David L. Robbins (Virginia writer)
| David L. Robbins | |
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David L. Robbins
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| Occupation | Author |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | The College of William & Mary |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Subject | World War II |
| Website | |
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David L. Robbins (born 1954) is an American author of several historical fiction novels, and a co-founder of the James River Writers. He founded the Richmond-based Podium Foundation.
The son of two World War II veterans, David Lea Robbins was born on March 10, 1954, in Richmond, VA. He received his B.A. in Theater and Speech from the College of William and Mary in 1976, then his Juris Doctorate from the same school four years later.
He spent one year practicing environmental law in South Carolina and then turned to freelance writing. He did not devote his time to writing fiction until 1990. With the publication of War of the Rats and his subsequent novels, Robbins was able to become a full-time novelist.
In 2007, Robbins returned to his William & Mary, this time as the Writer in Residence.
Along with several other authors, including Dean King and Phaedra Hise, Robbins co-founded James River Writers in 2002 to encourage creative expression in the Richmond area. Since its founding, the nonprofit organization has held literary contests, newsletters, and a yearly conference, as well as exposing readers to contemporary authors who come to speak.
In 2015, Robbins collaborated with the Virginia War Memorial to host the "Mighty Pen Project," an attempt to have veterans share their stories.
Following his experience with James River Writers, Robbins became interested in creating opportunities for urban students in Richmond Public Schools in creative expression and writing. In 2008, he started the Podium Foundation. As its website explains, Podium publishes a literary magazine and conducts instruction and workshops for students and teachers, and activities to provide a public voice to these students who aspire to rise above societal expectations. Currently, Podium has published five volumes of student submissions drawn from thousands of entries. The organization has a weekly presence in every RPS high school and has grown to include numerous opportunities for city students of limited means to showcase their talent and hone their writing skills. Today, Podium students have published opinion pieces in the Richmond Times Dispatch, online journals, and other school publications. Through this work, the organisation has exposed thousands of inner city students to the power of the written word and the potential they have within.
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