Monthly Archives: January 2011

Where I Write

For this Meet an Author Monday blog hop, all us authors are talking about where we like to write, and including photos.  So, here goes!

I’m not a sit-at-a-desk-and-write kind of person. I use a laptop to write, and it goes everywhere.  My absolute favorite place to write, though is at my dining room table:

I have plenty of space to spread out, enough light, and the sound of the fountain outside the window. I don’t mean to tease all of you under snow right now, but I took this photo yesterday. (I love California!)

As I said, my laptop goes with me all over, so I spend time writing all kinds of places. My kids are both musicians, so I do a lot of writing while waiting for lessons to finish.  My car becomes my mobile office:

No, I DON’T WRITE WHEN I’M DRIVING – just when I’m parked in front of the music store! My car has a great sound system, so I can crank the tunes while I write.

I do have an office, though, and that’s where I do the bulk of my editing.  That’s the real work of writing for me, and I can’t have any distractions when trying to find that new, “right” word or sentence.  I am a pile-er, not a file-er by nature, so my desk is messy.  Rather than clean it (truth in advertising and all) I distorted things a little.  I’ve found that squinting at a mess makes it look pretty, and takes away a little of that “I really should be cleaning” guilt. 😀

FUN FACT ABOUT ROBIN:

What you can’t see to the left is my 30 slot paper shelf.  Some people collect shoes – I’m a paper and label fiend. Address labels, card stock, Astrobrites paper…I love them all.  Why hand-write something when you can print it on a sticker?

Thanks for visiting my little writing world!  Now I put the question to you: Where do YOU like to READ?

Meet an Author Monday

Click here for the Author hop

Be sure and check out the other authors on the blog (I know some of them actually cleaned their offices).

If you are an author, come hop with us!

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An Amazing Night

To say our release party was a success is a HUGE understatement!

Over 70 people came to the Sonoma Chicken Coop in Campbell, CA to celebrate the release of my book, Whirlwind, and Killian McRae’s novel, 12.21.12 on Thursday.  We were shocked, amazed, and supremely humbled at the turnout!

Friends, family, teachers, coworkers, neighbors, and online friends started arriving at 6 until the room we’d reserved was filled beyond capacity.  The room was buzzing with happy conversation and soft music, played by my daughter, Megan.


The biggest surprise was the cake that Killian brought. She and her daughters made the cake from the cover of Whirlwind!  And it tasted SO GOOD!

Cake made by Killian McRae

By the time Killian and I started our presentation, it was standing room only. We spoke about our books, our upcoming projects (yes, the sequel to Whirlwind is in the works), and the publishing process. Knowing so many had come to support us chased away the nervous jitters, and I managed to read a short excerpt from Whirlwind without stumbling over my words too many times.

Photo by Lisa Langdale

Killian also read from 12.12.12 before we sat down to sign books.  Thank you to everyone for being so patient!  By the end of the night, all the books we’d brought were gone. Don’t worry, we have more on order to deliver to those who didn’t get one or couldn’t make it.

Thank you so much to everyone who came.  Be sure and check out RobinDeJarnettFans for even more photos, and if you have some, I’d love to see them!

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the help of dear friends Raquel Cochran and Julie Bounds, and my family, especially daughter and musician Megan and the love of my life, my husband Steve.

I am blessed to call Killian McRae as friend.  She’s an amazing writer, full of humor, generosity, and compassion.  Please check out her book, 12.21.12, and her website, killianmcrae.com.

WOW!!!

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Giveaways Galore!

A pile of inflatable balloons.

Image via Wikipedia

I can’t believe it’s only three days until the Whirlwind/12.21.12 Release Party! The food is ordered, the invitations given out, and the festivities planned. I’m excited, happy, and a little nervous. What if no one shows up?  What if EVERYONE shows up?  AAAAAAAHHHH!

Nervousness aside, I really wish everyone could come.  So many devoted fans live all around the globe – I want to find a way to include everyone in the celebration.  I’ll definitely be tweeting when I can during the day on Thursday, and hopefully be able to post a couple photos from the party.  The online snacks will have to be virtual , but I’ll be posting a great fondue recipe and buttercream frosting recipe, if you’d like to indulge at home.

I also have an electronic copy of Whirlwind to give away. Join me on Twitter on Thursday, January 27th, and watch for the #Whirlwind122112Party hashtag. Join in the fun by posting your favorite quotes from Whirlwind, favorite dessert recipe, or just by saying hi, but be sure to add #Whirlwind122112Party to your tweet. I’ll be drawing one random name from tweeters  on the 27th (midnight to midnight Pacific time) to win a free ecopy of Whirlwind.

Tweet #Whirlwind122112Party For The Win!

Lookin’ for Love Giveaway

But wait, there’s MORE!  How would you like to win Omnific Publishing’s entire electronic inventory (including Whirlwind, of course)?  Look for the conversation hearts on participating authors’ pages and enter what you find on them here between February 1 and Valentine’s Day (2/14). There’s a bunch of prizes up for grabs, including the entire Omnific library!

My heart will be going up sometime between now and January 31st somewhere on my website, but you’ll have to search for it!  Good luck!

Valentine’s Day Books with LOVE Hop

Yes, one more chance to win! As announced last week, on February 14-16 Once Upon A Twilight and Good Choice Reading are hosting a blog hop celebrating–surprise–books all about LOVE.  I’m teaming up with Yara at Once Upon A Twilight to giveaway a signed paperback edition of Whirlwind to one lucky winner.  I’ll also be guest blogging about love, but you’ll hear more about that soon.

There’s a ton of book bloggers participating in the hop (59 as of this posting), and a load of loot to win.  Be sure and check it out on Valentine’s Day.

**Note – if you are a book blogger, you still have a little time to sign up for the blog hop.  Click on the image on the right for more info.

Meet an Author Monday Blog hop

Be sure and tune in next week to find out where we, the authors on the Meet an Author Hop, do this thing we call writing.  If you have a copy of Green Eggs and Ham, you might want to pull it out.  Do I write on a train?  In the rain?  In a box? With a fox? What’s your guess?
Meet an Author Monday

Click here for the Author hop

Authors! Have a book out? Are you under contract for publication? Come join the hop.

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Filed under giveaway, Great News, Holidays

Review of The Romanov Prophecy

The Romanov ProphecyThe Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A suspense with a Dan Brown feel, The Romanov Prophecy delves into the long-standing legend that one or more of the Russian royal family survived brutal execution in the early 20th century. Even if you’re not familiar with Russian history, names like Anastasia and Rasputin should tickle your memory.

Caught between corruption, the mafia, the military, and a prophetic destiny, Miles Lord’s story starts with a running shootout and doesn’t end until the last page. Sorting out who’s good and who’s bad is enough to hold the reader from the beginning, then the compelling, if modified, history of the Romanovs keeps the pages turning.

I haven’t read many books with a male African American protagonist, and I enjoyed that twist. There was a little chemistry between Lord and the female lead, but this isn’t a romance novel, so nothing came of it. Maybe it’s just me, but my belief was stretched a little thin by the amount of trust Lord put in one person, and the fact that several times the question was asked “how exactly did you find me?” but the flimsy answer was always accepted. It was a little distraction, and what pulled this review down a star.

I’ll definitely read more Steve Berry.

View all my reviews

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Books with Love Hop

Sweethearts candy

February 14th is coming fast

Can you believe Valentine’s Day is less than a month away?

The holiday commemorating love here in the US doesn’t seem to get quite the attention that Christmas does – I didn’t see a lot of red hearts and cupid decorations in the store two months ago.  Maybe I missed them?

Since I’m all about celebrating love and romance, I’ve signed up to give away an autographed copy of Whirlwind through the Books with Love blog hop.  Sites all over the blog-o-sphere will be linking together in February with recommendations, giveaways, interviews, and author appearances, all featuring books with love. As part of the festivities, I’ll be appearing as a guest blogger on onceuponatwilight’s blog , and you will be able to enter the giveaway there starting on the first day of the hop, February 14th.  Be sure and keep an eye out for the lovely Books with Love logo (up on the right) where ever you go in internet-land until then.

And start dropping hints to your significant other now about flowers and chocolate. Right, dear husband? *wink wink*

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