Interview with Robyn Corum, runner-up in WOW’s Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Contest

Annie Faye is one of my favorite flash fiction pieces. In fewer than 600 words Robyn Corum offers up a heroine who encourages us to travel the adventures in life. For today’s dose of inspiration take a moment to read Annie Faye—then come on back for a short interview with the author.

Robyn Corum lives in North Alabama with her husband of twenty years, three children, one son-in-law, one dog and, lately, one scorpion, to her dismay. She has been writing for as long as she can remember with varied success. But she writes every day, trying to squeeze a little magic from her keyboard. Some days it works better than others. She writes in all genres, penning poems, short stories and novels and has most recently published an historical fiction/western entitled, Melinda Heads West, through Crimson Romance. She recently published an anthology of Japanese short-form poetry with seventeen other women-poets, entitled, Pieces of Her Mind. You can learn more about her by visiting her blog, Robyn's Rules, or catch up with her on Pinterest.


WOW: Congratulations on placing in the WOW Summer 2012 Flash Fiction Contest! I love your bio; it’s inspiring to meet a writer who is ready to tackle anything! There’s a big difference between historical romance and Japanese poetry—what are some of the challenges of being so diverse?

Robyn: Thanks so much! But I don’t see it as a challenge, really. It’s proved to be a blessing in my case. Whenever writer’s block rears its ugly head, I have options. I can switch from prose writing to poetry, or from adult- to children’s interest. It definitely keeps things interesting!

WOW: What inspired the story Annie Faye?

Robyn: I’m a very creative person, and another hobby of mine is making costume jewelry. The story of Annie Faye was inspired by an actual ring I created from an antique brooch. As I worked on putting it together, I created a story in my head for the person who might have owned it ~ in a different time and place.

WOW: I love the last scene with the ring! What have you learned while exploring the facets of your ruby?

Robyn: I’ve learned it’s the journey that counts. Nothing is ever as great as you expect–or as bad as you fear. I’ve stopped looking for the “BIG” moments in my life, and I’m trying to enjoy the small, daily, seemingly insignificant ones. They are what life is made of.

WOW: That’s a lesson I hope we all can embrace this year!
Many writers feel that contests are just for newbies. How do published authors benefit from competitions such as the WOW Flash Fiction contest?

Robyn: Writers are constantly told to ‘build their platform’. I think it’s a great opportunity to get your name out there through a powerful vehicle like “WOW”, and it’s always fun to have your work recognized.

WOW: Since you are such a versatile writer I just have to ask…what would be your “dream project”?

Robyn: That’s hard. Every project I work on seems like my favorite!

WOW: What are you working on now?

Robyn: I’m writing a novel about a young woman named Ama who grows up in the very humbling and gritty tenements of New York in the late 1800s. She becomes a mail order bride to a man out west through a strange set of circumstances. It’s a great story, and I hope I can tell it well.

WOW: Sounds great! We look forward to reading your current favorite project (smile).

While you are waiting for Robyn’s next novel why not enjoy her first novel, Melinda Heads West. You can also visit her blog to enjoy interviews, writing prompts or just feed the fish.

Robyn Chausse has been blogging and managing book tours for WOW since May 2010. Her New Year’s resolutions are to finally finish her writer’s site, and to publish one of those books she keeps toying with! In the meantime you can visit her at her blog, A Ponderance of Things.