Monday, December 17, 2007

And the winner is....

The winner of the Cajun basket is...Kyndra from TN! Kyndra, if you'll email me your snail mail address, I'll get the basket in the mail to you!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

News and Notes


I am not sure that I have ever read a book in this line before and Robin Caroll’s book was a pleasant surprise! Her descriptions of the bayou are so vivid you can easily picture yourself there. CoCo’s love of nature shines through clearly in Ms. Caroll’s depictions as even the Louisiana alligators seem beautiful through her prose.

Several themes are predominant in this poignant tale, most prominently that of forgiveness. Luc and CoCo share a past as they were engaged until their religious beliefs separated them. Both jump to conclusions quickly and it was uplifting to see how they resolved their struggles with living as Christians on a daily basis.

BAYOU JUSTICE is an entertaining and inspiring story about faith. What an excellent choice for my first foray into this line! I would have liked to see more of Coco’s transformation from believing in voodoo to being a Christian but I enjoyed her interactions with her voodoo believing family members. Ms. Caroll makes a powerful statement about witnessing to others about faith in this short but interesting story.

Reviewed by Debbie


Also, I've been contracted to write book 5 in the bayou series, Bayou Betrayal, which allows readers to visit again with Deputy Gary Anderson as he works to solve a case before Sheriff Bubba Theriot returns from vacation. But will his heart be stolen in the process? Bayou Betrayal releases from Steeple Hill in January 2009.

More news: I've been contracted to write book 2 in the new inline Love Inspired Suspense continuity series, Without A Trace. My book, FRAMED!, will release in February 2009. The first book in this 6-book series will release in January 2009.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Final Set of Booksigning Pictures

Here are the final pictures from my booksignings and Bayou Bash. It was so much fun and I loved not only seeing my family and friends, but meeting readers!

Me and my cousin, Shannon


My cousin, Shannon, and one of my sisters, Bek (one of the hostesses for the BAYOU BASH


Me and my mom at the Barnes & Noble booksigning


The display at the BAYOU BASH


My baby girl, Bella, and the gator at the Bayou Bash



Me with my beautiful cake


Okay, my aunt Julie and cousin Shannon got a little goofy with the gator display at the Bayou Bash


Me with my three daughters and niece at the Barnes & Noble Booksigning (Don't you just LOVE the shirts?)


Booksigning Fun!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

More Booksigning Pix

Here are some more of the promised pix from the booksigning weekend! :D


Isn't my hubby amazing? He actually wore the shirt to the signings and walked around promoting me!


Me with Betsy, one of our wonderful ACFW moderators who came out in support! :D


The cake my sisters had made for me! Isn't it great?! And it tasted yummy, too! :D


For my BAYOU BASH, my sisters, mother, brother and sister-in-law set up the stage with props pertaining to my book. It was wonderful!



Okay, so at the BAYOU BASH, someone had books they wanted me to sign (since we sold out at B&N and Borders, some went to the WalMart stores and bought their copies) but I couldn't find my signing pen. Ronie "loaned" me this really cool one that lit up! So what if I have a pen fetish and kept the pen? I mean, seriously, it's a pen! LOL But no, I didn't give it back to Ronie. Still sitting here on my desk! :D



My doctor cousin, Shannon, surprised me by flying in from CA to attend the weekend "events."


My bestbud Trace, finally showed up for a signing! LOL


My oldest daughter, Emily, got a little silly at the end of the booksigning at Borders!


Me and my oldest daughter, Emily.



We were exhausted after events, so we snuck out to dinner....left to right: Dylan (Em's boyfriend), Emily, me, Ronie Kendig, Dineen Miller, and Cheryl Wyatt. We won't EVEN discuss the waitress we had for the night, but I will tell you this....Ronie might be still waiting on mayo and Cheryl doesn't get coasters! LOL

Monday, October 15, 2007

BOOK SIGNING and BAYOU BASH

My Wonderful sisters and mother (waving at BB, Bek & Mom) set me up with an amazing BAYOU BASH to celebrate the release of Bayou Justice! Not only that, but I had two booksignings in Louisiana over the weekend. I sold out at both Barnes & Noble and Borders.....selling almost 100 books! WOO HOO...here are just a few photos! I'll be posting more during the week!


Cheryl Wyatt, who flew in from IL to attend my weekend "events"

Local author, Lenora Worth, showed up in support!


The signing setup at Borders!


The booksigning at Barnes & Noble


Betsy brought others to the signing!


Me signing with my niece, Krystina, looking on! :D


At Borders Signing


Four writers: Dineen Miller, Ronie Kendig, Cheryl Wyatt, and me!

Bayou Justice's latest review....

This debut novel by Robin Caroll is terrific. It is the first in a series and I can’t wait for the next installment. Her vivid descriptions, great dialog and intense, well-drawn, characters take the reader to the Bayou. This is a wonderful mixture of inspiration and suspense. And a great plot keeps you guessing until the end.--Lisa, Romance Junkies

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Cajun KickOff Contest


CAJUN BASKET GIVEAWAY
CONTENTS:
Set of 4 plates from Old Navy,
alligator soap,
misc crawfish stuff,
stuffed alligator,
gumbo mix,
Cajun seasoning “rub”,
jambalaya mix,
Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning,
Tony Chachere’s Creole Roux mix,
red beans & rice mix,
and Louisiana Hot Sauce, of course!

See my website on the CONTEST PAGE for details on how to win!!!!! www.robincaroll.com

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Blog Tour

Hey, y’all! I’m pleased to announce my blogtour promoting the release of my first book, BAYOU JUSTICE. Please drop by the following blogs and visit a bit!

Oct 1 Ronie Kendig will be reviewing Bayou Justice on her blog http://supernaturalcraving.blogspot.com/

Oct 2 Heather Diane Tipton will host me on her blog as I discuss my spiritual journey http://heatherdianetipton.blogspot.com

Oct 3 Camy Tang hosts me as I discuss southern cooking and how I used that to “flavor” the setting of Bayou Justice http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/

Oct 4 Linda Fulkerson will interview me on her blogs http://linesfromlinda.com and http://fictionfundamentals.com

Oct 5 Girls Write Out is hosting me and allowing me to gab with the girls on their blog http://girlswriteout.blogspot.com

Oct 6 Cara Putnam is featuring me on her blog http://carasmusings.blogspot.com

Oct 7 Ane Mulligan will host me on her blog www.anemulligan.blogspot.com

Oct 8 Cynthia Hickey is featuring me on her blog http://cynthiahickey.blogspot.com/

Oct 9 Dineen Miller hosts me on her blog http://dineenmiller.blogspot.com/

Oct 10 Novel Journey is interviewing me www.noveljourney.blogspot.com

Oct 11 Pam Meyers will feature me on her blog http://pammeyerswrites.blogspot.com/

Oct 12 Tracey Aaron (best bud extraordinaire) will feature me on her space! http://blog.myspace.com/traceygayle

Oct 13 Sabrina Fox-Butcher is hosting me on her blog www.sabrinalfox.blogspot.com

Oct 14 Pammer James is featuring me on her blog http://pammer.blogspot.com/

Oct 15 Cheryl Wyatt is hosting me on her blog http://scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/

Oct 16 Hope Chastain is interviewing me on her blog http://www.faithwebbin.net/share/authors

Oct 17 Tiff Stockton is interviewing me on her blog www.shoutlife.com/AmberMiller


I’d love it if you’d visit me on these blogs!

Bayou Justice Scores Another Review...

Caroll has hit one out of the park with her debut novel.

Best thing about this book: the characters. They are well-rounded, conflict-filled, and real. And Caroll doesn't hold anything back - each character takes the reader along for an emotional journey.

Second best thing about this book: the unusual setting. The bayou and southern feel created by Caroll draw the reader into the story, while her carefully crafted descriptions don't overwhelm with bulky paragraphs of text.

I can't wait for the next book in this series! -Lacy J. Williams, The Suspense Zone

Monday, October 01, 2007

Another Review of Bayou Justice....

BAYOU JUSTICE is an engaging story that is hard to put down. In fact Iʼd call this a must read for every reader who loves a good suspense story flavored with romance. The characters are realistic and engaging, with interesting fun new careers that will have readers completely enthralled. The setting is fascinating and so well written youʼll feel as though you are there. The mystery is strong, youʼll be second-guessing yourself until the end.

The romance between Coco and Luke is both refreshing and delightful. Add in the messages of faith and how seeds are sown, and you have a Christian romantic suspense that is hard to beat. Ms. Caroll has written a story that will find its way onto readers keeper shelves and will be recommended to others often. Book two, BAYOU CORRUPTION, coming in February 2008 is sure to be a winner as well; itʼs certainly a book I plan to pick up as quickly as I can. If you want a story that will have you on the edge of your seat, laughing, crying, and trying to solve a mystery, then pick up BAYOU JUSTICE today, you wonʼt be sorry!

Reviewed by Wendy Keel, The Romance Readers Connection
Rating 4 ½

Infuze Mag Reviews Bayou Justice

Bayou Justice is Robin Caroll's debut novel, released under the Love-Inspired Suspense line by Steeple Hill. In other words, it's very much a Christian novel, with overt Christian themes - salvation, marriage of believers to unbelievers, spirituality in fairly large doses. And, to be fair, I think the book is a fair bit more love-inspired than it is suspense.

Coco LeBlanc is an alligator conservationist (one of the longest job titles I've ever come across, but it's just what it sounds like), as well as a recent convert to Christianity out of her family's voodoo heritage. She still lives with her grandmother and younger sister, though, so her battle against the old ways underpins much of the novel. She's also the discoverer of a very dead body - an old man who'd just threatened to evict her, her sister, and her grandmother from their home.



She's also the former fiancée of Luc Trahan, the old man's grandson. Luc has his own set of motives to kill his granddad, ranging from unethical business practices, suspicion in Luc's father's death, and career differences. And, of course, Luc and Coco fight the timeless battle of Ross-and-Rachel . . . you know the one, those two crazy kids who can't seem to get it together and get together?



It was hard to evaluate this book, because I'm probably not the primary audience. As a Stephen King, Joseph Finder, James Patterson, secular thriller loving guy, the whole struggling couple thing was a bit of a turn-off. And, I prefer a lot more suspense around the crime in a book, whereas much of the suspense in this book revolved around the relationships.



All that said, it was very tightly written, with realistic characters. They had moments of melodramatic conversation - I read "unequally yoked" far too many times in a normal conversation - but by and large, the characters felt real and fleshed out. Caroll keeps the pace moving well for a character-driven romance, and the elements of suspense were shadowed and cloaked in enough threads to leave you guessing.



I'd heartily recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance, lighter suspense tales, or Christian mysteries. If you're looking to be entertained, to meet some new Louisiana personalities, and be charmed by the locale of the bayou, pick up Bayou Justice. If you're looking for hardcore suspense, you might try Colleen Coble on the Christian side, or Joseph Finder on the secular side. -- Brett McLaughlin, Infuze Magazine

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Another Bayou Justice Review....

Robin Caroll has written a suspense-filled thriller with a big splash of romance thrown in. CoCo is not an everyday heroine, yet the author shows the grace that CoCo has learned since becoming a Christian, especially in dealing with those difficult questions about why God lets bad things happen. The pages don’t stop turning as CoCo and Luc reconcile their relationship and work on solving the murder. The secondary characters are marvelous, from Grandmere to Tara, CoCo’s sister; Luc’s alcoholic mother, and his frail yet brave sister, Felicia. But let us not forget the biggest star of the story, the Louisiana Bayou. BAYOU JUSTICE is a riveting read. I highly recommend this book

Robin Caroll will be releasing more of her Bayou inspired books in 2008, so stay tuned; this author delivers the goods.--Deborah C Jackson, Romance Reviews Today

Monday, September 10, 2007

BAYOU JUSTICE review in ROMANTIC TIMES

Hey, y'all!

I just received word that BAYOU JUSTICE received 4.5 stars from Romantic Times Magazine. Not only that, it's a TOP PICK for October! Here's an exercpt from the review... (you can read the whole review by subscribing-visit www.romantictimes.com for details)

Bayou Justice (4.5), by Robin Caroll, is a solid story that has a powerful emotional edge, as well as compelling secondary characters. The parallel stories of Luc and CoCo's relationship and the solving of the murder are excellently handled.

—Robin Taylor


I'm SO excited!

HECTIC

One week from today, and I leave for the ACFW conference. In the meantime, I have to get my house ready, my family's needs organized so when I'm gone, everything will run smoothly, and I'm on a deadline as well. But you know what, it's okay. Because I'm excited about everything. Can't wait! :D

So, how're YOU doing? Are you ready for conference????

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Hear Ye, Hear Ye...

MaryLu Tyndall

Welcome, MaryLu. I'm glad you could drop by to visit.

The Restitution is the third book in your series. Can you tell us a little bit about why you've continued with the series?

The third book sort of morphed from two of the characters in the second book. I really felt strongly that their story needed to be told. Even though my publisher requested a third book, I had no idea what to write until I was well into the second. But, I’ve found that happens a lot with writing. More and more ideas keep popping into my head as I get further along with a story.

Will there be a 4th Legacy of the King's Pirates?

Unfortunately not at this time, although several people have asked for one. I’d love to continue the story of the four main characters I’ve introduced in the series, but time will tell. I do have several more sea-faring adventures in the making, however.

Where do you get your inspiration for writing?

I have to give the credit to God for any ideas He gives me. But, having said that, I also get “inspiration” from other books, movies, and music, from people I know and from long walks outside.

Six kids and three cats? Wow, how do you find the time to write? I have 3 kids and 6 cats, and I have to set a schedule! LOL How do you do it?

Two of my kids have moved out of the house, three more are in college and one is a senior in High School, so other than the emotional “crisis” that arise in their lives, they are pretty self-sufficient! It’s the cats that drive me nuts! LOL Truthfully, I used to stress about finding time to write and trying to meet deadlines, but I found that it was a sign that I wasn’t trusting God. If He wants me to write, He’ll provide the time. After all, He’s in charge of time! So, I just sit down to write whenever I have a free moment. I set a daily quota and try to stick to that, even if I have to write late at night.

I'm known for asking some off the wall questions, so here goes: What has been your happiest day, writing related only, thus far in your career?

Being nominated for the Christy Award was by far the biggest thrill for me. I had no idea my publisher had even submitted my book, so when they told me about the nomination, I was stunned. This was my first book, The Redemption, and if you knew the miraculous story of my road to publication, you would be shocked too. God is still in the business of miracles, and I am a prime example.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Being an author is hard work with long hours, stressful deadlines, and little pay. Not only that, but after you pour your heart and soul into a novel and put it out there for the world to see, you must develop the thickest skin possible to shield you from spiteful reviews. Have I scared you off yet? LOL Dedication, perseverance and humility are three essential qualities for all aspiring authors. Be sure this is what you want and this is where the Lord is leading you, then jump into it with all your heart. Pray often, and never let your desire to be published come before your love for God.

If you could visit with any novelist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Jane Austen. Her command of the English language, exquisite use of words, and deep characterization astound me. I’m dying to ask her how she did it!

What's next on your writing horizon?

I have an adventure/romance novel coming out next September called The Falcon and the Sparrow, set in 1803 London during the beginning of the Napoleonic wars. And next I’m working on a three book series set in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1718.

Many blessings, MaryLu, and thank you for visiting! I wish you the best of luck in all your writing endeavors!

Thank you Robin for hosting me on your site! I understand your novel, Bayou Justice, just received 4.5 stars with Romantic Times and was a top pick in October. Congratulations!

Thanks! I'm still walking on air! :D

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Welcome author Camy Tang

Today we're visiting with one of my dearest friends, Camy Tang. Her debut novel, Sushi for One?, is a delightful chicklit that covers a variety of issues.

Welcome, Camy, to the blog. Glad you were able to stop by.
Okay, I GOTTA ask....what was your inspiration for Sushi for One?

I promise it wasn't my family! My grandma (and my parents, and my
other relatives) are nothing like Grandma Sakai. GS was a
conglomeration of stories I heard from friends about their
parents/aunties/siblings/grandparents. Of course, once I had Grandma
Sakai, what better than to pit her against Christian single women in
her family with as much backbone as she has?

Can you tell me a little about your experience with the Chinese and
Japanese cultures, as you bring out the differences in your book.

I am fourth generation Japanese, and my husband is third generation
Chinese. There's actually quite a difference in mindset and culture
between us and, say, first or second generation Asians like in Amy
Tan's books. I wanted to highlight the "American-ness" and yet
"Asian-ness" of characters whose families have been in the United
States for several generations. Chinese and Japanese cultures are
often similar in certain aspects.

Some attitudes remain the same across cultures--like exceptional
deference to elders--but other things are different--like more modern
ideas about career and family. The clash between second generation
Grandma Sakai and fourth generation Lex is the core of the book.

One thing common to many Asian families is food, whether they're
Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, or any other Asian ethnicity.
So the food scenes in Sushi for One are pretty authentic. Readers will
notice the difference between, say, the Chinese food at the Red Egg
and Ginger party and the home-made spread at Lex's uncle's birthday
party.



I just loved your character, Lex. How much of her personality is yours?

Not as much as I'd like. Lex is much braver than I am about saying
what she thinks without caring what people think of her. If I said
some of the things she does, I'd get smacked upside the head by my
mother.

What's the story behind Captain Caffeine??

My husband love coffee. I mean, LOVES COFFEE. Strong coffee.
Cappuccinos and lattes in particular.

Picking a screen name for him took a little while, but he likes the
moniker Captain Caffeine that we decided on. It fits him to a T.

One famous--or infamous--story about him is that I promised him
anything if I got a book contract, because he very graciously let me
quit my job in order to try writing full-time. Well, I got the
contract, and he bought an all stainless-steel, Italian espresso maker
that's pictured on my blog:
http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/2006/05/im-done.html

What advice would you give a new author, besides the standard of "learn your
craft, hone your skills?"

Learn the market. Don't stick your head in a hole in the ground and
expect yourself to come up with brilliantly unique story ideas. You
need to be aware if there are a lot of pastor heroes being published
in your chosen genre, or that six books about wedding planners hit the
shelves last year. That way you know to avoid pastor heroes or wedding
planners. Know your market so that your story will stand out from
everything else being published. You don't have to read them all, but
the story blurbs on Amazon or Christianbook.com are priceless.

What's next for you?

The second book in the series, Only Uni, arrives February 2008. That's
Trish's story. Venus's story (I know you like Venus best) is Single
Sashimi, which comes out in the fall of 2008.

I also want to tell people about my huge website contest going on
right now. I'm giving away baskets of Christian fiction and an iPod
Nano! Only my newsletter YahooGroup subscribers are eligible, so join
today:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Camys_Loft/join

Thanks for dropping by.....I'll be reviewing your book in a few days! :D

Thanks for letting me chat here, Robin!

Readers, stay tuned....I'll be reviewing Sushi For One? in the next few days!

Thursday, August 09, 2007

4th book in the Bayou series . . . SOLD!

So, I got my revision letter on book 3, Bayou Judgment! I loved hearing my editor's vision for improving the book. Had to dig right in and get those done because, well, just because I'm that type of person. LOL And it's exciting to do revisions your editor request. They've interacted with my story and pointed out things that will make the book better. Gotta love that! So, got that done and in the mail back to her!

Got my copyeditor notes on book 2, Bayou Corruption! Those are just basic clarifications and such. Got those done and sent back in.

Still glowing from getting my author copies of my 1st book, so I'm having a great week. Got my books, my revisions, and my copyeditor notes. AND, I got to see the initial artwork for the cover of Bayou Judgment. Man, the covers just keep getting better and better. Wow, stellar week.

And then yesterday, my agent calls and my editor has offered a contract on the 4th book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah, I'm having an awesome week! Talk with my editor and we decide on a new title for this 4th book, which is going to be a blast to write...BAYOU PARADOX! I love it!

So, I've had an amazingly blessed week! Get to go "home" to Louisiana this weekend and share my joy with my family. I'm so blessed!

How about the rest of you? How's your week going?

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

MY BABY ARRIVED.....

Nope, I'm not talking about another child--have 3 beautiful daughters and couldn't ask for more. I'm talking about the delivery of my first author copies of my first book. Wow, how amazing! Yeah, I cried most of the day! LOL

I got my revision letter from my editor on book 3. Man, she's GOOD. Finished the revisions and got them in the mail today. Also completed the copyeditor edits on book 2 and got them sent back. Now I wait to hear back from my editor on book 4. I can't wait. It's the story I've been anxious to write since I came up with this series overview.

I'm gearing up for the ACFW conference. I can't believe we have less than 45 days! I'm beyond excited. Awesome, truly awesome.

So, what about YOU? What are you working on?

Saturday, August 04, 2007

ONE LITTLE SECRET's author dropped by....

Welcome to Robin's Writing World, Allison! Glad you could stop by and answer a few questions for us.

Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it – thanks for inviting me!

What gave you the idea to base ONE LITTLE SECRET on a rock star? What was your inspiration?

I was inspired to write the female character first, after watching a TV interview with Meryl Streep where she told the host she wanted to work on a film where she could sing. I figured I’d write one for her. (Insert a big smile here.) I “think” in movies, I’m a movie-holic, specifically sappy romantic comedies and love stories. I figured the GRAMMY awards would be a fun setting, and then I figured if I really wanted conflict I needed a self-absorbed rock star. For me, developing a book outline is really more like writing a screenplay, I “see” the book in visual scenes first. In fact, I developed a Hollywood Casting Call Contest where readers can visit my web site and vote for the Dream Cast to play the characters in ONE LITTLE SECRET if it every gets adapted into a screenplay. I think it would (will) make a great movie! Readers can vote for actors and actresses here: http://www.boomerbabesrock.com/bookcontests.html So far, Catherine Zeta Jones is winning for Ursula, although she’s a tad young to be a mom to college-bound kids.  BTW, I developed ONE LITTLE SECRET first as a screenplay called JUST A HOUSEWIFE. When Bethany House wanted a second novel after A STITCH IN TIME, I immediately thought of this story, realizing that it would make some great Boomer-Lit!

What was your research for this book like?

A whole lot of fun! I spent almost two decades living in southern California, so I had a pretty good feel for the location. During my years on the west coast, I worked as a professional fundraiser for several non-profit organizations and I had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time around women who had a great deal of money. Talk about a wild ride! It amazed me how some of them had it all and yet they were so very unhappy. On the other hand, there were a few philanthropists I admired—and I took bits and pieces of them to develop Ursula.

I’d have to say the music aspect of writing this book was the most fun. I listened to countless CD’s of the classic standard love songs to select the tunes I wanted Ursula and Nick to record. That, and dressing Ursula, oh…and furnishing Nick’s Malibu estate, oh and, maybe deciding on the luxury cars…oh shucks – it was all a blast!

What would you like readers to "take away" from your book?

I write Christian inspirational fiction—and yet I don’t specifically write only for Christians. Yes, I am a Christian, but I have friends who are not. I frequently meet people who do not share my belief or my politics or my serious addiction to stiletto heels, but that doesn’t mean we can’t communicate. I think too many Christians live in a Christian bubble—how can we shed light on the dark places in the world if we don’t mingle with people who live in the world? I first wanted to write a fun fairy-tale…a dream-come-true adventure about a boomer babe who happened to be a Christian—but many of the people in her drama-rama were not. Yet she saw this as an opportunity to share her faith—not make judgment calls. I guess that would be the take-away, that sometimes God calls us to spend time at work or at school or at play to be around folks who don’t share our faith—and it’s times like that we can shine or sink.

I like to ask a couple of "off topic" questions. Here goes...if you could sit down and have lunch with any living fiction author, who and why?

That changes from month to month, but right now I’d have to say that I would love to meet Jodi Piccoult. This amazing writer has a keen ability to capture the very essence of multiple characters in her books, weaving stories that keep you mesmerized from cover to cover. What a brilliant gift.

Deceased?

Okay, at the risk of being dubbed a crazy woman (oh, wait, too late for that) I would love to talk with Edgar Allen Poe. As a little girl, it was the work of Poe that made me first realize the power of words. No kidding. But I didn’t discover him first via the written word—I was drawn to the old black and white movies that starred Vincent Price. Movies like The Fall of the House of Usher and The Mask of the Red Death. My mom explained to me that a man named Edgar Allen Poe wrote the books those movies were based on and I was hooked. Poe had an eloquent grasp of the English language that made words come alive in my brain. I would love to ask him what inspired his work…can you imagine? Plus, as a young girl reading his work helped train me to use a dictionary.

This is a crazy industry. What advice would you offer unpublished authors to give them hope?

I know it sounds so incredibly droll and simple, but never give up and don’t take “no” for an answer! I kept at it and kept at it and kept at it. Recrafting my proposals and rewriting my first book. I got my start in non-fiction, but always in the back of my mind was the dream of one day writing fiction. However, more important would be to not compare yourself to another writer. There is always going to be someone better, someone smarter, someone more literary, someone more photogenic on the back of their book, and yada, yada, yada. But there is only ever going to be one you!

Robin, some of your readers may know this about me, but for those who don’t, the fact I’ve been published at all boggles my mind. I’m a high school drop out with a ninth grade education and a GED. I quit school after the 9th grade to run away from home and get married. I was going to live happily ever after in my fairy tale dream. But that’s NOT what happened.

That said, writing is not about formal education, or who you know, or how long you’ve been at it. It’s about perseverance and risk and belief in yourself—and knowing that inevitably, God will make a way where there seems to be no way.

Thanks so much for dropping by! It's been a pleasure having you!

Likewise, I’m sure. 

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Exciting

I'm excited. I get to order the ACFW awards today! Reminds me that we have less than 48 days until conference! I'm BEYOND excited. I encourage every writer who's writing Christian fiction to register for the conference if you haven't yet! It's AMAZING. I guarantee, you'll leave the conference with memories that'll last you a lifetime. What? You haven't registered yet? Tsk, tsk. What are you waiting for? Hurry. Go here and get yourself registered. You'll thank yourself later!

Monday, July 30, 2007

Fun Stuff

I turned in book 3 in the bayou series to my editor. I can't wait to hear her thoughts. The first revision letter is always the scariest. Now, I look forward to hearing her ideas on what will make the story even better. I'm blessed to have an editor who knows what her line's readers like. My mentor once told me that my story isn't anything until someone interacts with it, and my editor is the first one and gives me that feedback. So, I'm anxiously awaiting to hear what she has to say.

I also submitted the proposal for book 4 in the bayou series to her. This is the one book that from the beginning of planning this series, I knew I'd have a blast writing. It's the one heroine who's most near my heart, and her story will be the most fun to tell. So, I'm anxiously awaiting hearing back from my editor on that as well.

In the meantime, I'm working on the proposal for my single title EXPOSURE to be ready to pitch at the ACFW conference in Dallas in September. It's amazing that we have 50 days left until conference! I'm keeping really busy with last minute conference things, but I'm determined to have this proposal ready to pitch.

So, what about you? What're you working on?

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Ane Got Me!

I've been tagged by Ane Mulligan. But you know what, I don't mind this one. It's writing-related, my favorite subject! :) Here are the questions and my answers:

1. What's the one book or writing project you haven't yet written but still hope to?
The "inspired-by-a-true-story" telling of my husband's legal issues. Already have a title picked out.

2. If you had one entire day in which to do nothing but read, what book would you start with? The STAND

3. What was your first writing "instrument" (besides pen and paper)? An OLD computer. I took a fiction writing course from Writer's Digest back when my oldest daughter was a baby.

4. What's your best guess as to how many books you read in a month? Best guess? 30-40

5. What's your favorite writing "machine" you've ever owned? My laptop, but I've got my eye on a MACBOOK for the future! :D

6. Think historical fiction: what's your favorite time period in which to read? You have GOT to be kidding me?! I don't read hystericals! LOL

7. What's the one book you remember most clearly from your youth (childhood or teens)? Trixie Beldon series, hands down

Okay, enough about me. I'm going to tag, uh, Camy, Dineen, Ronie, and Ron. Not gonna bother with Heather because she won't do it. Would hit up other ACFW board members, but I have a feeling Ane got us all! But hey, feel FREE to leave your answers here under comments. I'd like to hear everyone's responses!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

ACFW Conference Thoughts...Interview with Kelly Mortimer

Welcome Kelly Mortimer of the Mortimer Literary Agency to the blog! Thanks for joining us, Kelly. I'd like to talk about the upcoming ACFW conference in September.

Robin: You've attended various conferences over the years. In your opinion, what makes a conference stand out from the others?

Kelly: Clean restrooms. Sorry, my bad. Actually, the site of the conference is important. Who wants to travel 30-minutes from the airport to the hotel, and back? Someone without a life! At one conference, the hotel booked another huge group at the same time. I won't mention the name of the other company, but there were a lot of frenzied women running around wearing tiaras and sashes. No, it wasn't the Miss America Pageant. Nothing against those "pink" ladies, by the way, I use some of their stuff. But registration was a nightmare, and getting a table at the hotel restaurant nearly impossible. I'm sure I lost three months of my life waiting for the elevator to make it to the lobby. At least I spent the time wisely. One day alone I got three free makeovers....

Robin: Any advice you'd like to offer to a 1st time conference attendee?

Kelly: Come early and get acclimated to the hotel. Find the rooms where the workshops you want to attend are located, and where the conference is holding your editor/agent appointments. Knowing where you have to go and how long it takes to get there will relieve stress, especially if you're running late. Take time to "hang out." You never know who you'll meet in the rest areas and the bar. Walk around with an air of confidence. I've seen attendees who look like Jack Nicholson or Anthony Perkins is waiting around the corner.

Robin: As an agent taking appointments, what do you look for most in a new author? An established author?

Kelly: Someone with a pulse. No reason to quake in fear you'll say or do the wrong thing. Be yourself, and if that's not good enough, you don't want that editor or agent. As to established authors, I have nothing against them, but I got into this business to help the unpublished get published.

Robin: Some people have said an agent will request something from each writer they have an appointment with at a conference--simply because it's easier to reject via mail rather than face-to-face. What's your stand on this?

Kelly: Either the agent is a coward, or too worried about hurting the writer's feelings. Look, if the story isn't something you think you can sell, you'll be hurting the writer more in the long run by stringing them along. I'm not advocating slamming writers. I'd never tell anyone to quit writing. But for me, tactful honesty is worth its weight in gold.

Robin: Can you share with the bloggers some specifics of what you in particular are looking for now?

Kelly: A few good men. Oops, wrong conference. Everyone always says the same thing: "A great read that wows me! Something different." Then you give 'em something different and they say they can't sell it because they don't know what to market it as. I'll just say I could use a good contemporary writer, good non-fiction, YA or middle grade for boys, but I keep an open mind for anything else on my list.

Robin: What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming conference?

Kelly: The security checkpoints at the airport. I just love showing off my new shoes to all those bored workers. Anything to brighten up someone's day! Okay, I'll stop. I look forward to hugging my clients, especially the ones I haven't met in person. After that, meeting the editors I've spoken to, but have never seen, plus hunting down new ones so I can talk-up my talented clients, and saying "hey" to my agent friends.

Robin: We've all shared the horror stories of worst pitches, stalking of agents/editors, and our most horrible moment. What is your BEST experience in one of these areas?

Kelly: Ah, my best experience with a stalker? My best worst pitch? I don't understand the question. If you mean what is the best experience I've had, hmm. I guess the pile of thank you notes I get from writers I had to reject. They've called me, "The Agent with a Heart," the "Agent of the People," and the "Un-agent." It's tough to have to turn people down, but great if you can at least give them some insight and encouragement.

Robin: LOL Thank you so much for stopping by and giving of your time to answer my questions. I look forward to seeing you in September!

Kelly: Right back at ya, babe!


Robin: Yet one more reason to sign up for the ACFW conference. Wait. You haven't yet? My! What're you waiting for? Here's the link! See you there!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Thoughts on ACFW by Krista Stroever, Steeple Hill

Welcome Krista Stroever, senior editor of Steeple Hill to the blog! Thanks for joining us, Krista. I'd like to talk about the upcoming ACFW conference in September.

Robin: You've attended various conferences over the years. In your opinion, what makes ACFW's conference stand out from the others?


Krista: Few of the conferences I attend (with the exception of some of the trade shows) are exclusively Christian fiction & romance. It's refreshing to attend a conference with people who are doing what I do!


Robin: Any advice you'd like to offer to a 1st time conference attendee?

Krista: Relax! Honestly—most people are so nervous themselves about attending that they won’t even notice anything you do! Also, take notes and accept that it’s just not possible to attend everything.


Robin: As an editor taking appointments, what do you look for most in a new author?
An established author?


Krista: In a new author, I look for the fact they’re querying me on a complete manuscript, a sense of their book’s hooks, a concise keynote, and a knowledge of what my house publishes.

In an established author, I look for the latter 3 items, as well as a strong sales track record, info on their marketing/promotional/subrights history and an exciting new project.


Robin: Some people have said an editor will request something from each appointment they have at a conference--simply because it's easier to reject via snail mail rather than face-to-face. What's your stand on this?


Krista: I can’t speak for all editors, so it may certainly happen, but as several prospective authors can tell you, I have rejected projects not suitable for my house right at the appointment. There’s no point in my wasting your time.


Robin: Can you share with the bloggers some specifics of what Steeple Hill, and you in particular, are looking for now?


Krista: The biggest opportunities for new authors lie in the Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense and Love Inspired Historical lines. We’re looking for strong character-driven romances and are particularly eager for new talent in the romantic suspense genre.

For the Steeple Hill women’s fiction line, we prefer established authors.

We are not looking for chick-lit for the Love Inspired line from new authors, and we are sufficiently inventoried in cozies.


Robin: What are you looking forward to the most about the upcoming conference?


Krista: Fellowship! (And great new projects, of course.)


Robin: We've all shared the horror stories of worst pitches, stalking of agents/editors, and most horrible moment. What BEST moment of an ACFW conference can you tell us about?


Krista: The best moments are when you get to reconnect with authors you work with, but don’t have the chance to see every day.

Robin: Thank you so much for stopping by and giving of your time to answer my
questions. I look forward to seeing you in September!

Krista: My pleasure!

Robin here: So, you haven't registered for the ACFW conference yet? What're you waiting for? Go. Now. Here. Register. You'll feel better!

Saturday, June 30, 2007

My ACFW Memories

Hi, y'all! I've talked about the amazing opportunities of ACFW Conference coming up in September in Dallas--the classes, presenters, apppointments, etc. Today, I thought I'd share some personal memories with you, so those who've never been can see a more intimate side to the conference. Here are but a couple.

Nashville--"meeting" my CPs in person! Hugs galore! Meeting my mentor in person and realizing she's as amazing face-to-face as over email. Getting to "meet" Colleen's "girls" and being in awe of them and enjoying getting to know them. Having a blast with the perfect roomie-Pam, who didn't mind me waking her up LATE or EARLY, depending upon how you look at it. Placing in the Noble Theme--wow, that was pretty awesome. Sitting on my balcony with Camy and finding out she's so much more than a loud asian chick! LOL Getting hugs from Lena. Connecting with Heather, who's now one of my beloved cps. Flying from Chicago with Stuart and learning those sci-fi people aren't ALL that weird! LOL Tiff's slippers. Being prayed over by some amazing warriors assigned for that purpose. Seeing Rachel Hauck and being too scared to speak to her. Hello? PRESIDENT! LOL Hearing the worship band and having chills race down my spine. Learning to survive editor/agent appointments without passing out. Wishing I'd gone to the EB, come in a day early, stay a day later.

Dallas--getting to see my cps and mentor again. Except Ron, who didn't come! Bummer! Getting to stay with my roomie again, despite her almost not making it because of the hurricane hitting MS. Laughing at Kris' shoe issue. More hugs from Lena. Tiff's slippers-AGAIN. LOL The EB session with Deb & Colleen.....that's a memory all unto itself and I'm not sharing! LOL Starbucks in the hotel! WOO HOO. Ane and Dineen's table dancing-don't ask! LOL PRAYER ROOM. Seeing Cheryl win in the Genesis. Placing in the Genesis. Presenting the BTY awards! Not being afraid to speak to Rachel this year. LOL Getting to meet more people. Did I mention the prayer room? Laughing poolside with Dineen, Ronie, Heather, and Camy. Meeting "Kat" poolside.

These are just ones off the top of my head! There's so many more, some I'm not willing to share. You'll have to attend ACFW Conference and experience the magic yourself. You won't be sorry. If you're trying to make the decision, don't wait. Sign up NOW. Go to the website and look at the conference page! Trust me, it'll be something you keep for a lifetime!

Now, I'll be blogging July 11th and 12th.....with interviews of an editor and agent attending the ACFW conference and taking appointments. Come back and hear what they have to say about conference, from their perspective! You don't want to miss that!See you then!

Friday, June 29, 2007

Blog Award


Hey y'all, I've been bestowed the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award--WOO HOO--from the gals over at Girls Write Out. I'm supposed to send it on to 5 more blogging girls who rock! Here are my choices:


Dineen Miller
Ronie Kendig
Camy Tang
Heather Tipton
Cheryl Wyatt

Saturday, June 16, 2007

ACFW Conference

Yep, it's coming. Fast. And I can't wait.

What? The most awesome Christian fiction writers conference

When? September 20th-23rd 2007

Where? Dallas Texas

Who? Keynote speaker-James Scott Bell; Some of the presenters: Colleen Coble, Deb Raney, Rachel Hauck, Randy Ingermanson, Gail Gaymer Martin, Tricia Goyer, Brandt Dodson, Krista Stroever, Sue Brower, Jan Stob, Becky Nesbitt, Chip MacGregor, Steve Laube, Rebecca Germany, Kim Moore, Natasha Kern, Kristin Billerbeck, Kim Sawyer, John Olson, Gayle Roper, Robin Jones Gunn....just to name a few.

How? The largest grouping of Christian authors, agents, and editors in one location--all brought to you by ACFW!

Benefits? AWESOME worship--full time prayer room--amazing classes, workshops, and late night chats--agent and editors appointments with some of the most respected representatives in the industy--fabulous keynote speaker, James Scott Bell--prestigous awards ceremony featuring the winners of the ACFW Book of the Year awards, Genesis awards, Mentor of the Year award, Member Service award, Agent of the Year award, and Editor of the Year award--networking opportunities around every corner.

So....why haven't you registered yet? Oh, you need the link. Okay, here it is....visit ACFW's website to register. C'mon, what're ya waiting for?

Thursday, June 14, 2007

My Book Cover

Isn't it amazing? I LOVE IT!




Copyright © 2007 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Louisiana Division Children of the Confederacy

We got back home last night from my daughters' Children of the Confederacy convention. Exhausted and REALLY tired of driving, but we had a good time. My oldest daughter was elected President of the division, and my middle daughter was elected Chaplain of the division. My youngest is a page. My mother had the Robert E. Lee Award bestowed upon her. Being the proud mother/daughter that I am, I thought I'd share some pictures with y'all from the weekend.

Here's my oldest, Emily, being pinned as new division president...



Here's my middle daughter, Remington, who was elected division Chaplain, but served as a page at this convention:


Here's my youngest daughter, Isabella, doing her page duties:


Here's my mother, Joyce Bridges, being bestowed the Robert E. Lee Award:

Sunday, June 10, 2007

ACFW Conference....3 months away!

Okay, not EXACTLY 3 months, but September 20th is pretty close. I'm so excited I almost can't contain myself. And I'm really thinking about it today because I'm at a convention for my children--the Children of the Confederacy for the district of Louisiana. It's been really nice, and my mother was awarded the Robert E. Lee award (HUGE deal) and my oldest is running for President, my middle daughter is running for Chaplain, and my youngest will be a page again. But it's got me thinking about conference, and how soon I'll be heading to Dallas.

If you're a fiction writer, ACFW is THE conference to attend. Just go look at the website www.acfw.com and see the great lineup of continuing sessions, workshops, late night chats, editors & agents, and keynote speaker just waiting for you. And the worship team....what can I say? Amazing! What other conference can you attend and attain such a wealth of information right along with such fellowship? I get chills just thinking about the conference!

Are you ready? I think I'm going to start packing!

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Book 3 contracted!

Today, my editor offered a contract on book 3 in the bayou series! Tenatively titled BAYOU JUDGMENT, its release date as of now is May 2008! WOO HOO!

Monday, May 28, 2007

Featuring: Shelley Bates and Over Her Head

Today's a special blogging treat. Not only did we catch up with busy author, Shelley Bates to talk about her new book, OVER HER HEAD, but this blog post and interview is written by my sixteen year old daughter, Emily. Let me warn you, Emily's a very tough reader, and a book must be steller for her to enjoy it. Here's her review of Shelley's OVER HER HEAD:

Emily: This book was about a woman who finds out her daughter witnessed the murder of a young girl in her class. Rumors fly, and everything and everyone she knew depended on seemed to push her away. Nobody seemed to believe in her daughter's innocence. Out to prove it, problems arise with her relationships with her husband, children, friends, and the Lord.

I liked this book because it showed real teen perspective and had a very original plot. I liked that it showed "real" things that happen in cliques everyday and the deadly consequences of them. I also liked that it showed that not going to the Lord opens many doors...ones you might not want to walk through.

Robin: Welcome, Shelly. Thank you for dropping by and for answering my daughter's questions.

Shelley: Thanks for having me as a guest on your blog, Robin, and thank you to your
daughter for some great questions!

Robin: Great. Let's get started....

Emily: Where did you come up with the plot idea of this book, as it's most unusual?

Shelley: When I get an idea for a book, it usually starts off as an opening image.
Years ago, my mom sent me an article about a murder at my junior high,
where a gang of teenagers swarmed a girl who wanted to join their clique,
and drowned her under a bridge. The event absolutely horrified me. I got
that prickly feeling on my neck and shoulders-which only happens when I
know I'm going to write about something. So once I had that image in my
head, I started to play the what-if game. What if a Christian mom found
out her daughter was in a swarm like that-and did nothing to help the
victim? What would that do to their relationship? To her marriage? To her
relationships in her church?

Then, since I used to work for the police department, I thought about how
an investigator would go about finding the killer (or killers). To make
this worse, I made the investigator related to the mom, so there would be
family conflict. And then I focused on the mom's fear as the net of
circumstantial evidence closes around her daughter. And before I knew it,
I had a plot!


Emily: Interesting. Have you ever felt anything like what Laurie goes through with Anna? Have you been in a similiar situation?

Shelley: No, I've never had someone I loved be in danger like this (thank you,
Lord). But when you write about something, you need to put yourself
completely in the character's mind and heart in order to make their
emotion translate well to the page. So I spent a lot of time in Laurie's
head, getting more and more frightened for the daughter's character as the
book went on.


Emily: I totally bought it. LOL Have you ever found yourself feeling like the waters have gone over your head too? If so, how did you handle it?

Shelley: Sometimes life can be overwhelming. For instance, in 1989, when I was
still a newlywed, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck and our house fell
over a cliff. I can really identify with those folks in Kansas and New
Orleans, let me tell you. In an experience like that, sometimes all you've
got is your relationship with God to sustain you and haul you out of the
waters.


Emily: Being from Louisiana, I understand what they're going through, too. Have you ever been in a situation where you started to worship the church and congregation and not the Lord? If so, how'd you get through it?

Shelley: Yes, I have. I grew up in a toxic church--an underground house church that
puts the system ahead of everything else--even God. The leadership teaches
that you can only come to God through them, that they're the only true
way, and if you leave, you're going straight to The Bad Place. The
struggle to come out of that environment, when all my friends and family
were still in it and I risked losing all the people I loved, was very
difficult. Fortunately, God was there to pull me out, and I have my feet
firmly on dry land now in my walk with Him. And, miracle of miracles,
after the publication of my first book, Grounds to Believe, my parents
read it and began their exit from the church as well.

Emily: Wow. Thanks so much for answering my questions and being so honest. Now to make my mom give me GROUNDS TO BELIEVE. LOL This has been fun.

Thanks again!
Shelley

Robin: Thanks, y'all for a great interview and insight.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

COOL

Okay, I'm way excited and had to share! Check this out....

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

I've Been Tagged

By both Camy Tang and Dineen Miller. Groan. I mean, really....I know I haven't blogged in a month, but COME ON! I've been busy. I've had to read through galleys of Book one of the Bayou series, BAYOU JUSTICE, Steeple Hill contracted book 2 in the series, so I've been doing revisions on BAYOU CORRUPTION, as well as putting together the proposal for book 3-tenatively titled BAYOU JUDGMENT, working on revisions to my single title-TORRENTS OF DESTRUCTION, in addition to doing the duties of the ACFW president--not to mention judging in the Genesis and BTY! GRR...and they're going to TAG ME?????? Ok, enough whining...

Here are the rules:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

8 random facts/habits about me ...


1--I was a cheerleader in high school. Yeah, rah-rah...pom poms and all!

2--I am NOT a morning person. Ever. Period. Well, unless I'm in Jamaica. You'll have to know me well to be able to ask for the story behind that! LOL :)

3--I'm allergic to seafood. All seafood. No, I don't get hives....my throat swells and I can't breathe. NOT a pretty picture.

4--I have a foot fetish--meaning, I can't stand feet. Don't want to look at them and sure as shootin' don't want any touching me. Unless we're talking newborn feet, then that's ok.

5--I'm a cat person, not a dog one.

6--I speed read

7--I have a very low tolerance for...well, for just about anything that annoys me!

8--and lastly, my hair and nails grow very fast


Okay, that's about as random as I can get! LOL Now, let's see....I tag: the entire operating board of ACFW! How's THAT?! LOL

Monday, April 09, 2007

Interview With Amy Wallace

Hi, Amy! Congratulations on the release of Ransom Dreams. Thanks for dropping by.

Thanks for having me over, Madame Prez! I appreciate so much your being a part of this blog tour!

I like to ask questions a little off the "beaten track", so don't say I didn't warn you! LOL
Gracie Ann. What a beautiful name for a character. Does it have a special meaning to you?

Thank you! Gracie and Steven were the only names I ever knew for these characters, and from the start they just fit and felt right. Funny thing I just realized with your question is that both Grace and Steven are among the top picks my husband and I had chosen as baby middle names. We have three girls, so Steven never made it to a birth certificate, but Grace is our second daughter’s middle name.

If you could only have 3 adjectives to describe your heroine, what would they be, and why?

Loyal, yearning, brave. Gracie is who I want to be when I grow up. She’s loyal and loving toward family and friends, she’s so real in her yearning for the life that was stolen from her that I can taste the tears, and she’s also brave in how she chooses to seek and find answers and wrestle things out with God.

Same with your hero.

Passionate, wounded, searching. Steven is a wounded superhero kind of guy. He lives stretched between the strong desire to live life with all he has and yet is terrified of the risks that kind of living requires. But in his searching, he decides to take a chance again with his heart in the same way he rescues kids~ with everything in him.

So many readers, and writers, too, love to hear how book plots are born. What gave you the "gem" of an idea for this book?

The idea for Ransomed Dreams came from a literal dream that was so real it was like a favorite movie I’d watched over and over. Only when I woke up, I knew I’d never seen this “movie” before, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the mom in trouble and the FBI agent with a scarred heart.

You're a wife, mother to 3 daughters (welcome to my nightmare-lol) and you homeschool them, in addition to other activities and being a writer. How do you balance your time?

Some days I don’t! And I’m still working on how to get enough sleep at night, so if anyone has a good tip for how to get more sleep PLEASE send it my way!
Even working with little sleep, a good majority of the time things run well because we all love being a homeschooling family and are used to living on a schedule that works for us as a unit. My kids have been a huge encouragement and even though I get some “I wish you didn’t have to work today” sad eyes, they’re happy I’m doing something I love when I disappear on Saturdays to write. I don’t know that I could write without having them home for school and their support when it’s time for me to go to work.

What living author do you admire the most, and why?

Liz Curtis Higgs would be my most admired living author because she is comfortable in her own skin and just being in her presence makes my soul relax. She’s a joy and an incredible encourager.

Of the deceased authors, whose work do you think most influenced your writing and how?

Would I get kicked out of ACFW if I admitted my literary hero is Snoopy from Peanuts? I really wish I could say some wonderful literary person, but in all honesty I have to say Charles M. Schulz. Mr. Schulz’s “It was a dark and stormy night” literary dog has been my favorite “how to write” teacher in Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life.

LOL! What are you working on now?

I’m in over my head with book 3, but I’m enjoying it. The characters are real and I know their story, but this is the point where I’m walking around in a daze with sticky notes on everything but my kids’ foreheads and I wake up at 3 AM with yet another great scene idea. It’s a little tiring, but fun to watch the story come together.

Thanks for dropping by, Amy! Can't wait to read your newest release!

Thanks for having me, Robin!

You can visit Amy's sites at: www.amywallace.com
www.defendersofhope.com

Monday, April 02, 2007

Weekend Off for Visiting With Family


You know, every once in a while, we need to take the time to recharge our creative batteries and take time off to just relax. This past weekend, I did this. I told the ACFW Operating Board I'd be gone all weekend and turned the reins over to the VP--told my agent I'd be out of town--and cleared my weekend schedule with my critique business. Hubby and I took the kids and off we went to spend the weekend with my family. We had a WONDERFUL time visiting and catching up with one another. It's amazing how much more focused my mental creativity is today! For your enjoyment, this is a picture of my family, taken in my mom's backyard. Don't we all look more refreshed? LOL Can you pick me and my hubby and kids outta the group? LOL

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Bayou Book Two--SOLD!!!

WOO HOO! I'm so pleased to announce that my wonderful editor over at Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense called my awesome agent yesterday with a contract offer on the second book in my bayou series! Tenatively titled BAYOU CORRUPTION is the sequel to BAYOU JUSTICE, and will be released in March 2008! WOO HOO

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Interview with Trish Perry

Welcome to Robin's Writing World, Trish. I'm so glad you could drop by and visit with us. Congratulations on the release of TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

Thanks, Robin! The new release is a thrill. And thanks for this interview.

My questions are a bit off the "beaten path" of a blog tour, but I'd like people to get to know another side of you. LOL

Excellent! I’m getting really sick of me, I must admit.

Give me three adjectives that describe your heroine.

Vulnerable, fallible, and lovable.

If you could sum up the theme of your book in one sentence, what would it be?
It would be a miracle, but I’ll try anyway.

Theme of Too Good to Be True: Sometimes we shake our fists and stomp our feet, wondering how some events are in our best interests; but God smiles indulgently and often demonstrates that He meant it when He promised to prosper us and give us hope and a future.

Tell me your hero's man quirk.
He has to be in control of his family—not the one he hasn’t yet created, with his own wife and children, but his parents’ family. His dad is more absent than present, his mother enjoys letting her son run the show, and Tru (our hero) acts as the head of the family even though he hasn’t lived with them for years. It never even occurs to him to let go.

Now, let's switch to the author for a moment. . . you knew I'd get there, right? LOL Every author puts a little bit of themselves into their main character--what of you is in your character, and which character?

Our heroine Ren’s smart mouth is my smart mouth. She doesn’t set out to hurt anyone—most of her sarcasm is self-targeted, as is mine. Ren typically keeps her cynical thoughts to herself, but when pushed to that breaking point, she lets fly with some troublemaking comments. I have a bit of experience in that department.

And that theme I mentioned above, about God’s plans for us? Ren grapples with accepting His will, constantly feeling she needs to help Him figure things out. I identify with her struggle there.

Share with us your thoughts on where you see CBA publishing heading in the next 2-5 years.
I see a real marketing challenge for CBA fiction. I think many Christian readers feel they should be reading strictly nonfiction, because the general aim of Christian nonfiction is for the reader to learn more about serving God, pleasing Him, being the Christian He wants her to be. The flip side of that belief system is that fiction—even inspirational fiction—is purely for entertainment and escape from our great purpose in life. But the email I get from my fiction readers tells me that inspirational fiction—even inspirational chick lit—can be thought provoking, inspirational, moving, convicting, and edifying to the reader.

So I see the need for the marketing to play up the fact that inspirational fiction is more than fun—it can serve an eternal purpose, just as inspirational nonfiction does. If that message can be expressed more powerfully, I see Christian fiction exploding in popularity over the next few years. I’m praying to that end!

If you could get just one fan letter from a reader, what would it say and why?
Wow, Robin, I decided to go back and find a real fan letter which particularly touched me, and I got all caught up in them.

Those which are the greatest blessing are the ones in which the writer sees how the book relates to real life, like this one:

I absolutely loved The Guy I'm Not Dating! I found myself in tears from laughing so hard. At the same time, I really appreciated the core values of the book. As a youth leader, I was really touched by Rachelle and the impact Kara and Ren had on her. Rachelle reminded me of so many of the girls in my youth group. They really do pay a lot more attention than we sometimes give them credit for.

Okay, lastly, I have to say that Aunt Addie was my absolute favorite of all the characters. Great job and I can't wait for Ren's story to come out!

I love the fact that she enjoyed the characters and the story, but I’m especially blessed that she took something away that might edify her mission for Christ. That’s great stuff!

Writers talk all the time about the growth of a writer. . . what aspect of your writing, in your own opinion, would you most like to improve on?

I’d like to delve deeper into my characters for my readers. Chick lit authors walk a fine line there, because the books mustn’t be too heavy, but they still need to be more than a simple boy meets girl, girl breaks nail and falls apart, boy assures girl she’s still a fox, girl feels fulfilled until she gets a blemish on her nose. I know that’s an exaggeration, but we chick lit gals are required to not get too Anna Karenina on anyone. So I’d like to develop further the happy mix of light and deep.

Thanks so much for dropping by, Trish. It's been a fun interview!

Monday, March 12, 2007

WALK FOR THE CURE

My good buddy, Ron, is walking for the cure! What an awesome good event to help out. If you'd like more information or would like to pledge, please visit: This Link

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Going Home

It's amazing how much can be accomplished when God shows up. Yes, I believe He was with the ACFW board in our meetings this weekend. Guiding us. Loving us. Leading us. I look back over the agenda and see that everything the board needed to decide on and plan, we did. Every single item. Awesome. Seven different, yet strong personalities merged together to conduct the business at hand and got every issue dealt with. So much ready...so much planned for the conference. I'm just so thrilled with the outcomes. For you ACFW members, start watching the website at www.acfw.com in the next couple of weeks and see what conference information is posted. I'm so excited about the plans we made.

Now that our business is concluded, today we must all return home. We'd appreciate prayers for safe travels.

Catch y'all back home.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

DESPITE what my board says...

We're having a lot of fun. Sure, we've had a LOT on our agenda....but you know what, it's been SO productive so far. These board members ROCK! We roll up our sleeves and get done what needs to be...every one prayerfully considering our decisions as we hash out conference plans, agendas, and get the business done. We work really well together and I'm so pumped about what we've accomplished so far.

But since Ane and Pam believe I'm such a taskmasker, why don't they pop up and share the story of our SHUTTLE VAN??????? lol Oh, yeah, it's definitely showing up in a book somewhere along the way! LOL

Thursday, March 08, 2007

At The Board Meeting

Hello, all. Here I am, at the hotel hosting the ACFW board meeting. Very nice place and great food. Today, the rest of the board arrives and we'll start out meeting this afternoon. Lots on our schedule to complete. Conference stuff. Board stuff. I'm excited. Our group is working well together and I know we'll accomplish all we set out to do here. Would appreciate whispered prayers as the rest of the board travels and that God lead us to conduct what HE wants from our conference.

Blessings!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Board Meeting

Hey, y'all! Didn't want you to think I'd forgotten you! Been having ISP probs...UGH. But tomorrow morning, I leave bright and early for the ACFW board meeting. I'm pretty excited. We have a lot, and I stress the word LOT, of work to get done, but I'm looking forward to it. Getting away and getting to be ME instead of wife or mommy for several days is VERY enticing! LOL And getting to plan the conference and schedule. Fun work. And of course, getting to hang out with other writers is always fun.

I'll ask for prayers for the travel mercies for the entire board, as well as prayers that God's will be done in our meetings.

I'll try and post from the hotel. But I might be having too much fun! :)

Catch y'all next week!

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

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Happy Birthday, Case!

Today's my hubby's bday! Nope, can't tell his age (hey, I wanna live a little longer), but this man is amazing. So, happy birthday, Case! Have a great day! Love Always, ME

Oh, and if anyone wants to email him a sympathy birthday email (he does, after all, have to live with me), his email is: bogeysrus@aol.com

Yeah, he's gonna kill me! LOL

Monday, February 26, 2007

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Brainstorming...digging deeper

I love to brainstorm...it's great to be able to toss ideas out and keep pushing the envelope. Every genre can play. And here's the secret...whether brainstorming a complex suspense plot, or a sweet romance, the key common element is CHARACTERS.

When I start to brainstorm, despite knowing I'll get to the plot eventually, I like to start with my heroine. What's she look like? What's her name? What's she do? Now to move onto the good stuff....what's her internal goal? How can I give her conflict in reaching that goal? What's her external goal? Can I use something of her internal issues to hamper her reaching her external goal? Hmmm.....now let me think of a hero. His goal, I think I'll make totally opposite of hers. Yeah, that'll be fun. His internal goal the exact opposite of hers. Oh, but for fun, let's make them both striving toward the same external goal. Hmmm....this could be interesting.

But let's back up a minute....heroine's internal issues....what in her past made her feel this way? Decide to have such an internal goal? Hmmm...let's take that and make it something the hero can't/or doesn't think he can accept. Oh, yeah, let's mess them up royally. Now let's jump into his backstory....why can't/won't hero accept this part of her past? Something happen to him--his family--a friend?

Now, having this, I normally fill out an indepth character synopsis on both heroine and hero. Ready to start plotting? Nope. We're just getting started.

In mystery/suspense, gotta have a villian. Often have them in other genres, too. So let's figure out who wants the same external goal, but would go about attaining it in a bad way. LOL Why does villian want it? What will he do to get it? What has he already done to succeed? Hmmm...now, he's painted as a really bad guy. Maybe should give him a couple of redeeming qualities. What happened in his past that caused him to be so ruthless? What horrors shaped him into doing what's wrong rather than what's right? Good. Now he's well rounded. I actually feel a twinge of sympathy for him. Hmmm. All looking good. Let's shake things up a bit. Let's kill the villian off. There's the crime for my book.

Villian was bad, but had a couple of redeeming qualities. So who wanted him dead, and why?

And that's going further into brainstorming secondary characters. Now once all my characters, complete with their issues, backstories, and GMC are complete, I try to draw lines of connection between them. Who is connected to whom by a secret--a past event--any kind of connection? I try to keep pushing and going until my "graph" looks like it's sitting on a spider's web because of all the lines of connection.

Brainstorming...it can take you places! Try it!

Back to Writing

Or rather, I'm back to plotting! Finished editing book 2 and am sending it back to my agent next week. So, I turned my focus on the outlining of book 3. Let me explain, I don't really "outline" like normal writers. I do an in-depth character synopsis of each of the main characters, with their ACTs listed, in which I write the plot points. Then, since mine are mysteries/suspense, I do a "crime chart". To work with the internal conflicts, I use the "plot blob". Ideas crop up in this stage and I can just jot them down. Might use them, might not. And my brainstorming partner for this stage of this book? My 4 year old daughter. Yep. In the car rider line to pick up her sister. I'll throw out a plot point and jot down her initial reaction. It's so honest and pure. I love it. And, it's great for her in learning all about the difference between make-believe and reality.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

My baby's first formal





Here is Emily and her boyfriend, before going to the dance! Aren't they sweet?!


Wednesday, February 14, 2007

My daughter's Photos




A lot of you know I had to buy my daughter a formal for their black & white elegant winter formal dance this upcoming weekend. We found a SALE and ended up buying 3 dresses......here she is....which is your favorite? I'll tell y'all mine later....and she's still trying to decide which to wear.


PR Photos




Okay, here are the favs selected by those whom I actually showed all of them to! LOL Let me know your favorite...
I didn't post the REALLY bad ones.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Interview with.....Sharon Hinck

Welcome, Sharon...thanks for taking time to answer a couple of questions.

Hi, Robin!Thanks so much for inviting me to drop by for a visit!

In Renovating Becky Miller, you present home repairs in such an amusing manner. Is this from personal experience?

It seems my husband and I are constantly repairing, remodeling, or renovating some part of our home. We’re optimistic “Do-it-yourselfers” with starry-eyed visions of a “quick afternoon project” that stretches into weeks of work. Whether its a full kitchen or bathroom remodel, or a simple paint job, it always takes twice as long and costs three times as much as we expect. I figured that even Becky’s “can do” spirit would be a bit daunted by the experience.

The parallel between remodeling a home and remodeling our spiritual status is brought out in your book. Can you elaborate on how you hit on this theme?

It’s because I’m a “fixer-upper.” I’m not a brand new model home in a fancy neighborhood. I’m worn around the edges, sagging in places, and needing lots of tender love and care. Yet God is willing to make His home in me. It bewilders and amazes me daily.

Share with us a bit about your writing life.

It’s terrifying and humbling to have books in print. I wrestle every day with the limitations of my skill, and the limits of the written word to express the mysteries and wonders of how God interacts in our lives. But it’s very fulfilling when someone writes to me about how a novel helped them feel less alone — how the character expressed something they (the reader) have often felt but didn’t know how to explain.

A lot of authors state the spiritual themes in their books reflect the spiritual path they're on. Have you found this to be true?

My assumption when I started each new manuscript was that I would weave in themes based on past experiences. Yet with each novel I’ve written, God has kindled NEW lessons in my personal life that reflect some of what my characters are going through. If a character is struggling with loneliness, I find myself in a period of painful solitude. If a plot revolves around fear and inadequacy, I’ve faced deep battles with those issues. Now that I’ve noticed this trend, I think the next novel I write will be about someone profoundly happy that has lots of wonderful things happen to them. ;-)

Thanks for dropping by. Any parting words?Thanks again for chatting.

I mentioned that I’m a “fixer-upper.” How about those of you reading this blog? What kind of house would you describe yourself as? How many stories? What kind of architecture? Brick? Siding? In the country? In the city? I’ll stop by later to answer any questions from folks who want to post comments.Hugs, Sharon

Friday, February 09, 2007

PR Photo Shoot

Okay, I'll admit it...I've never ever in my life had a desire to be in front of a camera. I don't enjoy having my pictures taken--I'm not photogenic in any form. So today was an adventure for me...having to go have a photo session for my PR photos. I chose a photographer in my area who does amazing wedding photos and who'd taken my daughters' pictures before. I felt comfortable with him, so I figured, okay, I can do this. Imagine my surprise when I actually had fun and ENJOYED getting my pictures taken. Props galore...chairs, couches, windows, columns, and yep, even a fan for a "dramatic" photo. The hour flew by and I thought...hmmm, not as bad as I'd imagined. Now, I won't pick the disk up until late Tuesday, and they all might be horrid, but I have to say, I had a good time. Not that I'd ever want to give up writing to be in front of a camera, and not that anybody would ever want me to, but it was a fun experience that I had dreaded. I'll let y'all know how the pictures come out. But for now, I'm pleased!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Isn't It Great?!


My dear friend, Camy Tang, has gotten her debut novel's cover! I had to share because I'm so excited for Camy.....here it is....what do y'all think? Amazing, huh?


I'm Still Alive

Thanks all of y'all who have emailed to wonder if I've dropped off the face of the earth. No, I've been busy. Being president of ACFW is a lot more involved than what appears on the surface. LOL I finished book 2 in the bayou series...my agent's reading it now. I finished my line edits on book 1 in the bayou series...it's on its way to my editor now. WOW. Oh, and I'm guest blogging tomorrow on Girls Write Out...come check it out!

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Interview with....Susan May Warren

Robin: Hi, Susie! Thanks for stopping by and answering a couple of questions. I have to ask...who was your inspiration for Nick Noble? Such a strong hero.

Susie: I love strong heroes – as long as they have some sort of Achilles heel. During the time I was writing Nick, I was addicted to an old television show called “Seven Days.” It’s a time-travel show where the hero is sent back in time seven days to change the past. I loved the hero – he wasn’t perfect, and often made mistakes, but also longed to set right what went wrong, driven by a strong moral compass. I wanted to create a character driven by regret and poor choices, and allow him the chance to redeem the past. Added to that is the idea derived from Philippians 1:6 and the belief that God will finish the work he began in this hero, years ago. A work that will help him hold onto the Noble legacy.

Robin: Tell us a little about your background that provided research for the writing of this book.

Susie: I grew up loving all things cowboy – horses and trucks and songs, immersed in shows like Bonanza, and Big Valley and Louis L’Amour books. I dreamed of living on a ranch someday, in love with the land of the west. But I didn’t want to write a western – I wanted a contemporary story, with real-day issues, and today’s “cowboys.” This story sat in my heart for three years before God opened the doors for me to actually travel to Montana and actually live the ranch life, learn to rope, and peel back the stereotype to peek at the realities of ranch life. I tried to write a story based on theses observations and actualities, while still preserving the magic of the west.

Robin: I've seen the blog for Nick...wow! LOL I'm wondering if there's a real Nick out there somewhere, and if there is, what do you think he'd say about his blog?

Susie: LOL! I don’t know! I’ve had so many people wonder who Nick REALLY is! Sadly, I’ve never met the cover model, but I wonder if he’s stopped by to see his image on the cover. Trying to get the voice of a cowboy wasn’t easy – I took copious notes on dialogue when I traveled west, noting lingo and conversation style. I hope that a “real” Nick would say in a slow drawl, “Well, I guess she got ‘er done.”

Robin: Tell us a little about your writing schedule.

Susie: I like to write every day, but since I’m also homeschooling three of my four children, my time this year has been reduced to afternoons, so my writing time has been sketchy. Normally I try to start writing after lunch and write 3000-5000 words, depending on chapter length. But even if I am not actually writing, I am still in scene, talking to myself, conjuring up images, scenarios and outcomes, so that I’m ready to fly when I sit down to write. Also, I find that when I give my time to the Lord, He carves out the time I need to write.

Robin: Now for the hard questions....if you could be any animal, which one and why?

Susie: This may sound crazy, but I’d be a male Lion. I love the image of a lion, strong and beautiful, bold, and protective. And the female lions do all the hunting!

Robin: LOL...I love the unsuspecting questions! Okay, back to writing questions....what is the one thing you'd like readers to take away from your book, and why?

Susie: I hope they see the different shade of God’s grace to each character. I loved exploring the different sides of grace – what it means to give grace, and to receive grace, how to embrace grace, and how grace chances a person. I also loved the romances, and the difference between a new romance, and a marital romance, and yet how they can both been delightful to experience.

Robin: Can you share with us a little bit about your writing journey?

Susie: I’ve always been amazed at the journey God has taken me on. I always loved to write, but being a missionary in Russia, I never dreamed about being an author. I just tried to do the best with what God had entrusted to me, and for me that meant writing missionary newsletters. I honed my skills through my newsletter, and then, after a number of years, began to write devotionals and magazine articles. Although I tried my hand at writing novels (I wrote 4 before I ever had one published), I never thought I would get anything published. But I diligently studied craft and analyzed books, even though I was hidden away in Siberia. I’ll always be grateful that Tyndale and later Barbour and Steeple Hill took a chance on me! I’m still learning, and still trying to be a good steward of what God has entrusted to me.

Robin: Thank you so much for visiting, Susie! I've enjoyed having you. Good luck in your career and I'm looking forward to reading this book!

Susie: Thank you, Robin, for letting me stop by to share a few behind-the-scene nuggets about Reclaiming Nick!

Robin: That's it, folks! Go to Susie's website to see the other stops on her blog tour and find out more. And don't miss RECLAIMING NICK...available now from Tyndale!