Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lori Robbins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lori, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I credit my dance training for my work ethic, because pursuing a career as a dancer demands the same kind of discipline and intrinsic motivation that’s essential for a writer. On the surface, those two professions would seem to have little in common. One is physical. The other is exceedingly abstract. And yet, dance requires enormous concentration. You can’t do it unless every part of your brain is engaged. For me, it’s the same mindset as with writing.
Those are the positive consequences, but I have to admit that this single-minded approach has made me a terrible multi-tasker!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Like many people, I dreamed that one day I’d write a book. I didn’t imagine that I’d be the author of two mystery series, but this career trajectory is in keeping with a long history as a late bloomer. I began training as a dancer when I was a teenager, knowing the chance of success was slim, but I didn’t let that stop me. I ended up dancing with Ballet Hispanico, the St. Louis Ballet, and the Des Moines Ballet and enjoyed some modest success in commercial work as well.
My second late-to-the-party profession was as an English teacher. I started college at twenty-eight, went on to earn a master’s degree in teaching, and followed that with a long career in the classroom.
Writing crime fiction is my third career, and my books incorporate the things I know best. The Master Class mystery series features an English teacher who solves crimes using books as her inspiration. The title of each chapter is the title of a famous work of literature and each provides a coded clue to solving the mystery. The On Pointe mysteries are set in a professional dance company, which is a great setting for intrigue.
As a dancer, teacher, writer, and mother of six, I consider myself an expert in the homicidal tendencies everyday life inspires.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Persistence in the face of adversity is the guiding force in all I do. Absolutely nothing has come easily to me. I competed in dozens of auditions before landing my first contract as a dancer and endured even more rejections before signing my first contract as a writer.
What kept me going was a strong desire to achieve those goals, and what fueled that determination was an abiding love of the work itself. I’d counsel those who are just beginning their journey to be clear about their goals and the kind of life they want to live. That advice may not be what others might term sensible, but it’s worked for me.
And no work that you put into your dreams is wasted, no matter the outcome, because it has intrinsic value to you.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
It’s always tempting to do what comes naturally and to avoid the tough stuff, but I would have missed out on many opportunities if I let my fear of public speaking stop me. No matter how many times I do a book reading, an interview, a panel, or a workshop, I’m always a nervous wreck for days before the event. Successful outcomes haven’t done much to dampen this anxiety.
What I’ve learned, however, is that it’s possible to turn this weakness into a strength. I endlessly [obsessively?!] rehearse, so that by the time I’m onstage those prepared words come easily. I’m now equally comfortable with a pre-written speech as I am with an impromptu performance, but if I hadn’t spent the time turning worry into work, I probably would have given up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lorirobbins.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorirobbinsmysteries/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorirobbinsauthor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorirobbins99
- Other: Linktr.ee https://linktr.ee/lorirobbinsmysteries
Image Credits
Shawn Reilly Simmons Alice Kivlon
