Author Interview: Robert Collins
- fridaynightwritesi
- Sep 5
- 5 min read
Hello, everyone! Welcome back to Friday Night Writes! As always, our goal is to shine a spotlight on members of the book community and introduce readers to awesome authors, narrators, event hosts, influencers, and more.
This week, we'd like to introduce our featured guest, author Robert Collins. Evie will be leading the interview.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you?
I’m a long-time indie author. I write fantasy and science fiction. I’ve also written and published nonfiction, mainly Kansas history.
What are a few of your favorite things?
chocolate, chicken, Doctor Who, Babylon 5, and Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Those are all amazing things! Did you always want to be an author?
Since middle school. I was inspired by reading “Asimov on Science Fiction.” I’ve since realized that writing touched the storyteller that’s been in me since I was a kid.
Besides writing, do you have any hobbies? Do any of your characters share the same interests as you?
My hobbies are model railroading and 3D printing. I’ve only ever written one short story about model railroading. I’ve mentioned 3D printing in a few of my novels. Otherwise, my characters have their own interests.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing original fiction in 1987. I sold my first short story in 1990. I sold my first book in 1996. I sold my first novel around 2005.
Wow! You've been writing for a long while! Which genres do you write in?
Fantasy and science fiction, though some have had mystery or romance plots & subplots.
Are you independently published or traditionally published? Why did you choose this route? What are the benefits/drawbacks?
Indie. I find that the greatest benefit is control. Not just over covers or promotion or the like, but over your schedule. I have written quite a lot in the past. I might still be waiting for old projects to be published if I was trad. As an indie I can release books when I want to. That includes putting out a series in a year, rather than one book in a series a year, or every other year, or what have you.
That is very true. I do enjoy being able to decide when my books will be released.
What do you enjoy most and least about being an author?
Most: writing and publishing.
Least: marketing.
I think we all feel the same about marketing.
Are you a plotter, a plantser, or a pantser?
I like to say that I outline then let the story tell itself. I start with a basic plot outline. I tend to keep to that as I write, but the events of the story can (and often do) change as I write. I do think knowing how to outline is an important skill for every author. You don’t have to do it every time, but if you if you know how, you’ll be able to when you need to create an outline.
That's good advice. I've never been able to follow an outline very well, but it does help organize my thoughts during the initial brainstorm of the book.
Do you have any writing routines?
About the only real routine is that I prefer to have classical music playing while I write. I have lots of playlists so it takes a while to get back to the same piece.
Now it's time for a harder question, one that always has a different answer. How do you deal with writer’s block?
I suppose I pause and edit or outline other ideas. But it’s been a while since I was well and truly blocked.
How many WIPs do you have going right now? Can you tell us anything about them?
Right now just two. Both will have me return to the world of my “Hilia’s Road” fantasy series, but with different characters and at different times.
How many books do you currently have published? Tell us about them.
Um, so PayHip is listing 112 separate books for me, but that’s not everything, so maybe north of 130? That final number includes all my nonfiction.
That is a lot of books!
Where do you get the inspiration for your books? Do you insert pieces of yourself and people you know into your books?
I’m not a self-insert type of author.
As to inspiration, that can come from other books, movies, TV series, history, anything. In my first “Inspirations” post on Substack, I invoked this quote from Doctor Who writer Terrance Dicks: “Good artists borrow, great artists steal, and Doctor Who writers get it off the back of a lorry, no questions asked.”
That's amazing! I've said before that there are no longer "Original" ideas, only reinterpretations of old ideas.
Are there any other authors who have inspired you?
Right now the one author who inspires me, mainly with her ideas about structure and publishing, is Gail Carriger
Do you prefer standalone books or book series?
Yes.
I feel the same!
Do you have a favorite and least favorite of your characters? Why?
Not really. I like all of them. Otherwise I wouldn’t bother telling their stories.
Totally valid.
What is your most popular book?
My first published novel, Expert Assistance.
Which of your books do you wish received more love than it does?
All of them.
How do you handle the author/life balance?
I guess not having much of a home life outside of my hobbies?
What do you do for your mental health and to recharge your creativity?
I write. I seem to feel my best when I’m being creative.
Do you have any advice for unpublished writers or people who hope to become authors?
Write. Write your work from start to finish. Don’t think about publishing until you’re finished. If you want to write more than one put, start looking for ideas.
Now it's time for my favorite part of the interview: The fun questions!
What’s your favorite Dinosaur?
I turn 60 this year, so do I qualify?
I will allow it!
Are you a clean or messy person?
Clean.
Do you collect anything besides books?
I don’t really collect books. I don’t collect much of anything. I try to live minimally, and I want to live in a small space one day.
Nice! Those tiny houses do look cool, but I like big dogs, so it would never work for me.
What are you interested in that most people aren’t?
Kansas history. Mystery Science Theater 3000.
We're about to wrap this up, so please, let everyone know where we can find you!
Main is my website (with social & store links): http://robertlcollins.blogspot.com/p/home.html
I post weekly on Substack: https://robertlcollins.substack.com/
Do you have any planned events?
Nope. I have too much out to do events anymore.
I understand. Events are expensive and tiring.
Thank you so much for joining us, Robert. It's been a pleasure chatting with you!
To all of our readers, thanks for spending some time with our guest author this week! We hope you've enjoyed this interview! In the meantime, be sure to follow Robert on his social media platforms so you can keep up to date with his journey. Building a better, stronger community is what Friday Night Writes is all about!
Be sure to join us next week when we talk to author Sammantha Selwood! We will also have a special live interview with Rebecca Jose on TikTok at 8pm EST
See you soon!
The Friday Night Writes Crew
Evie Black & Samantha Moran
Friday Night Writes would like to thank our amazing sponsors: Bobbie Isabel, Rebecca Jose, Eden Knox, Kris Mitchell, LeAnn Kelley and Sammantha Selwood. Through their contributions, we are able to host interviews on a dedicated site and reach new audiences through our newsletter. Thank you!
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