Robbie Sheerin is an award-winning Scottish author currently based in the Boston area, USA. His work has appeared in numerous journals and online platforms. He lives with his wife, Beckee, their daughter, Lilly, an energetic dog, and a rather self-assured cat. Wanting to learn about him and his latest novel, The Orb, I was able to interview him for ScifiPulse.
You can learn more about Sheerin by visiting his homepage.
Nicholas Yanes: Growing up, what were some stories you loved? Are there any you still enjoy revisiting?
Robbie Sheerin: I actually hated reading as a kid, but one of the few books I read was The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks. It was both shocking and provocative and gave me a strong sense of human behavior and intrigue.
But what impacted my imagination at a young age were shows like The Twilight Zone and Eerie Indiana. The mystery and twists were jarring and left a noticeable impact on my imagination and how I saw the world, or how the world could be in a fictional sense. I also loved the X-Files and Doctor Who, and still do. Watching all these shows now is not only inspirational but also a breath of nostalgia. I also read a lot now. I’m now a chain-reader, and often have two books going at once.
Yanes: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career as a professional creative? Was there a moment this goal crystalized for you?
Sheerin: I always loved to write, but being dyslexic, it was always a struggle. I would have the story in my mind, but writing it down on paper was a total mess. But like anything else, the more you do it the better you get. I’m a big believer in improving your skills and learning everything you can either through experience or from others.
The moment I thought I could write was having one of my short stories published in a small publication, which unfortunately is no longer around; maybe I put them out of business!! Lol. But it gave me a little validation that I could actually put a story together that had substance. Little things like that keep you afloat in an ocean of rejection and dismissal.
Yanes: Being an independent writer is incredibly difficult. What efforts have you taken to get yourself noticed?
Sheerin: I’m very present on LinkedIn, Podcasts, authors interviews, and although I have published three books, I still periodically submit short stories to various outlets. I also publish free short stories on my website every month.
Yanes: On this note, what advice would you offer to other authors trying to market themselves?
Sheerin: As well as what said I previously, interacting with other authors is invaluable. Their advice and tips on marketing, writing and experience in the writing world is gold. I’ve also been involved in other authors works, anthologies in particular. This is great exposure. You can’t just write and not get it out there. Be pushy and furious. Email people and ask them to write about you or show your work, share you work with as many people and outlets as possible, Newspapers, magazines, book stories. Create bookmarks, t-shirts, a website, and book trailers.
These are all things that writers can do themselves on a tight budget, but can solidify you as a writer.
Yanes: Your latest book is The Orb. What was the inspiration for it?
Sheerin: I had been reading Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Series, and Marvel had just finished up their huge run of movies ending with Endgame. As well as the always present Star Wars and Doctor Who. I think these sparked in me a world-building fever, and I wanted to create my own. There’s something magical about having threads running in all directions-This person is related to this person; this woman’s action caused this and that. This guy’s grandfather started this conflict, which led to this war. It’s all so intriguing!! I think we see that today with all the spinoffs in tv and movies and people love it! I guess I wanted to do the same. Some of the characters and events in the Orb subtlety tie back to my short story collection, Tales From Another Dimension.
Yanes: While you were developing The Orb, when did you realize that the story would work out?
Sheerin: Its funny because it started out as a short story, and then kind of grew into this bigger picture. Then I was struck with an idea of a massive twist that would shock and awe readers. I love twists, probably from all those Twilight Zone episodes, everything I write has a twist. I like to lead people down the garden path full of beautiful flowers and trimmed hedges and then to have them suddenly step off a cliff. The twist in The Orb I’ve only seen a few times in books or movies. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s more of a writing technique than a narrative. I think readers will love it!
Yanes: Reflecting on the time you spent writing The Orb, how do you think this book helped you become a better writer?
Sheerin: I really drilled down deep with the characters in this one. A lot deeper and sometimes darker than other books and stories I’ve written. I wanted to explore their flaws and what makes them tick, why someone acts the way they do, why do they have anxiety, or fear, anger or confidence. We aren’t born with these things; they are bred from something in our past. This makes characters relatable and endearing even if they are in a fantastical galaxy trillions of miles from our own world. This gave a lot of depth the Orb and my writing.
Yanes: If you decide to revisit this universe, what are some plot threads you want to follow up on?
Sheerin: Where do I begin?! That’s what’s great about creating your own world, there are dozens of threads to pull on. With the Orb, I would like to go back and explore some fridge characters who affected the main characters. But I’v also left some characters stories unfinished, readers will want to know what happened to them, and will they make an appearance in any upcoming books. I’ll let you into a secret; Of course they will!!
Yanes: When people finish reading The Orb, what do you hope they take away from the experience?
Sheerin: That they will want a book two!! Haha. First of all, I hope readers were entertained. Secondly, I hope that they connected with the characters and the story, one of which is overcoming the seemingly impossible. Not only is the Orb about the underdogs trying the beat the bigger stronger guys, but also humans (and robots) overcoming their own inner obstacles and hardships.
Yanes: Finally, what else are you working on that people can look forward to?
Sheerin: As well as always writing short stories which I will most likely post on my website. I would like to write a prequel to the Orb, exploring some of those past threads and where they come from. Watch this space!
Remember, you can learn more about Sheerin by visiting his homepage.
And remember to add me on LinkedIn, and to follow ScifiPulse on LinkedIn and on Facebook.
