David Myles Robinson was a trial attorney in Honolulu, HI for 38 years before retiring to the mountains of New Mexico, where he lives with his wife, a former Honolulu trial judge. In the days of yore, before becoming a lawyer, he was a freelance journalist and a staff reporter for a minority newspaper in Pasadena, CA. He is an award-winning author of six novels, three of which are Pancho McMartin legal thrillers set in Honolulu.
Having traveled to all seven continents, he has also published a travel memoir entitled CONGA LINE ON THE AMAZON, which includes two Solas Traveler’s Tales award winners.
He says he includes his middle name, Myles, in his authorial appellation because there are far too many other David Robinson’s running around.
WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
Website: davidmylesrobinson.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DNRobinsonWrite
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMylesRobinson/
Welcome to Nuttin’ But Books. Tell us a little about you and your writing background?
I’ve always loved writing. I began writing short stories and poems in junior high school in Pasadena, CA. In high school I wrote for the school paper and became editor-in-chief. In college I did a bit of freelance work for magazines and then worked as a staff reporter for a minority newspaper in Pasadena.
Instead of making a career in writing, however, I became a lawyer. I worked as a trial attorney in Honolulu, HI, for 38 years. I did complete a legal thriller novel during that time, but the writing was
very stilted by virtue of writing too many briefs and memoranda of law. As I began to wind down my practice for retirement, I completed my first published novel, Unplayable Lie, which is a golf-related suspense novel. Only then did I venture back into writing legal thrillers, and have published Tropical Lies, Tropical Judgments, and now Tropical Doubts. I also have two non-legal suspense novels (in addition to the aforesaid Unplayable Lie), The Pinochet Plot and Son of Saigon, and a travel memoir, Conga Line on the Amazon.
Tropical Doubts is a Book Excellence Awards finalist. The Pinochet Plot is a Readers’ Favorite award winner. Son of Saigon was a runner-up in the 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. Conga Line on the Amazon includes two Travelers’ Tales awards.
Tell us about your book?
Pancho McMartin is Honolulu’s top criminal defense attorney, but when an old family friend’s wife falls into a permanent vegetative state following what should have been a routine surgery, Pancho is cajoled into stepping outside his comfort zone by taking on a medical malpractice case. But when the client is arrested for the murder of one of the doctors being sued, Pancho finds himself handling both a med mal case and a murder case. The stakes are high for all concerned.
Pancho and his team, which includes Drew Tulafono, his private investigator and best friend, and Padma Dasari, his medical consultant and former chief medical examiner for the city and county of Honolulu, go to work to attempt to sort out the complex medical and personal issues involved and intertwined in the two cases.
What is a regular writing day like for you?
It depends. I don’t have a specific schedule, although when I get immersed in writing, I can write for hours at a time. I don’t use an outline, so my writing (at least the first draft) is as much as an adventure and mystery for me as I hope it is for my readers. I do admit, however, that I sometimes write myself into a corner and need to backtrack.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
About six months, although I am in the process of finishing a manuscript which I have been working on for several years (on and off).
What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?
Most people are impressed that I was able to complete a novel. Some say they’ve always wanted to write a book, but (insert appropriate excuse here).
What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?
I almost never don’t feel like writing. When I’m in the multiple rewrite and editing stage, I’m usually chomping at the bit to begin a new novel. That said, I have numerous other passions, including golf, pickleball, skiing, and traveling.
What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?
Keep writing.
Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?
Only when I’m in the multiple rewrite stage. Other than that, which can sometimes be tedious, it’s a purely love relationship.
Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?
Boy, I hope not. I’m lucky that I’m not trying to make a living off of being an author. When I was in college, I had a long conversation with my creative writing teacher about being a writer versus becoming a lawyer. Needless to say, I sold out and became a lawyer.
What has writing taught you?
I pay more attention to my surroundings and to other people, including their mannerisms. Everything I see and hear is possible grist for inclusion in a story. Early on, I had to learn to ignore the possible embarrassment of pouring my heart and soul onto a page. Although I can hide behind the characters I am creating, most savvy readers understand that a lot of the author ends up on the pages of a book.
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Visit my website: davidmylesrobinson,com. I have my bio, my books and blurbs, and a blog section, to which I post intermittently (usually when I’m not in the middle of writing a new novel). I also have an author’s page on Facebook: David Myles Robinson. They can also feel free to contact me through the website or directly at my author’s email: david@davidmylesrobinson.com.
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview. What’s next for you?
Thank you so much for hosting me. I hope you readers enjoy my work. I will have another Pancho McMartin legal thriller, Tropical Deceptions, coming out soon, probably this fall or winter.
Tropical Doubts is available to purchase at the following online stores:
