At Moor Imagination, we take great pride in celebrating the talented and passionate writers who make up our creative community. Each member brings their own unique voice and vision to the group, and this month we’re delighted to feature Robin Catling in our Writer Spotlight.
Robin recently marked a major milestone with the publication of their latest work—a brilliant achievement that we’re excited to share and support. In this interview, Robin opens up about their inspirations, creative process, and the journey of bringing words from page to publication.
We hope you enjoy this insight into one of our brilliant community voices—and perhaps feel a spark of motivation for your own writing journey, too.
1.Congratulations on your recent publication! Can you tell us a bit about your work and what inspired you to write it?
“All the stories in the Escarri series are action-adventures in a fantasy setting – without elves, fae or dragons. My protagonists fight for survival against seers, swordsmen, mages and an entire empire in the aftermath of a brutal civil war. While I love Arthurian legend, Greek myths, Tolkien and sweeping historical epics, my rebel outcasts belong more to Westerns and Samurai tales. With me, it’s always going to be duels, the moral struggle, and life-and-death stakes.”
2.Bringing a piece of writing out into the world is a big milestone—what has been the most surprising or rewarding part of that experience for you?
“More than seeing it through to the finish, I held myself accountable for the quality of the story-telling. I could have rushed to publication sooner, but a wiser inner voice said to keep refining each story until the whole series was ready.”
3.We’re delighted to have you as a member of our group! How are you enjoying the Moor Imagination community so far?
“It’s a very welcoming and supportive group, and I’m so impressed with the level of talent… I think I need to up my game.”
4.Can you describe your typical writing process? Are you a meticulous planner, a spontaneous scribbler, or something in between?
“For me, it always begins with character; a relatable, compelling protagonist I want to discover more about. As for plot, I realised a while ago there are no new plots, only new twists. My thin outlines begin with the ending, where the characters finish their story arcs. I flip that to find their beginning state of wants, needs and misbeliefs. The middle is my playground where I discovery-write around a few key scenes and story beats.”
5.Are there particular themes, voices, or settings you find yourself returning to in your work? If so, why do they speak to you?
“All my protagonists battle their own moral failings as much as they fight the bad guys. What makes a person good, kind, just? Can we justify immoral acts and decisions in the name of justice and a greater good? Are we condemned to become the corrupt power we oppose? And how far will we go in the name of loyalty, friendship and family?”
6.What do you find most challenging about writing—and how do you push through those moments?
“Editing is hard, but necessary. Editing is where the story comes alive, where the character arcs make sense and where my terrible prose turns into something readable. All I can do is take it one scene at a time and keep going.”
7.Have there been any writers, books, or other forms of storytelling that have particularly inspired or influenced your work?
“I soak up story-telling craft from all kinds of fiction; I’ll most likely cite Austen’s Pride and Prejudice or Emma for plot and character, Kurt Vonnegut for big themes, Robert Louis Stevenson and Alexander Dumas for adventure, and Giovani Guareschi (the Don Camillo stories) for warm, moral fables.”
8.What advice would you give to fellow writers who are working toward finishing or publishing their own pieces?
“Keep going, don’t stop, even when life gets in the way. I started down this road more than twenty-five years ago, I just had to find the right path and stay on it.”
9.What’s next for you creatively—are you working on anything new, or are there more stories waiting to be told?
“Book six (a NaNoWriMo 2023 project) is mostly done, so now I’m into books four and five with the same setting, a new protagonist, and a new, found-family of supporting characters.”
10.And finally, just for fun—if you could have tea or coffee with any writer (living or not), who would it be and what would you ask them?
“Mark Twain; just prompt him with any of my idiot questions, then sit and listen to the wit and wisdom that always seemed effortlessly to flow.”
About Robin Catling
Robin Catling’s diverse career included twenty years in corporate IT (a huge mistake), several years in the film and TV industry, recruitment and managing a sports charity.
More than thirty years of sports coaching in fencing, archery, gymnastics and trampolining provide a through-line as an educator and communicator.
Non-fiction credits since 2020 include both fencing and IT books, guides and coaching manuals.
Robin Catling made the switch to fantasy fiction in 2025, with the first four books in the Escarri series.
The Escarri series is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=robin+catling+escarri&ref=nb_sb_noss
and on wider distribution later in the year. Audiobook versions are in the works.
Thank you, Robin, for sharing your story and creative insights with us. It’s a joy to celebrate the work of writers within the Moor Imagination community, and we hope Robin’s journey has inspired you—whether you’re already putting pen to paper or just beginning to explore the idea.
If you’re curious about joining our vibrant community of writers, we’d love to welcome you. Visit our Events Page to learn more about our sessions, connect with us on social media, and don’t forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all our latest news, events, and creative opportunities.
There’s always a space for your imagination at Moor Imagination.
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