Goodreads asked Robin Layne:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Robin Layne My most recent printed booklet, or "zine," is the first issue of "Turtle Soup: On Finding My Voice." I wanted to continue the food metaphor theme I started with my first zine, "A Character Sandwich," (which was named after its structure--short pieces about fictional characters sandwiched between slices about myself).
When I was still living at home, my family belonged to a camping club called the Road Turtles. My dad got a chuckle out a verse in Song of Songs, which reads in the King James Version, "The voice of the turtle is heard in the land." Commenting that turtles didn't have voices, he suggested the Road Turtles have a newsletter called "The Voice of the Turtle." Such newsletter was never made, but the concept stuck with me after all these years. Over the past decade or so, I have noticed a difficulty speaking up (or even "writing up") when I want to or should, and I identified the cause as past abuse and the expectation of future abuse. I made it a personal project to find my voice amidst the forces trying to silence me. I noticed that other people had similar problems. The turtle represents many things. I took on the private nickname in the 1980s when I bore heavy physical and psychological burdens.
Even the soup has a metaphorical meaning, which will be revealed in a future issue.
I originally thought I would cover the subject in a single zine that would include both prose and poetry (including the poem "Face Without a Voice," which was specially recognized by Write Around Portland). The files I collected soon grew numerous enough to form a book. I decided to make a series of zines, like many zinesters do, and come out with a new one each year. I recently started on Issue 2, and will finish it in time for the Portland Zine Symposium, which is July 9 and 10 this year. The event is free and features many tables and workshops.
My zines are available for sale, although, not being full books, they are not orderable on Goodreads or Amazon. Just write me if you're interested. Each illustrated issue of "Turtle Soup" is is $5 apiece, including postage if your address is in the U.S. ("A Character Sandwich" is a stand-alone zine and is also $5 if you get it by mail.)

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