Please join me in welcoming author Robin W. Pearson to the blog today to chat about her new novel, ‘Til I Want No More, which released yesterday! Booklist called her first book (A Long Time Comin’) ‘poignant’, ‘strong’, and ‘engaging’, and I know this new book is all of that and more!
Robin W. Pearson’s writing sprouts from her Southern roots and her love of her husband and seven children. Both lend authenticity to her novels. After graduating from Wake Forest University, she has corrected grammar up and down the East Coast in her career as an editor and writer that started with Houghton Mifflin Company twenty-five years ago. Since then she has freelanced with magazines, parenting journals, textbooks, and homeschooling resources. Follow her on her blog, Mommy, Concentrated, where she shares her adventures in faith, family, and freelancing.
You can connect with Robin on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
‘TIL I WANT NO MORE
GENRE: Inspirational Fiction
PUBLISHER: Tyndale House
RELEASE DATE: February 2, 2021
PAGES: 464
“Pearson delivers a poignant debut that explores the faith of one African American family. . . . The writing is strong, and the story is engaging, and readers will be pleased to discover a new voice in Southern inspirational fiction.” —Booklist
When the man she loved years ago returns to town, one young woman’s complicated past rises again, threatening to expose her well-kept secrets.
If Maxine could put her finger on the moment when her life went into a tailspin, she would point back twenty years to the day her daddy died. She tells herself he’s the only person who ever really knew and loved her, and if he hadn’t left her behind, her future would’ve taken a different path. No absentee mother, no stepfather, no rebellious ripping and running during her teenage years. And no JD, who gave her wandering young heart a home, at least for a time.
But that’s over and done with. All grown-up now, Maxine has pledged her heart and ring finger to Theodore Charles, the man she’ll promise to love, honor, and obey in front of God and everybody. At least that’s what she’s telling anybody who will listen. The only folks buying it are the dog and the readers of her column, however. Her best friend and family aren’t having it—not even Celeste, the double bass–playing thirteen-year-old the community of Mount Laurel, North Carolina, believes is Maxine’s adopted sister. And apparently, neither is the newly returned JD, who seems intent on toppling Maxine’s reconstructed life. As her wedding day marches ever closer, Maxine confronts what it means to be really known and loved by examining what’s buried in her own heart and exposing truth that has never seen the light of day.
A Christian fiction novel with a poignant story of romance, a search for truth, and a journey to redemption. For fans of Chris Fabry, Lauren Denton, and Charles Martin.
Hi Robin! Welcome to the blog!
Q: What was your inspiration for this story?
Robin: I tend to cling to the past and my mistakes like they’re life rafts, when in reality, they’re dragging me under and away from God’s saving grace. ’Til I Want No More is both a confession and an admonition: When Jesus says in Luke 6:37, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven,” it includes forgiving Robin. I must trust what God says about me and not let anything or anyone—my husband, children, parents, friends, enemies, work, success, or failure—tell me who I am.
Carrie: Oh man, that’s powerful!
Q: What was your process like as you began to craft these characters?
Robin: Before I wrote word one—which eventually became the second chapter—I determined the theme for the story. That theme shaped and molded the characters as I considered key questions: What are their struggles? How many siblings does Maxine have, and what are their family dynamics? What happened to the child-Maxine that formed the adult-Maxine? How will their strengths, weaknesses, and actions support the theme and further its development within the story? What do my characters need to learn, let go of, hold on to? As I fashioned my characters, I made sure they answered these questions and supported the overriding theme.
Carrie: That process is fascinating to me as a reader – I never used to consider that these wonderfully layered characters that I’m meeting are wonderfully layered because the author spends that time invested in answering those kind of questions.
Q: What role does faith play in ‘Til I Want No More?
Robin: Faith is my main character. Evidence of Maxine’s faith weaves through her dreams, the words of her articles, and her day-to-day conversations at the kitchen table and in the pastor’s study. Her lack of faith is what drove her away from her family and her growing faith is what drew her back. Though it seems down for the count in Maxine’s heart, faith eventually emerges as the hero, victorious. Faith saves the day.
Carrie: ahhhh i love that – ‘Faith is my main character’
Q: What is one thing you learned about yourself through writing this book?
Robin: I realized that, like Maxine, I struggle to put my thoughts into words; I worry they won’t be “fitly spoken . . . in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). Often, I find it easier to share my thoughts and emotions using the words I write rather than the ones I utter. Both my main character and I have had to learn that, while it seems less complicated to let down my burdens with unseen readers rather than with the folks living under our own roof, it’s certainly not as healing or productive.
Carrie: Wow, that’s so true!
Q: Which character was your favorite to write? Why?
Robin: I so enjoyed writing “the man of many names.” James David Lester put a face to the faith and forgiveness that Maxine lacked and couldn’t offer herself. He was confident, strong, and “manly”—at least according to Vivienne Owens—yet he had a tender, loving side that honored truth and commitment.
Carrie: sounds like my kind of guy!
Q: Tell us a little bit more about Maxine. Why did you want to write a character like her?
Robin: Maxine carried a burden most of her life—an unmet need, a search for identity, an emptiness she tried to fill with her parents, a romance, young motherhood, and finally her fiancé. For me, Celeste represents those burdens, the secret hurts or sins we all carry and hide from the world. She also stands for the blessings our burdens can become once we let God in and trust Him. Like Maxine, we find our hope, identity, and redemption through Christ.
Carrie: He really is everything, isn’t He? We make it more complicated than it needs to be so many times. ‘Just give me Jesus’ ♥
Q: What real-life issues are addressed as we read Maxine’s story?
Robin: Maxine’s story puts faith into practice by highlighting current, real-life topics. These topics include the dynamics of mother-daughter relationships, “parenting” adult children, nontraditional families, premarital counseling, and the emotional effects of losing a parent. I think it’s important for believers to see that our Bible isn’t a history book; it serves as our authority on current events.
Carrie: Amen!
Q: What was the most challenging part about writing this story?
Robin: The structure of ’Til I Want No More is integral to the development of the story, and maintaining this structure challenged me. I divided the book into months, seven and all, a meaningful number to believers. Within each month, readers will find a premarital counseling session with Pastor Atwater, Maxine, and Teddy; one of Maxine’s dreams; and a magazine article written by Maxine. Each element works to reveal more about the main character and move along the story.
Carrie: I seriously cannot wait to read this book – it sounds incredible.
Q: What will readers learn about the character of God in this book?
Robin: God is truth, unvarnished and uncompromising yet beautiful and loving. In ’Til I Want No More, He uses various means to reveal the truth about Himself to Maxine, and He leaves no stone unturned to reach her. He works through her dreams, her writing, her grandparents, and premarital counseling to explain what it means to walk in truth and love.
Carrie: I love how completely God pursues us to be in relationship with Him!
Q: What is one piece of encouragement that you want readers to take away from reading ‘Til I Want No More?
Robin: ’Til I Want No More is no “Will they or won’t they?” romance. It reveals the love story between God and Maxine, His pursuit of her. God is passionate about His children. He uses situations in our lives to reveal more about His greatness than to point out our weaknesses and flaws. He lives to love us, not to condemn us.
Tyndale House is offering a print copy of Til I Want No More by Robin W Pearson to one of my readers! (domestic US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read Til I Want No More by Robin W Pearson?
Great interview! This book sounds really good, I shall have to check it out.
Sounds really great.
This sounds like an engaging story. Since Robin Pearson is a new author to me, I’m looking forward to reading her book.
This book sounds so intriguing! Thanks, Carrie and Robin, for the interview. Congratulations on your new book, Robin!
I thoroughly enjoyed Robin Pearson’s debut, A Long Time Comin’, and loved the depth of characters and the angst of the family ties. I would most definitely love to read Til I Want No More!
I think that it is interesting that Robin divided the book into 7 months.
Great review Sounds like a great book!
I am fascinated with Robin Pearson’s writing process as well as how ‘Til I Want No More is written. It sounds unique.
Ooo, I loved this interview! I just love her answers to the questions you asked! I’m a southern girl and I was saying “Yes! Yes!” And “Amen!” The whole time! Robin Pearson has the depth that I love in an author. I want to read more and will! Thank you for hosting her, Carrie! Be blessed!
I’ve been hearing good things about Robin Pearson’s books but have not yet read them. It’s probably time to change that. Thanks for the interview with her and chance to win her book.
Loved the interview. Sounds like I would really enjoy reading.
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
This book seems to be a wonderful inspirational read with some mystery to it.
I love a poignant story of romance and family dynamics.
me too 🙂
The interview was Inlightning, thank you
A reformed troublemaker and Second Chance Romance intersect and sparks fly. This story has characters that have flaws that leave room for redemption.