Sci-fi author Robyn Singer is chatting with me about her new lesbian space opera, The Sunrisers.
During her virtual book tour, Robyn will be giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for your chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!
Bio:
Robyn Singer is a Washington-based writer of novels and comics who believes all stories can stand to be a little more gay. Since she was a 4-year-old girl playing with her action figures, she knew she wanted to be a writer, eventually earning her BA in Playwriting and Screenwriting from Purchase College. When she’s not writing, she enjoys practicing archery and indulging her shopaholic nature.
Welcome, Robyn. Please tell us about your current release.
The Sunrisers is a lesbian space opera centered around Yael Pavnick and Molina Langstone. Once childhood best friends, the lives of the queer, Autistic women went in completely different directions, as genius goofball Yael became a master thief, while stern and serious Molina became a captain in the universe’s premiere peacekeeping organization. When Molina is given the task of capturing Yael, the two engage in a game of cat-and-mouse, attempting to outwit one another as their love for one another is put to the test.
What inspired you to write this book?
This was the second novel I wrote, and one thing I learned while pitching my first book was the importance of comps. So, I began thinking about what would sound good to agents that would still make for a good story I’d be passionate about. I ended up landing on “Killing Eve in Space.” From there, I took inspiration from the discrimination I face as an Autistic woman, and made that the core of the story.
Excerpt from The Sunrisers:
My powerful knees buckled underneath me, my mouth hung open, and my heart exploded, sending warm, wild sensations through my body.
I couldn’t believe my eyes, but I’d know my Moli anywhere. With her dark amber bob cut and matching eyes, flawless skin that was slightly paler than my own, and her adorably stiff posture, there was no mistaking her. And from the look on her face, she was just as mystified to see me here as I was her.
“Moli?” My eyes lit up and a grin spread across my face as I opened my arms and sprinted right at her. “Holy fucking goddamn shit, it’s you!”
I wrapped my arms around her, hugged her with all my might, and swung her around, getting her to giggle like we were seventeen again. And as I put her down, she smiled right back at me with equal excitement.
“You’re a captain!” I shouted, letting go of her and observing her burnt-orange uniform, black cape and boots, gold epaulets, and the five gold earrings in her right ear.
“A goddamn Sunriser captain! At 27 years old!
“I was promoted two weeks ago,” she said, visibly holding in tears of joy. “I have command of the Noriker.”
“The Noriker.” I licked my lips. “Good ship. Gods, you’re even wearing a sword on your belt. I can’t believe they actually let you get away with that.”
“I try to not take advantage of nepotism, but being the supreme general’s daughter has its perks.” She bounced on her feet. “And look at you! I didn’t think it was possible for you to get any hotter!”
“I eat the impossible for breakfast.”
Moli giggled again, and memories of all the times I’d made her laugh throughout our childhoods raced to the front of my mind. Memories of all the times I’d helped her with her sword training, because she’d needed someone to spar with, no one else was interested, and I couldn’t say no to her. I still couldn’t believe this was really happening. “When I saw you on my monitor, I knew I had to come save you myself. We can explain to the troops you hurt later that you were just reacting to exposure to viseph gas. I’m so sorry about that by the way. All we knew was that a non-Banshee would be present. We had no idea it would be you.” She put a hand on my shoulder. “Come on, let me beam us up. We can talk and catch up once we’ve gotten you far away from those reprehensible thieves.”
“Heh, thanks. They all think I called you here and are trying to kill me, and they really don’t seem to be willing to listen to logic right now. I’d already be dead if I wasn’t so much faster than them.”
Confusion overtook Moli’s smile. “Wait, you didn’t tip off Zenith Command about this meeting?”
“Why the Hell would I have…?” My face fell. “Riiiiiiiight, you don’t know. Shit.”
What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently writing the second arc of my ongoing comic book series, Final Gamble. Published by Band of Bards, it’s a thriller inspired by the works of Noboyuki Fukumoto, as well as horror films such as Hostel. It follows gambling addict Danny Lin and disgraced MMA fighter Jasmeet Khanna as they’re plunged into a Hell controlled by society’s elites, with dangerous games of chance serving as their only path to freedom.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I first considered myself a writer in fifth grade. I started writing an episodic story in my journal everyday, and the kids in my class loved it so much, they passed it around so they could all see the next installment.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write
I do not write full-time. I am currently in the process of launching a fashion brand, but I can’t give details on that at this time. and how do you find time to write?
It’s pretty easy when you have no day job and a lovely girlfriend covering most of the bills. Love you, Maggie!
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t engage in purple prose. Many writers love showing off with expansive prose and having their words elegantly dance around the page. As a woman with ADHD, I find this type of writing difficult to get through, and I don’t include it in my work.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a writer, but, throughout my adolescence, there were also times I expressed a desire to either be an archaeologist or a NASCAR driver, or to go into finance.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
If you’d like to support an Autistic, Jewish, lesbian, trans woman, and would like to see more stories from one, you should pick up The Sunrisers! This story is everything I would have wanted as a kid, and I’ve already had neurodivergent readers telling me how much this story meant to them. Representation matters.
Links:
Twitter | Instagram | Amazon
Thanks for hosting!
Sounds like a good read.