Featured Interview With Lilly Robbins Brock
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in Olympia, Washington which was also the home of my pioneer family. Some of them came on the Oregon Trail in the 1860’s and some such as my grandparents came by rail while it was still in its infancy. I feel a strong connection to these pioneers and have done extensive research into my family genealogy. Because of my love for history, I have chosen historical fiction to be my main genre.
My husband and I have been married over 47 years and we have two beautiful daughters. I started my own business in interior design in 1980 which has been ongoing until just recently. We are now both retired and have moved to a serene coastal country setting overlooking the mighty Columbia River. The wildlife on the river and the land is amazing. It is the perfect environment to pursue my long awaited writing journey.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always known that I love writing. Throughout my life, even in childhood, I have written poetry and short stories. During my interior design career I wrote and sent out to my clients a monthly newsletter. They always looked forward to the newsletter. It was then that I realized that my writing was appreciated and that writing had to be a part of my life. Moving into retirement is giving me the opportunity to do what I love–writing.
I am in the process of writing a historical fiction novel. There are many hours of research logged in about life in the 1850’s and what it was like to travel the water route from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast via the lesser known South American route.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love all of the classics, anything historical and biographical. I am currently enjoying an English author, Steve Robinson, who is fairly new to me. He writes in the mystery, crime, thriller genre with a family history angle. My main genre is historical fiction. Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind, has always been an inspiration to me. Her personal story of how she overcame obstacles is worthy to be novel in itself. I also love non fiction self help books and specialized cookbooks.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Food Gift Recipes From Nature’s Bounty is my first published book. It wasn’t planned, but evolved quite naturally. It was because of our beautiful orchard and garden that this book was born. Each year I process the wonderful produce and it’s always a challenge to come up with creative ways to utilize and preserve all of the harvest. I fill my freezer with baked goods, jams, jellies chutneys and much more. I create sauces, condiments, herb infused vinegars, seasonings and fruit liqueurs. It has always been a tradition for me to turn these food creations into gifts. One of the most popular gifts every year are the fruit liqueurs. The happy recipients promptly return the empty bottle for a refill. It occured to me that I should write a book about the gift of food. This book is filled with 98 delicious and easy recipes to make and share for every occasion.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles
Lilly Robbins Brock Facebook Page