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Robin Hobb's Interests
General
Well, writing of course. And reading. I enjoy my garden, but it's a rather messy, gone a bit wild garden. I'm fascinated by my children and grand children. I'm interested in life in general.
Music
Garret Hope told me that his piece of music,
"The Boy Who Woke Dragons" was inspired by the Farseer Trilogy. So I'm pleased to include it, with his permission, on this site.
What music I listen to really varies from day to day and task to task. I think that Paul Simon has been writing the themes for my life since I was about 13 years old. He's always a pleasure for me. What I listen to really depends on my mood. Melissa Etheridge one day, and Leonard Cohen the next. From Janis Joplin to Janis Ian. Nickelback to Crash Test Dummies. I'm big on lyrics, but the music is important, too.
If I'm in the car or truck alone, especially if I'm facing a long drive, I'll put the channel on a country western station. (Ironic favorite 100.7 KKWF The Wolf. The DJ in the morning is named Fitz.) It's a form of music in which the ballad is very much alive. There are a lot of country songs that could be used as a concise course in how to write a short story.
Movies
Oh, this will be a very mixed bag. My Neighbor Totoro. Indiana Jones, all four of them. Star Wars, the original three. Blade Runner. Night at the Museum. Strings. Labyrinth. Princess Mononoke. Enchanted. The Magnificent Seven. Seven Samurai.
Television
I never have time to watch television. Or rather, I watch about 20 different channels in the half hour before I fall asleep, and finally turn it off thinking, "What a waste. I could have been reading a book." It has been a long time since I had a favorite television series. I could blame that on television, but mostly I think it's because I can't 'commit' to watching a series week after week. Too many things come up in my life.
Books
I'd need a much bigger space to list them all. So I'll just skim the surface here. George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. I'm stunned by this. And I'm willing to wait for the next volume. Old favorite: Rudyard Kipling. Couple of recent authors I've read and enjoyed? Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn) and Patrick Rothfuss. Fiona MacIntosh. Charles deLint. Vonda McIntyre. Steven Brust. Robert Parker. Fritz Leiber. Theodore Sturgeon. Barbara Hambly. Do I even need to mention JRR Tolkien?
Who I'd like to meet: I'd like to meet other writers and readers.
I'd also like to meet rodeo clowns, forensic pathologists, veterinarians, midwives, animal trainers and able bodied seamen.
In short, I like to meet interesting people from all walks of life. One of the reason I enjoy interacting with readers and other chance met people on the Internet is that every one of them is an expert in something. Often people don't realize or value the sort of expertise they've acquired in their lives. What I've discovered as a writer is that people are always the first and best writing resource for me. If you really want to know about something, be it carpet laying or how to shoe a horse, the best way to understand it is to find someone who thinks it's easy because they do it all the time.
I always have to smile when the interviewer asks the inevitable question, "Where do you get your ideas?"
All you have to do is ask someone about their area of expertise, and all the 'what if' stories start sprouting.
Hi Robin, thank you for accepting the add, the farseer and the liveship books are amongst my favourites of the genre, I've just bought the Soldier Son books and look forward to reading those as well. Many thanks for the happy hours I have spent in the Six Duchies! Best wishes from a rain soaked north-west England. Ged
Cloven Hooves is my favorite book of all time! Evelyn is me on so many levels, yet we are completely different.
I first read Cloven Hooves back in '92, reread it many times, then it disappeared. This year my partner bought me a copy for my birthday and I've just finished rereading it for the first time in 8 or so years. It means more to me than ever! Thank you so much for creating an emotional, intense, satisfying novel.
EVERYONE who reads this should do whatever they can to find a copy. It's WORTH the $20-25 you'll probably have to pay, believe me!
And I'm so sorry to read about the wear and tear on your wrists/hands. I hope you feel better eventually...don't reply to me I don't want you to type any more than you have to!!! I'm just happy to have found you!!!
When will you be in Los Angeles? I'm a huge fan of your books! They are so well written, beautiful! I really get involved in them; you really set a high standard for this genre.
Just wanted to say hello, you are fabulous, and I totally love your writing.
Hi Robin, Hello from Ireland..I'm halfway through Forest Mage& Nevare/Soldiers boy, well i kinda wanna slap him upside the head..another great trilogy. Thank you and best wishes. Dave
Hello Robin, I hope you have a good day. I often think about Nighteyes (Oeil-de-Nuit en français), my favorite character in your books. I also love Paragon... I kiss you. Greetings from France Marganne
Hi, thanks for adding me. I've always been a big fan of the Farseer novels and this series was the reason i began writing myself. If you have the time, it would be an honour to get your feedback on my own novel. Can i send you a review copy?
It was a great pleasure to meet you at the Imaginales ! and the lunch with you was a magic moment ! Thank you very much for your availability and your kindness, good luck an take care dear Robin Best regards Thykris from paris
Hello, We magic of you were met with the " imaginales". The witch reads every evening a page of your novels with its fauna which s' deadens, happy. Thank you for your imaginary which inspires to us. Thank you for the god in l' shade. Me small witch, I start to write a book on a woman corsair " Jeanne the lionne" If you have councils, can you m' in giving? Thank you for the photographs. In here are two in memories. So long and continues to make us dream. Kisses of the witch Augustine and fauna . Bélégost
It was so nice (and quite supernatural) seing you in Nancy! What did you think of the city? I hope you had a great time at the Imaginales. Thanks again for you kindness and being so close to your readers. best wishes Virginie
