Meet Robbie Sheerin | Quality Manager and Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robbie Sheerin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robbie, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?

I love this quote by one of my favorite writers, Robert A Heinlein,

“There is no way that writers can be tamed and rendered civilized. Or even cured. In a household with more than one person, of which one is a writer, the only solution known to science is to provide the patient with an isolation room, where he can endure the acute stages in private, and where food can be poked into him with a stick.”

I feel Heinlein sums up the life of a writer here. If you’re not a writer, then you just don’t understand what goes on in a writer’s head: daydreaming, wild imagination, endless reading, getting an idea or inspiration at the oddest times, and needing to write it down. It drives my wife crazy. She is very patient; she is amazing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I was born and raised in Oban, Scotland, a small fishing town on the west coast of Scotland. My mother raised me and my half-brother by herself. That alone is not easy, but on top of that, I was a wild kid. I was always in trouble at school and sometimes even with the cops. (Nothing illegal, just being a nuisance) I was the class clown in school, and rarely paid attention.

I couldn’t wait to leave school. I had many friends that went to college, but I just wanted to start making money right away. So, I started a window cleaning business and did that for 6 years before getting married and moving to the States around 2002, and I have been here ever since.

Over the years, I have worked as a window cleaner, waiter, swimming pool builder, aluminum dip Brazer, quality inspector and now a quality manager.

I tell young people all the time to learn everything you can in life, whether it’s from professionals, people working on your house, your parents, or YouTube and then try it yourself. You will be amazed at what you can do with a little knowledge and effort. And you will save a ton of money doing stuff yourself.

This philosophy has served me well in life, coming from a single-parent household, growing up poor, being bullied in school, and struggling with dyslexia (not good for a writer). But I overcame all that with a good work ethic, learning from others, and just going out and trying it. Why not!? So, you failed the first time. Keep trying!!

As a part-time writer, I wrote tons of short stories and could not find anywhere to get them published, but I kept trying, focused on sharpening my skills, and accepted criticism or advice when it was given. Then, one by one, editors and publishers grew to like my work. Ten published short stories later, a book on Amazon, and another on the way in 2024.

I have come a long way from that small fishing town in Scotland; I have moved to another continent, had a daughter, own my own home, have a great-paying job, and I can service my own swimming pool, fix my icemaker, and change the brakes and axles on my Audi Q5!!! Lol.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Boston is an amazing city for its Irish/Italian history and vibrant sports culture. I live twenty-five minutes north of the city. The layout is fantastic, with its bridges, tall buildings stretching into the heavens, beautiful parks and sometimes quaint streets. The city never seems claustrophobic since it’s surrounded by water. Some buildings are new, others are old, and with mysterious stories etched into their structures, every crack and gouge has a tale to tell. Occasionally, Hollywood stars are spotted walking around.

The city has all kinds of great spots to visit, including Faneuil Hall, where you will find Benjamin Franklin, Josiah Quincy, and Sam Adams (Not the real guys, come on) walking people along the Freedom Trail. The Boston Commons is always fun for people-watching. It’s beautiful, with colorful flowers and trees, along with the famous Frog Pond. It seems like it is a living, breathing oxymoron within nature, having such a tranquil spot surrounded by a busy and active city.

Fenway Park is a favorite, even if you don’t like baseball. There’s nothing like sitting in Fenway Park and enjoying the people, food and atmosphere. And hearing 3,000 people sing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Carolina” in the 8th inning.

That’s just scratching the surface of Boston. There’s the Museum of Science, The Freedom Trail, Bunker Hill Monument, New England Aquarium, Breweries, pubs, and the Theater District. Boston also has a big music scene.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have had a lot of support from fellow writers and authors. These include Jason J. Marchi (Author and publisher), Rob Yescombe (screenwriter), Patrick Greenwood (Author and podcaster), to name a few, and many others. As well as inspiration from such writers as Asimov, Serling, Andy Weir, Dan Brown, Bradbury, and Alastair Reynolds.

And of course, the support of fans and friends.

Website: http://www.robbiesheerinwriter.com/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/robbie-sheerin-b834b5245

Image Credits
(1) Some of the anthologies I have had works published in. Along with my Award-Winning book Tales From Another Dimension, and my upcoming book, The Orb (2) My wife and I (3) My upcoming space opera novel. (4) My buddy and the writing process. By my buddy I mean the beer, not the cat.