship with God and with others.
Can you tell me about your next book?
[Robin Gunn] “Sisterchicks Go Brit!” is the next Sisterchicks novel and you can guess where the two friends go in that story. The release date is set for 2008 and I’m eager to reconnect with lots of Sisterchicks who have been waiting for the next adventure.
This fall I have a novella titled, “Finding Father Christmas.” That will be available October ’07 from Faith Words. It’s a story of belonging and was a delight to write. I’m currently working on the sequel novella, “Engaging Father Christmas.” (More delight!)
In March of 2008, the first book in the new Katie Weldon series releases with Zondervan. The title is “Peculiar Treasures.” This book was a dream come true project because I had waited many years for the chance to revisit a cast of favorite characters.
I “met” Katie Weldon years ago when she showed up as a walk-on character at a slumber party in the second Christy Miller novel. Christy and Katie opened up to each other in that scene – hey, I guess you could say they shared their grace stories – hmm. Interesting. I never thought about why these two characters became such close friends so fast. Interesting. Art imitating life.
I can honestly say I sat back and watched the friendship grow between Katie and Christy throughout the entire series. Now that Katie is in her early 20’s and trying to figure out what to do with her life, it seemed like a good idea to check in on her as well as the rest of the gang from the Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen and College Years series.
This first story rolled out as a direct result of all the input I received from my 21- year-old daughter. I couldn’t have written this story without her. I’m eager to start writing the second and third Katie Weldon books with more help from my favorite in-house-fount-of-all-insights-into-being-20-something daughter.
Thanks, Robin!
You can find out more about Robin and her books at her main web site and its sister site Sisterchicks.com.
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Wow Shauna, how cool to be able to interview Robin Jones Gunn. I love the part about you asking her how one finds a sisterchick. I loved her answer to that question. Thanks for sharing this interview and posting on my blog. I am almost done with my second SisterChicks book. Its been a fun book to read and I have learned so much about Hawaii. LOL!!!!