Wednesday, December 19, 2018

The Long Haul by Robin Lee Hatcher


When I began writing my first novel in March 1981, I wasn't thinking about a writing career or what might come next. To be honest, I wasn't even thinking about the possibility of it being published. I simply had a story in my head and heart that would not let go of me, and finally I sat down with legal pad and pen and I began writing.

I finished that book in 1981, and I sold it to a small New York publisher in 1982. It was released in 1984. Who I Am with You, a Legacy of Faith novel, came out last week. It's my 79th release.

Many years. Many books.

So how does a writer stay in it for the long haul? For me, the key has been to always write the story that has captured my imagination. Many times through the years I've heard someone ask a writer (including me), "Have you written the book of your heart?" My response to that question is, "Every book is a book of my heart. Otherwise, how could I stand to be immersed in it for days, weeks, and months at a time?"

A writer should also be open to new possibilities in their writing. My first books were historical sagas. Those soon morphed into historical romances. As a history buff and a diehard romantic, I never thought I would write anything other than historical romances. But the day came when an idea for a contemporary women's fiction would not let go of my heart.

It was scary to move out of my comfort zone, but there was no denying that this novel had to be a contemporary and had to have God at the very center of it. That book became The Forgiving Hour, my 31st release. In the years since, I've written many more contemporary and historical novels. My new series, Legacy of Faith, is a blend of both—time-slip novels.

Finally, the way a novelist stays in it for the long haul is to remember to have a life. It's easy to stay in one's imaginary world. But if we are to have anything worthwhile to share with readers, we must be experiencing the world around us. So remember to turn off your computer, step away from your desk, and live. Your readers will thank you for it.


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Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher was first published in 1984. There are over five million
copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love.

Robin is an ACFW Carol Award winner and an eight-time finalist and has won two RITA® Awards and been a finalist eleven times. Her numerous other awards include the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. She is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®.