What happens when a lifelong writer finally decides it’s time to tell the stories she’s always wanted to write? In this edition of What, Why, How: Inside Writing, Robin Blackburn shares how journaling, blogging, and a love of Lake George inspired her debut novel, Second Courses, why she embraces writing in big bursts instead of every day, and what readers can expect from her heartfelt stories of second chances and midlife reinvention.

What:

I write stories about midlife women who are starting over, figuring things out, and learning that it’s not too late to find love. Set against the backdrop of Lake George in Upstate New York, my stories blend romance, reinvention, and the messy, hopeful reality of building a life you actually want.

My debut novel, Second Courses, is about Lyndsay Leach, age 53, who spent seventeen years supporting her celebrity-chef husband, but when he leaves her for a much younger woman, she makes a bold—and slightly petty—move: She takes the one thing he never thought she would, his prized Lake George restaurant. There’s just one problem. She’s never run a kitchen, her secret writing career has stalled, and her first love just walked through the door and wants the head chef job. Okay, more than one problem. Now, with a rival restaurant opening right down the road and a scathing food critic on the way, Lyndsay has one shot to prove that she’s no longer a supporting character in someone else’s story—and maybe find love at the same time.

I’m currently working on my second novel, Fairway to Love, a Gen X rom com also set in Lake George, and I hope to release it in Spring 2026.

Why:

Writing has always been an important part of my life—since I started a school newspaper in 5th grade. I continued to enjoy writing throughout high school and college, and spent many years after college journaling. When our family moved overseas, I spent time blogging so our family and friends could keep up with our travels and adventures—and when we returned to the States, I opened my own business doing content marketing for small businesses.

As my kids got older, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at writing a book. (Little did I know it would take three years to get it from the page to the public.) Always wanting to write about where I grew up, Lake George has become an important part of my stories, and I hope people will love getting to know the area and the Gen X characters that are in my stories.

How:

I’d love to say that I am disciplined and write every day, but that’s not the case. I write in big chunks…sometimes as much as 4000-5000 words per day. And then I may go several days (or even several weeks) without looking at what I’ve written. But I’ve learned to trust my outlines

(Yes, I’m a planner), and I always leave myself in a spot where I know exactly where to pick up the story. Of course, when I’m writing, there are at least three beverages on my desk and an endless supply of pretty notebooks and pens (because stationery is my kryptonite).

I’m also fortunate to have two critique partners who read my novels and provide the most amazing feedback. Shoutout to the Romance Girlies!

Bio:

Robin Blackburn is a contemporary romance and women’s fiction author whose stories center on second chances, reinvention, and the beautifully complicated seasons of midlife. She grew up in Queensbury, NY, surrounded by Adirondack lakes, gorgeous mountains, and all that the area has to offer—an influence that now runs through much of her writing.

She earned her BA in French Language and Culture from Penn State University and later picked up a Master’s in Education from SUNY Albany. Robin spent nearly a decade in education, first teaching high school and later helping other teachers bring technology into their classrooms.

Along the way, she met her husband, Blaine, and life began to expand in all the best ways. Together they’ve spent more than two decades raising their two sons, Caleb and Grayson, while moving across the U.S. and around the world. They’ve lived everywhere from New York, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Texas to international stops in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Warsaw, Poland. These days, she splits her time between Houston, Texas, and her happy place on Lake Hadlock in Upstate New York. (Or, as she likes to say, “A million dollars south of Lake George.”)

Long before becoming an author, Robin spent many summers working in Lake George restaurants, and, yes, dating her fair share of chefs. Those experiences stuck with her and eventually found their way into her storytelling. Somewhere between lake summers, big moves, and building a full, busy life, writing shifted from something she loved to something she couldn’t ignore.

“Delightfully warm and deliciously honest, Robin Blackburn’s Second Courses serves up beautiful life lessons about the importance of confidence and self-love, proving that it’s never too late to start a bold new chapter. With prose as crisp as your favorite prosecco, you’ll devour this story of resilience, forgiveness, and the possibility that love might be sweeter the second time around.” —Suzy England, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Perfect

Links:

Buy Second Courses
Website
Instagram
Email: robin@robinblackburnwriter.com