T.R. Robinson's Blog

Full of Anticipation

Many thanks to Julie Watson for her enticing review of the short story ‘Her Next Door’.






‘Her Next Door’ is a short story of a woman Tara who has clearly had some troublesome history and her experience in life has led her to be suspicious of others. Nevertheless when she embarks on a new start in life by buying a new house to call her own, she puts all doubts due to her past experiences aside. 

She is willing to think positive and embrace her new neighbours and hopes they can be friends. It doesn’t take long for the neighbours intensions become clear. 

The reader is then turning pages to see what happens next. A short read full of anticipation.’

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Julie Watson is a memoir author.

Learn more about Julie from her interview with T. R. Robinson

Julie’s Books

Read Review

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New Newsletter Series

Understanding, let alone dealing with and managing, the variety of difficulties, challenges, joys, and idiosyncrasies life throws up, is far from easy.

As any of you who have read her books will know, T. R. Robinson has the perfect qualifications to comment and share on life’s foibles. In fact, it has been her desire to help others that drove her writing.

A new series of topics, which consider a range of life issues, are now to be shared in the newsletter.

If you would like to benefit, you can signup for the newsletter here or from any of the subscription panels on this website.

It would be a shame if you missed the first in the series, so you need to take action now.

Of course, you can subscribe at any time but, as said, it would be a shame to miss the first one.

If you find you are not interested in the content, or it is not what you expected, you may unsubscribe at any time.

NOTE: If you already subscribe to the newsletter, you do not need to do anything. You will receive the new series.

One point to make is, because of a change to the subject title, your system may redirect the email to your spam/junk folder. Please watch for this. It should sort out once you mark the first one or two as ‘not spam’. 

‘Courage in the face of life’s difficulties’

Profound thanks to Jill Dobbe for her kind and observant review of Eternally Naïve: A Reluctant Autobiography.

‘This is a candid and well-written account of the author’s difficult life experiences from childhood on. Her strength and determination were overwhelming as she worked several jobs, moved around often, and survived many misfortunes. Her courage in the face of life’s difficulties was awe-inspiring and a testament to what mothers will do to keep their children happy and safe.

As I read this book, I felt the author relaying her story in a personal and friendly manner, as if we were having tea together. Thank you to her son, Peter, who continued her work after she sadly passed away. I considered T.R. an online friend and got to know her as a fellow author who greatly impressed me with her kindness.’

To see the original review, click here.

Read more about the book here.

Jill Dobbe is the author of several travel memoirs.

Jill is also a consistent reviewer of books.

Learn more about Jill from her interview with T. R. Robinson .

Three of Jill’s books have been reviewed.

Read Review

Read Review

Read Review

‘Resilience of the Human Spirit’

Grateful thanks to Valerie Poore for her perceptive review of Eternally Naïve: A Reluctant Autobiography.

‘I received a review copy of this remarkable book from the author’s son. Sadly, the author herself has passed away, but Peter Robinson is continuing to manage his mother’s work and has published Eternally Naïve posthumously.

As an autobiography of her life, it includes everything from her earliest memories to her final days in amazing detail. But sadly, hers was not a charmed existence. T R Robinson was thrown from the warm embrace of a loving family into the cruel harshness of German occupation. What she suffered doesn’t bear contemplation and how she survived the abuse is astonishing.

The title of the book is an accurate description of this kind, generous woman who continued to get literally buffeted through life. It is a sad story, but also an uplifting one when we realise how resilient the human spirit is, particularly one with strong faith, culture and principles.

The author’s style is conversational and personal, often reminding the reader of pertinent facts and influences to explain her reaction to different situations, but she herself frequently seems bemused by her continued naïvety and belief in others. I finished the book thinking she must have been a lovely soul, perhaps too good for this world. Whether she ever overcame all the adversity she and her son endured is something for the reader to discover, but I can recommend this very well written book to all who enjoy learning about such life challenges and how people withstand them.’

To see the original review, click here.

Valerie Poore is a prolific author of multiple memoirs and some novels.

Valerie is also a consistent reviewer of books.

Click within the red texts below to read or view the relevant article.

Learn more about Valerie from her interview with T. R. Robinson.

Learn even more at Valerie’s website .

Two of Valerie’s books have been reviewed.

Water Ways

African Ways

Eternally Naïve

The first edition of T. R. Robinson’s autobiography is now available for purchase.

TR’s introduction to the book :

‘I have described this chronicle of my life as a reluctant autobiography. That is because I am essentially a private person and, as you will see, dislike public exposure. It is also because I am ashamed of those events that reflect negatively upon some relatives. I am also ashamed of what was done to me, and of my weak timidness in the earlier part of my adult years. However, I do not think it would be right to depart this life without leaving some sort of record of my experiences. It has been difficult to write because it has stirred innumerable sad, painful, and hurtful memories, though many have never been far from my thoughts. I do not feel the book really does justice to all I have endured, nor does it truly convey the full strength of the emotions and fears. Nevertheless, I have done my utmost and believe it is the best record I could compose. I have intentionally omitted some details and events. There is no justification for unnecessarily traumatising readers beyond what is required to make sense of some situations. The rest will pass into eternity with me. I must clarify, though much was difficult, there have been lighter amusing moments and events, which I also share with you as I recount my tale. My primary aim, besides that of providing a history of my life and the times I have lived through, is to try to help and inspire those who, by whatever means, have suffered, or are suffering, in their lives.’

Readers will find the following included In this True Life story:

War, Torture, Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence, Near Murder, Single Parenthood, Lesbian Aggression, Pimps, Rampant Jealousy, Gunman, Homelessness, Love, Wealth, Poverty,
And much more

Readers will feel they have gained the strength, hope, and resilience to face and overcome their own challenges. And to know they can go on to live fulfilled lives. 

Amazon Barnes and Noble

(Opens store for your location.)

Waterstones Foyles Browns Books

Local Bookshop

To get your copy from your local bookshop give them these details:

Title: Eternally Naïve: A Reluctant Autobiography

Author: T. R. Robinson

ISBN: 978-1-7385435-0-2 

(Note: With this ISBN your bookshop should be able to get to the book straightaway.)

More……

Website Update

When announcing the sad news of my beloved mother’s passing (T. R. Robinson), I said her website, this website, will be turned into a books only site. This has now been done.

I also stated the existing blog articles would be retained in an accessible archive. This has also been done.

Though this blog page will remain in the same form as before, the remainder of the site has been updated.

To get the full benefit of the changes, you should click on the tabs at the top of this page and see what comes up.

There is also a further addition of book trailers for which there is no top level tab but may be accessed from the trailers option near the bottom of the home page.

I hope I have done my mother justice with these changes, and that you find them helpful and interesting. Please leave a comment if you discover something not working or as you would expect it to be.

Peter Robinson

Revised and new pages:

Home
About
Books (Minor cosmetic change.)
Archive
Contact
Trailers (New)

TR Passing

It is with great sadness I have to announce T. R. Robinson, my mother, has passed away.

These are difficult days however, mother was concerned her ability to inspire and help others, by sharing her life experiences, should not be wasted or lost. I promised to continue her legacy. Some changes to my mother’s online presence will be required. My thoughts are as follows:

This Blog

There will be no further articles or posts. However, the existing material still holds relevance and interest for many. I therefore intend to create an accessible archive.

Website

The website will be turned into a books only site.

Books

Mother has left many draft manuscripts. A quick glance through has led me to think these books will be of interest and help to many of her readers. A desire to help others, through her own story and experience has always been an important component to mother’s writing. I will work on them as time permits and in due course publish each. There are quite a few, so I expect to be publishing for some time to come.

Social Media

Over time, I will review all of mother’s social media accounts to decide which to continue with and which to close. I will post appropriate notifications at the time. Initially, these will be to give notice of the sad news. After that, I only intend to post news of new publications.

Newsletter

I will maintain the newsletter, but only as a means of letting subscribers know when one of my mother’s new books has been published.

There is a lot of work to do, and in several areas a learning curve for me. It will take time to action all the changes.

Thank you for following mother and for showing an interest in her works. 

Peter Robinson

Twenty-Four Years, And Counting by Suzy Stewart Dubot

The easy style of this book carries the reader along without the facts becoming too heavy. The occasional back and forward movements in time are well crafted. They do not distract or confuse the reader’s understanding but rather enhance their knowledge of relevant facts and events.

There is a lot of information but the author has successfully provided it all without the use of complicated highfaluting wording. In fact, most readers will not be aware of the vast volume of knowledge being transmitted to them. It really has such a light touch. That does not mean it is unsubstantial. On the contrary there is much that penetrates the reader’s mind and emotions.

Readers will not want the read to stop. They will be left looking forward to the next instalment. Though the book is described as a memoir, it is more the first autobiographical instalment of an engaging life. At least, it is hoped it is the first and there will be more, a lot more.

The book is available digital (ebook) format.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Smashwords

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Suzy Stewart Dubot is a prolific author who writes in a mix of genre.

Author Spotlight (A quick overview.)

Author Interview (A more in-depth insight.) 

Various of Suzy’s books have been reviewed. Type ‘Suzy’ in the search panel to the right and hit the enter key, to read them.

Aspiring Author Fears

This article is primarily aimed at aspiring authors, with the intention and hope of helping them get off the starting block. That does not mean authors further along the path may not find some of the content useful.







Contents

Overview
Fears
Overcoming
Roundup
Related Articles

Overview

Many people, when pressed, or perhaps not, admit, at some stage in their life, they have considered writing a book. However, a variety of issues, practical, psychological, and emotional, have prevented them pursuing their desire.

Then there are those who have embraced the desire and got on with writing and publishing a book or books. Inevitably they will have found themselves limited to a specific genre but some subsequently wish to branch out into other areas (genre) but are hesitant about doing so, especially if they have already found success.

In both scenarios there are issues which act as barricades to advancement. This article will consider some and whether the author or prospective aspiring author is able, or has the ability, to overcome those obstacles.

Fears 

Regrettably, fear in its many guises, is inherent to humanity. Of course, it should not be but the fact and truth of it may not be denied. There are few, if any, who may say they, at some stage of their life, have not encountered it. What to do with it is a constant question for many, though one prevailing, and often effective concept is, to defeat fear it must be directly faced. Often when taken to its logical conclusion the outcome is less traumatic than feared or may even have no real impact.

The prevailing fears that assail aspiring and established authors and writers are:

Fear of rejection.Fear of failure.Fear of ridicule.Fear of criticism.

These are all fears that occur in everyday life and in a vast range of scenarios. Nevertheless, they remain relevant, and very real, for many authors and writers.

These fears for an aspiring author are not only fuelled by the normal desire to be liked and accepted but also by such further considerations as:

I do not know how to create proper phrases.Grammar was never my strong subject.I have never been good with spelling.I do not understand punctuation.English is not my first language. (The majority of books, to find a wide readership, require English editions.)If I tell everything as it really was, I may upset people. (Primarily applies to memoir, autobiography, and biography.)I do not know where to start.I am not sure what to include and what to omit.And so on.Overcoming

A simple fact often overlooked or subjugated to fear, is everyone is capable of telling a story. People often share a tale or experience over a cup of coffee, tea, or something stronger. That ability proves they have the capability to relate a story and, by extension, to write one. Stories (books), whether factual or fictional are just a different format.

All authors have had to face the dilemmas outlined above. They have had to sit down and carefully consider whether they are capable of achieving their goal. Whether they could in reality publish a book. For some the concept feels highfaluting, even arrogant, but is it? In the past authors where considered to be among the higher echelons of society but, the truth is they are just people who happen to have a penchant for writing.

When it comes to such matters as, grammar, spelling, phraseology, punctuation, English language, all may be learnt, either from specific study guides or courses or simply from reading. Admittedly, having made the decision to write there is the inner driving force to get on with it. However, spending time in learning first will pay dividends. In fact, the writing process will be quicker for it.

Where to start is often another stumbling block. It is rather simple really. Imagine telling the story to someone. A natural starting point will identify itself. The other issue is the writing format. Will it be pen and paper, typewriter (some people do still use these two), or computer? Some suggest recording the story but it is not a highly recommended means because until the manuscript is seen in physical form it is hard to pick up anomalies or mistakes.

A point all authors need to note, is the general requirement for some self-discipline. Life is full of demands and distractions which can easily rob an author of writing time. Best advice is to set aside a regular time slot, somewhere quiet if possible. Even when not feeling like writing this slot should be adhered to. Such a feeling is often identified as writer’s block. There are differing opinions upon the topic. A previous article Writer’s Block may prove helpful.

Roundup

It is a fact, though many individuals know, or at least feel, they have a tale to tell, the idea of actually writing one scares them to death. Often due to the fears and issues mentioned previously. They do themselves a disservice: many have more ability and talent than they credit themselves with. Of course there may, probably will be, a learning curve but that is easily dealt with.

Sadly, many put the idea aside. Society is the poorer for it. Interesting stories are lost. Advice and examples of how to overcome something is denied. People are robed of the hope and inspiration that may be gained. Readers are simply missing out on a good, entertaining, tell.

It is true the advent of easy to use self-publishing platforms has resulted in some poor quality books but the suspicion is, as a consequence of potential authors putting the idea aside, readers are missing out many good ones.

Of course there are many other aspects in producing and publishing a book than just writing it. But, if it is not written in the first place?

This website and integrated blog provide numerous thoughts, advice, and suggestions upon the author career and path. To find specific articles simply enter a keyword or words in the search panel and hopefully relevant information will be made available.

Related Articles:

Here are a couple of articles aspiring authors may find of immediate help:

Writer’s Block

Managing Author Fears

Managing Author Fears

Contents

Overview
Prevailing Author Fears
Managing Author Fears
Conclusion
Related Articles

Overview

First thing to say: sadly though there are ways to handle, manage, and deal with fear, truth is most never really fully leave. They tend to remain in the back of the mind and in the emotions. However, that is no reason to feel discouraged or defeated. The majority of authors, if they are prepared to be honest, will acknowledge the constant presence of fear. This applies no matter how experienced or popular they are. In fact popularity itself can result in fear.

Prevailing Author Fears

It is worth recalling some fears are inherent to all humans. Some are more specifically relevant to authors. Consequently, some of the following issues apply to both. Along with the primary fear identity, there are suggestions of how someone with the fear may think and feel.

Fear of Failure: Worries will never finish book; will not see it on bookshelves; it will never be good enough; book will not be sufficiently original; book will be considered too literary or not literary enough; will not make money.

Fear of Rejection: Book will not be seen as valid; book and maybe themselves will be considered inadequate; book and they will not be accepted; they will be slammed by critics; book and they seen as not matching up.

Fear of Writing: This may appear an odd inclusion for an article directed toward authors, but for some it is a very real one. The separate article Aspiring Author Fears (to be published next) considers the issue in more detail. A link will be provided when the article has been published.

Obviously there are other issues impacting authors. However, it may be seen how the prevailing human fear of what people think tends to be seen as more important than what the author thinks of themselves. The truth is, what people think does not fundamentally change the person or how they live their lives. Everyone is unique and should embrace and utilise the fact.

Managing Author Fears

Everyone has their own take, and experience, in dealing with their fears. The following are suggestions many have found helpful:

Note: Alongside some, in parenthesis, there are links to further articles, which may also prove helpful.

Know who writing for. (Who Do Authors Write For?) (Finding the Right Audience) Outline before starting. (Several authors do not favour plotting however, in this instance some aspect of an outline may prove more helpful.) (Plotter v Pantser – The Differences) Save editing until end. (Trying to edit in the development stage can result in unintentional mishaps.) (Proofreading Your Own Work) (Editing Your Own Work) (Self-Editing a Book: This includes additional links to other useful information.) Break writing into chunks e.g. one chapter or section at a time. Do not focus upon fear of failure. Rather envision what end result will be. Recall why writing. Age not relevant. It is never too late to start. (One author wrote their memoir when ninety-eight. This was their first book. It is not known whether they went on to write more.) Remember it is not possible to please everyone. (People have different tastes, likes, dislikes, and expectations.) Though book may not be the best written at first it does not mean readers do not want it. (Some very successful books, even some made into films, are very poorly written and received consequent critical reviews.) Remember, in the self-publishing world revising and republishing a manuscript is easy. However, it is wise to avoid too many revisions or new editions as it may give the wrong impression to readers. Most self-publishing authors will admit the first edition is not always the best. Frequently, it is not until the book is seen in print that anomalies, inconsistencies, or errors come to light. It is then the author should set aside ample time to go through the manuscript thoroughly before republishing. Many will argue authors should always employ an editor however, a majority of independent authors do not have the means to do so.Conclusion

Authors are people and as such are subject to fear. That is not anything to be ashamed of, it is a simple fact of life. No one should allow fear to control their lives and actions. Fear can be managed. The initial step is to face it and then look for the ways to control or overcome it.

Related Article(s)

Who Do Authors Write For?
Finding the Right Audience
Plotter v Pantser – The Differences
Proofreading Your Own Work
Editing Your Own Work
Self-Editing a Book
Aspiring Author Fears (Link will be provided when article published. It is the next in line.)