Author Yearbook

AY Talks Back

We were thrilled to have some time to chat with Robin Bayne, who is involved in the 2012 Author Yearbook.

Author Yearbook: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Robin Bayne:  When I was in the second grade, I wrote a story about a haunted house that my family and teacher loved. (In fact, my mom still has that somewhere—remember the wide-ruled paper we used in grade school and the fat pencils we wrote with?)  In sixth grade, I was called up to the teacher’s desk—I thought I was in trouble. Actually she loved a story I had written and promoted me into an advanced reading group. After that, I always knew I’d be doing some type of writing.

Author Yearbook:  Tell us a little bit about what you like to write, what inspires you…

Robin Bayne:    I enjoy writing inspirational romance stories, usually in a contemporary setting.  My favorite romances are those with a reunion of two main characters—I find so much more conflict to work with when the hero and heroine have a shared past. I also enjoy writing time-travel romances, and have one in the works with a Christian worldview.  When not writing romance, I like writing devotionals and short pieces.  Back in 2008 I published a book of collected devotionals geared toward writers. Many of the wonderful authors I’ve met in this business contributed their devotionals and the anthology is called “Words To Write By.”

Author Yearbook: Do you have any special things you do when writing? For example, some authors listen to a certain type of music, others drink a glass of wine (some too many glasses), and still others exercise to release that creative spirit. What do you do, if anything?

Robin Bayne:  I’m the opposite of many writers—I don’t listen to music when I write.  The television can be on in the background as “white noise,” but otherwise quiet is better. I do own an Alpha Smart keyboard that would allow me to type without a laptop, but seldom use it. When I’m in the mood to be away from my desk I get a nice smooth, Roller Ball pen and a legal pad and curl up on the sofa. The only downside is that once in a while I can’t read my own writing later on when I need to type. When I can read it, the process of typing the scenes into the computer completes a sort of second draft, in which I make changes.

Author Yearbook: What is your greatest challenge as a writer?

Robin Bayne:  My biggest challenge is finding enough time to write, and also to read and just let thoughts process in my head.  I have a full time job at a small community savings bank that can be demanding of my time. Another challenge is overcoming the fear that the next thing I write won’t be as good as earlier work—until I remind myself there won’t be any need to worry if I never actually get anything down on paper.

Author Yearbook: What is your greatest reward as a writer?

Robin Bayne : To know I made a difference for just one person.  For example, years ago I wrote a short piece about my sister’s best friend, who died in a car accident at age sixteen.  It was published in an anthology called “God’s Way for Teens” and my mom bought a copy and gave it to the girl’s mother. This took place about 25 years after her death, but her mom was so touched she wrote to me and sent me a specific photo I had referenced in the story. Her mom was so happy her daughter “was not forgotten.”

Author Yearbook: What do you do when you aren’t writing? Any hobbies or special interests?

Robin Bayne: I hate to say cleaning my house, but that’s usually what I’m doing in my spare time. I don’t watch much television, but I do enjoy “The Big Bang Theory” and “How I Met Your Mother.”  I also find Facebook surfing eats up a lot of my time. I enjoy experimenting with low carb recipes and occasionally playing Wii games.

Author Yearbook: In keeping with our theme for the 2012 Yearbook of “Then and Now”, what is your favorite childhood memory?

Robin Bayne:  I can’t name just one memory, but I do recall every Christmas growing up becoming a special memory.  My family was great, and though we weren’t rich my parents made us feel special around the holidays. One year when I was in grade school, I remember my mom sitting up night after night sewing things, which I later learned was a complete wardrobe for special dolls my sister and I were receiving that year. (Remember the dolls whose hair grew out if you pushed their belly buttons?)  Mom also made a few matching outfits for my sister and me, so that we could match each other and our dolls.

Author Yearbook: What are you working on right now? What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Robin Bayne:  I am working on a contemporary inspirational romance, but I didn’t write much over the holidays. With the new year I am trying to get back into a writing routine. And as for future projects– I just don’t know. I may continue on with the Christian time-travel or come up with something totally different. There are so many possibilities!

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