Q&A with Robyn Carr about her just released novel Hidden Summit

First of all Robyn thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions.

Debbie - Hidden Summit is number 17 in this series – Wow
Tell us when you wrote the first one did you envision this many novels and do you have a set number of novels for the series.

Robyn - When I wrote Virgin River, the first in the series, I thought I was writing one book.  Period.  By the time Jack Sheridan’s old Marine squad showed up, I knew I had at least four books in the series.  By the time four (plus A Virgin River Christmas) were written, enough supporting characters had been at least briefly introduced to support more books.  And then a new guy comes to town – Luke Riordan, bad boy Black Hawk pilot – and will you lookitthat!  He has four military brothers!  The 20^th Virgin River novel, My Kind Of Christmas, stars Patrick, the youngest in the Riordan clan. 

The town is a large canvas – people come and go, they visit, they re-locate.  When you’re writing about a town the possibilities are endless. 

Do you base any of your characters on someone you know, (you can tell us, we’ll keep a secret) J

The short answer is – never.  However, I pick up on character traits that interest me – the woman who was raised by an angry, bitter single mother; the man who lost his best friend in theater (war); the couple who would make the best parents on earth but can’t seem to conceive.  I can mix and match character traits with appearance  and occupations and come up with many new people. 

Your characters and plots all stay so fresh, what’s your secret considering the longevity of the series.

My editor, agent and I work very hard to zero in on “life issues” that haven’t been completely dealt with yet.  The Virgin River novels are all a fun juxtaposition of women’s fiction (or relationship issues) and romance – I want to introduce real contemporary problems that we all grapple with all the time.  And then it’s important to find sane, healthy, intelligent solutions whenever possible.  It’s important to my readers that they finish a Virgin River novel feeling hopeful and encouraged.  Add to that a satisfying romance and you have a Virgin River novel. 

Is Virgin River based on a real place

Humboldt County, home of the redwoods, river, wildlife, mountains, Pacific Coast – absolutely real and I go there every year to research.  And yes, there are dozens if not hundreds of small towns peppering Northern California’s mountains and valleys, and yes also to the illegal marijuana growers.  But Virgin River?  Only in our hearts and minds, I’m afraid. 

Do you have any B&N book signings or events planned, I’m sure there are some fans here who would love to meet you in person. 

I don’t have anything planned at this time, but I stop in at every Barnes & Noble I see and sign their stock.  It’s one of my favorite jobs! 

Thanks so much Robyn for taking the time to chat with us.
Congratulations of making #1 on the NY Times List with Bring Me Home For Christmas and I hope to see you there with Hidden Summit and in the future novels too.
Have a safe and Happy New Year and thanks for all the great journeys you take me on throughout the year.

Here's my review of Hidden Summit in case you missed it

Hidden Summit
Robyn Carr

Mira
352 pages

ISBN13:9780778313007

After being the only witness to a murder and reporting it Danson Conner’s been threatened, his business burned to the ground and the only way the DA can protect him, his sister and her two boys is by placing them with new IDs in separate parts of the country. And so he finds himself in picturesque, remote Virgin Rivers where he’s to stay until the trial. Now known as Conner Danson he’s found work and a lady that makes his temperature rise. But Conner doesn’t trust easily, he’s got major baggage.

Leslie Petruso’s life took a dramatic change when her marriage raveled and now the place she’s called home forever seems more like a prison especially when she can’t seem to stay out of sight of her ex and his new pregnant wife. To make matters worse he still wants to be friends. The only regret in leaving is that her beloved parents are here but she needs a change of scenery. Now she just wants to run as far away as possible and thanks to the generosity of her former boss she’s found sanctuary in Virgin River. Trying to settle into her new life the last thing she needs is a pair of knowing blue eyes to mess with her finally settling life.

Leslie and Conner want to resist the temptation and attraction they feel for each other, but it seems the Universe sees it differently. What will happen when this “Hidden Summit” reveals the secrets of these two deserving of happiness lonely people.

Robyn Carr continues to delight us with her Virgin River series and as she takes us from winter into spring and summer she brings us yet another couple who delight us and another story that catches our interest and our imagination and won’t let us go until we finally turn the last page. And where sometimes the intrigue of our characters is enough in this one she brings us another more sinister element to make us bite our nails as we read on to find out what happens. She does this with her own uniqueness and ability to spin a tale and with her down home narrative that makes these chapters in her characters lives easy for us to read and hard for us to put them down. In this novel she shows us the vulnerabilities of her characters and in spite of them their wish to find love and happiness within the limits of Virgin River. Conner and Leslie are yet another couple deserving in their own HEA who just happen to find themselves in this magical place and yet in this romance she brings us suspense and danger that will also delight any crime drama lover. The romance is sweet and romance lovers will eat it up while they keep their fingers crossed that this deserving couple will find what they seek. The love scenes will also warm you up on a cold winters day with the intensity and sensuality that we associate with Ms. Carr.
If you’ve never journeyed to Virgin River please don’t stop here, there are many more to tickle your senses and satisfy your cravings for wonderful stories and unforgettable romances. If you are a constant visitor in Ms. Carr’s epic town you won’t be disappointed with this trip either.
Thank you Ms. Carr for yet another great getaway to your imaginary town that feels so real I can’t wait until my next visit.