Monday, May 31, 2010

Getting To Know Those Thriller Authors...Memorial Day edition

Happy Memorial Day! Robin's out playing with the kids, so I'm jacking her blog again...

Here's a teaser update about the tour of these 4 thriller authors: Saturday, June 26th, these authors will be signing at the LifeWay store in Bridgeton, MO.

Now, back to some personal questions from these opinionated authors....

Biggest pet peeve?
Brandilyn: Poor customer service. Customers are king. Or they should be, anyway.
Tosca: Gossip
Robin: People making snap judgments about others. Oh, and rumors.
Jim: Sorry, can't keep it to just one. People who drive 50 in the left lane on the freeway, slurping, people who think conversation is monologing for 15 minutes without taking a breath. Wow, I sound like a grump.

Nah, Jim, you don't sound like a grump! Not at all.

For some fun in honor of getting out in the sun and playing, tell me who this is:

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Getting to Know the Thriller Tour Authors

It's Sunday, but Robin's away from her desk, so I thought I'd sneak in a post. Actually, a lot of you might not know a lot about these authors' publisher, B&H Publishing. I'd like to quickly share a video about the publisher. Enjoy!



Follow this blog for more about the authors (some secrets will be shared), tour info, and a lot of fun!

Everyone have a great holiday tomorrow!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Getting to Know the Thriller Tour Authors

It's the weekend! Robin's busy, so I thought you might enjoy seeing a book trailer for one of these authors' book. Enjoy!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Getting to Know Those Thriller Tour Authors

As promised, I'm still in charge of Robin's blog. Shhh..don't tell her.

Let's get a little info out about the tour....the Thriller Tour will begin at ICRS. Are you going? Here are the times these four will be signing in the B&H booth at ICRS...be sure to drop by and say hello. Tell 'em I sent you.
Tuesday, June 29th
Tosca 9:30 a.m.
Robin 10:00 a.m.
Jim 10:30 a.m.
Brandilyn: 9:30-10:30




Now, let's get back to getting personal with these four....

What's your favorite food?

Jim: Artichokes dipped in butter. Nothing better.

Robin: Yes. LOL Um, I love steak, potatoes in just about any way, lasagna...oh my, the list goes on and on.

Brandilyn: Uhhhh…… Can’t answer this one. (Chalk it up to writer’s block.)

Tosca: Evil movie popcorn with fake buttery topping. Lots.


Well, I'm wondering what these four are gonna agree on for meals on the tour. Aren't you? Maybe we should offer them all "neutral" suggestions, huh?

Stay tuned for more tour info, as well as more "getting to know you" questions and answers.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Getting To Know You....Thriller Tour Authors

Yep, I'm back again. I'm really liking Robin's blog...think I might keep custody of it for a while. :)

Now, back to the authors...let's find out something personal about these four, shall we?

What's your favorite beverage?

Tosca: Water. I keep forgetting to drink it, but I feel so much better when I do.

Robin: In the morning, White Chocolate Mocha, stirred, with extra whip. The rest of the time, Dr. Pepper.

Jim: Oreo Cookie milk shake. Yes, I am just a big kid.

Brandilyn: My morning latte, made my moi. I have identical espresso machines in both homes, so I won’t be without. (There are priorities in life, you know). Coffee used: Peet’s Arabian Mocha Java. Whole bean, ground fresh every morning.

Very different responses from these four...whatever are they going to do on tour together? Hmmm... Well, since I asked for personal information, I think I'll give y'all a "secret peek" at one of these authors....who do you think this is?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Getting To Know You...Thriller Tour Authors

Hi, I'm Robin's assistant, and I've hijacked her blog for the next several weeks. Don't ask. Seriously, she's preparing for the upcoming Thriller Tour...more about that later. But right now, I thought it might be fun for people to get a glimpse into the 4 thriller authors who are going on tour together this summer. So, I asked the four authors questions to share with everyone in cyberland. I'll be posting snippets of my interview with these four throughout the next several weeks. I think you'll learn a little about these authors that you might not have known!



First things first... About Writing...

Plotter or Pantster?

Brandilyn: More plotter. My books are all about twists, so I must know the twist I’m writing toward. But I typically don’t know quite how I’m going to get there.

Jim: I'm right smack in the middle. Start with a loose plot and then see where it goes.

Robin: A little of both. I know my characters inside out before I start plotting. I know the beginning and end, and have several of my twists and plot points mapped out, but my characters often surprise me and give me awesome subplots.

Tosca: Does a giant notebook of "stuff that should probably happen in this book" count as plotting? :D

That's the "getting to know you" snippet for now. Keep following for more insights into these 4 authors, and of course, tour news.

Speaking of the tourn, I promised in the beginning I'd give you more details. Here's a brief explanation:
B&H Fiction Announces Thriller Tour 2010
Tosca Lee, Brandilyn Collins, Jim Rubart & Robin Caroll Team Up for Unprecedented Major City Book Tour
NASHVILLE—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.”

Timed to coincide with the great summer reading season, the four authors will launch the tour with a kick-off event at ICRS in St. Louis, travel to Philadelphia, and then on to New York City where their journey will culminate at ITW’s
ThrillerFest. Each stop on the tour will be filled with events, from book signings to library appearances to media interviews, all targeted to the authors’ current fans and those new admirers they are sure to gather along the way.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Write What You Know...Baloney!

Someone recently spoke at a writers' group I attended and really pushed the philosophy to these writers to "write what you know." While I understand that, in theory, and oftentimes do just that in my own writing, I don't believe that's a hard-and-fast "rule." Think about it...to write only what you know, it'd get pretty boring pretty quick. But this speaker was adamant. I mean, VERY adamant. So, of course, me being...well, me, I opened up a dialogue with him after his presentation. Here's a summary of the conversation:
Me: So, you really think writers should only write about topics they know?
Him: Yes.
Me: *pausing to give him time to elaborate...he doesn't, so I continue* I don't believe that's necessarily true. I think you should write about what you're passionate about.
Him: Oh, not so. If you ever want to be published, you should write what you know. It makes the prose more authentic.
Me: *arching a single brow* Really?
Him: *nodding emphatically* Yes. That's why so many are unpublished--they're trying to write about things they don't know about
Me: But what about passion?
Him: Passion only takes you so far
Me: Interesting. But I still don't agree with that
Him: *heavy sigh* Why not?
Me: Well, if that's the case, and I'm only writing what I know, I'm a child trafficker, voodoo priestess, helicopter pilot, US Marshal, gangster, FBI agent, pastor, alligator-lover, reporter, sheriff, investigator, contractor, PR officer, radio DJ...oh, and an arsonist and murderer too.
Him: *eyes wide* Excuse me?
Me: Well, if what I've written is only what I know, then that would be my description
Him: *smiling sweetly and shaking his head* Ah, I see. These are from stories you've written
Me: Yes
Him: *smiling wider* Do you already have an agent?
Me: Yes, one of the most respected in my industry
Him: And this agent hasn't suggested you stick to topics you know?
Me: Nope
Him: *his smile is so wide, it might split his face* Well, you'd probably get published if you did. That's my point.
Me: Um, that description I gave you a second ago?
Him: yes?
Me: They're all the hero/heroines of my books. The published ones
Him: *smile gone, eyes wide* You have a book published?
Me: 10 out, one set to release in August, another set to release next February, and I just signed a contract for 3 more to release in 2012 and 2013. How about you?
Him: I have two published.
Me: That's awesome. Who's your publisher?
Him: *puffing chest out* Tate Publishing. And you?
Me: B&H Publishing and an imprint of TOR
Him: *eyes roaming over the room* Oh, I see someone I need to talk with. Nice chatting with you. **and he walks off**

So...what about you? What're your thoughts of writing what you know only?