Interview with Tavares Robinson

Author of Shepherds, Hirelings, and Dictators: How To Recognize The Difference

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I’m originally from Texas; currently reside in South Florida

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

Through God’s providence, situations were presented that I felt compelled that Miami was the place God wanted me to be. So my family and I left Ft worth Texas with 500 dollars and God’s assurance, and we have been here every since.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

Our ministry was receiving emails and phone calls from different people across America with similar and alarming stories concerning things that were happening in their local church concerning leadership. So I decided to teach a series on what is true biblical leadership and what is not. I figured when people call we would just send the cd messages instead of repeating the same thing. Also, during this time we had a radio broadcast that aired in two different states; so we aired a portion of these messages during the broadcast only to be flooded with phone calls from people in those states about how to inquire the entire series. While in prayer one day, I was impress to covert the teaching series into a book, which become my first book.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I would describe them as challenging and thought provoking; addressing subjects that may not be culturally appealing but liberating to those who are looking for authentic answers. I frequently joke with my friends that God has picked me to be unpopular because he has given me the hard assignments.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

People who are serious about finding the biblical answer and not just the popular answer. Those within the church who are looking to be challenged because they, through experience, can identify the problem but need help in finding the answer

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

That God must have a sense of humor in leading me to write. But on serious note, I was surprised to find how meticulous the process was to get a book ready to be published. The demand and careful attention to make sure the manuscript was accurate and clean was an unexpected challenge.

If you could, what advice would you give to past self yourself before embarking on this journey?

I would say, “when the thoughts are flowing concerning what you are going to write about, don’t solely trust your memory, but write those things down, because they will come in handy later.”

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

To be honest, I never thought about the quantity of people I wanted to reach. I just know there is an audience who knows things are wrong and are looking for someone who will address those concerns and help explain how to correct it

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

I think one of most frustrating moments was a technical issue that I encountered in transporting my book to a major book seller’s platform. It took two weeks of back and forward communications only for when the book went live, it was a disaster. After removing the book and a few more days of communication the problem was solved.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I think the biggest strength I have is that I am a pastor. I have been given a platform that helps with writing and marketing. Teaching a series helps you develop your thoughts when its time to write.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I think one of the biggest weakness is that I’m not a well known pastor which limits the scope of your audience for marketing. Another Weakness when it come to writing is because I’m not really a writer. I tell people often, that I’m not a writer; I am a pastor who just so happens to have a message.

When do you think you will you write your next book?

I’m actually in the process of writing a revised second edition for Shepherds, Hirelings, and Dictators. It should be available during the first quarter of 2020

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Last year I started my own publishing company to be able to publish my books; before this time I used a hybrid publisher.