Author
About The Author
Meet Robert Allen
Robert Allen, the author of whose interest in storytelling began in childhood, filled an old notebook with characters and ideas that stayed with him throughout. Several years later, he spent building a career and raising a family when he returned to those early stories to turn them into fiction.
Robert grew up in Washington, D.C., and the city’s history and everyday realities continue to influence his work. The encouragement of those closest to him motivated him to revisit the fictional world he first imagined several decades earlier. Time and experience gave him a stronger understanding of the themes he hoped to explore.
Robert’s work focuses on the complexities of family, the challenges of identity, and the emotional inheritances that shape who people become. He aims to write with honesty, empathy, and respect for the lives reflected in his stories. He lives close to his family and remains guided by his faith and by his mother’s belief that God specializes in the impossible.
They Don’t Know Steve is Allen’s debut novel.
What People Say
I loved how Robert Allen brought Washington D.C. to life; you can feel the history and the streets in this story. An empathetic, powerful read about the messy struggle to define yourself.
Allen handles complex family and identity with raw honesty, making Steve’s journey incredibly relatable. Seriously.
Allen imagined characters and gave the story a mature and authentic foundation. Steve’s explosive fight to shed the labels others placed on him and claim his true self is amazing.
Robert Allen captures the soul of D.C. in a way that feels lived-in and honest. Steve’s struggle with identity and family expectations hit close to home. This story reflects the quiet battles many young Black men face while trying to define themselves beyond what the world assumes.
I’m deeply moved by how Allen explores family, faith, and emotional inheritance feels authentic and raw. Steve’s journey is painful, powerful, and necessary. A strong debut that speaks truth without softening the hard parts.
They Don’t Know Steve is a gritty coming-of-age story that doesn’t rely on clichés. The tension between who Steve is and who everyone thinks he should be is written with real empathy. Robert Allen shows great respect for his characters and their struggles.
I was drawn in by the emotional depth of the storyline. The closed rooms full of secrets felt just as real as the neighborhood courts. Allen writes with maturity and heart, showing how family history and identity can collide in explosive ways.
This story stayed with me long after I finished it. Steve’s decision to define himself is both heartbreaking and empowering. Robert Allen’s voice is confident and compassionate, and his understanding of faith, family, and self-discovery shines through every page.