Today’s feature author is Kathleen J. Robison. I am thrilled to welcome her and hope you will be inspired by her. Be sure to enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of Kathleen’s books, Restored Grace and Shattered Guilt.
First off, Kathleen, what to do you feel is the definition of success for an author?
For me, success as an author is being used by God to lead others to a deeper walk with Him. When readers share how my books challenge them to grow in their faith, it overwhelms me with joy. Like that’s it. Game over. But if you asked my husband this question, it would be much different. He’d say it would be, being able to retire on my earnings. Half-jokingly, but we are of that age.
Seriously, though, the greatest joy I’ve received in my writing journey is from readers who said my books encouraged them in their faith. I’m collecting those sentiments to remind me when I doubt what I’m doing. A reader of Shattered Guilt commented, “Her writing reminded me of Karen Kingsbury, Always tackling today’s issues with grace and the love of Jesus. Loved it!”-L.W. Faughn. I’m deeply humbled and incredibly inspired to keep writing when I hear words like this.
I know that God’s purpose for me is to bring Him glory through sharing the eternal hope of Jesus Christ. I pray that my books will accomplish that, without being preachy, but through a relevant and entertaining story. As an author and a person, that is success in my eyes.
I couldn’t agree more! Tell us about your first published book? What was the journey like?
Oh my! It’s been a dream. Before I even pursued submitting my manuscript, I attended a Writer’s Retreat. My writer friends had invited me, and I refused the invitation at first because I wasn’t accomplished. Thankfully, my faithful friends wouldn’t let me say no, and it was there that I met my publisher, Sandra Barela, and mentor Chautona Having. Four months later, Sandra asked me to send my manuscript.
But let me back up. Even after that uplifting, inspiring retreat, I doubted why I was writing. It had been eight years since I started crafting my first manuscript, and I wasn’t even close to submitting. But the Lord knew differently.
Last year, on Good Friday, during my quiet time, I prayed about quitting writing. I’m wasting my time, I thought. At 12:01 in the afternoon, Celebrate Lit Publishing emailed me. At 12:15, a literary agent, whom I’d contacted a year before, but I’d yet to submit, also emailed me. Both asked me to send my manuscripts. Talk about an answer to prayer. I remember thinking, whether they sign me or not, God has given me a clear direction. I prayed and decided to submit only to Celebrate Lit, and two months later, they offered me a contract for a seven-book series.
While waiting for Shattered Guilt to be published, I self-published a little novelette, Essential Ingredients. It was a free lead-magnet for my website (it still is), but my editor encouraged me to publish it as a paperback as well, so it’s available on Amazon. It’s a short, suspenseful romance that I may expand into a novel at the request of my readers.
Then everything happened so fast, with my book contract. Shattered Guilt, Book 1, published in June of this year. The prequel, Revived Hope, published last month, and my personal favorite so far, Restored Grace, Book 2, is due for a June 2022 release. The journey has been God-inspired every step of the way, and I’m so thankful to Sandy Barela and the Celebrate Lit team. Never in my wildest dreams (and boy did I dream) would my writing journey pan out this way. His ways are always perfect.
How many books have you written? You’ve already told us which is your favorite, but maybe you can expand on that.
I have completed seven (3 published) manuscripts and have twelve more in progress. I’m so thankful that I met Chautona Having at that retreat because she encouraged me to continue writing in all genres. I write primarily Romantic Suspense, but I have books in Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, and even Young Adult Spec Fiction. I’m writing the latter for my grandsons, The Mighty Men of Valor.
Out of my Bay Town Series, Restored Grace Book 2 is my favorite. I’ve begun drafting Books 3 and 4, but still, Carol Scape is my favorite character. She’s a free-spirited older hippie, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet her next summer.
I love all of my stories, but close to my heart is Second Rising. It is historical fiction set in biblical times. My husband and I spent so many years in the car driving to watch our sons play college baseball that we created this story together. His mind is so much more creative and analytical than mine, but he doesn’t write. I love characters, he loves plot, and we can’t wait for that collaboration to go to print. I’ve planned to start editing next year.
What is the key theme and/or message in Revived Hope?
The key theme is perseverance. As the title suggests, we all need reviving sometimes, but through Christ, 
He can restore that elusive hope that hits us in our darkest times. Unforeseeable tragedies come upon Melanie, my main character, and they keep piling up. Just like real life. Yet, she’s surrounded by faithful family and friends that help her to cling to the God she knows to be just and good despite insurmountable odds.
Finding peace in this world is impossible without Christ. I believe that wholeheartedly, and I try to write all my stories with that in mind. I’ve taught my children to live their lives in the same vein. Not for their pleasure but for God’s glory. We don’t belong in this world. Jesus said, “But my kingdom is not of this world.”-John 18:38. But He promises us hope. “…In me, you shall have peace. In the world, you shall have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33
What was the inspiration for the story?
In Shattered Guilt, it started with my daughter’s funny quirks. She’s such a charming personality. So, she (the youngest of our eight children) initially inspired Lacey, Melanie’s teenage daughter. The story has evolved quite a bit since then, and that story is gone, but the bones remained.
I’ve always loved suspense, and John Grisham is one of my favorite authors. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know Christian Romantic Suspense existed until I discovered Colleen Coble. What a world that opened up for me.
So, as my book developed, I went in the direction of page-turning suspense, and I needed a victim. Melanie’s daughter would be it. But I just couldn’t let that happen to my daughter, and the story became more real. Through my characters, I began to write about how we must trust in the Lord’s sovereign hand. Both in the good and the evil in this world. It took me on quite a journey.
I’m not always sure where my ideas come from, but I know the inspiration is always from Jesus. He puts things on my heart, whether directly or indirectly, and I pray it’s His inspiring message that gets through when I write. He is the true source of our inspiration.
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share?
Yes! I love Christmas books, and I’m finishing “Mistletoe Village.” It’s a mildly suspenseful romance about Rence, a single mom escaping the big city and leaving heartache behind. She moves to the tiny town of Grace, deep in the forests of Oregon, just a few weeks before Christmas. Working as a nurse in the only hospital for miles, she encounters a mysterious man that most everyone avoids, but she can’t. Soon, the hustle and bustle of Christmas festivities envelope the town, and Rence and her family get caught up in the joy. But when a stranger appears, exposing the dark secret of Grace, the community must come to grips with their past. Themes of judgment and bitterness tear open the hearts of not only Grace but also of Rence. Only forgiveness can bring redemption, but will it be in time for Christmas? Mistletoe Village is scheduled for a November 29 release. Just in time for Christmas! I’m so excited to get this book to print, and it is the first of many holiday books to come.
Purchase Shattered Guilt here.
Purchase Revived Hope here.
Connect with Kathleen on her website
And/or Social Media:
Kathleen’s Facebook Reader’s Group
Kathleen’s Facebook Author Page
Comments 3
The cover caught my eye & the plot sounds awesome! I’d really love to read this! She sounds like an amazing author!
Amazing cover and an intriguing blurb! Thanks for your giveaway.
Thank you for a wonderful interview. God bless you.