Write to the Point with Robynn Tolbert

I just have to indulge before we get to the interview. Today is my fourteenth anniversary with my husband. For those of you who follow my Genesis 5020 posts on Friday’s you know this is big deal. I just wanted to give a shout out to my wonderful husband. Without you I wouldn’t even have a blog to share with others. Thank you for your love, support and for staying by my side when anyone else might have left.

Congratulations to Linda who won last week’s giveaway.

This week we get write to the point with Robynn Tolbert. Born inKansas and born again at age six, Robynn wrote stories for her own amusement for the next thirty years. When a job as a foster care caseworker became too stressful and a career with a floral trade magazine became too comfortable, her thoughts turned to writing an actual book. Success led to success, and she completed a second novel and started her third. Robynn, aka Ranunculus Turtle, lives inKansaswith a clowder of cats, a patient dog and a garden.

Tell us about yourself, family, where are you from, how long have you been writing?

I’m a native Kansan. I’ve been a marriage and family therapist, a customer service rep for an international florist trade magazine, and a filing specialist for new businesses inKansas. I live debt-free except for the house, my immediate family is large and furry (I have cats, too), and I’ve been writing for myself since the fourth grade. I only started writing for other people in the last eight years.

How did you come to know Jesus as your Savior?

I attended a backyard Bible study when I was six. The teachers took a couple of kids off to the side to talk to them and I wanted to know what they were talking about. Turned out it was Jesus. I accepted Him as my savior, along with a chocolate chip cookie, and my journey began. I rededicated my life through public baptism and testimony at twelve, and He’s pretty much bossed me around ever since.

Tell us about your latest book. What do want your readers to take away after the last page?

Cassia Ocren joined the knighthood for the scholarship program, but four years into her tour, her boring life takes an unexpected plunge into a secret war between dragon-worshippers and elemental spirits. Her race to end the war becomes a crash course in what it means to serve when the cost is her life. I want readers to finish the last page with a sense that God is in His heaven and all is right with the world. Until the next book, anyway.

Back cover blurb for Star of Justice:

She joined the knighthood for the scholarship program.

A thwarted assassination attempt drags Caissa Ocren into a secret war between elemental spirits and dragon worshippers. More accustomed to solving puzzles than wielding swords, she undergoes a crash course in survival from a mercenary minstrel, a shape-shifting druid, and a legendary spirit warrior.

An ancient book may hold the answers she seeks, but understanding requires the memories of a wizard. With time against her, Caissa faces the hardest lesson of all – how to serve when the cost is her life.

How often do you blog and what do you cover in your blog?

My blogging life varies. I posted about the journey to publication once a week at The New Authors’ Fellowship for the last year and a half. I now write every two weeks at The Cheesecake Thickens about what my life is like after publication. I blog about anything and everything whenever the spirit moves me at my own blog Ranunculus Turtle. I also have blogs covering politics and Farmville, but I don’t have much time to write for those lately.

Can you share with us a favorite book you have read?

So, so many, but the first to always come to mind is The Lost Princess by George MacDonald (reprinted in the US as The Wise Woman). Two girls – one rich, one poor, both spoiled rotten – encounter a Wise Woman who seeks to change their attitudes before they are forever set in their selfish ways. Being a recovering brat myself, I hold this as my primer for acting better than I feel. No other book besides the Bible is more on my mind when I encounter obstacles in my life. Except possibly The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Gotta know where your towel is.

Can you share with us a Genesis 5020 in your life?

I’m one of those people that takes God very seriously (shocking, no?), and I take every life hardship as a potential lesson. Of course, being a recovering brat, my idea of hardship is sharing my French fries. I’ve actually experienced very little difficulty compared to most. God is good, and He only gives good gifts. Remembering that is the key to happiness.

Do you have a life and/or a ministry verse?

The one I hold closest, probably because it’s so hard for me to do, is Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. And the second is like it: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7.

Where can we find you on the web?

I hear Google turns up some interesting results. Officially, I’m at www.robynntolbert.com, ranunculusturtle.blogspot.com, newauthors.wordpress.com, thecheesecakethickens.wordpress.com, and Facebook as both myself and Ranunculus Turtle.

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you would like to add?

I’d like to thank you for having me visit today. God’s blessings on you and your readers.

Robynn, thank you  so much for sharing with my readers. We love hearing from authors.

Readers, Robynn is giving away a copy of her book in e-book format. Leave a comment for her by June 19th at 5:00 PM and you will be entered to win.