New interview with sci-fi author Robyn Singer

Sci-fi author Robyn Singer is back with a new interview! This time we’re talking about the third novel in her Richochet Trilogy, The True Adventurer.

The interview about the first book in the series, The Sunrisers, can be found here.

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 selected participant. To be entered for a 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 the author of The True Adventurer, the final installment in The Ricochet Trilogy. Along with the previous two entries in the series, The Sunrisers and The Order of the Banshee, Robyn has also penned dozens of short stories. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys pilates and reading comic books.

Welcome back, Robyn. Please tell us about your newest release.
The True Adventurer is the final part of The Ricochet Trilogy. Set one year after the events of The Order of the Banshee, the book follows Layla N’gwa and Princess Kaya Langstone-Bythora as the two former friends are caught in the middle of a universe-spanning war. Although a grim story about war, corruption, betrayal, and grief, The True Adventurer features the same energetic character dynamics and snappy dialogue as the previous books in the series, and highlights the power stories can have in the darkest of times.

What inspired you to write this novel?
The True Adventurer is not the book I originally planned on writing when I conceived The Ricochet Trilogy. With the first two books in the series, I knew exactly what I was going to write from the start, and I executed my ideas to the best of my ability. However, 2023, the year in which most of The True Adventurer was written, ended up being the hardest year of my life. I’ve taken important steps to improve my mental health, but I was not in a good place in 2023, and this led me to making The True Adventurer a darker and more surreal story than I ever intended.

Excerpt from The True Adventurer:
“What’s our ETA, General?”

“We should be reaching Caldey-Cocoon’s atmosphere in twentyfive minutes, Princess.”

I twirled my hair around my finger. “Splendid.”

The voyage from Cykeb had been peaceful. I’d had ample time to listen to music and shop for art in my room, torture the prisoners I’d brought along with me in the brig, and take advantage of the other amenities my ship offered.

The Winjolla, named after my departed, beloved aunts, was second only to my mothers’ flagship, Ricochet Supreme, in terms of grandeur. 2400 meters in diameter, it was crewed by a staff of 15,000, all of whom I was free to terrorize to my heart’s content, with 30,000 ground troops also living on board.

I’d gotten to design every aspect of my ship, from its weaponry, which was capable of leveling small continents, to its torture chamber, which I prided myself on being the most nightmarish chamber of horrors ever devised—putting even Mother’s past works to shame—to its spa, swimming pool, light squash court, juice bar, and karaoke studio.

The only thing my ship lacked was someone to enjoy all of this with, but my mothers rarely ever left the palace, and there was no one else worthy of my time. I’d tried forcing some of my lessers to have fun with me in the past, but the only enjoyable parts of those experiences had been when I‘d blown their brains out. Being better than and above everyone else could really suck.

On the bright side, I was almost 14. In just over one year, I’d be allowed to make the members of EZ Street my personal concubines. Then I’d never be lonely again.

Plus, the highlight of these trips was always the destination, not the journey. As the crown princess of The Holy Cykebian Empire, and the most advanced cyborg in existence, I had the honor of serving as my mothers’ ultimate sword. If a rebellion took place that our soldiers couldn’t quash themselves, or if initial conquest was met with more resistance than initially anticipated, I was deployed to handle it. I never failed my mothers. I never would.

“Princess, we’ve arrived.”

Grinning from ear to ear, I rose from my chair in the center of the bridge. “Beam me down. I’ll let you know when to deploy the troops across the planet’s surface.”

“Yes, Princess. Understood, Princess.”

My helmsman did as he was told and a moment later, I was standing in the middle of Caldey-Cocoon’s capital city: Jeradoth.

The blood-red sky matched the dirt beneath my boots. Their architecture was cylindrical, all of their buildings the same sickening shade of green. The air stank of cold macaroni and cheese. From what I’d read, their only major export was middle- quality feathers.

I’d only been here five seconds, but I couldn’t fathom what about this pathetic world its people treasured so much that they wouldn’t want to be a part of the empire. It wasn’t as if I was complaining, though. If every world submitted immediately, I’d never get to have any fun.

What’s the next writing project?
For the first time since 2015, I am not working on any new, original projects currently. I’ll never stop writing, and I’m sure I’ll begin working on a new novel or screenplay soon, but right now I’m content to recharge my batteries, and to wait for a new idea that really inspires me.

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)
The biggest challenge for me when writing a new book is convincing myself that I have a solid concept. If I don’t 100% believe in an idea, I’ll never end up finishing the first chapter.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?
As sci-fi novels set thousands of years in the future, my books don’t technically “require” research. While I write, however, I sometimes look things up if I feel the need to add realism to a scene.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.
Currently, my main writing space is a quaint coffee shop about five minutes away from my house. I love the smell and the decor, and working away from home keeps me from getting distracted.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?
Some of my favorite authors are Sarah Kuhn, April Daniels, George R. R. Martin, and Suzanne Collins.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?
I am beyond happy to have had the opportunity to publish The Ricochet Trilogy with Cinnabar Moth. I’d hate it if these were the last books I wrote but, even if they are, I’ll always treasure the memories of writing them.

Thanks for coming back for another visit!

Links:
Amazon Author Page | Publisher Author Page

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