Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Goodbye ICRS...Hello PA!






We said goodbye to ICRS and St. Louis today....ended our time there at ICRS with the Heart of the Author breakfast, then the Thriller Tour flew 2 hours to reach PA, then drove 2+ hours to reach York, PA. We'll be signing at the Lifeway Store in York, PA tomorrow-uh, make that today-11-1pm. Come out and say hello!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Thriller Tour-Day 3


wow, what a great day! We had a signing at B&N in Fenton, MO. HUGE thanks to Deborah Horn, Randy, and the rest of the staff. It was a blast....Julie Gwinn, Karen Ball, and Jeane Wynn were with us...even more laughs & good times. Had a wonderful dinner with the B&H group--such a fun group of people to hang out with. Looking forward to ICRS tomorrow!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Thriller Tour, Day Two


Okay, the amazing Julie Gwinn arrived in town to keep us in line...er, scratch that--to be our official escort. The woman's energy level astounds me. We drove to the Mainstreet Bookstore in St Charles--what a quaint and cool store!, grabbed lunch at Lewis & Clark's-yum, then headed to Lifeway in Bridgeton for another signing. Francine and her staff are Awesome! Rushed back to hotel, changed clothes, then bopped to the Christy awards! WHAT FUN! Here is a random shot-us stuck in traffic from today. Tomorrow, we'll be signing at Barnes & Noble in Fenton, MO...come out and say hello!

Day One of Thriller Tour

WOW, what a fun day! Hanging out with Tosca Lee, Brandilyn Collins, and Jim Rubart is...in a single word--FUN! We kicked off the Thriller Tour with two booksignings. HUGE thanks to Christy and staff at Parable Bookstore in Arnold, MO, and also to Family Christian Bookstore in St Peters for hosting us. Jeane and Tyson Wynn took us to Joe's Crab Shack for supper-YUM, then our amazing editor, Karen Ball, took us to Joe Drewes for custard--AWESOME. It's late and I'm tired, but had a wonderful day. Looking forward to tomorrow. We'll be signing at Mainstreet Books in St. Charles from noon-2pm, then at Lifeway in Bridgeton from 4-6pm. Come out and see us! For constant updates, follow me on Facebook-until tomorrow, here are some random photos! Enjoy!



Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Thriller Tour Authors

Tomorrow, these four authors will embark on their Unprecedented Major City Book Tour. Four suspense novelists are joining forces for the B&H Fiction Thriller Tour 2010. Authors Tosca Lee, Jim Rubart, Robin Caroll, and Brandilyn Collins—newest of the B&H Fiction suspense authors—will make their way from St. Louis, site of the International Christian Retailing Show this June, to ThrillerFest in New York City via Philadelphia. Julie Gwinn, Trade Marketing Director at B&H Fiction, said, “This summer, B&H is taking its four suspense authors on a tour from ICRS in St. Louis to ThrillerFest in New York City. James L. Rubart, Robin Caroll, Tosca Lee, and new B&H author Brandilyn Collins will be attending store signings and media events on a tour route that climaxes at the International Thriller Writers’ ThrillerFest, where our authors will join up with suspense and mystery writers from around the world.”

To whet your appetite about what these authors will be giving us in the future, here's a little sneak...

Fear No Evil edit 3 from Greg Pope on Vimeo.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Getting to Know The Thriller Tour Authors

Robin's buzzing around, packing and stuff for the tour, so she doesn't mind me posting on her behalf. I have to say, it was more fun when she threatened me all the time. :)

Here is some insight as to what's happening in the future for these authors:

What's on the horizon for Brandilyn Collins? More suspense novels are contracted. Plus teaching at writers’ conferences and doing some keynote talks at conferences. In other words, pretty much more of the same. Oh, yes—and selling a million copies of my Lyme novel, Over the Edge.



What's on the horizon for Jim Rubart? For the past few years I've been moving toward helping more authors and publishers with their marketing. I see myself going deeper into those areas as well as speaking more often about setting people free to step into their divine design.

What's on the horizon for Robin Caroll? More romantic suspense novels, playing with my soon-to-arrive grandson, directing the ACFW conference, and enjoying the life God has blessed me with.

What's on the horizon for Tosca Lee?


Wow, these four give us all something to look forward to. Don't forget to follow these authors on their tour. Robin will be blogging about the experience here, so stay tuned.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Getting to Know the Thriller Tour Authors

Happy Monday. Hope all the dads out there had a wonderful Father's Day.

As the thriller tour authors are gearing up to head out THIS WEEK, I caught up with them for a final few questions.

Name 3 things most people don't know about you.
Jim: Used to be a semi-pro magician, jumped out of an airplane at 10,000 feet even though I'm terrified of heights, and I've almost drowned—twice (and I still learned to scuba dive).

Share a secret about yourself that you normally wouldn't.
Tosca: I have a really bad habit of picking the skin off my lip, especially when I'm worried, thinking, or working... which is basically all of the time. I know, that's kind of gross, isn't it?

Name 2 things most people don't know about you.
Robin: I cry over books, movies and even stupid sitcoms and commercials. Hmm. Oh, and I detest country music.

Tell us something we don't already know about you.
Brandilyn: I can sing like Munchkin

Interesting. See what fascinating stuff we're learning on this blog about these four authors? Be sure and check them out somewhere on their tour. It all starts at ICRS!!!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Getting To Know the Thriller Tour Authors

Well, I've got to hurry today....Robin's daughter has a baby shower, and Robin is running around all crazy-like. No telling what she'll do if she finds me jacking her blog yet again.

Enjoy this short video interview and learn something about Brandilyn Collins!



Don't forget to stop by the B&H booth at ICRS and visit with these authors. They are signing at the following times, but you might catch a glimpse of them outside these parameters.

Tuesday, June 29th:
Tosca 9:30 a.m.
Robin 10:00 a.m.
Jim 10:30 a.m.
Brandilyn 9:30-10:30

Friday, June 18, 2010

Getting to Know Those Thriller Authors

So....I've been having fun hijacking Robin's blog to talk about those 4 zany thriller authors going on that tour. Today, I'm getting back on track about writing, and asking these authors about that. Don't forget to keep watching for updates on the tour...for instance, little hint here: On Friday, June 25th, you can find our thriller 4 at Anchor Christian Store in Arnold, MO.

Now, on to the question of the day...

In your writing journey, what is the ONE thing you would change if you could?

Robin: I would have pursued my dream YEARS earlier. I wrote my first full-length "book" back when I was 19. I waited until I was in my 30s to get serious about writing fiction for publication.

Brandilyn: I’d write much faster and far more brilliantly since day one. How about that?

Jim: I would go back in time and start earlier.

Tosca: I wish I had had the foresight to start my second and third novels before selling my first.

Now, because I know how y'all like personal stuff mixed in with writing stuff...tell me who this is:

Thursday, June 17, 2010

More Personal Insight into the Thriller Authors

Let's jump right on into the questions...(Robin's getting a bit irritated at my jacking her blog)

You have a husband, children, serve on the ACFW advisory board, are on faculty at Mt. Hermon, and the list goes on and on...how do you balance everything?
Brandilyn: God, focus, and setting priorities. And allowing myself to be a little imbalanced now and then.

Writing can be a lonely business....how do you balance that?
Tosca: Social media goes a long way, especially when you can't leave the house (or don't want to, because you haven't bathed in days--I mean, rhetorically-speaking.) I love being able to keep in touch with friends and interact with readers that way.

What are your thoughts on bad reviews?
Jim: They can sting, but if you want to sell books, controversy is a good thing. And a writer learns more from bad reviews than the good ones.

How do you stay focused when on deadline?
Robin: I have amazing family who keeps me on task, and crit partners & accountability partners who know to keep pushing. That's motivation! lol

Check back to find out more about these authors and their tour!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Personal Questions for the Thriller Tour Authors

Okay, so now I wanted to know some different things about these four. This is what I found out:

If you had to categorize your writing, how would you?
Jim Rubart: Wow, great question. It's been tough to define my writing as it doesn't fit into any pre-defined genre. Supernatural suspense, some romance, some C.S. Lewis, some magic realism … I had one friend say, "I finally know what genre you're writing in, it's the same one as The Shack. No, I'm not sure what genre that is either.

You've written about a demon, Eve, and are about to tackle Judas Iscariot. What draws you to write about such biblical characters?
Tosca Lee: These are the characters most often portrayed two-dimensionally... but who must--absolutely must--be among the most complex characters in the Bible. I contend that we are all Clay and we all have a choice. We are all Eve, and we all choose wrong. We are all Judas, and betray our God.

Tell us a little about your stage experience.
Brandilyn Collins: I started acting in plays in junior high, continued in high school and completed all the classes for a drama major in college. (Then I switched to a journalism major.) When I was 17 I toured the country with a drama troupe all summer. Ah, those were the days…


How important is the faith element in your books?
Robin Caroll: Vital. But I don't "plot" my faith elements. I don't even have one before I start writing. I pray for God to give me the spirit arc for each story. Sometimes I get lucky and He gives it to me on that first page. Sometimes, I don't get it until midway through the book. (Those are the times that He's using the story to deal with me on an issue! LOL)

What insight to all four. Stay tuned for more chances to get to know these authors!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Getting To Know the Thriller 4 Tour Authors

Ha! Robin thinks she did a number on me hijacking her blog by changing her password...only problem, she didn't remove the checked "remember me"...HA. I still have control. So, without further ado, here's a little bit more insight into these four authors.

What future books can we expect from you?

Robin: Fear No Evil, August 2010; In The Shadow of Evil, Feb 2011; Injustice for All, Jan 2012; To Write A Wrong, Sept 2012; Blind Switch, Feb 2013.

Jim: After Book of Days in January I'll come out with The Chair in the fall of 2011, then my unnamed fourth novel—I have no idea what it's about—in the summer of 2012.

Tosca: More in the speculative genre!

Brandilyn: More Seatbelt Suspense®, of course.

Stay tuned for more insight into these four authors!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Another Monday...Another Get to Know the Thriller 4 Authors

Whew, made it through the weekend without Robin snapping my head off for taking over her blog. But it's Monday, and she hasn't had her coffee yet, so I'd better hurry.

Here's another entry in getting to know the 4 authors about to embark on the Thriller Tour...

If you could offer one bit of advice/encouragement to up-and-coming writers, what would it be?

Jim: Realize writing is like going to medical school. It takes years of intense study and the ability to handle criticism. I think many beginning writers think they want critique when it's encouragement they really desire.

Robin: Know that every stage is a learning & growing process. If you are led to write, then write! Don't give up with discouragement.

Brandilyn: Allow God to fully take over your writing. Give it to him, work hard on your craft, and trust that “The Lord will accomplish what concerns you.” (Psalm 138:8)

Tosca: Don't wait for inspiration to strike. You're more apt to get hit by lightning.


For those of you attending ICRS, don't forget to drop by the B&H booth and meet these authors!
Tuesday, June 29th
Tosca 9:30 a.m.
Robin 10:00 a.m.
Jim 10:30 a.m.
Brandilyn 9:30-10:30

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Weekend Update on the Thriller 4

Shoot...Robin's on the prowl, looking for me to sneak into her blog. So, quick, here's a trailer from Jim Rubart's ROOMS!


I have to say, I LOVED this book!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Friday's Edition of Getting To Know the Thriller 4

Man, Robin almost busted me again. I'm really liking having charge of her blog. Sure, there will be retribution later...

Anyhoo....did you know that on Wednesday, June 30th, the authors will be signing at the LifeWay store in York, PA?

Wanna know something else about these authors? I snuck into their busyness as they prepare for the tour to ask them this question:

What are you working on now?

Robin: Right now, I'm working on the first book in a new series. Injustice For All, and I'm LOVING it! It'll release in January 2012.

Brandilyn: I’m just finishing my first novel for B&H—my novel based on Lyme Disease, Over the Edge. This is a novel of my heart, since I suffered from Lyme myself and know the troubles of Lyme patients who fight for diagnosis and treatment of this devastating illness.

Tosca: Forbidden (working title) with Ted Dekker and Iscariot, both out 2011.

Jim: Book of Days which releases in January and a marketing book for novelists which should be done by the end of summer.

Awesome! I can't wait to read them all!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Getting to Know the Zany Thriller Tour Authors

Diving right into some insight into Robin Caroll, Brandilyn Collins, Tosca Lee, and Jim Rubart...

How many books do you read a month?


I can only read in bed before going to sleep. Or on the plane when traveling. Wish I could read more during the day. Still, I probably go through 8-10 novels a month.


I always have around seven books going at the same time … so I'm not sure.


I speed read, so I normally read 20 or so fiction novels a month.



I'm a very slow reader. For pleasure? Maybe only 2-3. Okay, I'm lying so I sound like a good person. Maybe one.




Keep tuned in for more about these authors and thriller 4 tour!

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Getting to Know the Thriller Four

Whew, glad Robin couldn't find me when she realized I'd been jacking her blog. Oh, well....she'll get over it.

Or not.

On with getting to know the thriller 4 touring authors:

Best thing about being an author?

Jim: The dream of my life came true.
Tosca: Meeting readers. Connecting with people through story. Getting to uh, kill people on the page. Wait, I didn't say that.
Robin: Living my dream of telling stories. And not having to get dressed to work. Loving what I do. And getting to kill people.
Brandilyn: 1. I have the perfect excuse to talk to myself—I’m conversing with characters. 2. I can work at home, in my jammies if I want. 3. My lovely readers! (Who are naturally the most intelligent people on earth.)

LOL...poor Jim. I feel for you, bud. Sounds like you'll have to watch your back on that tour with those 3 ladies!

Another tour mention: Join the authors on July 1st in Philly at the Borders store for a signing! You don't want to miss meeting these four!

Stay tuned for more details....

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

ACFW Conference


Robin here...not too happy about my blog being hijacked, but that's beside the point. Right now, I want to share with you something about the annual ACFW conference...

It's magical!

Seriously, if you've never been, THIS is the writers' conference to get to. You have opportunities to meet with some of the most respected agents and editors in the industry...hear a fabulous keynote speaker, Tim Downs....have the opportunity to attend James Scott Bell's early bird session....so many continuing education sessions, workshops, late night workshops...I could go on and on, but you can get details from the ACFW website.




But what isn't on the website is the magical part. As conference director, I get to be in many, many places, all over, constantly, and I'm blessed to get to witness some of the magic. The worship service...people making connections with one another...the blessings of the prayer room, and so much more. I've been to a lot of conferences over the years and I have to say, there's just something special about ACFW's. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself. I can guarantee, there's something for everyone at the conference.

And you never know...you just might be hit by a little magic. I hope to see you there!

Monday, June 07, 2010

Monday Edition...Getting To Know the Thriller 4

Happy Monday. yeah, I know. Me too. But, the good news is Robin's so busy preparing for the upcoming thriller tour that I'm still able to hack into her blog. :) Without further ado, here's a little more insight into these fun, wacky, and talented authors!

Favorite authors?
Jim: C.S. Lewis, John Eldredge
Brandilyn: Dean Koontz. Somebody named Brandilyn Collins. (Well, if I don’t love my own work, who will?!)
Tosca: Three fourths of my friends are writes. Are you trying to get me killed??
Robin: Stephen King. Colleen Coble. Oh, and these three other writers...uh, Brandilyn Seatbelt or something?...Tosca Havah, I think?...Jim Rooms, maybe? LOL

Cute. Real cute.

Hey, did you know that on July 1st, these authors will be at a signing at B&N in Philly? Oh, yeah. Stay tuned for more updates!

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Weekend Edition of Getting to Know the Thriller 4

Can't believe it's the weekend already! Checking back in on the four authors going on the thriller tour is becoming quite difficult. So, instead, I thought I'd share with you one of their book trailers!


Stay tuned for more inside info, questions with these authors, book trailers, and tour updates! See you Monday!

Friday, June 04, 2010

FRIDAY edition of getting to know the thriller 4

Yes, it's finally Friday! Want to know what's happening with the four authors heading out on the thriller tour in THREE WEEKS? I snuck in their midst and cornered all four to ask my nosey questions. Here's what went down:

Posed to Jim Rubart: You have a wife and children, and a full time job. How do you balance everything?
Jim: I bent the laws of quantum mechanics and added three extra hours to every day.

Hey! I want to know THAT secret!

Posed to Robin Caroll: You're a wife, mother, about-to-be grandmother, and conference director for ACFW...how do you turn out so many books a year?
Robin: I have a very supportive family and I've been blessed with the gift of being able to write fast. Especially under deadline.

Good answer! :)

Posed to Brandilyn Collins: You've co-authored with your daughter on a series. Tell us a little about that process.
Brandilyn: It was a fun three-book project. We developed the concept for the Rayne Tour series together, based on the 16-year-old daughter of a rock star. I taught Amberly about characterization, and she and I developed the characters. We plotted the stories together. I wrote the books and Amberly edited to make sure the 16-year-old point of view for the protagonist was right on. All three books are now on shelves. Always Watching and Last Breath came out last year, and Final Touch was just released. This is an exciting, suspenseful series for teenagers, yet it’s gratifying to see how many adults are reading it too. I’ve received many letters saying that two to three generations in a family are all enjoying the books.

That's very cool!

Posed to Tosca Lee: You're co-authoring a series with Ted Dekker. Can you share some of what that's like?
Tosca: Co-authoring in general causes you to think long and hard about your strengths and weaknesses as an author. And to learn to trust another writer enough to let them see your stuff at its most raw, most ugly. You really have to set aside ego. Writing with Ted specifically, I am so impressed with how he constantly thinks of his readers as he's writing.

Wow, I'm impressed.

For more about these authors, and their tour updates, don't forget to check back tomorrow!

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Thriller Tour Authors...Getting to Know Them

As the date approaches for their tour to kick off, these four authors are BUSY...which is good, because that means I can continue to take charge of Robin's blog. HA

Did you know, at ICRS, at 7:30am on June 30th, Jim, Robin and Tosca will be at the Heart of the Author breakfast? Drop by and say hello. Tell them I sent you!

Now, for some more interesting questions for them:

For you, what's the most difficult part of the writing process?

Jim: Finding the hours to write.
Tosca: All of it.
Brandilyn: Writing. :]
Robin: Getting what's in my head onto the computer the way I "see" it

As you've come to expect, here's a bit of fun. Who is THIS rascal?

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Getting to Know the Authors on the Thriller Tour

So, I decided to snag these authors' opinion about the writing industry. Here's what they had to say:

What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the publishing industry today?

Tosca: Trying to steal market share from James Patterson.
Robin: Trying to stay ahead of the "next new and best thing"
Jim: Too many books. Too much sub-par self-publishing books glutting the market. Too many good books and not enough great ones. Figuring out the whole e-books thing.
Brandilyn: The bad economy. But then, it’s hurting everybody. Wouldn’t want to be a car salesman right now. Especially for Toyota.

Now for a little fun....who is this creepy character?


And for more fun, who is THIS?



Some details of the thriller tour locations:
Friday, June 25th
Parable Christian Store 2:00-4:00
1716 Missouri State Road
Arnold, MO 63010
(636) 287-1231

Friday, June 25th
Family Christian Store 6:00-8:00
167 Mid Rivers Mall Dr
St Peters, MO 63376-4309
(636) 278-2895

Saturday, June 26th
Mainstreet Books 12:00-2:00 PM
307 South Main Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
(636) 949-0105
www.mainstreetbooks.net

Sunday, June 27th
Barnes & Noble-Fenton 2:00-4:00 PM
721 Grovis Road
Fenton, MO 63026
636-326-2148

Tuesday, June 29th
International Christian Retail Show
B&H Booth

Thursday, July 1
Lifeway Christian Store 11:00-1:00 PM
2320 Industrial Highway
York, PA 17402
(717)-757-5311

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Getting to Know The Thriller Tour Authors...Happy June

And so begins summer, officially. While Robin and the rest of the authors are getting ready for the upcoming tour, I wanted to take a minute to tell you about their latest releases....

Brandilyn's

A harrowing stand-alone novel from Seatbelt Suspense® author Brandilyn Collins. Seven years after her the disappearance of her best friend, Linda Jackson, skip tracer Joanne Weeks must locate a witness who can put the man who Joanne knows to be Linda's killer behind bars---before he silences Joanne for good.

Jim's

On a rainy spring day in Seattle, young software tycoon Micah Taylor receives a cryptic, twenty-five-year-old letter from a great uncle he never knew. It claims a home awaits him on the Oregon coast that will turn his world inside out. Suspecting a prank, Micah arrives at Cannon Beach to discover a stunning brand new nine-thousand square foot house. And after meeting Sarah Sabin at a nearby ice cream shop, he has two reasons to visit the beach every weekend.

When bizarre things start happening in the rooms of the home, Micah suspects they have some connection to his enigmatic new friend, Rick, the town mechanic. But Rick will only say the house is spiritual. This unnerves Micah because his faith slipped away like the tide years ago, and he wants to keep it that way. But as he slowly discovers, the home isn’t just spiritual, it’s a physical manifestation of his soul, which God uses to heal Micah’s darkest wounds and lead him into an astonishing new destiny.

Robin's

A beautiful yet tough woman working in a beautiful yet tough setting, Brannon Callahan is a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Strong faith and a decorated history of service have kept her one step ahead of on-the-job dangers, but there’s no precedent for what’s about to happen. After a blizzard takes down a small plane carrying U.S. Marshal Roark Holland (already haunted by a recent tragedy), Brannon must save him in more ways than one and safeguard the donor heart he’s transporting to a government witness on the edge of death. Otherwise the largest child trafficking ring in history—with shocking links from Thailand to Tennessee—will slip further away into darkness along the Appalachian Trail.


Tosca's

Recently divorced and mired in a meaningless existence, Clay drifts from his drab apartment to his equally lusterless job as an editor for a small Boston press--until the night Lucian finds him and everything changes with the simple words, "I'm going to tell you my story, and you're going to write it down and publish it."What begins as a mystery soon spirals into chaotic obsession as Clay struggles to piece together Lucian's dark tale of love, ambition, and grace--only to discover that the demon's story has become his own. And then only one thing matters: learning how the story ends.

Have you read these yet? They are all on the hot, "must-read" summer, to-be-read list! Why not stick around for more information on where the tour will take these four, then head to a signing near you to pick up these fab reads?! If you're going to ICRS, stop by the B&H booth on Tuesday, June 29th to visit with these four authors!