Sharai Robbin is the woman next door, who doesn’t literally live next door – but you get this vibe when you chat with her. Robbin, a Philadelphian writer, has one of the sweetest personalities I have ever met. Normally, when you meet a writer (especially within the black community) you aren’t exactly welcomed with open arms. Rather with competition and what can you do for me attitude. Not Robbin, she is humble and willing to help and share her knowledge as much as possible. She birthed her first novel, Candace Reign under Simon & Schuster in 2015 that made instant publishing success.
Outside of being a talented writer, Robbin is a leading example of an inspirational person who is empowering her community. Just a peek at her Instagram account and you will see how open and willing she is to help anyone bring their story from concept to book. As the CEO of Good Ground Literary Services, LLC she offers a variety of services help aspiring writers become authors. As a writer and author I can say a helping hand is not easily found. Outside of helping future authors, Robbin also has a strong passion to help youths within the community, focusing on literacy and education. I can never understand why creative writing is not more popular within public schools or at least offered as an afterschool club. Writing is such a wonderful outlet, especially for our younger generation.
Learn more about Robbin, her inspiration and what drives and motivates her writing:
What’s your main inspiration for your characters?
The primary inspiration for my characters is my desire to keep it real. To me, my characters represent the unique and various aspects of black life underrepresented in black fiction today. They are complex people just as we are complex readers and it’s that relatability that makes them stand out and drives their thoughts, actions and the directions of their lives. I allow my characters’ personalities and desires to inspire me when I write. I truly believe the subtleties of each character are what resonate with the audience.
When did you begin writing?
I started writing poetry in the third grade. I was eight years-old and I was a latch key kid so, I caught public transportation to and from school by myself. I read on the ride and one day I picked up a book of poetry from the school library and read Nikki Giovanni’s “Ego Tripping” and fell in love. I read it so many times I missed my stop on the train and had to walk six blocks back to my house. I had never seen or even imagined words used that way. I couldn’t put down a pen after that.
Does music inspire your creativity? If so, what type of music is your favorite? Who are your favorite artists?
Often, music does provide some form of inspiration. It sparks a thought or a sentiment that I may decide to explore later. I love Neo-Soul. Mos Def is my absolute favorite. I enjoy Common and Erykah Badu, but I’m also a fan of Beyonce and Rihanna and I have a sick love for Trap Music. But, I listen to Neo-Soul when I write. I turn it down real low, though, so I don’t get distracted by the words.
Who is your favorite author?
Nikki Giovanni, J. California Cooper, Alexander McCall Smith
What’s your number one goal pertaining to your career as a writer? Have you achieved it?
My present goal is to get my first novel into the hands of as many people as possible. My long-term goal is to establish myself as a significant contributor in American Literature. I have a long way to go for both, but I am pleased with the direction my career is moving. Having secured a two-book deal on my first publishing attempt has really made my dreams a lot more tangible. There are so many projects I am working on right now, sometimes it’s hard to focus on one particular goal. But, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Who is your core audience?
My core audience is women like me. I believe my work speaks to the 25-45 year-old black female demographic. Women who are working mothers, aspiring entrepreneurs and women who have had to make some tough choices in life, but are resilient and powerful nonetheless.
If you were an advocate for a specific cause, what would it be and why?
I aspire to be an advocate for literacy and education. At some point in my career, I would like to work with young people in urban environments, supporting their abilities to dream big and to capture their own stories.
Are you ever influenced by news stories? If so, how do you tie in breaking news or popular scandals into your plotlines? Share a news story that has affected you personally or one that you find very interesting.
I am not often influenced by the news. I wished I watched more television but I can hardly find the time to sit still and write so I very seldom spend time in front of the television. News I get is often snippets and sound bites of current events, but never enough to inspire my creative energy.
What type of books do you write? Why did you decide this genre?
Candace Reign is contemporary urban fiction and I chose to write in this genre because it needed me. I felt like the black woman and family are poorly represented in a lot of black literature right now. I wrote Candace to bring a sense of realness back to fiction. But, this is not all. For me Candace Reign is just the beginning, a door-opener, so to speak. I started writing with a love of poetry, but I am already branching out to more non-fiction to help and support other writers. I am working on a young adult novel, a screenplay and possibly something auto-biographical to share more of my story with the audience.
Which character are you most like in your recent book?
I would say I am somewhat like my main character, Candace, but then I am also nothing like her at all. She’s driven and focused and she’s a good mother, but she is also very serious and sometimes uptight. I am a pretty light-hearted and silly person. Candace is not. She is usually all business.
Do you have any books coming out soon or any future projects that you would like to share with us?
Yes, I do. Candace Reign is only the first in my Urban Royalty Series with Simon and Schuster and Strebor Books. The second installment, Prince’s Homecoming is scheduled to be released Spring 2016. There’s a potential third installment, Emmanuel’s Court and I am also working on a YA piece entitled The Death of Juliet.
Go beyond the pen with Robbins on her social pages: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
the VIRGO GIRL five THINGS TO ASK:
What would you tell your 21 year-old self?
Dump the tall one. Marry the one with the tats.
I start my day with…
A moment of thanks and coffee.
If you could invite any woman to dinner, who would it be?
Billie Holiday
Best advice you have received?
Just write.
Life motto you live by?
I deserve everything God has for me.