It sure can be a long time in coming, the full on birth of some novels... Best known for the Gathering The Dreamcatchers fiction series along with standalone nonfiction titles such as The World Is Beautiful and Creative Living: From Starving Artist to Self-Employed Bliss, author CRISTINA SALAT began the story that eventually became ROBIN, ROMEO, & JULIETTE THE NOVEL: Not Your Typical Love Story many years ago, at the invitation of a HarperCollins editor...back when getting one's work to market within the confines of mainstream New York publishing houses was the only option. The world of books certainly has come a long way too. Whereas once the mixed race (and otherwise diverse) friendships encircling brown-haired, brown-eyed, brown-skinned Robin Ciszek explored impending adulthood upon small (though mighty!) stages -- as revealed in the black & white, photo illustrated author introduction to this Special Edition of the novel -- now Robin & friends are at last claiming their rightful place in reality, current events, and human history. Isn't it high time we each do the same? For Robin, it's Senior Year, and she just might be in love. (Not with Christopher. With someone new.) While across town, getting to be with a genuinely sexy girl is the day a certain loner named Donald has been praying for. He can't be meant to remain a lonely, frustrated loser forever, can he?