Tell us about yourself.:
For clarification the author headshot was taken walking the Bog of Frogs toward the Bailey lighthouse in Howth, Ireland. I'm retired from two careers and enjoy using my hands. Building things large or small is cathartic. I always come away renewed. I intensely dislike social media in all it's forms. If you don't use your muscles, they atrophy, that includes your brain.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I got taller and grew whiskers in Florida, but it's now where I grew up. The Army taught me there were things more important than me in this world. I learned the value of selfless service. I learned men and women were built, not grown. Tik Tok doesn't build men or women. Being mentored by respectable contributors to society builds men and women.
Influencing my writing, my background, was actually a bit of a problem. In my careers you could never have enough detail, which means I spend lots of time deleting unnecessary narrative summary. I keep thinking readers want as much detail as I do: not so.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I've led a pretty regimented life so I attempt to keep it to a set work schedule of 8 to 5, no weekends or holidays. Sounds a little quirky, but there are others things in life I enjoy as much as writing
What authors have influenced you?
I got taller and grew whiskers in Florida, but it's now where I grew up. The Army taught me there were things more important than me in this world. I learned the value of selfless service. I learned men and women were built, not grown. Tik Tok doesn't build men or women. Being mentored by respectable contributors to society builds men and women.
Influencing my writing, my background, was actually a bit of a problem. In my careers you could never have enough detail, which means I spend lots of time deleting unnecessary narrative summary. I keep thinking readers want as much detail as I do: not so.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never quit. Quitting's like lying, every time you do it, it gets easier. Don't start.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
You don't have to believe what others believe, but you have to believe they believe it.
What are you reading now?
Trinity, Leon Uris
What’s your biggest weakness?
Grandchildren. I'm one of those people parent's love to hate. If it isn't going to harm my grandchild or others, the sky's the limit at my house: and the kids know it. I tried to explain to my own children I wasn't their friend, I was their parent; with all the associated rules and regulations. It ain't so with my grandchildren, we're friends.
What is your favorite book of all time?
A History of Ireland in 250 Episodes, Jonathan Bardon.
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
Working on art projects like river tables, building tall ships for museums and chasing grandchildren. Cooking is also a passion, but I think my four kids are getting tired of me filling their freezers. I learned to cook for five, but am now single and have no clue how to cut recipes down to one serving.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
White Fang, Caroline Hickey. I became obsessed with owing a dog. I spent years, unsuccessfully, trying to convince my parents to get one. Now I'm older I understand. Kids don't get dogs, they get dogs for their parents.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
Being raised at the knee of great Irish story tellers. I could sit for hours and listen to my Irish kin weave yarns, occasionally sprinkled with the truth. As for my writing style, I read approximately 80 books a year. Being an eclectic reader: Tony Hillerman to Diane Gabaldon, I'm not sure if I have my own style or someone elses. That, most likely. will e determined by readers.
What are you working on now?
Book 2 of Irrelevants: An Uneasy War. It started as a fun project I really enjoyed writing, but 240 pages in it dawned on me, it wasn't going to fit in one book. I'm not James Clavell so, don't see a Shogun size book on my horizon.
What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
I'm pretty new at this so having a favorite promotion method hasn't developed yet. It's really easy to do on-line, but I haven't, and might not, gotten my arms around the whole 'clicks and views thing.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Something relevant to the Irish people. There's actually and Ireland between all the sadness she's suffered and the false face of happy wee folk people think their meeting when they visit the island on vacation. The one thing we Irish have in common with each other is an insatiable distaste for anything government
How well do you work under pressure?
After three combat tours; there's no such thing.
How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
I have to be careful about tone. Being Irish and ex-military, I say what I actually think. That approach doesn't lend itself well to enticing readers. I try to develop a tone I think will engage readers. I want them to appreciate a characters approach to the subject at hand. The reader should be comfortable enough with the tone to see themselves in the story.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
Be patient. I'll get better at this. One day, you'll tell your friends you have one of my earlier yarns. Be well.
Geoffrey Robinson’s Author Websites and Profiles
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