After more than 20 years penning screenplays, historical romances and even a psychological thriller, New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr found her genre – some would say her calling – writing a particular kind of women’s fiction.

“I was always meant to write about women,” Robyn says, “women who were tougher than the women of their time, smarter and more courageous … characters who would never trade places with anyone.”

That’s the impetus behind her Virgin River series for MIRA Books. Set in a small town (pop. 600) of retired marines and the independent women they love and against a backdrop of northern California redwoods, the Virgin River books are inspiration for those who, like Robyn, believe in the power of healthy, positive relationships.

“It’s a nice way to live … and love,” she quips.

Industry opinion-makers, readers and Carr’s fellow authors seem to agree. The American Library Association’s Booklist magazine named the series debut book, Virgin River, one of 2007’s Top Ten Romances, and New York Times bestselling author Clive Cussler declared it: “A thrilling debut of a series that promises much to come.”

The series has also drawn a community of loyal readers, with Virgin River fans creating a virtual Jack’s Bar (a nod to the family establishment of the same name that doubles as the center of Virgin River’s social scene in the series) at www.RobynCarr.com. There readers swap stories, visit weekly with Robyn and dish about the goings on in Virgin River.

Their favorite topic of conversation?

“Who would play Jack in a movie,” says Robyn, with a laugh, noting all the men in her life think they’re Jack Sheridan, the man behind Jack’s Bar—especially her husband, an Air Force pilot-turned-airline executive.

As for Robyn, writing about women who would marry a marine or veteran comes naturally. She was a military wife herself. In fact, she started reading romances as a young mom-to-be confined to her bed on a Florida air force base. After the children were born, she simply plunked Jamie and Brian in a stroller and headed to the local bookstore. Eventually, she quietly bought a notebook and some pens and sat down at the dining room table and tried to write a book of her own.

“The notebook grew and grew,” she recalls. “Finally, I had to admit what I was doing so Jim would buy me a typewriter.”

By then, six months had passed and Robyn was hooked on the writing process.

Robyn says her first book remains buried—“and will never be seen by human eyes.”

But her third novel, Chelynne, sold, as did eventually her second.

February see her 27th book—Second Chance Pass, another Virgin River tale—on bookstore shelves. Two more Virgin River books will debut in March and April of 2009, and 2010 promises three more Virgin River titles, bringing the series to a total of 10 books in all.

And Robyn believes there could be more.

Meanwhile, she and her husband, Jim, make their home in Las Vegas. There Robyn interviews visiting celebrity authors for Henderson Libraries’ “Carr Chat” program, writes and makes the occasional foray into Humboldt County in nearby California, where the Virgin River series is set.