Books & Writing
by Robyn Stecher
Robyn’s writing invites readers into reflection rather than instruction. Her work explores consciousness, meaning, and the inner landscapes that shape how we live, relate, and understand ourselves.
Through her books and written work, Robyn offers a thoughtful lens on the human experience—one that honors complexity while remaining accessible and grounded. Her writing is known for its clarity, depth, and emotional resonance, encouraging readers to pause, consider, and engage more intentionally with their own lives.
Rather than offering definitive conclusions, Robyn’s writing creates space for insight to unfold. It serves as a companion for those who value awareness, curiosity, and thoughtful inquiry.
Whether you are encountering her work for the first time or returning to it again, her writing invites you into a quieter, more reflective relationship with yourself and the world around you.
“Writing is not about explaining life, but about creating space for understanding to unfold.”
– Robyn Stecher
The Spin Cycle
Sometimes friendships grow in the most unlikely of places and with the most unlikely people. For Benji, a neurodivergent young man discovering his identity and struggling with life’s hardships, that bond is formed amidst the hum of the washing machines and the scent of detergent, in a laundromat, owned by an eccentric, older man who will change his life. Featuring diverse characters and the importance of friendship, The Spin Cycle urges us to take another look through the lens of Benji’s heartfelt perspective on life, and the theme that we are all “more than meets the eye."
Just Who We Are
My Story of grit grace and identity is beautiful and messy. It is a love story. It’s about family, and coming of age, it’s about discovery, losses and wins. It’s not a heroic journey. It’s a story about what happens when life is unfair and can still be exhilarating. It’s about the choices we make and how what matters most is how, even when we feel lost, we can embrace what makes us imperfect and empowered by knowing what makes us exceptional. Every one of us has the unique gift to live boldly and courageously.
There’s Something About Daniel
There’s Something About Daniel, is a candid peek into the world of a special child through his mother’s open heart. Despite their challenges, Daniel and his mother’s stories resonate with consciousness, love, and faith in the unknown. We root for Daniel every step of his ambling gait and keep our fingers crossed that he will be victorious on the playground, at school, and as he comes of age, coping and finding out exactly what he is made of. Championed by the strength of his unrelenting mother, their relationship is a reminder of the power of unconditional love.
What Readers Are Saying
The Spin Cycle
A surprising friendship helps a young man with disabilities learn to navigate new challenges in Stecher’s novel…Stecher excels at creating a voice for Benji that is both funny and charming, calling to mind Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2003). Benji’s staccato sentences and literal interpretations provide both poignancy and laugh-out-loud observations.
The friendship between Benji and Bo anchors the coming-of-age episodes in the novel…A charming depiction of a fascinating protagonist …
Kirkus Reviews
(www.kirkus.com)
I cannot recall the last time I could not put a book down. I read it cover to cover in one sitting (despite my 7 children needing my attention.)
Your character development, the excitement of the story, the depth of emotion, the visual nature of your writing (I can absolutely see this as a film), the depth and development of Benji, Bo and Britany, I am in awe!! I burst out crying in the end and all of my kids came over to check on me!
So much more to say!! Thank you for bringing me into this incredible world!…
I always say that a sign of a great book is when you’re still thinking of the characters and the story arcs days or weeks later and that is definitely true of your wonderful and layered characters.
Nava R. Silton
Ph.D. Professor of Psychology
Marymount Manhattan College
The Spin Cycle is about the human experience of a young man with disabilities that affect his life without defining him. Robyn Stecher describes the inner and outer life of Benji as he deals with being fired from his job at a daycare center, seeks a romantic partner, and in general lives an active life in Philadelphia.
One thing I particularly love about The Spin Cycle is Stecher’s ability to convey the reality of Benji’s relationships in dialogue. It is so very real and explores the essence of the humans speaking to one another.
It is easy to love Benji because we read about so many aspects of who he is, from his desire for pizza to examples of lack of coordination to his tendency to hide from possible intimate relationships. And yet with the various challenges in his life, he endures and time after time finds a human connection that nurtures him (which includes a sexual relationship-yay!).
And it is not just Benji we learn to appreciate. All the other characters are not just acting out roles. They are fully human.
It did not take me long to sink into The Spin Cycle. It is a description of the essence of humanity that will leave you fully heartened.
David Roche
Inspiriationalist, humorist, author, actor, mentor
Recipient of the Order of Canada for contributions to the arts
"THE SPIN CYCLE” is a welcome and refreshing story of a unique friendship that isn’t defined by the disability or differences between two characters but is deeply enriched by them."
Cami Patton
CSA / Emmy Award Winning Casting Director
“Silo”
“Band of Brothers”
“The Americans”
"Life As We Know It”
"Thank you Robyn Stecher for bringing us THE SPIN CYCLE Benji Goldstein, a neurodivergent young man navigating life, friendship and love with sharp wit and heartfelt honesty. In this well-crafted story of discovery, we witness Benji's great strengths that lie within others' perceived limitations of him. With a romance as original as its engaging narrator, The Spin Cycle is a moving, funny, and deeply respectful portrait of resilience, connection and the power of being truly seen.”
Elaine Hall
Founder of “The Miracle Project”
Profiled in the EMMY winning film “Autism The Musical.”
Award winning Author of “Now I See the Moon”, selected reading by the United Nation
Benji Goldstein offers an insight into a person and a community about which we do not hear or see nearly enough. In a world where there is FINALLY movement toward understanding, embracing, celebrating and championing neurodivergent people, it seems just the right time for a novel that tells the story of one such person.
Stecher’s omission of the specifics of Benji’s diagnosis allows us to get to know him layer by layer without the obstacle of a big fat label that would surely have gotten in the way. Benji is equal parts blunt and evasive and I found his contraction free vocabulary instantly charming…
Does Bo fill a void for Benji left by his deceased father? I suppose. Does Benji offer something to Bo that he’s unable to get from his estranged children. Sure. But Stecher shows us that it’s more than that. It’s different from that. Benji and Bo have people in their lives who love them, tolerate them, help them, and sometimes pity them, the one thing we don’t see them getting from others is respect. Bo respects Benji enough to push him to be stronger, more confident and assertive. Benji admires what Bo has overcome and truly believes that Bo’s contribution through the Spin Cycle is, as he says “important”.
Benji’s romantic relationship is 100% original. Stecher treats Benji and Britany’s romance, which is complicated by Benji’s inexperience, Brittany’s mental health issues and family tragedy, with sensitivity and maturity…
The colorful, fast paced conversations moved the story along quickly and I was grateful for the paragraphs of narrative so I could take a breath. Stecher gives authentic voices to a myriad of characters. You’ll get to know them well, but you’ll want to know them more.
Mary Cammarata
Overall, we all thought this was a great book and can definitely see this on Netflix one day!
Benji is a fascinating character that understands people, himself and the world around him in such a deep and honest way that makes him wise beyond his years. You can really see his confidence evolve through his unlikely friendship with Bo and how that helps him in his other relationships…
We love that Bo is trying to guide and teach Benji without forcing the answers…
We also love to see Benji navigating life and learning the same things we all learn about other people's personalities and how to interact. Benji also seems to know so much more about himself as a 25-year-old than many of us do at that age...
This story provides valuable insight to additional challenges that people are subject to and the assumptions that are made.
We loved the subtle humor that developed throughout the story. Especially between Bo and Benji as their relationship grew. We felt that as their characters developed, you were more comfortable and relaxed with the flow of the story and how the characters spoke to each other. One of my favorite lines from Bo, “You know any happily married people Benji?”
The Bellevue Nebraska Book Club
Just Who We Are
"Robyn Stecher, shares with tremendous feeling, wisdom, and insight the very challenging journey she has taken. Throughout work, marriage, and devoted motherhood, she never falters in her extraordinary capacity to love. I found Just Who We Are deeply moving. The book is very special, beautiful, deserves to be widely read...."
Blythe Danner
Emmy and Tony award winning actress
"In Just Who We Are, Robyn Stecher's vivid writing is well-matched to the colorful people, places, and events she introduces us to. Stecher serves readers an excellent charcuterie of life changing events and we feel we are by her side throughout. Stecher is a strong character and an intrepid navigator as she and her "neurologically different" son Daniel, journey through their extraordinary life together. Her partner-in-adventure Kathy, serves as the perfect accomplice to the dreams they reach for as they ride the rapids of New York City. I predict this will be the next Tales of the City. Most likely on Netflix."
David Roche
Writer, Author, Producer
Inspirationalist
Disabilities advocate
"Robyn Stecher claims she is no hero, but she is the best kind of hero- not the fearless one, the one who consistently empowers others. She writes honestly of a life that wasn’t what she imagined, but it was the one she did better than succeed at. Her story is about self-invention, championing her son, love, and the ultimate test, that no matter what happens, it is up to us to decide who we become."
Joe Moglia
Former CEO & Chairman of TD Ameritrade
Former head football coach at Coastal Carolina University
Current Executive Director for Football & the Executive Advisor to the president
"Robyn Stecher leaves her heart wide open on every page of Just Who We Are. Robyn is the epitome of the self-made woman you will want to share with, cry with, laugh with and invite to a slumber party where you can stay up all night talking. Be sure to block off the rest of your day, because you will want to curl up with, and read Just Who We Are cover to cover in one sitting. In baring her soul, Stecher ensures that her readers recognize a little of who they are, or who they aspire to be, for indeed, every dream is possible, we just need the grit, grace and ability to recognize what it is that makes us who we are, so we can get to where we want to go."
Ashley Wren Collins
Author of Along Comes The Association: Beyond Folk Rock and Three-Piece Suits with Russ Giguere, The Cheap Bastard’s Guide to Los Angeles, 6th edition of The Cheap Bastard’s Guide to New York City, She Wrote, He Wrote: A New York Love Story, and Produce Your Own Damn Movie with Lloyd Kaufman, as well as an award-winning director, producer and actor
There’s Something About Daniel
"Parenting is NOT a charted course, and despite the unexpected turns her life has taken, Robyn Stecher is an inspiration. Her memoir of parenting and living an exceptional life is captivating, and indeed, There's Something about Daniel... her son is miraculous…."
Regina Skyer
Esq. Attorney
Child Advocate
Author: “What Do You Do After High School? the nationwide guide to programs and services for the learning disabled”
"There’s something about Daniel is a beacon of light for parents who aspire to bring out the best in their children. It is a compelling and eloquent memoir of an indefatigable spirit who embraces her son’s special needs as an opportunity for each to discover their inner strengths. Every step of the way is a walk in the shoes of a truly inspiring woman –as she imparts the lessons that make her son so remarkably resilient- and as she finds her own courage and faith over and over again."
Ronit Herzfeld
LMSW
Couple and family therapist
Human rights activist