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Meet Trailblazer Robin Burcell

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Burcell.

Robin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
So, way back when I was hired as the first female officer for the Lodi Police Department in California. During that time, I worked patrol then detectives, and put my artistic side to work as a forensic artist, attending school for forensic art at the FBI Academy in Quantico. Even so, I’d never forgotten my dream of wanting to write, and so while working as a police officer by day, I started writing each night when I got off work. My first book came out in 1995.

Over the years, I attended various conventions for mystery writers and it was at one of these where I met Barbara Peters, who runs probably one of the most iconic mystery bookstores in the entire country: The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale. If you read mysteries, chances are that you’ve been to the Poisoned Pen. If you haven’t been there, go. When I was a fledgling mystery writer, a visit to the Poisoned Pen was high on my list. Who knew that many years later I’d be back, though this time, not for a book signing. It happened when Clive Cussler was searching for a new co-writer for his Sam and Remi Fargo Adventure series. Since Barbara has hosted just about every mystery or thriller author in the country at one time or another or reads their books, he asked her opinion on who might be a good fit as a co-writer. Being familiar with my work, Barbara gave him my name. The rest, as they say, is history. I think the best part of co-writing with Clive Cussler is that I get to visit Arizona on a regular basis — not only to work with Clive but to take a bit of time to enjoy the area. GRAY GHOST, our third novel together, will be out this May 29. (In fact, I’ll be visiting Poisoned Pen bookstore on 5/31 to talk about the book.)

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being the first female officer for my department was a very rocky road. The men didn’t want a woman in their midst. There are still places where this is true, but I think, it’s getting easier. The younger generation of officers are used to women in the ranks, so it’s not nearly as hard as it was back when I started. Advice to any women who want to try this: Go to the department you’re interested in working for, see if they’ll allow you to ride along, and talk to the women working there, asking what advice they might have for you.

On the writing side, the advice is to read, read, read. And then read some more. There are a lot of writing organizations that hold workshops. Go to book signings and talk to the authors there. Crack open your favorite novel and mark it up like a textbook, taking notes in the margin. (This is how I taught myself to write. Notes such as: This is how the main character is introduced. This is how the clothing description is done to not stop the flow of the story.) In other words, dissect a good book and see how it works. Read outside of the genre you typically read, because a good book is a good book, and it will expand your horizons, helping you to be a better writer.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My fourteenth book will be released this May 29, 2018. (THE GRAY GHOST) I’ve written 11 on my own and three with Clive Cussler. Because I was a police officer for 27 years, that experience helps my writing to have more of an authentic edge when it comes to anything law enforcement related. (The books I wrote on my own were all mysteries or thrillers with law enforcement officers in them. The books I co-write with Clive Cussler are action-adventure, stories that would be similar in nature to National Treasure or Indiana Jones. I became New York Times bestselling author when I joined Team Cussler. I’m very excited about that!

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Joining writing organizations and attending conferences has probably had the biggest impact on my writing career. Sisters in Crime (there’s a chapter in Phoenix that I’ve attended on a few occasions), Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers to name a few were instrumental in helping network. There are usually writing organizations divided among different genres. A quick check of the internet will help you find one in your area.

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Image Credit:
(The Last Good Place) Brash Books, (The Kill Order) HarperCollins, (Face of a Killer) HarperCollins, (The Gray Ghost) Putnam Books

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