Book Bloggin' Princess: 🏰 Interview Featuring *THE TORMENTING BEAUTY OF EMPATHY* by Richard Robbins #interview

Empathy. I just love that word. I have the perfect literary/spiritual fiction book for you to read. THE TORMENTING BEAUTY OF EMPATHY by Richard Robbins. Read all about it along with the most interesting interview with Richard. First, find out more about the author and his book...

Richard Robbins’ novels explore the complexities of family dynamics to address important moral questions, while imparting a strong sense of location. His first novel, Love, Loss, and Lagniappe takes to the streets of New Orleans and New York City to explore the journey of self-discovery after heartbreaking loss, while revealing the scientific basis for the meaning of life. His second novel, Panicles, covers the lives of two intertwined families in and around Washington DC, while addressing the price of fame and fortune.

His new release, The Tormenting Beauty of Empathy, follows Hana, a young Guatemalan immigrant mute from childhood tragedy, as her quiet life is upended by the birth of a daughter who turns out to be different. And special. The kind of special that soon draws worldwide attention, for the better, and worse…

Richard was named Louisiana Independent Author of the Year for 2020, and his works have won numerous awards, including the Feathered Quill Book Awards and the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. He lives in New Orleans and New York City with his wife Lisa, near their beloved grown children.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: www.Robbinsbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.robbins.7737

As a book bloggin’ and book luvin’ Princess, I’m always curious to find out how authors got the ideas for their books. Can you tell us how you got the idea to write your book?

Like many others, I have been troubled by the anger and tribalism in today’s culture, and the inability of some to empathize with the plight of other human beings. I have also felt that some of those who claim to be the most righteous or religious are actually the least kind and tolerant, behaving directly counter to the teachings of the major religions. I have tried to address those issues in this work. Hopefully it will cause at least one person to reevaluate their motivations and actions, and perhaps open themselves emotionally and spiritually to the needs of others.

Can you tell us a little about the main characters of your book?

The book is broken up into two main parts, following the two main characters, mother and daughter. The mother is Hana, who we first see as a child growing up in civil war torn Guatemala. She witnesses a horrible tragedy and becomes mute from the trauma. She eventually makes her way to America, and has a daughter, Josefa, who is different and special. The second half of the book follows Josefa from birth to her eventual destiny as she changes the world.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would that be?

I loved to write as a child but put it aside to pursue a more traditional career, before coming back to it later in life. I would tell my younger self to be patient, keep writing, and that eventually you will find an outlet for your creativity.

What would you say is one of your interesting writing quirks?

My works tend to span a generation or more. I like to follow people over the course of their lives, to see the impacts of major events and decisions on their outlooks and world views. People can change and evolve, and those changes fascinate me. I also like to tackle important moral and philosophical issues, and am not afraid to take a side and justify that stance.

Do you hear from your readers? What do they say?

I love, love to hear back from readers. Their advice and criticism make me a better writer, and their praise, well, everybody likes praise. I particularly enjoy when a reader feels passionate about one of my character’s decisions, even if they disagree with that decision. That happened in my first book, when the lead character makes a life changing decision which many readers disagreed with. The readers will sometimes express it to me as if it were a weakness in the book, but to me, it is a strength. The fact that they feel so strongly means the character feels real to them, and the decision reached them on an emotional level. When I get that reaction, I feel like I have succeeded.

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

I had one negative review that said the book was boring. Boring? My books may not be the next great American novel, but boring they are not.

What has been your best accomplishment?

In life, my marriage and raising my three children. In writing, the ability to have my work express what it was meant to express. I write for me, and when I’m done, the standard by which I judge the work is whether it came out the way I intended. I have received a number of honors and awards, including being named Louisiana Independent Author of the Year, and they are all nice and greatly appreciated, but for me, as long as the work comes the way I wanted, I’m happy.

Do you Google yourself?

No, I know who I am. I prefer to be outward looking, rather than inward. I prefer the physical over the virtual, and am more interested in friends and family than myself.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

I work on one book at a time. I prefer to stay focused, and this helps. I will start the next book right after the prior one has gone through the editing process, but before its publication. I have already finished the first draft of my next work, which will be my first historical fiction, based on the founding of the American Mafia in New Orleans.

Fun question – if you were princess or prince, what’s one thing you would do to make your kingdom a better place?

I’d eliminate one sided, partisan media networks. I believe people are rational and considerate by nature, and when presented with a range of viewpoints can come to reasonable conclusions, even if those conclusions differ. However, when people are only presented one side of an issue, whichever side that may be, their eventual conclusions are so divergent that they cannot understand the other person’s viewpoint, which leads to division, and ultimately violence.

That, and free college and health care for all…

Do you have anything specific that you would like to say to your readers?

Thank you for considering my work. I hope it brings you happiness, and allows you to consider some moral and ethical issues in a new light, with love and empathy.

Title: THE TEMPLE OF THE CRYSTAL TIMEKEEPER: CHRONICLES OF THE STONE BOOK 3
Author: Fiona Ingram
Publisher: Bublish Inc.
Pages: 318
Genre: Juvenile (preteen) / Action / Adventure

BOOK BLURB:

A plane crash! Lost in the jungle! Hunted by their old enemy, will Adam, Justin, and Kim survive long enough to find the Third Stone of Power? With only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, the kids make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the lost city of stone gods, where the Stone of Power might be located. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task. Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

PRAISE:

“Action, danger, and excitement are the key words for the riveting adventure novel, The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper … Its spellbinding storyline explores the history of the Aztec and Maya gods and their cities with exceptional accuracy; this is one of those books you can’t put down. With authentic historical facts expertly woven into this spectacular action-packed fiction series, no one of any age can resist its magnetism. This is a fascinating and exciting fiction story created with expertise and finesse, which educates while entertaining the reader.”

— Susan Williams, for Readers Favorite

USA Book Awards: