IndieView with Robin Raven, author of Next Stop: Nina

 

Well, my father committed suicide when I was a child. Growing up, I always wondered whether I could have perhaps saved him if I’d done something differently and whether I maybe could still save him if only I could find a way to go back in time.

Robin Raven – 20 September 2015

The Back Flap

Nina is pushed to the edge, then falls over that edge into a whole new world.

There’s something different about Nina; she never felt comfortable in this world. As she struggles to cope with the pain of her present and past, the young girl’s life is changed through the beauty of art.

When Nina grows up and winds up in over her head in a dark place, she finds herself somehow transported to another time when nothing is quite what it seems. She must fight the horrors of her past all over again. Along the way, she faces greater challenges than she imagined and enjoys sweet surprises when she discovers true love.

This is a character-driven novel with a heroine who faces suicidal depression on her own terms, and that’s just the beginning. At its heart, Next Stop: Nina is a love story that takes on the types of love that change us and allow us to discover the truth in ourselves.

About the book

What is the book about?

Next Stop: Nina is what I’d call a literary fiction time travel novel. A young girl in a really difficult situation discovers the beauty of art in the face of so much ugliness in her life, and that sustains her for a long time. When the darkness threatens to push her over the edge, something remarkable happens, and she finds herself once again facing down what happened to her when she was young. In this new life, she discovers a lot about love and works to solve the mystery of how it all happened.

When did you start writing the book?

Well, I’d had the idea for Next Stop: Nina for many years. I’ve always loved time travel stories, including movies like Peggy Sue Got Married and Somewhere in Time. So I started writing time travel stories years ago, but this exact novel started in 2014.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took a few months.

Where did you get the idea from?

Well, my father committed suicide when I was a child. Growing up, I always wondered whether I could have perhaps saved him if I’d done something differently and whether I maybe could still save him if only I could find a way to go back in time. So, from that train of thought I had as a child, I was inspired to tell the story of a girl who really does find herself back in time and facing a huge challenge.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes, in a way. I had a hard time deciding how much to reveal about the character of Leonard, who is a very central character to the story, but, due to the way the story is told from Nina’s point-of-view…I wondered about the right balance of what to tell the audience regarding background and essential information about the character and how to establish the relationship through her emotions.

What came easily?

I found that the character of Nina was really easy for me to write.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

All the characters are fictitious, as I think it’s unethical to create fiction characters that are based on actual people unless you would ask and receive their permission. Certain character traits or situations definitely inspire me, though.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I don’t know how any writers specifically have influenced how I write, but I was really moved by the work of Quinn Cummings, Alice Hoffman, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Michelle Richmond.

Do you have a target reader?

I really don’t. I am thrilled at how the novel has been received by men and women so far.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I don’t. I write at all hours of the day and in many different ways. Sometimes I outline, but, more often than not, I will get an idea in my head and feel compelled to write it down.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I outline many projects, but sometimes I decide to simply start writing and see where a story takes me. When I do outline books, I usually just write chapter titles and a brief summary per chapter.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I try to wait until I finish.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Yes, I do. Music was a part of Next Stop: Nina because the character loves music. I love Taylor Swift, The Carpenters, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Olivia Newton-John, Morrissey, Leonard Cohen, Paul Brady, and many other artists.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Not this one. I do have plans to submit to agents in the coming year. I have a children’s book with a great publisher that’s in the works. Once that is out, I will probably consider which agent would be a good fit and pitch to him or her.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I just felt compelled to share this story that I wrote, and it felt like the right way for me to go this time. I am happy to try many different methods to get my stories to readers and connect with them.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My book cover was professionally done by Laura Gordon of the Book Cover Machine. It was a premade that really caught my eye, and I thought it was just perfect for this story.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I wouldn’t say that I’m completely winging it, but I am new to this. I didn’t have any certain strategy, so…Yep, I guess winging it is the right phrase, but I am plugging along and doing my best to promote it each day. I am grateful for advice from other authors.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I would say that you really want to take your time and not rush into anything. At the same time, set deadlines for yourself, just not ones that are high pressure. Try to let go of being a perfectionist in favor of doing a good job of telling the story and sharing what you want to say.

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of Next Stop: Nina from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).