What inspired you to write in the dystopian genre?

I’ve always loved the classic dystopian stories like 1984, Brave New World, and The Giver, but in the early 2000’s when The Hunger Games and Divergent came out, they transfixed me. The young adult dystopian sub-genre blended the optimism and coming of age stories of young adult fiction with the oppressive regimes and social commentary of dystopian fiction. Writing in YA Dystopian allows me to explore deep themes – freedom, racial reconciliation, and healing are just a few I touch on in my books – while keeping the reader engaged with action, adventure, character journeys, and the always fun rebel movement trope.

How can your stories teach your readers about cross-culture and post-civil-war situations?

The main characters in the Divided series grew up never having met or interacted with people from other ethnicities, due to how the Supreme Commander Martin separated ethnicities to enhance his own control over the population. As a result, these kids don’t have the same racial baggage, prejudice, and hurts we have today. They are blank slates, which allows me as the author to demonstrate how racial reconciliation and cooperation across cultural differences can work. I’ve seen these principles in action in several post-war situations, most notably in Sierra Leone. That nation’s thirty-plus year civil war devastated the nation, decimated entire villages, and divided families. Yet, by the time the armies laid down their physical weapons, the people were ready to also lay down the weapons in their hearts. It took a great amount of courage, forgiveness, and trust, but I watched people reconcile after they’d committed atrocities against the other’s family or village. It was extraordinarily difficult, but entirely possible. I want that spirit of hope and healing to come across in my stories and readers tell me it does, for which I’m thankful.

With today’s global political strife, what positivity can your readers gain from your narratives?

My characters face what seems like impossible odds and perhaps many of my readers feel the same way as they look at the world around them. But in the midst of the impossible odds, my characters show that by working together toward a common goal – being unified in vision, not necessarily the same in who they are or where they come from – they can accomplish the impossible.

Do you include personal experience within your narratives?

I don’t directly include personal experience within my narratives, but people who’ve walked with me over decades will likely recognize character traits or perhaps even attitudes my characters display. They would recognize these as attitudes or traits modeled by some of the heroes in my own life, those men and women who fought against impossible odds to accomplish what many would call a “miracle” of restoration or recovery.

Did you plan the whole series, or did it develop?

I absolutely plan the entire series! From the first time of setting pen to paper, I knew roughly where I wanted to end up. I struggled with the first book through five drafts and two editors before I found my current editor. By partnering with her, we’ve brought greater interiority and depth into my writing and I’m not working to rewrite the last two books in the series. I will say that some characters mess with my plot plans more than others – Rose, I’m talking about you! – but, in general, the plot is similar to the original series plan.

With some content requiring trigger warnings, were you worried about the publisher, and then your readers reactions?

I publish my own books, so the publisher concerns weren’t an issue. I wanted to include content warnings as young adult dystopian fiction isn’t for everyone. I am very sensitive to the fact that writing about trauma might trigger a reader’s own traumatic history. I want to keep readers relatively safe while also stretching their comfort zone at the same time. But stretching someone’s comfort zone doesn’t ever need to involve triggering unhealed traumas.

Have certain authors influenced your writing? If so who?

The list of authors who have influenced me as a writer is as long as my arm! Lois Lowry, Kurt Vonnegut Jr, Alduous Huxley, and George Orwell just to name a few classic dystopian authors. But among modern-day dystopian authors, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, KA Riley, Marie Lu, and Emma Ellis all stand out. These writers are an instant read for me as they each challenge me in different ways. Collins and Roth for how they weave plot threads together across a long series, Riley for her characters, Lu for her creative imagination and integrating elements of fantasy into the dystopian genre, and Ellis for her forward-thinking topics.

How do your outdoor pursuits and hobbies affect you and your writing?

When I’m outside I can fully rest and relax. I notice if I’ve been cooped up for too long and I get restless. My productivity will also start the slip. Taking a walk outside or driving around with the top off the Jeep allow me to connect with nature and make me a better writer. Also, when my characters have to run through the woods, I have a mental image of what that feels like to draw from for my writing.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently in the rewrite for the Divided series Book Three – Betrayed. This is Harriet’s story of healing, which will only make sense after reading Caged, woven into a road trip. It’s action and adventure straight from the beginning with moments of breathing and rest for healing. I just passed the midpoint, so it’s literally downhill from here!

Where can readers find you and your books?

The best place to connect with me is my website, https://ccrobinsonauthor.com. I have a special offer for your readers as well. Go to https://ccrobinsonauthor.com/meb and sign up for my newsletter list, nicknamed “The Underground”, and they’ll receive my Divided series prequel novella, Upheaval, ebook for free!

Bio

CC Robinson has over two decades’ experience in cross-cultural settings as a medical doctor working in post-civil war nations and as an Associate Pastor at a multi-ethnic congregation led by an African-American man in Cincinnati, the setting for Divided. When she’s not throwing on her superhero cape to save her characters from their dystopian antics, CC enjoys hiking, gardening, dancing, swimming, and driving her jeep through the woods with her husband and three kids.