Connie Briscoe Presents–
Author Cheryl Robinson

Cheryl Robinson tells us how she went from self-publishing her first two novels to landing book deals with New York publishing houses. She also discusses why she decided to try virtual book touring for her latest title, Sweet Georgia Brown.

Connie Briscoe: You started out as a self-published author. Why was that? Did you try to find an agent or traditional publisher first? Tell us about those early years.

Cheryl Robinson: It took years before I decided to put my first novel to paper. I made a conscious decision when I started writing that I would self-publish because I had heard the horror stories on finding an agent or publishing company. I had also tried in the past to obtain an agent and I did receive my fair share of rejection letters, which discouraged me from pursuing my passion for several years.

So when I did finally sat down in front of my computer and decided to write my first novel, which was Memories of Yesterday, my thought process was that I would publish my first novel myself, and I felt very confident that I would gain the attention of publishers from that point.

CB: How did you finally land a literary agent?

Cheryl Robinson: I self-published Memories of Yesterday and sent it off to Earl Cox in New York who owned a small press and also provided consulting for authors. I was hoping that with his assistance I could take my novel to the next level. He wasn’t interested in my first book so the following year I self-published another novel, When I Get Free. I went all out with my promotional material–with a full-color press kit folder, a catchy title and a nice tagline.

I went back to Earl Cox and this time he was very interested. He received my novel on a day when he was flying to Los Angeles to meet with a literary agent about another one of his clients and he took my book with him, read it, and loved it. He passed my book on to the agent who also loved it. Within 30 days from that point, I had a literary agent.

CB: How is it different working with an agent?

Cheryl Robinson: The agent is the go between you and the publisher. Even if you have been working with the same editor for a while, the proper protocol is to have your agent pitch your next book deal and of course negotiate the contract. The right agent can make or break your career, I believe. They are very important and they must believe in you as a writer and in your work in order to work out the best possible deal for you.

CB: You are currently on a virtual book tour. Is this your first one and how is it going?

Cheryl Robinson: It is my first one and I am having a lot of fun.

CB: Why did you decide to go on a virtual book tour?

Cheryl Robinson: I needed to save money. I was spending thousands of dollars on marketing my novels, and travel was an enormous expense for me. I also needed to save time and find a smarter way to market my titles. For me, I think the virtual book tour is the best way for now.

CB: So you liked the idea of going on a book tour without ever having to leave home. When and where do you write?

Cheryl Robinson: I love to write in the morning. I find I’m the most productive then, but due to my current schedule I also write at night. I write best on a laptop in my writing studio. But I can write anywhere. I have written on napkins from a restaurant when I didn’t have anything else to write on and an idea popped into my head.

CB: I hear you. I’ve used napkins to jot down notes. Now I carry a little notebook in my handbag. If you had to come up with a general theme for all or most of your novels what would it be?

Cheryl Robinson: This is what one reviewer said about my novels: “Cheryl Robinson has been known for writing novels with a twist, portraying women who face the odds and succeed.”

CB: Nice. Do you outline or write character sketches?

Cheryl Robinson: I don’t go by a structured outline. I formulate the story in my head and I just start writing. I may put together a rough outline, but I find that usually my characters take on a life of their own at some point and never stick to my outline.

CB: How much do you draw from your real life for your novels?

Cheryl Robinson: Over the years, I have often been inspired through the interactions that I have with people from various walks of life. Most of what I write has nothing to do with my own personal life as much as personal observations of life, the world, and how people behave in general.

CB: Tell us something about yourself or your life that has nothing to do with books.

Cheryl Robinson: In the midst of uncertainty with my job and possible layoffs, I am still at the happiest point in my life right now.

Visit Cheryl’s website for more about her.